October Tenting advice please!!!! Virgin FW tenter alert!!!

[Dizneydawn]

Just read of the oppressive heat in Florida during the summer and how some can not enjoy without AC.

So I have a few questions I am needing advice on please.

We are planning a 3-4 day trip to WDW in mid October and want to hear from seasoned tenters on if my odds are good it will be much more manageable because we will only have minimum provisions more than likely.

I would love any advice from you all. Camped there for 2 nights in a tent back in 1997 but other than that, always stayed at one of the other resorts on property that do not involve communal showering. (Or at least I was not invited anyway... )

There will only be two adults in our party this getaway extravaganza and really want a good, inexpensive time.

The reason I do not know if we could have a fan or not etc., is that we are not sure if we will fly or drive yet. Hoping for a special for driving vehicles out of Florida to ATL because we will be leaving FL and heading to SC for another 4-5 day leg of our journey. The one way drop bill is ridiculous!

So if we drive - packing is not an issue - although my other half thinks we should drive in a Mustang for 60 hours and I am thinking he is on crack and probably should go to rehab versus WDW.

If we fly - has anyone here ever packed all their stuff and either shipped it or brought on the plane? Which is better and how do you pack it? What do I need to absolutely bring minus our tent, air mattress and bedding?

Ok - I will bid you all adieu for now. I know you will be a wealth of information and knowledge!

 

[4kids4karen]

Hi! I just wanted to say that October is one of my favorite months to visit WDW! It has been our experience (and we live in Tampa) that it is warm enough for shorts and t-shirts in the day. Some evenings can be a bit chilly depending on how fast the weather cools that year. Our last Oct trip to WDW was just a day trip. We walked around in jeans and t-shirts in the day and in the late afternoon/evening before leaving we changed to long sleeve shirts. However, having said that sometimes on Halloween here in Tampa it has been hot still to the point the kids won't wear their costumes for more than 15 mintues.

I can't really advise about tent camping as I tend to bring a lot of stuff no matter where we tent camp. For my family of 6 we usually have 2 vehicles loaded down with our gear. But I also use a 12 man tent for me, DH, and my two little kids. Then my two teens share a 4 man tent. So I never go with just the basics. LoL.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hi! I just wanted to say that October is one of my favorite months to visit WDW! It has been our experience (and we live in Tampa) that it is warm enough for shorts and t-shirts in the day. Some evenings can be a bit chilly depending on how fast the weather cools that year. Thanks for that!


I can't really advise about tent camping as I tend to bring a lot of stuff no matter where we tent camp. For my family of 6 we usually have 2 vehicles loaded down with our gear. But I also use a 12 man tent for me, DH, and my two little kids. Then my two teens share a 4 man tent. So I never go with just the basics. LoL.

We drove to the FL Keys from MN over spring break and you would have thought I brought enough food for a refugee tenement!

I need therapy because I have a fear we will always run out of food. With 2 teen boys - we almost have!

 

[stefa70]

You should be fine in a tent in Oct. As some said, it can still be warm but the nights should be fine for sleeping. There are tons of stores within a short drive so you could always pick up a cheap fan if you decided you needed it.

 

[4mickey2]

i see you are from michigan. think of the fort in october like our summers in the north. it shouldn't be bad. not saying it couldn't be, normally it is like what we are used to.

 

[skyp4WDW]

If possible, fly Southwest so your baggage is free. We usually tent camp at Ft Wilderness every Summer and we always fly. Last year we went again in October. The weather in October is perfect for tent camping. We didn't have any rain. I would suggest a screen house in addition to the tent. It gives you alot more living and storage space. You'll need lights. White Christmas lights work really well and take very little space in your bags. Remember an extension cord, pop-up hampers, table cloth, rope, comfort station bags, towels (bath and pool), and a cooler. It's nice to have some sort of mat outside your tent, a small broom/dustpan, clothes pins, extra tarps and snacks and/or other food. If your have alot of electrical items, you may want to bring a power strip. I also always bring (and find use for) papertowels, duct tape, and scissors. We keep our supplies in two lightweight trunks and the trunks double as furniture. It's best to start a supply list and simply add to it as you think of things you might want or need...Happy Camping.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Hey! A fellow Minn-e-soh-tan! It is definitely a long drive for us here up north. How long do you have for your vacation? If you have enough time to drive down without wearing yourselves out, then I would say do that, stopping to see what there is to see on the way. If gas prices keep going up though, flying may be the cheaper option.

Have you seen this thread? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2486642 They flew down and it looks like everything went well for them.

Whichever method you choose, I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Dizneydawn]

You should be fine in a tent in Oct. As some said, it can still be warm but the nights should be fine for sleeping. There are tons of stores within a short drive so you could always pick up a cheap fan if you decided you needed it.

True said - and we won't be in the tent much...well than again no kids...maybe we will.

i see you are from michigan. Close the other frozen tundra from another mother that starts with an M - Minnesota! think of the fort in october like our summers in the north. it shouldn't be bad. not saying it couldn't be, normally it is like what we are used to.

We have been to WDW the past to Decembers and it was freezing - not the norm. Went to the Keys and WDW in March this year - again the weather had been freezing so the water in the Keys was cold! Not normal!

So as long as their are not locusts falling from the sky - we should be grand!

If possible, fly Southwest so your baggage is free. Thinking about it but I think it only has connecting through Denver which adds on another3 hours to the flight. But it would save us a ton for sure! I would suggest a screen house in addition to the tent. If we will not be eating there much and only the two of us do you still think so? It gives you alot more living and storage space. You'll need lights. White Christmas lights work really well and take very little space in your bags. Remember an extension cord, pop-up hampers, table cloth, rope, comfort station bags, towels (bath and pool), and a cooler. It's nice to have some sort of mat outside your tent, a small broom/dustpan, clothes pins, extra tarps and snacks and/or other food. If your have alot of electrical items, you may want to bring a power strip. I also always bring (and find use for) papertowels, duct tape, and scissors. We keep our supplies in two lightweight trunks and the trunks double as furniture. It's best to start a supply list and simply add to it as you think of things you might want or need...Happy Camping.

Thanks for the inventory list! It totally helps.

Hey! A fellow Minn-e-soh-tan! Eh now, you over dere in dat canooo. How you like da maskeetoohs dis here yare huh? Doncha ya know they grow um bigger den udder states who only get tiny little buggers. It is definitely a long drive for us here up north. How long do you have for your vacation? If you have enough time to drive down without wearing yourselves out, then I would say do that, stopping to see what there is to see on the way. If gas prices keep going up though, flying may be the cheaper option.

Have you seen this thread? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2486642 They flew down and it looks like everything went well for them.

Whichever method you choose, I hope you have a wonderful time!

Saw the thread and already read it all the way through this morning. It actually helped me feel not so crazy.

As far as the driving goes. Notice my avatar. We are the family of road trip crazies.

Starting in June of last year - here is our road trip log:

June 2009 - 10 hours plus local drive to Sioux Falls, SD for a soccer tourney.

June/July 2009 - 50 plus fun filled hours to Orlando (friends flew in from Ireland), Vero Beach, Ashville, NC and back home.

July 2009 - 10 hours to the Canadian Border for a family camp through a local Hospital that treated my son after he was burned.

July/Aug 2009 - 65 hours plus to drive to Durango, CO to drop my oldest at college.(Which he transferred from after one semester.)

December 2009 - 50 hours back to WDW. (This was a quick trip in a total of 7 days. Never again.)

March 2010 - More hours than it would take to shave a wookie - drove to the Florida keys via Knoxville, TN, Anderson, SC and back.

June 2010 (as in 4 days) - 26 hours to Dayton, Ohio and back for soccer.

July 2010 - Back up to the Canadian Border for another Family Burn Camp

July/August 2010 - back down to SC to drop son back off and steal a plot on the beach for a few days.

So I do not know I am thrilled when it is just the two of us doing the trip. It might be just as cheap as driving.

The dealio is we are going to WDW for a friends 40th. Then will include either prior or after, driving to Anderson, SC to watch son play soccer and hopefully enjoy a few days in Charleston.

Total time frame gone 8 days or so. Will probably only do Epcot 2 days and maybe hang around the Fort 1-2 days.

So if we fly into MCO, we can take magical express to the Fort and then pick up rental back at MCO to drive to Charleston and Anderson. The closest airport from Anderson that does not want your Great Aunt Beaulah's money is Atlanta and they often through Avis, will beg people to drive and drop off vehicles in Atlanta and only charge like $10 a day for a mid size car.

If that is the case - then it is only $100 more roughly to fly. I am so on a plane.

But if we have to pay the one way drop off charge - heck to the no - it was almost $1000 more with paying full rental costs.

That is my dilemma as of now.

I will let you know when the new one comes along!

 

[Cindy F]

When we went October 2009 it was hands down the hottest Disney Trip we've ever had- very unusual from all the other times we've been- the heat index was into the 100s every day and still in the high 80s overnight.

When we went Feb 2009 it was the coldest Disney trip we had ever had with overnight lows in the 20s- there again, not the norm for the other times we've been in Feb.

All you can do is plan for the "norms" with a back up plan in case Mother Nature doesn't cooperate! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...As far as the driving goes. Notice my avatar. We are the family of road trip crazies.

Starting in June of last year - here is our road trip log:

June 2009 - 10 hours plus local drive to Sioux Falls, SD for a soccer tourney.

June/July 2009 - 50 plus fun filled hours to Orlando (friends flew in from Ireland), Vero Beach, Ashville, NC and back home.

July 2009 - 10 hours to the Canadian Border for a family camp through a local Hospital that treated my son after he was burned.

July/Aug 2009 - 65 hours plus to drive to Durango, CO to drop my oldest at college.(Which he transferred from after one semester.)

December 2009 - 50 hours back to WDW. (This was a quick trip in a total of 7 days. Never again.)

March 2010 - More hours than it would take to shave a wookie - drove to the Florida keys via Knoxville, TN, Anderson, SC and back.

June 2010 (as in 4 days) - 26 hours to Dayton, Ohio and back for soccer.

July 2010 - Back up to the Canadian Border for another Family Burn Camp

July/August 2010 - back down to SC to drop son back off and steal a plot on the beach for a few days.

Wow! You are my hero! And yup, dem dere maskeetohs are definutly lots biggur up nort here dan dey are down dere! Fer sher! Yep, you betcha!