One week countdown!!!

[cgerdon02]

Can it be true? Really only one more week until we drive 14 hours south for our first time ever at Fort Wilderness!?!

A bit of panic has set in as I keep adding things to my to do list. There are six of us in my family, and we will be tent camping for eight nights and then heading to St. Pete Beach for two nights to end our trip. We bought a tent especially for this trip that we have used twice now. It's 10ft x 20ft and quite spacious. Although we have used it previously, those were only weekend trips. I've been racking my brain to make sure we don't forget anything.

Obviously the chances of making it through eight nights in Orlando with no rain are slim to none. This is what makes me most nervous. Other than a light rain, our tent hasn't had much experience with rain. I'm not going to worry though. We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best in the weather department.

Anyway, I am super excited to make memories at the fort with my family. Any advice from you seasoned fort campers?

 

[bama_ed]

Wow thats a big tent. I hope you added the size of your tent as a note on your reservation. That way you should get a pad to accomodate it.

My advice is to relax on vacation. For 8 days this time of year, yep you will get some rain. Try to position the door near the concrete drive to reduce the sand tracked into the tent. I would HIGHLY recommend a small kitchen type broom to sweep accumulated sand out of the tent. A door mat or similar by the tent door for wiping feet/shoes would be good too.

I will be at home jealous of you no matter how it goes so have fun.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

It's 10ft x 20ft and quite spacious.

"Quite spacious" is an understatement. That thing is HUGE.

Don't worry about the weather. If it's a newer tent, it will be fine. Even if there is a drip here or there, you have plenty of room to avoid it. .

Relax and enjoy the trip. I changed my attitude about packing. I have the "normal" stuff I make sure I take and everything else falls into 2 categories.

1. If I didn't bring it, I probably don't need it.
or
2. If I really need it, there's a Wal Mart within 20 miles.

j

 

[KodiakKort]

Fried chicken and French fries (Giddyap and go) at TrailsEnd. I don't think anything else matters.

 

[tina.tina]

I don' t have much advice but I hope you have a good time and that you'll write a trip report or summary for us....

Do you have a dome tent or a cabin tent?

Are you planning to camp at the beach, too?

I would have a box or tote for shoes outside the tent door and threaten my children with torture if they wore their shoes inside! If you have a dustbuster, I would take that, too, to get every piece of sand. I know some people suggest having tarps on the floor inside your tent to protect the floor and for ease of cleaning.

I would take a timer for outside lights so your campsite will be cheery if you get back after dark.

 

[2goofycampers]

A canopy or tarp set up in some trees might be a good idea to sit out if it's raining.

 

[JanL]

" would have a box or tote for shoes outside the tent door"

Great idea...make sure it has a tight-fitting lid to keep out rain and bugs.

We kept a small dish pan of water outside the tent door and dipped our feet in it (after removing our flip flops). The pan was easy to empty and refill when it got too muddy.) Just inside the door we kept a small towel to dry our feet with.

Have umbrellas and ponchos and maybe a tarp over your tent (great for making shade and keeping the tent cooler as well as directing the rain water elsewhere).

Don't try to keep it all in your head...make lists. Sit down and imagine your way through the set up procedure so you can pack your vehicle so the first item you need gets packed last at home is readily available and each consecutive item is available in the order needed.

Next imagine your way through the day from wake up (have the day's outfit conveniently placed...I use a large zip lock for each outfit, including underwear, which can go to the bathhouse easily without me dropping items along the route, LOL. When I change into the day's outfit, I put the clothes I wore to the bathhouse in the zip lock for the trip back).

I pack the cooler so the first meal items are on top and the next meal items are under that, etc. Imagine cooking each meal and list the utensils and foods as you do this. Make a list for the backpacks going to the parks (ponchos, jacket, water bottle, sunglasses, sunblock, kleenex, bandaid, chap stick, etc.). Try to imagine your way through each block of the day, such as trips to the pool (towels, goggles) lounging at the campsite (chairs, beverage holders) and put it all on the list. I even make a list showing each mealtime and foods and seasonings I will need for that meal, so I can make sure everything for lunch is in order while I am making breakfast. Sounds anal, I know, but if it is not on the list, it seems to slip my mind faster than water through a sieve! Also, I enjoy imagining and planning my trips in the weeks before I actually get to go.

 

[tina.tina]

Don't try to keep it all in your head...make lists.

This, along with the description of how to make your lists, is perfect. I put my lists in the place where I'll be packing my stuff- like in my toiletry bag. I have copies in my notebook along with a list of my lists. Oops- my obsessiveness is showing.

Zip lock bags are wonderful, too!

 

[cgerdon02]

Wow thats a big tent. I hope you added the size of your tent as a note on your reservation. That way you should get a pad to accomodate it. My advice is to relax on vacation. For 8 days this time of year, yep you will get some rain. Try to position the door near the concrete drive to reduce the sand tracked into the tent. I would HIGHLY recommend a small kitchen type broom to sweep accumulated sand out of the tent. A door mat or similar by the tent door for wiping feet/shoes would be good too. I will be at home jealous of you no matter how it goes so have fun. Bama Ed

Thanks to theses boards, I did add my tent size thanks for the tips on dealing with the sand. With four kids I'm sure we will have our fair share of sand in the tent!

"Quite spacious" is an understatement. That thing is HUGE. Don't worry about the weather. If it's a newer tent, it will be fine. Even if there is a drip here or there, you have plenty of room to avoid it. . Relax and enjoy the trip. I changed my attitude about packing. I have the "normal" stuff I make sure I take and everything else falls into 2 categories. 1. If I didn't bring it, I probably don't need it. or 2. If I really need it, there's a Wal Mart within 20 miles. j

Haha yes the tent is huge . And my husband keeps reminding me as I stress about packing everything that they have walmarts in Florida too....lol

Fried chicken and French fries (Giddyap and go) at TrailsEnd. I don't think anything else matters.

Giddyap and Go is on our list!!!

I don' t have much advice but I hope you have a good time and that you'll write a trip report or summary for us.... Do you have a dome tent or a cabin tent? Are you planning to camp at the beach, too? I would have a box or tote for shoes outside the tent door and threaten my children with torture if they wore their shoes inside! If you have a dustbuster, I would take that, too, to get every piece of sand. I know some people suggest having tarps on the floor inside your tent to protect the floor and for ease of cleaning. I would take a timer for outside lights so your campsite will be cheery if you get back after dark.

Our tent is a cabin tent so I can stand and still have plenty of head room. It is actually one of the newer styles that can be set up in two minutes or less. However, my husband has said that they didn't anticipate me helping with tent set up when they gave that number...lol. We are not camping on the beach. We got a hotel for the past two nights. Thanks for the shoe tote tip! I think I'll plan on that! I also love the lights on timers tip.

A canopy or tarp set up in some trees might be a good idea to sit out if it's raining.

After we pack everything in our van, we are going to see if there is room for a canopy . Hopefully there will be!

" would have a box or tote for shoes outside the tent door" Great idea...make sure it has a tight-fitting lid to keep out rain and bugs. We kept a small dish pan of water outside the tent door and dipped our feet in it (after removing our flip flops). The pan was easy to empty and refill when it got too muddy.) Just inside the door we kept a small towel to dry our feet with. Have umbrellas and ponchos and maybe a tarp over your tent (great for making shade and keeping the tent cooler as well as directing the rain water elsewhere). Don't try to keep it all in your head...make lists. Sit down and imagine your way through the set up procedure so you can pack your vehicle so the first item you need gets packed last at home is readily available and each consecutive item is available in the order needed. Next imagine your way through the day from wake up (have the day's outfit conveniently placed...I use a large zip lock for each outfit, including underwear, which can go to the bathhouse easily without me dropping items along the route, LOL. When I change into the day's outfit, I put the clothes I wore to the bathhouse in the zip lock for the trip back). I pack the cooler so the first meal items are on top and the next meal items are under that, etc. Imagine cooking each meal and list the utensils and foods as you do this. Make a list for the backpacks going to the parks (ponchos, jacket, water bottle, sunglasses, sunblock, kleenex, bandaid, chap stick, etc.). Try to imagine your way through each block of the day, such as trips to the pool (towels, goggles) lounging at the campsite (chairs, beverage holders) and put it all on the list. I even make a list showing each mealtime and foods and seasonings I will need for that meal, so I can make sure everything for lunch is in order while I am making breakfast. Sounds anal, I know, but if it is not on the list, it seems to slip my mind faster than water through a sieve! Also, I enjoy imagining and planning my trips in the weeks before I actually get to go.

Wow! Great tips! Thanks so much for taking the time to write all of this. I will have to sit down and imagine "day dream" about our trip tonight and write it all down!

This, along with the description of how to make your lists, is perfect. I put my lists in the place where I'll be packing my stuff- like in my toiletry bag. I have copies in my notebook along with a list of my lists. Oops- my obsessiveness is showing. Zip lock bags are wonderful, too!

I love lists!! Not too many thing get me more excited than a fresh notebook ready to have lots of lists written in it

 

[Readerbug]

: This thread. Same feelings, very similar itinerary type in parts. But we are beach hopping our way north up the gulf coast, home. Love the advice- I forgot some things I forgot I knew and better go add more to that waiting, overloaded SUV in the drive. Thanks, all!

(I'm not sure those feelings ever quite go away when you have chosen to weather it, and bear the responsibility of it, with a lot of kids- even when you've done it a bunch! What an adventure you're making!

And we are just absolutely planning on being soaked right through for a week... Last trip we got a nice tropical depression for practice... I've bucked up the kids to expect to be troopers- then, if we get a different scenario we'll feel heaven is smiling literally. I wish you lots of warm, dry, cozy recouping, if that's the case!

 

[cgerdon02]

: This thread. Same feelings, very similar itinerary type in parts. But we are beach hopping our way north up the gulf coast, home. Love the advice- I forgot some things I forgot I knew and better go add more to that waiting, overloaded SUV in the drive. Thanks, all! (I'm not sure those feelings ever quite go away when you have chosen to weather it, and bear the responsibility of it, with a lot of kids- even when you've done it a bunch! What an adventure you're making! And we are just absolutely planning on being soaked right through for a week... Last trip we got a nice tropical depression for practice... I've bucked up the kids to expect to be troopers- then, if we get a different scenario we'll feel heaven is smiling literally. I wish you lots of warm, dry, cozy recouping, if that's the case!

I love the idea of beach hopping north!! I think I may have to try that next time! It's looking like the full days of rain are almost behind us, and I am thrilled!!

 

[cgerdon02]

Two hours in on our 14 hour drive!! So far so good. After 20 minutes, three of my four kids were asleep!

 

[Teamubr]

After 20 minutes, three of my four kids were asleep!

Now that's the way to travel!

j

 

[tiggerdad]

How do you get so lucky?

 

[cgerdon02]

Now that's the way to travel! j

How do you get so lucky?

I'm not sure what has gotten into these kids, but with my 9,7,5 & 1 year olds we have only stopped twice on our 14 hour drive!! One hour and we will be pulling in to the fort!!

 

[jsmla]

Congratulations, you're there by now I guess

We're leaving tomorrow but are taking two days even though it will be just the two of us'

 

[cgerdon02]

We made it! We've been having the most wonderful time with some pretty amazing weather Today was gorgeous and the next few days look just as great!! One thing that surprised me about the fort is how many cars they let park at each campsite. I thought it was one, but many sites around us have two and three!! I know it's the weekend, but wow the fort is packed! As we got to our tent last night we were so surprised to see how many people had "moved in". Our neighbors had music blaring and were quite toasted at 11PM. Thankfully we were all too tired to care and fell asleep anyway. We've been to the park three days and walked on just about everything. As I type this, I hear the water pageant music playing in the background. I absolutely love it here and I'm already planning my next trip!