Pop up camping-- quick questions

[rdemarb]

Two weeks from today, we will arrive at Fort Wilderness for the first time! My husband is very concerned that we will not be able to use our awning on the site because it works with tent stakes, basically. Will there be enough grass for these to work? I'm assuming we will be in tent loops. Also, I know are no fire pits-- which will seem very strange-- but are there grills on the sites? If not, can we bring one and use it on the site?

Thanks!

 

[bama_ed]

If you reserved a Partial, Preferred, or Full site they have a large crushed shell pad for tents. You can roll the pup on the pad and park the vehicle on the concrete driveway. That way he can stake the awning down.

All sites have grills.

Bama ed

 

[ob1quixote]

My antique RV has an awning that is staked at the poles. Before I left, I measured the distance from the poles to the RV. When I parked at FW, I made sure I was square on the pad, and at that distance from the edge of the pad. Everything worked perfectly! Stakes in soil, concrete under awning.

String some lights or some ribbons on the guy lines so folks dont accidentally walk into them. I bought some solar powered walkway lights and used them for markers and at the head of the driveway to mark our spot. Gets a little dark in the loops!

 

[rhpaw]

Instead of stakes to the ground you can loop the awning ties to 5 gallon jerry jugs filled with water. Filled to the top they're well over 40 lbs and then you never have to worry about stakes again.

 

[PoohNRoo2]

If you have further concerns, go for sand stakes. We didn't really have any problems with the regular stakes because the sand/shell pad is pretty grippy, and we even had some pretty high wind and heavy rain.

 

[YellowXterra]

Use water jugs to hold the awnning down. You can never tell about FL weather.

 

[mash]

I suggest bringing extra rope just in case. You can use it to lengthen your tie downs if necessary to reach the sand pads, picnic table, tree, etc.

 

[Bearikens]

I have had no problems staking down the awning on my PU, even when I parked it on the concrete. I usually back the PU straight back and park so that I can connect utilities and then extend my awning so that the poles rest on the concrete and the guylines can reach onto the dirt. I've done this on both the partial hookup and preferred campsites. My PU is a Fleetwood Yuma, so it is not very big. Hope this helps.

 

[Bearikens]

Here are some photos to show you what I mean

 

[chartle]

Also, I know are no fire pits-- which will seem very strange-- but are there grills on the sites? If not, can we bring one and use it on the site?

Thanks!

One thing no one addressed is the fire pits.

Camp fires at sites is frowned upon at FW. You can bring your own but FW is very picky about stand alone Fire pits, even if you call and ask if one is OK, when you get there it may not be. So just be aware.

Oh and yes there are grills at the sites.

Hopefully now that I brought it up others can comment.