Question about check-in....

[cmaee]

I am excited about upcoming trip!! It is fast approaching and I was wondering how we would handle the check-in procedure. We are staying in a pop-up, but we are not going to be bringing the pop-up with us. A friend of ours lives in Tampa and is bringing the pop-up to FW and setting it up for us. I know that we can check-in at 1:00, so would it be safe to assume that if we had our friend meet us at 1:00, we could check-in and set up our camper at our site? Our friend is not going to want to wait around for a site to open up. We are checking in on Good Friday, so I assume that FW will be busy. Is there an easy place to meet up with our friend? I know that we are supposed to check-in at the gate (? - I think).

Also, what is the internal bus system like? Are they like regular Disney bus transportation? We hope to stay in the 1500 loop, but I know that we could end up in the 2000 loop. If we stay in the 1500 loop, we would be close enough to walk to the pool. If we stay in the 2000 loop, I think it is probably too far to walk to the pool. We can't bring our bikes due to which vehicle we are bringing with us and a golf cart rental is not in our budget.

 

[VW camper Dan]

I can't offer much in the popup set up, though I know there are RV rental services that set up for FW campers, I think you have to add their name(s) to your site occupancy so they have the privilidge to enter the Campground.

but for your question re: internal buses, yes they run regular and often.
we stayed in the 2000 loop our 1st time there and although we didn't go to the pool or trading post often, it was no bother to go to the beach or the outpost at all.

we are coming back 1st week of may with a bunch of other VW campers joined as a grand gathering and aren't sure which partial loop (1500,2000) we'll get either. I liked the quiet of the 2000 loop when we were there that christmas, but the 1500's proximity to the center of things would likely be more fun with our group of vintage VW campers.

anyways, you really can't go wrong ANYWHERE in the Fort.

Dan in NY

 

[clkelley]

As far as meeting your friend, I would meet in the "overflow" lot which is right next to the gated lot. If your friend is coming from the direction of Magic Kingdom, it is the 2nd entrance to Fort Wilderness.

If he is coming from the direction of Downtown Disney, it is the 1st entrance to Fort Wilderness.

Once you meet in the overflow lot, you can hand him a key card, then he can drive the popup to your site.

You can check in at any time that day and go ahead and get your key cards and enjoy your day, then you can call a certain phone number they give you or sign up for a text message to get your site number.

I would have him arrive around 2pm. That way you are pretty much ensured that your site will be ready when he arrives.

 

[clkelley]

Actually, the pool is not that far of a walk from Loop 2000 either. Somewhere around site 2050, there is a way to cut through over to the Group Camping area. Then you walk across the group camping area to a bridge, which dumps into Loop 900. Then you walk through Loop 900 and you are right across the street from the Meadows Trading Post and the pool is directly behind that.

 

[Shan-man]

Since everybody's idea of "not too far" is different I thought I'd add that the median distance from a 2000-loop site to the Meadow Pool using the shortcut Carol described is .45 miles (sticking to paths).

 

[cmaee]

Thanks for the info. I think we will meet up with our friend at 2:00. I don't know how it works to add someone to our site occupancy when you are on a MGY + QSDP package. It is good to know that there is a "short-cut" to get to the pool from loop 2000 if we are over there. I am anxiously counting down the days until we arrive. I think my kiddos are going to be so excited to see FW.