RV Super show - Fort Wilderness Booth

[Disney Campers]

While at the Tampa super show today i had the opportunity to speak with the cast members, I asked about wi-fi and was told too many trees for it to work properly, they do plan to add a DSL or cable type INTERNET access, it will first be in the preferred loops and eventually in the entire campground with the modem available at the outpost.

They also plan to eventually add MORE campsites and widen many of the existing ones as well as increase the number of pull thrus. i did ask about river country and was told it will never be a water park again.

 

[mrsgus06]

I am packed and ready to head to Tampa for the RV Supershow. One part of Ft. Wilderness we (hubby and I) love to do is hop on our golf cart, drive through all the loops and shop for 5th wheels. It will be hard going to Tampa without our camper this time, but could not get reservations for the weekend. I hope we find (and buy) the 5th wheel of our dreams this weekend!

 

[RocklandRVers]

I had also heard that cable will soon be available in all loops. I think thats a good thing. I do think, however, that unless you opt to use the cable that you pay a lower rate.

FtW sure has a lot of room to expand. I would think that the group camp area (that seems to rarely be used) would be a great place to make an all pull thru loop. There is already a comfort station and bus stop there so it would just mean setting up the sites (still a lot of work, but nothing like clearing land and adding fill, etc). I feel so sorry for some of the big rigs that struggle to back into some of the tighter sites. More pull thrus would be welcomed I'm sure.

 

[Grumpy92]

Just a suggestion but you might want to request an easy back in site when you make your resv or fax. The cms have book that list the ease of back in for each site. I know it is not pull thrus but an option untill they do pull thrus. I worked there for years and the rumor on a pull thru loop was always there but never done.

 

[FWCamper]

this makes me happy I feel like some of the sites aren't wide enough to put out the awning and have a patio area. Especially in the 1900. I kept saying that with more people buying big rigs the campgrounds are going to have to adjust. Ft. wilderness is one of the best.

 

[tim5055]

The thing many people forget is that FW was built in the 1968-1971 time frame. The size of Rvs then was a lot smaller and tents/pop ups were a lot more common. I camped there in 1973 in a tent and there were a lot of others around.

I was there last week and with the storm damage it is apparent that they can add a couple new loops.

It appears that the area between the 300 loop and the 1500 loop would work for a new "super preferred" loop. Many of the trees in this area are down so they are going to have to clean it up anyway.

There may be sufficient room between the 1700/1900 loops and the main entrance road to add another loop as well as the area over by the 2000 loop.

this makes me happy I feel like some of the sites aren't wide enough to put out the awning and have a patio area. Especially in the 1900. I kept saying that with more people buying big rigs the campgrounds are going to have to adjust. Ft. wilderness is one of the best.

This is one of the reasons that you should know the exact length/width of your unit. When you make reservations tell them something like:

I have a 35 foot trailer and my truck is another 18 feet. Plus I have a 4 foot slide out on the back side and a 9 foot awning. With this information they can assign a site you will fit in.

But, if you don't fit - call and tell them. We got there Tuesday January 4 and went to the site to discover it was too short. The pop up would fit, but once I opened it the truck would be out on the street. We called from the comfort station and they let us pick any site - we called them back with the site number.

 

[FWCamper]

Unfortunately (but fortunately) we always camp during the holidays and the place is filled. I would rather be in a too small site at the Fort , than in a huge site anywhere else.

 

[duranfan]

This is great news. I have seen way to many unexperienced peeps trying to back in 40plus foot 5th wheelers and almost running into other guests cars or trees. Especially when they come in the middle of the night trying to park. In away they need a system at the front desk too. I every time we stay on the 300 loops theres peeps that finally get so frustrated they go back to get another site. Last time there was this one site and I'm not kidding, during a 3 day period about 5 various RVrs (usually 5th wheels) were assigned the site and not one of them could every make it.

Makes sense about the avg RV size then compared to now.

I just hope they don't make any parking lot looking sites. Trees are part of what makes FT W special.

 

[firenurse]

Duranfan,

Do you happen to remember the site number? We are going in a couple of weeks and have requested loop 300. Our luck we will get assigned that site and have loads of fun trying to back in our 35ft fifth wheel!! We requested a site close to the playground, which i think is close to the comfort station.
I hope we will at least get loop 300. I know they don't promise any sites or loops. We did book a preferred site though.
Thanks

 

[duranfan]

IF you requested near the playground you should be OK. Those sites are able to be able to handle the 5th wheels which are usually pretty long and also some of those mega long Million Dollar plus RVs. In that section the road is wider and the trees are not much on an issue. You will probably have a good chance of getting those sites too.
The site I am talking about is across from whats known as the 300 canal bank sites. You would not be in this area if you requested a near playground site. Also, there is a sidewalk that goes to the comfort station in the playground area.
What you should do though is call a week to a few days before you go to the Fort Wilderness front desk and ask to speak to the manager or ast manager on duty and tell them you would really like a site in that area. Usually they are MOST accomodating. They can't promise but usually it does happen. If you happen to get an uncooperative employee just try back. Most of the peeps are helpful but occasionally you will find the one with an attitude.