Sand lot size for preferred sites

[brad813]

I am trying to decide between a partial hookup site and preferred for a quick trip down in September. Won't spend much time in the campground, but looking at a preferred for convenience. Since there is a $30 a day difference, I am wondering how large the sand lots on the preferred sites are. Since this will be a first camping trip for me, I need to know so I can work out the maximum size tent I can buy(I am going a little larger because I am taller and because I want room to stash my stuff). It will be just me.

 

[PaHunter]

None of the coquina pads are the same size from site to site. They all vary, some larger some smaller and not knowing what site you would be lucky enough to get, it is hard to say how large a tent you could get. Our site last year would have easily held a 10x10 on the pad behind the driveway.

 

[peg110]

Full has the largest of tent areas, Preferred have smaller ones and premiums have (virtually) no tent pad area.

Are you mixing a trailer with a tent, thus the need for both areas or is there some other concern?

 

[brad813]

Full has the largest of tent areas, Preferred have smaller ones and premiums have (virtually) no tent pad area.

Are you mixing a trailer with a tent, thus the need for both areas or is there some other concern?

A larger tent(due to my height, I need a tent quite a bit larger than the normal size for a single person) and 2000 Chevy Prizm is all. In looking at the preferred versus the partial, I am thinking about how I would travel to and from the parks themselves. I am visiting the Magic Kingdom and Epcot mainly, with a possibility of hopping between Epcot and Hollywood Studios on my Epcot day. I know the preferred sites are near the marina, so I wanted to be sure they have plenty of room for a 6 to 10 person tent(whatever the best deal is I can find but again, the reason is room to move around) before spending the extra $30/night for a more convenient location.

 

[bama_ed]

Brad,

Both the Full and Preferred sites have a paved driveway 12 feet wide and the tent pad extends past each side by about a foot or so.

The wildcard is how deep the tent pad is. Site 201 in loop 200 (Preferred) is only about 5 feet deep. But it's an exception. Nearly all are 15 feet deep and many much deeper.

My advice is to buy the tent you want first. Then second, if any dimension is over 12 feet, call the Disney reservation line and ask them to note the size of your tent on your reservation (12x15 for example). Anything smaller than 12x12 will generally fit on nearly all the sites you are considering. Notes and special requests get passed to the resort a few days before the guests arrive and a Cast Member will see it and hopefully ensure the site you are pre-assigned will accomodate whatever your tent size is.

In my unscientific opinion the Preferred sites have tent pads that are slightly smaller than the Full sites but I think both would accomodate your needs unless your tent was for a party of say 6 or more. So it may not be worth the extra price for the Preferred. We stay on the Preferred sites now lately for the convenience of walking to the MK boat which we visit more often than the other parks.

Good luck on your stay.

Bama Ed

 

[brad813]

Brad,

Both the Full and Preferred sites have a paved driveway 12 feet wide and the tent pad extends past each side by about a foot or so.

The wildcard is how deep the tent pad is. Site 201 in loop 200 (Preferred) is only about 5 feet deep. But it's an exception. Nearly all are 15 feet deep and many much deeper.

My advice is to buy the tent you want first. Then second, if any dimension is over 12 feet, call the Disney reservation line and ask them to note the size of your tent on your reservation (12x15 for example). Anything smaller than 12x12 will generally fit on nearly all the sites you are considering. Notes and special requests get passed to the resort a few days before the guests arrive and a Cast Member will see it and hopefully ensure the site you are pre-assigned will accomodate whatever your tent size is.

In my unscientific opinion the Preferred sites have tent pads that are slightly smaller than the Full sites but I think both would accomodate your needs unless your tent was for a party of say 6 or more. So it may not be worth the extra price for the Preferred. We stay on the Preferred sites now lately for the convenience of walking to the MK boat which we visit more often than the other parks.

Good luck on your stay.

Bama Ed

The main reason I am looking at preferred is for the location near the marina. My visit is going to be primarily to MK and Epcot this trip, both easily accessible via the boats and monorail. I also will be having breakfast at Kona Cafe at 7:30AM the day I visit Epcot, so it would be relatively convenient. However, I am not opposed to driving it either, if needed. It is really a matter of working out the best way to get around for what I need.

 

[PaHunter]

The main reason I am looking at preferred is for the location near the marina. My visit is going to be primarily to MK and Epcot this trip, both easily accessible via the boats and monorail. I also will be having breakfast at Kona Cafe at 7:30AM the day I visit Epcot, so it would be relatively convenient. However, I am not opposed to driving it either, if needed. It is really a matter of working out the best way to get around for what I need.

The internal bus system is awesome for getting you where you need to go. They run back and forth between the Outpost and Settlement, so getting to the marina from a full is not a problem.

 

[brad813]

The internal bus system is awesome for getting you where you need to go. They run back and forth between the Outpost and Settlement, so getting to the marina from a full is not a problem.

What time of the morning do the internal buses start running?

 

[tiggerdad]

What time of the morning do the internal buses start running?

The "day shift" buses pull from the bus barn at 6:30am so expect to see them about 6:45am at FW. They are supposed to run every 20-minutes.

 

[brad813]

The "day shift" buses pull from the bus barn at 6:30am so expect to see them about 6:45am at FW. They are supposed to run every 20-minutes.

Thanks. My reservation might be be pushing it a little. I will have to take this into consideration.

 

[peg110]

So... A bit more research (as I have also heard the buses start at 6 AM.

From: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/bus-transportation/

Getting to Disney Theme and Water Parks from a Disney Resort Hotel

• Bus service from Disney Resort hotels begins 45 minutes prior to park opening and ends 1 hour prior to park closing.
• Return service to Disney Resort hotels ends 2 hours after park closing.

Getting Between Different Disney Theme and Water Parks


Please ask a Cast Member to assist you in planning your trip from one park to another. The most direct route may involve a combination of bus, monorail or boat.


Getting to Disney Springs

• Bus service from Disney Resort hotels begins 45 minutes before opening until 1:00 AM.
• Return service to Disney Resort hotels ends at 2:00 AM.
• One-way bus service from the 4 Disney theme parks operates daily from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM or 2 hours after theme parks close, whichever is earlier.

So.... the answer is that it really "Depends". Apparently bus service starts 45 Minutes prior to park opening. Doesn't specify WHICH park and as such one must assume it is based on the "EARLIEST" park opening. This is from the Resort (or in our case the Fort) to the PARK.

However at the Fort, there is an Internal Bus system we need to contend with. I am pretty sure that it starts running before the other buses do as well. Your best bet, of course, is to check with a CM at the Fort (perhaps at Checkin) to ensure you have the timing down. As a rule, I figure on an HOUR to get to/from the parks and have been relatively safe with that estimate. Doesn't usually take that long (once it took longer, but that was a unique situation) but it's a safe estimate.

 

[brad813]

So... A bit more research (as I have also heard the buses start at 6 AM.

From: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/bus-transportation/

Getting to Disney Theme and Water Parks from a Disney Resort Hotel

• Bus service from Disney Resort hotels begins 45 minutes prior to park opening and ends 1 hour prior to park closing.
• Return service to Disney Resort hotels ends 2 hours after park closing.

Getting Between Different Disney Theme and Water Parks


Please ask a Cast Member to assist you in planning your trip from one park to another. The most direct route may involve a combination of bus, monorail or boat.


Getting to Disney Springs

• Bus service from Disney Resort hotels begins 45 minutes before opening until 1:00 AM.
• Return service to Disney Resort hotels ends at 2:00 AM.
• One-way bus service from the 4 Disney theme parks operates daily from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM or 2 hours after theme parks close, whichever is earlier.

So.... the answer is that it really "Depends". Apparently bus service starts 45 Minutes prior to park opening. Doesn't specify WHICH park and as such one must assume it is based on the "EARLIEST" park opening. This is from the Resort (or in our case the Fort) to the PARK.

However at the Fort, there is an Internal Bus system we need to contend with. I am pretty sure that it starts running before the other buses do as well. Your best bet, of course, is to check with a CM at the Fort (perhaps at Checkin) to ensure you have the timing down. As a rule, I figure on an HOUR to get to/from the parks and have been relatively safe with that estimate. Doesn't usually take that long (once it took longer, but that was a unique situation) but it's a safe estimate.

I planned for a 7:30am breakfast, figuring I would take the boat to the contemporary then take the monorail around to the Polynesian. Still need to get to the marina though.

 

[peg110]

Be aware that there is up coming maintenance planned for the monorail so be prepared with an alternative.

 

[brad813]

Be aware that there is up coming maintenance planned for the monorail so be prepared with an alternative.

Always. When I worked in travel I learned to monitor these things closely and be prepared with a contingency(besides, I tend to have contingencies for my contingencies).

 

[PaHunter]

I planned for a 7:30am breakfast, figuring I would take the boat to the contemporary then take the monorail around to the Polynesian. Still need to get to the marina though.

The monorail runs later and would not help you.

 

[brad813]

The monorail runs later and would not help you.

Thanks. This is why I ask questions. I get the information I need this way.

 

[brad813]

Ended up opting for a partial hookup site, and just ordered an 8 person tent(I wanted the extra room to have enough space to store my gear and be able to move about). Thanks everyone for your help on this. Now, just to find a good place to stop and camp on the way down(cause, why not if I already have the gear...if any gators(the animal, not the college team) happen to get after me, I am turning them into etouffee.