Say you arrive 1 night early to the fort

[DisCamper]

If you have a Res. you can checkin anytime but you may honkoff your new neighbors if you are Loud coming in to your site.

 

[clkelley]

Not flaming here, but I have a legit question on this. In almost every campground I've stayed in, there's a quiet period, lights out, usually from 11pm to 7am or thereabouts. Does FW not institute a "quiet hours/lights out" policy?

I guess that would be hard to do, though, what with EMH and PI hours and all...

I never said I was noisy and shining bright lights, I just said I was setting up. The first thing I did when arriving was set up my chair and sit there for a bit enjoying the night and also acclimating my eyes, so I was able to set up with just one small lantern that doesn't cast much past my own campsite.

Plus, the Disney busses are running through the campground till 3am every single morning. They are not quiet.

 

[stacktester]

I think I'll just book over at one of the other cg's when I arrive too early. I am a little leary about sleeping at Wal-Mart. A truck stop maybe if other campers were there. I didn't realize that it was a growing problem in the over fill lot.

I'm still not believing somebody let their awning out. I see a lot of different vehicles when we've been before. Boats, enclosed trailers, semi trailers and you name it. I heard if you are there for like Mon.-Wed. and u don't have Thurs. but have days after that, they let you stay in that lot Thurs. and then you can check back in Friday. Anyway I think I got my answer.

 

[rajak73]

We drove in from eastern Nebraska in 2004, actually put in longer driving hours than expected during the day, arrived almost a day early, we had camped at Ft Summit before so we just stayed there until our reservation time at FW.

 

[Tricializ]

from the get go. Then, I know when I arrive, it will be ready. If, for some reason I arrive the following day, then so be it. In the scope of things, 1 night's reservation is a drop in the bucket to what the trip costs with reservations, golf cart, park tickets and FUEL (ugh). Peace of mind to me. I can see if you arrive early morning and sleep a few hours before check in. But much more than that is taking a free night of camping in my opinion. I figure if I pay for my site, you should too.

 

[stacktester]

From now on I'm leaving to where we can be at FW around 0600. They do not mind at all directing you over to the overflow lot. I'm sure if you want to shower or eat breakfast before you catch a bus that would be acceptable. I would not put the awning out or crank the genny up lol.

 

[Donna]

This is a little unrelated but i was wondering...when we stayed at POP in October for an impromptu trip, we noticed several RVs (Cs and As) in their parking lot the whole week, unoccupied. We were trying to figure out why someone would bring their RV and either stay at POP or park there and stay somewhere else. They were there for 5 days and never moved!

 

[clkelley]

Several reasons, maybe WDW is part of a longer trip and they want to take a break from the RV for a few days, or they are full-timers stopping at WDW and there is no room at Ft. Wilderness, but wanted to stay on-site. Also, I know some friends that travel in their motorhome because all 8 of them can travel in the motorhome, then stay at OKW on their DVC points, and have an inexpensive way to stop on the way down and back.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

This is a little unrelated but i was wondering...when we stayed at POP in October for an impromptu trip, we noticed several RVs (Cs and As) in their parking lot the whole week, unoccupied. We were trying to figure out why someone would bring their RV and either stay at POP or park there and stay somewhere else. They were there for 5 days and never moved!

We did this at SSR this past November. We had a big family trip planned with my parents coming in from CO. We had already booked the resort using our DVC points 11 months ahead of time. We then invited my DSis and her DD. So we had 5 people driving from NJ. Since we all bring LOTS of stuff my DH was thinking about dragging the trailer along for luggage. About a month before the trip my DH bought a used Class C. We thought that it would make our trip more comfortable on the drive down and back. Called SSR prior to the trip and they had no problem with us parking it in the lot for the week. The RV came in very handy when my poor DH was overloaded with my family (his own little escape pod ). Besides that, it also gave him the chance to really get his feet wet driving it. It was a great trip down and back! And we realized that we need to figure out how to work the heater in the back!!
Next trip though is at FW. Reservations already made for October!!!

 

[Donna]

Several reasons, maybe WDW is part of a longer trip and they want to take a break from the RV for a few days, or they are full-timers stopping at WDW and there is no room at Ft. Wilderness, but wanted to stay on-site. Also, I know some friends that travel in their motorhome because all 8 of them can travel in the motorhome, then stay at OKW on their DVC points, and have an inexpensive way to stop on the way down and back.

This is what we sort of figured but i wasn't sure if that was allowed. Good to know that it is. I just wonder what they tell the guard when pulling that big rig through the entrance! The one i saw was a big 40 footer, really nice.

 

[tderonne]

Coming from Michigan in the winter months we have a similar problem. No bad weather or traffic and we can be there for Saturday night, leaving Friday after work. But I hate to make a reservation for Saturday night that we may not use.

Lake Louisa state park (and Lake Griffin before Louisa had camping) has been our solution. A $20 state park night is a lot easier to miss if we don't make it. If we do, it gives us a good place to sleep. Sunday morning we have either gone straight to the fort, or to a park (right when it opened) then the fort.

There's always what happened to my mom on her last visit. She arrived at about 3:00 am. Her site was ready! She just pulled in and parked, then setup after some sleep.

 

[stacktester]

There is a campground just east of Orlando near a big rest area. I'm going to find out the name and I'll post later.

 

[goscudder]

Coming from Michigan in the winter months we have a similar problem. No bad weather or traffic and we can be there for Saturday night, leaving Friday after work. But I hate to make a reservation for Saturday night that we may not use.

Lake Louisa state park (and Lake Griffin before Louisa had camping) has been our solution. A $20 state park night is a lot easier to miss if we don't make it. If we do, it gives us a good place to sleep. Sunday morning we have either gone straight to the fort, or to a park (right when it opened) then the fort.

There's always what happened to my mom on her last visit. She arrived at about 3:00 am. Her site was ready! She just pulled in and parked, then setup after some sleep.

Hi Tim! We're also from Michigan (Troy) and driving down for the first time next month? Any suggestions? How is the drive, and how long does it usually take you? Any areas to watch out for, especially in the winter? Thanks!

 

[VAN]

We drive down with a pop-up every year from SW Michigan. We get on the road at 3:30 am and drive through to Tifton, GA and then spend the night at a hotel. The next day we are on the road by 7:30 and usually pull into FW between 11:00-11:30 am.

This has worked real well for us.

On the way back, we are on the road by 6:00 am and manage to just get ahead of the big exit from Florida. (one year we left at 7:00 am and the traffic was terrible!!)

We drive through to Elizabethtown, KY (getting there about 7:00-8:00 pm) and spend the night at a hotel. We get on the road by 7:00 the next morning and are home by 12:30-1:00 pm.

This works out well because we arrive somewhat refreshed. Staying at a hotel also helps because I just have an overnight bag packed and we order pizza. Helps to just unwind from a long day on the road.

We have gotten stuck in traffic the last few years in Nashville because of construction (last year on the way home because of Tornados!!). Atlanta can be bad depending on the day you travel. We normally take the camper straight through downtown.

We have had problems getting a hotel at the last minute, so now I go ahead and make my reservation months ahead, always checking to see if there is a safe place to park our RV.

We've done this many years so kind of have it worked out to a science, so to speak.

 

[goscudder]

Sounds like the drive from Michigan shouldn't be too horrible (as long as the weather cooperates!). Thanks for sharing!

 

[my3princes]

We arrived early once and were turned away as there was no available sites. We ended up in a parking lot of a store overnight then were able to check in the next morning for our reservation. Another time we were able to pay for an extra day and check in early. I guess it depends on how full they are and who you are dealing with.

 

[tderonne]

goscudder, check your PM.