Scavenger Hunt

[Amanda86]

Brad, Here.... We are coming to the fort in Sept. We will be tent camping in the preferred camping area and I am wanting to know if anyone is willing you scout out the biggest site in the preferred loops for us? We have a 20x20 base camp tent that works just great for my family of 6 and everyone is saying 14ft is the best we are going to get. We call the Fort and they told me the sites are 10x60 but we know that big campers open up to 16ft, with slide outs open on both sides. Please HELP!!!!!!

P.S. staying at the preferred location, to avoid boy scouts and to be closer to the action.

 

[sippican]

I think it may be difficult for anyone to let your know which is the largest; there are over 120 preferred sites and the entire site, including the tent pad, may not even be visible from the road if it is occupied. Do you plan on erecting your tent on the paved pad or are you planning to utilize the sandy tent pad? (Puzzled about your boy scout comment???)
Even if you do request a specific site, there is no guarantee whatsoever that your will get that site. We've never requested a specific site number, but do request loops, which is usually granted, but not always. CMs do their very best to make magic, but it's not always possible. Did you specify your tent size when reserving?
We do have a motorhome with three slides and an awning. When we are fully extended, our driver-side slides frequently extend out beyond the pad. FWIW, we have found that the preferred sites are some of the tightest we've encountered at the Fort, and the roomiest, the full-hook-ups in the 1600, 1700 (favorite), 1800 and 1900 loops. We've never had a bad site!
I suggest you be sure to note your tent size on your reservation. When you check in, ask for the largest site available at that time. Inventory changes all day. CMs have large notebooks with the site notes, including sizes; we've been given our choice of open sites many times (we also like to store our golf cart trailer on-site when possible, so like a long site) In September, you should have some choices (even though the preferreds are more limited in number). Even then, if you drive to your site and it is not to your liking, go back and request another. CMs want you to be happy and will bend over backwards if you are pleasant.
And if you really want to drive yourself crazy to find the perfect site, there is an app for that, complete with videos.

 

[Amanda86]

We camped in the 1500 loop last year in April, boys scouts were everywhere and loud!!! A couple of times they just stood in the rode while others were trying to drive in their vehicle to their campsite.

We did let the CMs know we had a 20x20, but all she knew was the 10x60. But knowing the sites are that tight we may look at full-hookup and request 1700 loop with the most trees possible around the site. We may buy a new tent as well, just to be prepared.

Thank you for your input.

 

[bama_ed]

sippican said it well.

Preferred sites are 12 feet wide paved at the tent pads. Usually the tent pad extends a foot or two past the pavement edges on either side. So your problem is not the 20 feet of depth for the tent but the 20 feet of width.

Even Premium sites are only 16 feet paved wide at the back. The trees and bushes are cleared out a few feet on either side extra to accommodate slides and awnings.

And Brad, don't paint the Boy Scouts with a broad brush. As a former leader and current Eagle, most should be held to the campground rules by their leaders. At least you know you will have a friendly ear if you have to go and have a word with one. Oh no, there are plenty of other folks to worry about who don't pledge to be ".... helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, ....".

In a statistical sense, here is your challenge:

1. Find an empty Preferred site to set up on.
2. Find a site that will fit you.
3. Both #1 and #2.

My advice would be to arrive early in the day, go in and talk to a CM at the check-in desk even if you've been pre-assigned a site, and see if you can secure a site that fits you. How are you sleeping? On the ground? On cots? On air mattresses? Some of those can accommodate a bump in the ground as you set up over the wooden ties better than some others.

September can still be hot, muggy, and wet too BTW.

Good luck with your search.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

We camped in the 1500 loop last year in April, boys scouts were everywhere and loud!!! A couple of times they just stood in the rode while others were trying to drive in their vehicle to their campsite.

We did let the CMs know we had a 20x20, but all she knew was the 10x60. But knowing the sites are that tight we may look at full-hookup and request 1700 loop with the most trees possible around the site. We may buy a new tent as well, just to be prepared.

Thank you for your input.

I love the 1600 and 1700 loops - they are our favorites - but the 1700 loop is not very private at all. The trees are mostly very tall longleaf pines (?) so while it's pretty shady, there's not much in the way of privacy if that is what you are looking for.

 

[sippican]

yes,

I love the 1600 and 1700 loops - they are our favorites - but the 1700 loop is not very private at all. The trees are mostly very tall longleaf pines (?) so while it's pretty shady, there's not much in the way of privacy if that is what you are looking for.

Absolutely true. However, the sites that seem more private in the way of bushes or dense trees, are also the ones that may be more of a challenge size-wise. The OP may need to prioritize "wants".

Brad, FWIW, we have never run into any Boy Scouts, noisy or otherwise, however, there are occaisionally full grown adults and their "tribes" who could use a dose of camping etiquette.

 

[peg110]

we have never run into any Boy Scouts, noisy or otherwise, however, there are occaisionally full grown adults and their "tribes" who could use a dose of camping etiquette.

I think any group of young (or younger) boys (or even girls) in any organization (Boy/Girl scouts or otherwise) can tend to get a little carried away. It's in the nature of kids to be that way, particularly when they are in groups with their friends. The scouts however, will usually (but not always) have leaders that are approachable if they get too out of control or to rambunctious.

Some go camping to "Unwind". Some go to "Relax", and at the fort, some go just because it's a convenient location to stay while at WDW. So you get all kinds. I agree with Ed that lumping ANY of these groups together is a bad idea. I am sure that wasn't the OP's intent, rather just a prememptive step to avoid any possibilities of it. Of course that doesn't mean that your next neighbor wont be a party animal playing music late and loud either.

Either way, I hope the OP is able to find a good site that will accommodate his needs and that he and his crew have an awesome time. After all that's what the fort is for.... Right?