Split stay between BLT and Ft W. Where to store 5th wheel?

[MinnesotaChill]

We are doing a BLT GV for four nights with extended family and then moving to the Fort. Is there a place to park the 5er while at BLT or do we have to get a site?

 

[bama_ed]

In split stays which include the Fort, the Fort management generally will let people store their campers in the Fort overflow parking lot WHEN THE FORT IS THE FIRST OF THE TWO STAYS. (earn your free parking privileges then use them and not visa-versa).

This comes up when people want to, for example, camp at the Fort and do a Disney Cruise. There is no guarantee that once you do the cruise or stay at BLT that you will come to the Fort. So pre-positioning your camper/rv at the Fort is not generally not allowed.

Note, however, I used all kind of weasel words. I get the feeling the Fort has been burned in the past by people who parked first and DID NOT stay second. Your request is very reasonable but sadly, however, it doesn't always happen that way.

So for MN-Chill at BLT, you can call the Fort now and ask if you can park first. However, my bet (and I'd bet Tiggerdad's Ford tow truck) that it won't happen. So next you would try to park at CR/BLT which when I've been by there is tight and you might have to put it at the TTC parking lot somewhere.

You can always call and ask - nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. However, generally, free parking privileges aren't given until they're earned.

That's my understanding.

Bama Ed

PS - I hope something works out for you...

 

[peg110]

As Ed alluded to though, you could probably park at the TTC (in the back). If your stay is "On Property" You do get those "Free" privileges at the TTC. Maybe not at the fort until you have stayed though.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Havent they used Dixie landings (P.O. Riverside) parking lot in the past ? Seems like I read about it here ?

 

[bama_ed]

bigdisneydaddy,

They might have used POR in the past, don't recall. The BLT/CR parking lot usually strikes me as pretty full most times which is why maybe the OP (and me) presumed not storing it there. I have a popup which i can put a hitch lock on but don't know if there is something similar for a 5er. And I doubt they want to leave the trailer hitched up while at BLT.

Easiest thing to do would be to do the Fort portion first but don't know if that would work for the OP. I would feel a little uneasy unhitching my trailer and letting it sit for days in a hotel parking lot personally.

Bama Ed

 

[PaHunter]

I have a popup which i can put a hitch lock on but don't know if there is something similar for a 5er.

Bama Ed

Yes Ed,
They do make kingpin locks. It is basically two halves that lock around the pin, preventing someone from hitching.

 

[bama_ed]

Yes Ed,
They do make kingpin locks. It is basically two halves that lock around the pin, preventing someone from hitching.
View attachment 251400

Well Chris, with a hitch lock for a 5er then the OP could possibly leave it safely in the BLT/CR parking lot if there is enough space. Or TTC lot or wherever they are told to stash it during their BLT portion.

 

[Ollie's GG]

We had a split stay (a week at Old Key West followed by a few days at FW) a couple of years ago. We had driven our class C. As we neared Orlando, I called OKW and asked them where we could park the RV while staying at OKW. Frankly, I think we could have found sufficient space at OKW, but we followed their instructions and parked in a mostly empty parking lot at Port Orleans. After parking the RV, we did go to the PO registration desk to let them know where we had parked. We had no problems with anything being bothered while it was unattended

 

[Judyfun]

We did a BW FW split and parked in the employee lot at BW

 

[Judique]

Call BLT and ask. Most of the DVC resorts will help you out with split stay parking in some way.

Another option that is pretty cheap is airport parking.

 

[peg110]

Another option that is pretty cheap is airport parking.

REALLY? Not any airport I have ever been too.

Even if I park in the "Long Term" parking (which is usually a Hike and a half away), I still pay a pretty penny, and that's for my Car. Admittedly I have only ever done this at the Local Air port and Philadelphia. And that has been a while since I have done that too. I could only imagine what they would charge me to put my camper there for a week. Never mind trying to navigate the lot to find a good enough spot.

 

[Judique]

REALLY? Not any airport I have ever been too.

Even if I park in the "Long Term" parking (which is usually a Hike and a half away), I still pay a pretty penny, and that's for my Car. Admittedly I have only ever done this at the Local Air port and Philadelphia. And that has been a while since I have done that too. I could only imagine what they would charge me to put my camper there for a week. Never mind trying to navigate the lot to find a good enough spot.

Well, I guess it is according to what you think is cheap. I had a similar situation as OP and I called one of the long term parking areas near MCO and they said 'sure' and the price was going to be $8 per day. I know here in Maryland you can't get that price these days but if you check MCO it may not be as bad as Philly. As it happened we were able to park at AKL.

And for the OP I've seen motorhomes parked at BLT while I was staying there, but I can't say I saw a fifth wheel.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

Ironically, we found long-term parking near the airport (covered) that isn't too bad. I would have agreed with peg110, I would never have looked there. But my husband did! We'd still like to keep the 5'er on property as it makes it so much easier to move, but if we can't, we have a back up.

 

[Judyfun]

When we did split stay between BW and the Fort Boardwalk had us park in the employee parking area (gated)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I get the feeling the Fort has been burned in the past by people who parked first and DID NOT stay second. Your request is very reasonable but sadly, however, it doesn't always happen that way.

1) Yes, we have been burned.
. . . when asked for such parking, we usually say "No" if you want to park BEFORE another resort/cruise stay
. . . if there is room after their Fort stay, we do allow some to leave the RV in the Main (aka, Oveflow) Lot.
. . . but, during busy periods, there is seldom enough room for such parking
. . . so, do not plan upon this as a alternative
2) People would use their RV/trailer to travel to WDW, but not use it to stay at WDW.
3) They would park it at The Fort, bascially for free.
4) In some cases, they would get a one-night room-only ressie at a WDW resort to show the guard at The Fort.
5) Then, they woud cancel the other resort.
. . . they might lose a one-nght charge
. . . or if they cancel 5-days ion advance, there is no charge
6) Yes, people are that cheap, and MANY folks simply try to think of ways to cheat WDW.
. . . we coud write books on guest-cheating
. . . but, that would only give others hints

NOTE: Fortunately, there are RV parks in the area that do rent space for your RV/camper when you move to other reosrts or take a cruise. I live in Clermont, about 20-minutes form WDW, and we have two parks that have such a space-rental service.