Tell me about tent camping...

[hoosiergirl]

...the good, the bad, and the ugly! I'm really looking forward to trying it at Ft. Wilderness but want to hear people's experiences. Looking forward to the stories!

 

[clkelley]

Tent camping is super nice at the Fort!!

You have wonderful level sites with plenty of room to set up whatever you need. You have some of the nicest bath houses in the industry to use for your personal needs. You have plenty of electricity to run air conditioning, heaters, electric blankets, fans, the laptop, television, whatever.

Check out the thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1706043

There are several pictures of folks tent camping setups at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[hoosiergirl]

Thanks, clkelly! I've really enjoyed your camping posts, btw. You're very helpful--and have the most organized tent I've ever seen!

I was wondering...is it a noisy campground, in that, will it be hard to sleep? I know that's subjective--each person is different--but experiences of others always is helpful.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I can sleep through anything (from working nights and having a house full of kids all day), but the fort seemed exceptionally quiet after 10pm, most, MOST, of the guest there respect the downtime rules......Ive been to dozens of Campgrounds, some I wish I could forget, others were as beautiful as the day is long....but the fort wins out as my favorite hands down, and not just because of the Disney parks.....the campground itself is just fun, and everyone always seems to be in such a great mood, I'll be tenting there May 21st for a week and a half with my wife and 2 youngest daughters. Cant wait for the time to pass.

 

[ntsammy5]

I can sleep through anything (from working nights and having a house full of kids all day

I slept through a mortar attack once. In a tent.

FW is one of the all-time quietest campgrounds I ever stayed at.

 

[hoosiergirl]

These posts make me very happy--just what I was hoping for! I'm really looking forward to trying FW out. Now to just make those reservations...

 

[hoosiergirl]

And yet one more question... With RV's and campers, you can lock your doors, right? So how do you secure your things with a tent?? For both FW and campgrounds? My thought is not to leave anything valuable in the tents, but is there really much "thievery" (is that a word??) in campgrounds?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

For the most part...NO, but dont be naive, first rule of thumb...Out Of Site, Out Of Mind....if you're going to have a car, lock your valuables in the car while at the parks.If you dont have a car, at least attempt to hide stuff like computers or mp3 players in the tent under a sleeping bag or SOMETHING. Its very safe, but dont invite trouble.

 

[hoosiergirl]

Thanks, BigDaddyRog! That was my mindset, too--keeping the valuables out of sight. I didn't think people would just start going through tents!

Since part of the week it'll just be and my teen DDs, I've also started wondering about security. I think I'll feel pretty safe being at FW in a tent w/o my DH--especially since I've read about women camping solo!

 

[kimluvswdw]

I have camped in a tent exactly once and I don't like it. We have had a travel trailer, Fifth Wheel, and a motorhome. We have sold them over the years and went to the fort with a tent. Never again.

 

[hoosiergirl]

Thanks for your honesty, kimluvswdw! Care to elaborate? What was it about tenting that you didn't like? Or was it the switch from the nicer camping vehicles to the tent? I'm all ears!!

 

[jimlin]

Replying to that question I doubt if it would be considered noisy. I've stayed in a number of state campgrounds that got very rowdy at times. I think you really get a different quality of camper, even taking into consideration the beer factor at the fort, that is more family oriented and the parks really wear people out.

Jim

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I have camped in a tent exactly once and I don't like it. We have had a travel trailer, Fifth Wheel, and a motorhome. We have sold them over the years and went to the fort with a tent. Never again.

Do you enjoy tent camping at all? I mean, I love tent camping...just about anywhere (and Ive done it some wacky places), the wife, on the other hand has never tented in her life. But she has agreed that the Fort seems like a good place to give it a fair shot, so we'll be tenting together for the first time in 18yrs of marriage this May at FtW.
Ohhh yeah, my point.....if ya hate tent camping, chances are you'll hate tent camping at the fort too.

 

[hoosiergirl]

My thoughts exactly, BigDaddyRog...on the same wavelength as your DW! We've never tent camped as a family...other than the DD's and me doing it on a youth retreat and that is no comparison to what we'd be doing at FW! I figure FW will be the place to try the tent out. If we like it there, we'll keep tenting this summer. Maybe some day we'll "graduate" to a pop-up and so on... Kind of doing things backwards in some people's opinion...after 22 years of marriage and being DVC members, we thought we'd try camping!

 

[clkelley]

As far as securing valuables in a tent, I used a plastic footlocker and put a lock on it inside the tent to keep the laptop. Wal-Mart carries them in the automotive section for less than $20.

You can also put a little lock in the zipper pulls of your tent if you wish.

 

[RvUsa]

I used to love tent camping, before the bad back, the bad knees, the bad breathing... etc. The very last time my dw and I went tenting, at about 3 am, some mold or whatever in the tent, got me wheezing and coughing so bad, that I REALLY thought I was going to die. I went and sat in the truck for about an hour, but it got worse. Well we had a small trailer with 2 quads on it, so we packed up in middle of the night to leave, and DW would not drive. My lips were blue, I couldn't breath, but dw wouldn't drive no matter what, so after fighting the best I could with no lungs, I drove 50 miles to closest minimart, bought some benedryl, and made it to a motel. 2 weeks later, we bought our 1st TT. Never looked back since.

 

[kimluvswdw]

Thanks for your honesty, kimluvswdw! Care to elaborate? What was it about tenting that you didn't like? Or was it the switch from the nicer camping vehicles to the tent? I'm all ears!!

I just got tired of carting everything to the bathroom for showers or even to just brush your teeth. My husband had a heck of a time shaving in those bathroom sinks (the water is an auto shut off). I found that I didn't sleep well in the tent. You can hear every little noise in a tent and some of the kids are up at the crack of dawn. Another draw back of the tent is that when someone needs to change, everyone has to go outside. The biggest thing was waking up in the middle of the night having to go to the bathroom. It really stinks if you are not close to the bathroom.

Heat and AC can also be a problem in a tent.

I love the fort, but I would like it alot better if I can get another travel trailer or something.

Kim

 

[ntsammy5]

To each his/her own. I love tent camping and everything about it. If, like John, I couldn't do it anymore I would consider a trailer, but it's certainly not in the cards for the near future.

 

[Shannone1]

I think it's just like anything else...it depends on what you are used to. I tent camped the night of my senior prom (it's amazing I went on to marry him, lol). I also slept in a tent for 2 nights last fall for the Susan G Koman 3 day,Breast Cancer Walk. It was awful. We were cold, the tents were too crowded and they got very damp by morning. Both nights I had to get up in the middle of the night to make my way to the portapotty. My feet were killing me from the walking 20 miles each day and then to have to go through that again...did I mention it was awful ??

However, once BDG opens up his rental business down there in Orlando, I would think about it. I think a lot of people at FW would use his service. Imagine checking in at the fort and finding your tent already set up and waiting for you. Cots, mini fridge, microwave, and even the tarp and awning lights. Don't forget the golf cart he will bring too. Then when you check out, all you have to do is make sure it's cleaned up and pack your clothes. He will take everything down too. No more trying to fit everything in your bags for the airport, or having to buy a cheap tent once you get there. I think you should run with this idea BDR !!

 

[hoosiergirl]

BigDaddyRog...are you listening? I think Shannone1 is ready to be your first customer! (And I agree--a great concept!)