Tent camping for 2 weeks - crazy?

[DaisyFoote]

My DH, DD, and I are planning on tent camping for 2 weeks at the beginning of June. At first I was really excited about it, but now I'm having 2nd thoughts. I'm worried that I won't be able to make it for 2 weeks sleeping on an air mattress. Will I be rested up enough to enjoy the parks. Will I be woke up at night with noise? Will it be too hot to get good sleep at night? I'm figuring it'll be too hot to take a mid day nap - I'm right about that right? We've tent camped before but never for 2 weeks. Has anyone else tent camped for this long who would have some advice. I guess it would be good to mention that I'm over 40 and out of shape too - I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for a 20 yr. old. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

 

[North of Mouse]

My DH, DD, and I are planning on tent camping for 2 weeks at the beginning of June. At first I was really excited about it, but now I'm having 2nd thoughts. I'm worried that I won't be able to make it for 2 weeks sleeping on an air mattress. Will I be rested up enough to enjoy the parks. Will I be woke up at night with noise? Will it be too hot to get good sleep at night? I'm figuring it'll be too hot to take a mid day nap - I'm right about that right? We've tent camped before but never for 2 weeks. Has anyone else tent camped for this long who would have some advice. I guess it would be good to mention that I'm over 40 and out of shape too - I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for a 20 yr. old. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

All of the above

I suppose it depends on how committed you are My only experience was for a few *rainy* nights several years ago. That was enough to convince dh & I that we wanted our *creature comforts*. But everyone is different, so good luck if you decide to go it for 2 weeks. There are many who really do enjoy it, but it's not for everyone. *Only* you can really decide what you will/can do. But it *will* be hot - that's a given, just be prepared.

 

[SeilerBird]

The average low temperature in Orlando in June is 71, the average high will be 91. The average rainfall is 7.35 inches.

Yes you will be completely miserable in a tent for two weeks. You can count on almost 4 inches of rain during your two weeks. How much time have you spent in a tent in pouring rain when it was 80 degrees?

 

[mad madam mim78]

My max tent camping is about 3 nights. Having said that, if tent camping was the only way I could stay at Disney I would do it in a heartbeat!

 

[lodge]

With the newer mattresses out there, you could be sleepin' comfy. We have Big Agnes Q-Core and they are totally awesome.

This is how we do it, though... we tent for the days we intend to do the parks (and spend nearly all day there). Then add a day or two in a resort where we want to relax by a certain pool.

I'd say you really have to know your family to evaluate how well you'll do. Is it a style of travel to which everyone is accustomed? I can tell you that my nieces could NO WAY ever tent camp... too accustomed to creature comforts. Their dad could LIVE in a tent.

There are also options for keeping your tent cool. Some people have rigged up an air conditioner to their tent and VOILA... cool sleeping conditions.

Think it all through, be prepared, and you'll be fine.

 

[ctpooh]

We have done it for 3 weeks and had no problem at all!! Oh did I mention it was in August! You will be fine, just bring a box fan.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have done it for 3 weeks and had no problem at all!! Oh did I mention it was in August! You will be fine, just bring a box fan.

Everyone's heat tolerance is different. I have always been able to take the heat (deep south girl) but have never been able to take the high humidity even when growing up.

I have to have AC to sleep. Fans to me just blow around the air, but do nothing for the humid conditions with heat in FL.

 

[FortForever]

I personally think that air mattresses are more comfortable than beds, assuming you have your own. I absolutely hate sharing a air mattress with DH! Unless both people are exact equal weights, one person rolls toward the other.

Air conditioning would also be a necessity in June. We use a regular window air conditioner on a couple of cinder blocks and just zip the door around it. There are much fancier ways of doing that. They make something called an AC Boot (I think) that you can install in your tent to accommodate a window AC.

The third issue is how old is your DD? If she is young, are you anxiety prone? That was always a big issue camping when my kids were young. I didn't sleep well because I was worried about them in a tent.

So, while I would stay in a tent for two weeks, my conditions would be:

1) My own air mattress
2) air conditioner
3) child old enough to not wander off

As far as that two weeks being at Disney.... not 100% sure about that. For me, at 49, Disney is very exhausting. I am so sore and tired at the end of the day that I'm not sure I would be up to the rigors of tent camping, especially after a couple of days. But, like someone else said, if it was camping or nothing ... tent here we come!

Two suggestions -

*Check into the prices at value resorts and even offsite places. I know costs at the Fort have gotten high and you may not be saving that much money. Rodeway Inn, although not the best reviews, not the worst either is only approximately $30 a night.

*If you do end up camping, alternate park days with pool days. Two weeks is enough time to give you the luxury of doing that. Along with the pool, there are many other things to do at the Fort that make for a more relaxing day than parks.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[2goofycampers]

Anything is doable as long as you're physically and mentally prepared. It will take some advanced preparation and planning and some $.

 

[DaisyFoote]

My DD will be having her 8th birthday while we are there so I'm not worried about her wandering off. She does have a tendency to have to use the bathroom 3 or 4 times when we are tent camping, I don't get that. I appreciate everyone's wonderful advice. I'm not sure yet where we will land. My DH says that maybe we can compromise and spend half the time at the Fort and the other half at an off site hotel. I know we can get hotels cheaper - but being just a boat ride away from the MK and getting the EMHs are maybe worth missing the "creature comforts".

 

[englishteacha]

I'd stay at an offsite hotel before tenting for 2 weeks. Maybe tent for a few nights to celebrate your daughter's birthday? We usually rent a condo offsite and it's cheaper than the tent sites at FW. I love camping, but I'm in Maine, where even hot in summer is nothing like Florida. I'd happily tent in Florida in fall/winter/spring. We don't "rough it" in our tent. We have a cabin tent and a double high airbed. Z has her pack and play. We have all the comfy stuff...fans, night stands, lanterns, an EZ up canopy and a screenhouse, etc.

I wouldn't miss the EMH or other "perks" because I've never had them. We've always stayed offsite.

 

[Tigger1]

We used to camp on the weekends at Fort Wilderness. There was 5 children and 2 adults. Saved some $$$ and enjoyed Fort Wilderness. We would always rent a golf cart for at least one night. Dh had to have his air conditioner for the tent. The kids had a fan. The air unit was much to cold for me.

With just the three of you I would get a hotel at least part of the tme. The price of camping at Fort Wilderness is way to expensive compared to a value hotel. At the hotel, beds are ready when you get back from a late night at the parks. Also, Restrooms require a little walking distance. Not good for little ones at night.

 

[SeilerBird]

ut being just a boat ride away from the MK and getting the EMHs are maybe worth missing the "creature comforts".

Where did you hear that the campground was just a boat ride from MK. I have not camped there yet, but from what I have read it is not easy getting anywhere from the campground on any of Disney transportation. The reason it is not easy is that they don't want to make it too easy to return to your cabin/RV/tent to have a meal. They want you to pay their high food prices instead. I will be camping there in a few days so if it is easy I will post it here to let you know.

 

[ElementCamper]

Where did you hear that the campground was just a boat ride from MK. I have not camped there yet, but from what I have read it is not easy getting anywhere from the campground on any of Disney transportation. The reason it is not easy is that they don't want to make it too easy to return to your cabin/RV/tent to have a meal. They want you to pay their high food prices instead. I will be camping there in a few days so if it is easy I will post it here to let you know.

The Marina at the campground is about a 15 minute boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. Add internal transportation inside the campground and waiting on the boat you would always be approximately 30 minutes to an hour between your campsite and MK. Sometimes longer if it's busy and the boat makes a stop at Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary, some boats are direct and some make stops at one of the hotels.

 

[Pnerissa]

The combination of heat and humidity in June would be enough to turn me off and I'm an avid outdoors person. Florida is not kind in the summer.

Bev

 

[rluey29]

We camped there last June and the rain bothered us more than the heat. I love camping but with the amount of rain we were hit with made it rough.

 

[North of Mouse]

Where did you hear that the campground was just a boat ride from MK. I have not camped there yet, but from what I have read it is not easy getting anywhere from the campground on any of Disney transportation. The reason it is not easy is that they don't want to make it too easy to return to your cabin/RV/tent to have a meal. They want you to pay their high food prices instead. I will be camping there in a few days so if it is easy I will post it here to let you know.

It is *super* easy to get from FW to MK. There is a large boat that goes directly from the Fort to MK (settlement area) and takes approx. 15min. tops. For the other parks you take an internal bus to outpost, from there take a bus to parks.

There are some people that think the buses are not fast enough, but we have been camping at FW for 40 years, have never rented a golf cart, or used a personal vehicle to get around, and have not had but the occasional problem. Sometimes the buses may be a little *off*, but I guess we are the patient sort and it doesn't bother us too much.

As for Disney wanting to make it harder to get back to FW (MK is easy), but because WDW on the whole is *huge* it does take a good bit of time to go and come from the other parks - but not intentionally because Disney planned it so - the distances between just makes it that way. We take breaks all the time and go back to our MH to rest, etc. We do eat our meals in the parks/resorts but only because that's what we enjoy doing.

You can even bring food (picnic type) into the parks if that is what you desire.

Have a great stay at FW - but be aware, it can be addictive.

 

[retired and happy]

I agree that Disney transportation is the way to go. Relax and enjoy the scenery. You're on vacation. In about 15 years we have never taken our personal vehicle to any of the parks, although some of our guests have. We use the internal busses to reach the Outpost or Marina if we are going to a Park. Rarely had any problem.

 

[DaisyFoote]

What about going in a pop up. Would that change anything?

 

[lodge]

Yeah, you wouldn't be sleeping on the ground like those of us in a tent.


Actually I'm being a smart°°° 'cause I'm not sure what your asking regarding a difference!