Tent Camping in Jan/Feb

[leadfootlevi]

Are we nuts to even consider this option for our next trip to WDW?

We came to the fort for HDDR on 10/31 and were able to meet Chip and Dale at the campfire. We didn't stay for anything else and we didn't walk the loops to see all the great decorations (MIL wasn't up for any more walking), but our next trip MUST be at the fort. It seems you could make a whole vacation out of just the fort - no real "need" to visit the parks to have something to do. Can't wait!

Speaking of that, how is the best way to get our camping gear from MN to the fort? Tent and sleeping bags, mainly.

Thanks!

 

[5stljayhawks]

Drive. Car to small? rent a van or better yet a RV up north or when you get down south.

BYOF and other goodies.

 

[frankp01]

how is the best way to get our camping gear from MN to the fort? Tent and sleeping bags, mainly.

Three of us are staying at the Fort in February. We're flying down, thanks to Southwest. We'll be able to check 6 bags without additional cost. That'll cover the tent, two folding bikes, kitchen/sleeping stuff, and other things too (we do travel light, however).

We're looking forward to it.

Phil

 

[bama_ed]

Tent camping is sort of iffy in January. I have been a couple times in January to run the half and whole marathons and it can get downright cold (the morning of the full marathon run it was 39F at 6 a.m. when the gun went off). You can get a really unpleasant cold and rainy period followed by a sunny clear couple of days. Kinda unpredictable January is. But it has its nice moments.

Check the weather channel dot com website for Orlando (look for Averages - Monthly - January or February). February is downright wonderful. Cool mornings and pleasant days. Watch your crowd calendar though because rates spike for MLK weekend in January, Presidents Weekend in February and sometime in late Feb they spike through Easter for the spring break crowd.

Anything you can't take with you if flying I would use UPS Ground and ship to the Fort (label "hold for xxx family arriving 2/1/11" or something like that. Don't know how it would work going home but same principle applies. I'm sure this has happened before though so call the front desk at the Fort and ask them.

It's a great time of year to tent camp at the Fort. Enjoy!

Bama ED

 

[HappyCamper519]

Three of us are staying at the Fort in February. We're flying down, thanks to Southwest. We'll be able to check 6 bags without additional cost. That'll cover the tent, two folding bikes, kitchen/sleeping stuff, and other things too (we do travel light, however).

We're looking forward to it.

Phil

Thanks for sharing, Phil! You have made my day
I've been working on trying to convince my hubby that we could steal away for a quick anniversary camp-out at the Fort. Fly, take a tent, etc. He's thinking I'm nuts...too much to bring on the plane and mess with once there. I say "tent, bedding, clothes, light, plug, done!"

Tell me more about how you pack, please, and the details on what you find are must-haves....

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Rain tarp, space heater, and electric blankets would be high on my list. I still would think twice about camping in January.

 

[SCtigercock]

We haven't tent camped at the Fort, but have in Daytona for the 500 in Feb. It gets pretty chilly at night. Have had frost on the tents in the mornings and anywhere from 50s to low 80s during the days. We took mummy bags and a light sheet to cover all options. With the possibility of wet weather, we gound a mattress to be off the ground a must.

 

[retired and happy]

Anybody know any details/experience about tents you can rent at the Fort, pre-set up for you? Size? Price? Quality? Rainproof-ness?

 

[bama_ed]

Anybody know any details/experience about tents you can rent at the Fort, pre-set up for you? Size? Price? Quality? Rainproof-ness?

Ken,

I recalled seeing a post recentlyabout this topic and here is the thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2555815&highlight=tent+rentals

I did a search on "Tent Rentals" and there is a thread by that title from this past September. It doesn't answer all your questions like size of the tents but it has cost and pix. They do look like big canvas style tents which in my experience are pretty good quality and shouldn't leak.

I recently bought some gently used canvas wall tents (one is 7x9 and one is 10x12) and I would love to get done to the Fort in shoulder season (spring or fall) and try them out in the 1500 loop back up against the canal.

Anyway, good luck to you. Let us know if you end up trying these out.

Bama ED

 

[arielmomma]

We are planning on tent camping late Jan/early Feb 2011. We are driving down and have stayed at the fort before. We use a roof top carrier as we drive a chevy malibu. If you are in MN and have camped at all in the fall, I can't imagine Fort Wilderness to be that bad. We are from MI and in the UP its gotten down into the upper 30's on Labor Day Weekend. My family of 4 (with very small children) was fine. We used cots and warm sleeping bags. Didn't have a space heater back then, but we do now. Just be prepared!

I hope to see you down there.

 

[ambertides]

Anybody know any details/experience about tents you can rent at the Fort, pre-set up for you? Size? Price? Quality? Rainproof-ness?

They set up and tear down for you.

It was $33.45/night on 10/25.

In the center it was tall enough for my 6 foot 4 DH to stand up in.

Our queen air mattress fit with plenty of room to spare.

It rained, lightly & briefly while we were out, no signs of rain in the tent when we curled into bed for the night. But the bottom our our air mattress was damp when we rolled it up the next morning.