shocker
It's a WDW realty that not every moment is magical
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2008
- Messages
- 2,820
Ok, I've now changed trip plans and will fly in and take DME to FW to tent camp with my 2 kids (the airfare just got too cheap to warrant driving from Kansas).
1) So, I ran out and bought a more compact tent (not smaller, just packs much smaller) from walmart (Ozark Trail) and haven't opened it yet and am safely holding on to the receipt to decide. I checked online with consumer reports (they helped me buy my very first tent and did a good job) and the last report is from 2005, a little old I think, and they rate the same sized tent from Ozark Trail as being Poor-the lowest possible rating-for construction (think this means it will be trash in 1-2 years) and Fair-next to lowest rating-for rain resistance (maybe not so important if I treat the tent before use). This has me wondering if I should just invest in a large roller duffle bag to accomodate my old trusty (with aluminum poles-too long to fit in any suitcase I currently own). Old trusty has had so much rain on it, it was sagging with about 10 gallons of water being held above our heads when we woke up, not one drop came inside that tent and my kids and I have no trouble pitching it ourselves (not that we'd have trouble pitching the new one but we'd have to practice).
2)I'm nervous about using DME for the tent. If we arrive hours before our tent we could go swimming or eat (I'd have to to keep my mind off the luggage) otherwise we'd just be sitting around looking at the sand. We're scheduled to arrive around 5:20 pm at MCO (barring no delays) and really don't want to wait for the tent. But, I wouldn't be able to bring a hammer or spikes, except maybe those cheap plastic ones, as a carry-on (preferable to getting completely lost by the airline). So, I could not DME tag my tent w/hammer and metal spikes as checked baggage, get it onto the bus myself, or I could ask some camping neighbors to borrow a hammer????
3) How does DME work for the return trip? Do I just pack everthing up and leave it at the campsite for pick up? How long before my flight departure time will they ask for my things to be ready? for me to get on the bus? My flight leaves at 8:22am, should I pack things up, go eat breakfast, then head to the DME bus to give them time to get the gear to the outpost?
Thanks in advance for responses from having used the Ozark Trail tents/DME service.
1) So, I ran out and bought a more compact tent (not smaller, just packs much smaller) from walmart (Ozark Trail) and haven't opened it yet and am safely holding on to the receipt to decide. I checked online with consumer reports (they helped me buy my very first tent and did a good job) and the last report is from 2005, a little old I think, and they rate the same sized tent from Ozark Trail as being Poor-the lowest possible rating-for construction (think this means it will be trash in 1-2 years) and Fair-next to lowest rating-for rain resistance (maybe not so important if I treat the tent before use). This has me wondering if I should just invest in a large roller duffle bag to accomodate my old trusty (with aluminum poles-too long to fit in any suitcase I currently own). Old trusty has had so much rain on it, it was sagging with about 10 gallons of water being held above our heads when we woke up, not one drop came inside that tent and my kids and I have no trouble pitching it ourselves (not that we'd have trouble pitching the new one but we'd have to practice).
2)I'm nervous about using DME for the tent. If we arrive hours before our tent we could go swimming or eat (I'd have to to keep my mind off the luggage) otherwise we'd just be sitting around looking at the sand. We're scheduled to arrive around 5:20 pm at MCO (barring no delays) and really don't want to wait for the tent. But, I wouldn't be able to bring a hammer or spikes, except maybe those cheap plastic ones, as a carry-on (preferable to getting completely lost by the airline). So, I could not DME tag my tent w/hammer and metal spikes as checked baggage, get it onto the bus myself, or I could ask some camping neighbors to borrow a hammer????
3) How does DME work for the return trip? Do I just pack everthing up and leave it at the campsite for pick up? How long before my flight departure time will they ask for my things to be ready? for me to get on the bus? My flight leaves at 8:22am, should I pack things up, go eat breakfast, then head to the DME bus to give them time to get the gear to the outpost?
Thanks in advance for responses from having used the Ozark Trail tents/DME service.
