Tent/Pop-up Site Availability Issue

[BarlowFamily]

We have camped twice at the fort and are looking forward to a third trip. It's one of our favorite ways to experience WDW. We are interested in coming for a short trip after Thanksgiving. My ideal dates are check-in on 11/29 (Friday) and check-out on 12/3 (Tuesday). 4 nights. For some reason, those dates aren't available for tent/pop-up. However, keeping the same check-in date and extending the trip by just one night (11/29-12/4) IS available for a tent site. Other longer stays with the same check-in date are available. Huh? Shouldn't that be the other way around?

I did call and try to see if a CM would be able to book our desired dates. No luck. When I asked why it would not be available for a longer period of dates but not for a shorter period within the longer, the CM really had no idea. Said the resort could have blocked off a set of rooms/sites...repeated this a few times over the call. The CM did say I could book the longer set of dates and modify my stay to the shorter set of dates. I'm not so sure though. I hate to pay for an extra night that I know we cannot use.

Anyone have experience with this type of issue?

11/29-12/4 (and beyond) Tent site AVAILABLE
11/29-12/3 Tent site UNAVAILABLE

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

The CM should have said you could "try" to do that, but dropping (or adding) a dates on a booking is really like searching for a whole new booking. You can also try doing two reservations, one with one or two days and the other and then letting them know when you check in so you dont have to move site. Downside to that is you have to put down two deposits.

Keep searching is all you can do, I wish I knew the why.

 

[bama_ed]

Oh absolutely folks have experience.

When a time frame is nearly fully booked, any remaining inventory is rationed to require longer stays rather than say, a quick 2 night weekend trip. The example you give above is what people see.

What I've done in cases like this is make the longer reservation that includes the desired shorter dates with the arrival date as what you really want (if you can arrange that). Book as room only and do not use early on-line check-in. Pay the one night deposit.

The day you arrive at the Fort, go into the lobby or stop at the kiosk lane in person and tell the CM you need to go home a sooner than originally scheduled due to a change in plans. Ask them to drop off the night of the 3rd (so you leave on the morning of the 3rd) and then you pay the balance due for the nights you truly want and will use. Probably done this a half dozen times and have never been denied. At most I've dropped 2 nights (never more).

For this to work, it's easiest to drop nights at the END of the reservation (that's why I emphasize trying to get the arrival date as your truly desired arrival date).

If for some reason if I were to be denied, my back up plan is to cause a loud scene in the lobby. Never had to do it.

Have a great stay. Our favorite tent loop is 1500 for our popup (outside site in back along the canal).

Bama Ed

 

[BaymaxFan78]

If for some reason if I were to be denied, my back up plan is to cause a loud scene in the lobby. Never had to do it.

I would pay to see this

 

[BarlowFamily]

Thanks so much for the help! I understand why the campsite availability is so odd now. I tried two reservations with no luck so I went ahead and booked the extra night and will keep checking and try to "modify," even up to check-in. I'll let them know Bama Ed has coached me on how to make a scene. I'm sure that will do the trick.

I can't thank you guys enough for the camping forum. I may not have much to say in there (you all have so much experience!) but I thoroughly read up before our first trip to the Fort in 2019 and in helped so much! We had the best trip. It was DS's first WDW trip. We've been back many times staying all over property and we all three prefer the Fort. Okay, it might be tied with AKL for us. Or that's a close 2nd. I think it was you Ed that suggested the 1500 loop along the canal years ago and we loved it. A peaceful, beautiful spot in the midst of park crowds and lines for everything. Thank you. I'll keep the extra night if they'll just give us 1500 along the canal.

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks so much for the help! I understand why the campsite availability is so odd now. I tried two reservations with no luck so I went ahead and booked the extra night and will keep checking and try to "modify," even up to check-in. I'll let them know Bama Ed has coached me on how to make a scene. I'm sure that will do the trick.

I think it was you Ed that suggested the 1500 loop along the canal years ago and we loved it. A peaceful, beautiful spot in the midst of park crowds and lines for everything. Thank you. I'll keep the extra night if they'll just give us 1500 along the canal.

@BarlowFamily,

It makes me happy to hear that the 1500 loop recommendation helped you years ago.

We have many great wonderful posters who know the Full, Preferred, and Premium/Meadows loops. But I have always kept it simple so posters like myself and @amcc can speak to the tent loops. Personally, I know each site intimately literally.

If you let FW mgt know about "bama ed" you might get hauled into the back room and subjected to the "BRIGHT LIGHT" treatment. I've always felt the squeeky wheel gets the grease but not everyone subscribes to that theory (but it works with Disney). Disney doesn't want to give a guest like you 3 nights if they can force them to pay for 4. They don't want to end up with "stranded" nights (an empty night here/there that goes unpaid for).

Personally (and if the schedule allows), if you get a great site at the Fort (outside, canal, quiet, good weather) it's worth an extra night's cost to get the benefit of the experience IMO.

As FYI, the Fort turkeys, I believe, sleep across the 1500/1800 canal in the woods on the far side as they are want to do. I have heard them early in the morning falling out of the trees over there (they are not graceful fliers but they can lift their bodies over the water). Much like myself, we make a sound when we hit the ground!

Pic of a turkey from my interior 1500 site in Jan 2024 looking towards the 1500/1600 Comfort Station.



It's a FW Turkey's world and we're just living in it. Good luck to you.

Bama Ed

PS - it's a bonus in 1500 loop when the buzzards show up. They like to glide/fly in along the straightaways over the road in 1500 low then rising up. This site where I took the turkey picture entertained me for a couple afternoon. Granted they are not handsome birds (red or black heads) but they have a wide wingspan.

 

[bama_ed]

I would pay to see this

Oh I have my story down, @BaymaxFan78 , ready to go. Here it is.

"I'm just a guy trying to take my wonderful family on a vacation to Wally World".

"It's a long, difficult way to go for such an expensive trip."

"But Aunt Edna, who ended up travelling with us, wasn't well."

"My mother named me after her (she's her sister). Me and Aunt Edna are very close."

So I'll make a scene if I have to.

Ed

 

[Stratman50th]

I use the lay on the floor kicking my feet and screaming method to get my way. It works pretty well, except I'm in my 60's and I usually need help getting back up.

 

[StormyCA]

Well now, if you have an extra night sometimes it's worth it in order to give yourself a 'late checkout' if you don't have a long drive ahead of you.

We used to book an extra night at a beach campground that was about a 3-ish hour drive from home. So instead of having to leave at 11 am on our departure day, we were able hang out, enjoy the beach, then leave around 4 pm and would still be home in time for bed.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Hey fellow campers! I wanted to come back and let you know we had another great trip to the Fort! Thanks for your help. We ended up keeping the extra night and were happy to not have to rush to pack up. We were out LATE at MK so it was nice to sleep in, ride bikes for a late breakfast, and hang out before slowly tearing down. Five nights at our site was still less than 4 nights at all stars, which is my gauge for affordable and good value. I begged and pleaded for a site along the canal, but the only site open in 1500 was 1521. The first site you see from the road. I was a little disappointed as we set up camp. We have been spoiled with the best sites on previous trips. It turned out to be a great site. Road noise did not bother us one bit. We had the best neighbors. And DS9 enjoyed the freedom of riding his bike to the pool and campfire ahead of mom and dad (we could see him most of the way from the site).

This was our first time at the Fort around Christmas. It was so cool to see the decorations at everyone's sites. Some of you have more campsite decorations than I have around my entire house! We really enjoyed biking around a few different loops. We try to splurge on one activity each trip, this time it was an archery class which DH and DS9 enjoyed immensely. I'm looking up local places now that we could take him to as a Christmas gift...Disney always getting me to spend more money. If any campers are reading this in the future, being forced to book an extra night may be a blessing in disguise and if Bama Ed has already taken the best site for himself, keep an open mind with whatever you are assigned.

 

[bama_ed]

If any campers are reading this in the future, being forced to book an extra night may be a blessing in disguise and if Bama Ed has already taken the best site for himself, keep an open mind with whatever you are assigned.

Like the rest of us, I can only be placed in a campsite that is open on the day/time I arrive. If someone is on my favorite sites, I am out of luck too.

You can improve your chances by arriving early in the day and/or coming in on a Sunday (best) because lots of weekenders who are locals and spent the weekend at the Fort leave on Sundays. But regardless, anything in 1500 is better IMO than 2000 (which is not bad in itself - just 1500 is better).

Glad you had a good time!

Bama Ed

 

[4077]

We have camped twice at the fort and are looking forward to a third trip. It's one of our favorite ways to experience WDW. We are interested in coming for a short trip after Thanksgiving. My ideal dates are check-in on 11/29 (Friday) and check-out on 12/3 (Tuesday). 4 nights. For some reason, those dates aren't available for tent/pop-up. However, keeping the same check-in date and extending the trip by just one night (11/29-12/4) IS available for a tent site. Other longer stays with the same check-in date are available. Huh? Shouldn't that be the other way around?

I did call and try to see if a CM would be able to book our desired dates. No luck. When I asked why it would not be available for a longer period of dates but not for a shorter period within the longer, the CM really had no idea. Said the resort could have blocked off a set of rooms/sites...repeated this a few times over the call. The CM did say I could book the longer set of dates and modify my stay to the shorter set of dates. I'm not so sure though. I hate to pay for an extra night that I know we cannot use.

Anyone have experience with this type of issue?

11/29-12/4 (and beyond) Tent site AVAILABLE
11/29-12/3 Tent site UNAVAILABLE

Just in November, I had to reserve an "extra" 1 night to get the dates I wanted. At check in, I told CM I would actually need to leaver a day earlier, he said to go tell them when I actually left on that early day (but make sure you are out by the 11 AM check out time) and they would take care of it then. Lo and behold, it worked out just fine...I was at the front desk checking out before 11 AM one day earlier than my reservation and they adjusted my balance, no issues.

EDIT: OOOPS.... ONCE AGAIN (ugh...I can't seem to learn) I fell victim to not paying attention to date of first post...nor for that matter reading down the rest of the way first... well, glad all worked out!!!