The "flavor" of FW...?

[LegoMom3]

Ok, odd title maybe but here's what's been going through my mind....There has been more than one comment here in the last several months from folks just back, who had horrible loud foul neighbors (involving drugs/alcohol most of the time). I expect this (sadly...) when I camp here in New England, but not at Disney. Am I naive??! Or is it simply a matter of 99.9% of the campers at FW are still great people, and it's really just the .1% that you actually hear about, since they caused such a commotion?

Is there an increase in "partying" at FW? Or is Disney simply choosing not to do anything with the few incidents? I'm not going to let this jade my outlook or ruin my excitement for our trip in the fall (we're not going over any kind of school break....maybe there's hope!?), but we're a family looking for a family experience and I'm getting increasingly worried. Camping here in the summer is a weekend deal; our trip to the Fort is for 7 nights!! It never really occured to me that we might have this type of problem until reading some of the trip reports. I'm not against anyone having a good time and getting away from it all, but there's definitely a line that is crossed.

Any input?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have noticed a change in FW over tha last couple of years. The activity you describe seems to happen mainly on the weekends. I don't want to stereotype, but my observation has been that over the weekends a large number of guests with Florida license plates come in for the weekend with fairly large groups, don't seem to be interested in the parks but mainly in partying and causing a disturbance. Thankfully, they generally leave on Sunday. Now don't get me wrong, there are tons of great campers from Florida who are at FW for the same reason the rest of us are and show the same courtesy the majority do, but these few seem to fit the general description I have given for the most part. Just my experience.

 

[bianca]

I agree with the last poster. The majority of people are great neighbors ..... the rest seem to have "Sunshine State" plates! I am NOT saying that all FL residents fall into the noisy category, just that most of the noise and general disobeyance of rules comes from the locals ...... I've witnessed it too many times to say otherwise.

 

[susancl]

If you have any problems, make sure you complain. Security will come around to check it out.

 

[ldubberly]

I guess I'm lucky because I haven't come accross anyone like this. Everyone we have met so far have been very nice family oriented people. Hope our luck stays the same. I don't really appreciate having to explain rude obnoxious behavior to my kids.

 

[ldubberly]

By the way, we live in Florida. Please don't judge us by the few you have seen.

 

[michelle9343]

Ouch..I would hope that everyone doesn't worry when they pull up and see the neighbor has a Florida plate. We are Floridians and are wonderful camping neighbors. I have seem a hugh difference in the Fort in the past few years but I think it is really unfair to blame it on the locals. This past Christmas we had a really unrulely bunch in our loop. They happen to have had Texas plates. They had 3 sites and no joke it seemed like 50 people. They would drive the wrong way around the loop and allowed young childern to drive ther golf cart(I am talking under 10 year old) Parting untill the we hours. They had allarms on the carts that would go off for hours. My DH and a fellow camper went over to talk to them but nothing helped. They were above the law.We had called the front desk so many times. Security would came out and talk to them but nothing happen. Also they had 2 cars parked at every site for there entire trip.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

WOW is right!! We just got back (March 26) and we had no excessive parting in our loop. I do think that if there is a problem and security comes they should take it seriously maybe drive by more often. It doesn't sound like security is taken the step to stop it. Oh by the way I'm a Floridian too!!

 

[stillh2o]

This is not just a FW problem we have been staying at state parks lately and have come across rude campers about every trip. I have been staying at FW scents 1971 and I have seen Disney change their polices about rude campers. One trip last year there was a group staying in our loop with NY plates. They parted most night until morning very loud. I called front desk from my cell, Security came out and talk to them but nothing happen. Next night they where playing bumper golf carts in the loop called again No luck there. I just gave up. Come to find out the golf carts they where playing bumper carts with where stolen from the marina.

 

[kmccain]

WOW Me too!

This is really too bad!

I have to ask what loops seem to have the most problems? We are blessed to have a travel trailer and at night we do not hear anything!

There is a very nice park that we stay in north of us that do not allow tents. The allow pop up but no tent, not even for kids. They say they eliminate a lot of these types of thing by not allowing them.

Tent campers, I am sorry!

I hope Disney does not have to go to that extreme! It is the only way some people can afford Disney at all. It is too bad they security is not enforcing their policy's more.

I think I would write a letter to someone and let them know that this is going on.

 

[cyberdeb]

When we were there in the fall of 2001, we had the displeasure of being next to a girls sleepover party. On one hand, it was kind of neat, Disney came in and set up rented tents and everything, however with about 15 preteen girls it was horrible. The one day that we could sleep in (it was a day to spend in the campground) those girls screamed, laughed and giggled all night long. We were in a pop up and heard it all. Fortunately i am deaf in one ear so i was able to lay on the good ear and it helped, however everyone else was up. Now i love kids and didnt want to rain on their fun time, but it was ridiculous and never once did the parents come out of their tent to tell them to keep it down. We did call the front office and someone came out to tell them, but it didnt matter. On that same trip, someone in the next loop right next to the comfort station (we were in 1500) had a dog tied up and that dog barked all day long. Again, no one did anything about it.

Debbie

 

[Tricializ]

I haven't had the big issues of rude campers. The second time at FW a number of years ago there was one group across the street from us that were a big loud, but it wasn't anything too bad. You hear the late night golf carts beeping and laughing as they drive by but that's about it in terms of my experience. Then again, I'm not in a tent or pop up so I am a bit more insulated. I would keep calling security though. That's crazy. For what you pay for a campsite (especially if you also rent a golf cart) you are paying about the equivalent of a moderate resort.....and that has maid service!!! No excuse for that kind of garbage. On the other hand, I have had FW staff be incredibly diligent about any issues I have had over the years. I got attacked by fire ants (horrible) and within 5 minutes of calling the front desk about this nest, there was a maintenance person there to spray and take care of it. And this was around midnight. Hoping that things are calm and fun.
Tricia

 

[iMom]

Actually, I've been camping there for over 25 years and have never had a problem with any of my neighbors. I have heard some loud dogs...but no people.

 

[toytowner]

please remember fla.plates come on rental cars people can be from anywhere and i've seen rude people in million dollar rigs. go and enjoy i will. 7/3-7/10

 

[JCA1970]

We just got back, We stayed from Mo.3/20-Sun. 3/26. We were in the 1200 Loop and all was quiet. I had read the other postings also, but things were very quiet where we were. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. I hope you go, I think you be pleased.

 

[mdoc]

We have stayed at FW four times in the past 2-1/2 years, three times in the 1400 loop (preferred) and once in the 1000 loop (full hookup). We have never had a problem with loud obnoxious neighbors. We have never seen anyone else have a problem. The people I've run into at the campground have been polite, usually friendly, apparently respectable folks. To be honest, though, I've never had a problem with bad neighbors at any other campground, either. Maybe I'm oblivious, but I don't think so.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Zoinks

We just bought a used camper in December.

We may be "tagged" b/c of our Florida plates now. Wonderful.

I assure you it won't be drugs and alchohol though--just us and the kiddos.


I do know when my mom and her hubby stay there--they do have their share of beer...but that is the least of your noise concerns. His snoring--OH MY---I swear you could probably hear it a loop away. We haven't camped with them yet.

The only thing I have noticed different lately is the change in landscape due to the hurricanes of 2004. That I noticed big time. We last camped before the 'canes and have day visted a few times since them.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Okay, I tried not to comment here, but can't. We are from Florida. We are excellent camping neighbors assuming you can tolerate children during the day. We are not night owls and if we're at the rv, we're in bed about 9:00. I will admit, however, that when we leave the rv, the dogs bark for about 15 minutes (til they figure out we're not just outside and will come to get them).

On the other hand, we have also had lousy neighbors (happily though not at Ft. Wilderness ). They -on both occasions- were from out of state. I think it is pointless to mention the states (although I will probably remember it forever) as I see no point in "blaming" an entire state full of (probably) wonderful people on a couple of jerks. Please remember that as you read this thread.

Happy Camping

51 days, 6 hours, and 10 minutes til we're back at the Fort and Star Wars Weekend.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I think the OP went out of their way to not paint with a broad brush and characterize Floridians in a bad way.
I believe that the phenomenon exists everywhere and out of the thousands of nice people you meet a few will be idiots.
We find that by camping mid week (partly because of my work schedule) that we avoid the "weekend warriors"

We just got home from FW last night and did notice a few things.

We were in the 1100 loop that backs up to a cabin loop, the site next to us (1117) had a LOT of foot traffic through it, some was from a group that had people in both loops but some looked like it was maybe easier to use the bus stop in front of the 1100 loop instead of the one near the cabins. Either way we would have moved if we had been in that site.

Golf cart abuse is still a problem. I cant believe people after signing that document still think its okay to let a 10 year old drive the cart

We didnt have any problems with the bike barn, not sure what all the recent rumblings are about on that issue. We did notice a lot of whiny impatient people waiting in line for carts. If it says they are sold out.. they are ! if it says pickup time is after 1PM... it is !

Sure would like to have a theme pool and a hot tub !

Scott

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Okay, I tried not to comment here, but can't. We are from Florida. We are excellent camping neighbors assuming you can tolerate children during the day. We are not night owls and if we're at the rv, we're in bed about 9:00. I will admit, however, that when we leave the rv, the dogs bark for about 15 minutes (til they figure out we're not just outside and will come to get them).

On the other hand, we have also had lousy neighbors (happily though not at Ft. Wilderness ). They -on both occasions- were from out of state. I think it is pointless to mention the states (although I will probably remember it forever) as I see no point in "blaming" an entire state full of (probably) wonderful people on a couple of jerks. Please remember that as you read this thread.

Happy Camping


51 days, 6 hours, and 10 minutes til we're back at the Fort and Star Wars Weekend.

You might consider reading my post again.