Thinking about making the trip with camper from Ohio

[scuba]

Where does one start? first of all we are CAMPERS and own a pop-up but packing for our state parks is totally different. We have made a long distance trip from Cincinnati to Atlanta with little difficulties but........my first question is how much food does one take or buy there in Orlando? especially if you can get the dining plan? you can get the dining plan while camping yes? We would certainly camp in September. With the dining plan do you even have the need to grill out and are the grills nice enough for me to leave my Coleman tailgater grill at home? bikes? do you need them? I suppose I have a year to prepare. Last week it was HOT, very hot, we have ac on our camper but do you actually cool down. How are the bathrooms and shower houses? we typically need only electric hookups, we seldom need the H20 and choose to keep our water tank empty and gray water simply drains to the ground.....thanks for any help in advance

 

[KristinU]

Where does one start? first of all we are CAMPERS and own a pop-up but packing for our state parks is totally different. We have made a long distance trip from Cincinnati to Atlanta with little difficulties but........my first question is how much food does one take or buy there in Orlando? especially if you can get the dining plan? you can get the dining plan while camping yes? We would certainly camp in September. With the dining plan do you even have the need to grill out and are the grills nice enough for me to leave my Coleman tailgater grill at home? bikes? do you need them? I suppose I have a year to prepare. Last week it was HOT, very hot, we have ac on our camper but do you actually cool down. How are the bathrooms and shower houses? we typically need only electric hookups, we seldom need the H20 and choose to keep our water tank empty and gray water simply drains to the ground.....thanks for any help in advance

Food depends on how you like to eat. We're high-maintenance eaters, so we pretty much pack up at home and only pick up things like milk and produce while on the road. With the dining plan you'll likely not need anything - maybe some snacky breakfast type stuff. Then again, I guess it depends on the level of the dining plan you get and if you're going to do any of the meals that require two credits. Grills are your standard park/campground style charcoal grills, so your call but we like our Weber Q.

Bikes? DEFINITELY! You'll want them for getting around the Fort and for just cruising around and unwinding after some time at the parks.

Showers/Comfort Stations? Wonderful! Extremely nice and well kept. The only ones we've ever been at that rival the Fort were at Indiana Dunes State Park (they were that good that I remember them 5+ years later)

There are no electric only sites at the Fort, you will have water and electricity on the tent/pop-up loops (1500 and 2000) but you cannot empty gray water on the ground at the Fort. You will need to find a way to empty your gray, however there is no dump station. You can do it as simply as dumping it into a 5 gallon bucket and taking it to the comfort station to dump in the sink in the laundry room or you can find an open full hook up site to drain into. That said, you can certainly book a full hook up site if you'd like. Other than the recent tents-on-premium-sites falderall, there is no restriction of equipment on the sites (except for on the tent/PUP loops, where they don't allow Travel Trailers/5ers/MoHos)

Happy Planning!

 

[scuba]

Food depends on how you like to eat. We're high-maintenance eaters, so we pretty much pack up at home and only pick up things like milk and produce while on the road. With the dining plan you'll likely not need anything - maybe some snacky breakfast type stuff. Then again, I guess it depends on the level of the dining plan you get and if you're going to do any of the meals that require two credits. Grills are your standard park/campground style charcoal grills, so your call but we like our Weber Q.

Bikes? DEFINITELY! You'll want them for getting around the Fort and for just cruising around and unwinding after some time at the parks.

Showers/Comfort Stations? Wonderful! Extremely nice and well kept. The only ones we've ever been at that rival the Fort were at Indiana Dunes State Park (they were that good that I remember them 5+ years later)

There are no electric only sites at the Fort, you will have water and electricity on the tent/pop-up loops (1500 and 2000) but you cannot empty gray water on the ground at the Fort. You will need to find a way to empty your gray, however there is no dump station. You can do it as simply as dumping it into a 5 gallon bucket and taking it to the comfort station to dump in the sink in the laundry room or you can find an open full hook up site to drain into. That said, you can certainly book a full hook up site if you'd like. Other than the recent tents-on-premium-sites falderall, there is no restriction of equipment on the sites (except for on the tent/PUP loops, where they don't allow Travel Trailers/5ers/MoHos)

Happy Planning!

Darn it, you mean we have to camp with the........tent crowd? just kidding. thanks for the info. We had thought about renting a golf cart so i'm not certain I'll pack the bikes. It will be nice to camp at a destination like Disney that provides so many dining options. At state parks we usually get up and cook big breakfasts but I just don't see outselves doing that. When we stay at Disney resorts we usually pack stuff like granola bars and don't see that habit changing any and now that we mentioned it, typically we go from near open to close at parks and I just don;t see ourselves grilling in the evening so the grill would be out as well. I see ourselves packing two coolers, both for pop and water, and milk. Can you take beer into the camp grounds? Are there fire pits and can you bring your own firewood. Thanks for any info

 

[KristinU]

Yes on the beer (and wine and margaritas and... ) but no on the fire pits. There aren't fire pits at the sites, but there is a campfire program every night with a sing-along, Chip and Dale, and then an outdoor movie. Bring your own s'mores fixings or anything else you'd like to hold on a fork over the fire (i.e. hotdogs). You can buy s'mores setups there as well, but they're expensive.

Enclosed fire pits are allowed if you bring your own and they fit the Fort criteria (solid top, screened in...there's a thread somewhere around here that has a list), but you can use them only if a burn ban isn't going on.

And please do try to budget some time to chill out at the Fort, there's a lot of fun to be had outside of the parks!

And yeah, being seasoned campers and seasoned WDW-goers, you have to kind of mesh your two worlds the way that you want to...I'll warn you, though, once you have a taste of the Fort no plain old WDW hotel room will compare!

 

[KristinU]

For fun, here are our blog posts from our trips to the Fort:

http://alineradventures.blogspot.com/2008/12/fl-disneys-fort-wilderness.html

http://alineradventures.blogspot.com/2011/03/fl-disneys-fort-wilderness.html

http://visaadventures.blogspot.com/2012/04/fl-disney-fort-wilderness.html

 

[scuba]

thank you for the blogs. I have been to amusement park campgrounds where fires are only permitted in fireplaces? for lack of a better word, and for this trip seems to be more trouble than it is worth. I saw on the blog you provided a number of children roasting marshmellows on a fire. I assume that is Disney sponsored and are the evenings around the fire crowded? As we all know as Disney guests there are SOOOO many things that we have to get to early, so as a Fort Wildreness camper have you ever had to compete with someone to roast a hot dog? Another thing.

How are the animals there? racoons a problem? how about possums and skunks. I actually have a camping story where a raccoon crawled up into our truck and stole a bag of oreos. If only my DW had a video camera with me chasing down a raccoon with a bag of oreos. great stuff.

have you ever had to stand in lines for the shower or toliet? Thanks for your replies.

 

[KristinU]

Yeah, we do have a "legal" fire pit that we have yet to use at WDW since it never seems worth it to mess with.

The group campfire isn't terribly crowded and they keep the fires going in two big fire pits for the duration of the sing-along and I believe into the movie time (somebody correct me here if I'm wrong.) I don't remember which trip I had a pic of the campfire on, but all three of our Fort trips have been at peak attendance times (Thanksgiving week, the week of Presidents Day/February vacation, and Easter week), so any of our pics around the Fort are during these high times and I didn't find it crowded at all. In fact, it felt like a nice oasis from the parks. Since there is so much to do on Disney property, it isn't like everyone from the whole campground is swimming or boating or roasting marshmallows all at the same time.

I do remember waiting once or twice for someone to finish up in the showers, but not more than one person deep. The other thing you can do is head over to a comfort station in one of the loops that has hook ups. Since many RV-ers shower in their rigs the comfort stations in these loops see less use than in the tent and pop-up loops.

Critters: squirrels. bold squirrels. I wouldn't leave food out. Not like a danger like in bear country, but still, they'll get into stuff and chew it up. We caught one about to take off with a dog toy as well. Not sure about raccoons, we didn't see or hear any...but that doesn't mean much

 

[PEC]

Agree bikes are a must. The Campground is big for walking but not bad with a bike.
The Comfort Stations are top notch. Just when we went the line for the Females were significantly longer than the males. Myself with 4 Females probably didn't help the ratio.
I cannot speak for your AC, but the one in my pop-up will freeze you at night. That included camping in Georgia.
Dining Plan. I have got it twice but you really need to do a cost analysis to see if it is worth it. With multiple children 3-9 a definite yes. Otherwise probably not.

 

[jaredjohn4]

Bikes are great at the Fort, especially if it is your first time. There is a lot to explore, and golf carts are expensive. I just don't know if bringing your own fire pit is worth the effort, unless your tow vehicle is a large truck. For foods, we have packed lighter every year. We just bring cereal and bagels for breakfast and a few snacks. We've done the dining plan while camping a couple of times, but the next trip we are going without. The Fort isn't quite as convenient as a hotel with a food court for mornings or quick service meals at any hour. We are always there during peak times, spring break, 4th of July, and really haven't had problems with comfort stations. But we stay in the premium sites with our popup, so we don't see as many people in the comfort stations. Plan your meals and watch the boards for how the fast pass plus is going. Good luck.

Nov 1975 FW 500 Loop 3 Nights......Jun 1977 Off-Property 5 Nights.....Jul 1993 Off-Property 7 Nights
Jul 1995 Dixie Landings 7 Nights...Jul 2003 FW 1400 Loop 7 Nights.....Jun 2006 DL Off-property 7 Nights
Jul 2006 FW 900 Loop 12 Nights.....Jul 2009 FW 1300 Loop 14 Nights....Mar 2010 DL Paradise Pier 8 Nights
Mar 2011 FW 1300 Loop 11 Nights....Mar 2013 FW 1300 Loop 10 Nights....tba..Mar 2014 FW

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Where does one start? . . .

1) With the mere thought of leaving Ohio for Florida.
2) We "migrated" from Ohio many years ago, and it was a good idea.

 

[scuba]

1) With the mere thought of leaving Ohio for Florida.
2) We "migrated" from Ohio many years ago, and it was a good idea.

I would have to move further south being a avid "scuba" diver, but our children wouldn't adapt well....too many family here in Ohio, i'm afraid the kids wouldn't recover.

 

[my3princes]

I just bought a Little Red self contained fire pit which runs off propane. There are no sparks and it is supposed to be fire ban safe. We haven't received it yet, but I hope to have it before we camp this weekend. We have to bring a pit to that campground as well.

 

[bama_ed]

we typically need only electric hookups, we seldom need the H20 and choose to keep our water tank empty and gray water simply drains to the ground.....thanks for any help in advance

scuba, I hope you don't mean this literally. Gray water should always be captured (in a bucket or tank) and disposed of properly. The Fort has the two Tent/popup loops and you have to bucket it or tank it. You can empty it in the Comfort Station laundry room sink (oversized) or at an empty site that does have the sewer hookup.

I stayed at a Kentucky State Park just south of Cincinnati where I 71/75 split called Big Bone Lick last month. Cute little campground. I was just in/out for the one night.

Bama Ed

PS - I like camping in the loops with the sewer hookups in my popup because most RV/trailer camps will likely use their internal facilities rather than the Comfort Station. Means little or no waiting for us!

 

[KristinU]

I just bought a Little Red self contained fire pit which runs off propane. There are no sparks and it is supposed to be fire ban safe. We haven't received it yet, but I hope to have it before we camp this weekend. We have to bring a pit to that campground as well.

I believe the Little Red isn't approved - they need to have a solid cover, at least that's the scoop according to this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2824383&highlight=approved+fire+pits

Rusty Scupper, is this old thread correct?

 

[my3princes]

I believe the Little Red isn't approved - they need to have a solid cover, at least that's the scoop according to this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2824383&highlight=approved+fire+pits

Rusty Scupper, is this old thread correct?

We also bought the cook top attachment and plan to create a metal top with wire mesh around it. We camp at Nascar and NSRA's so we get a lot of use out of it, plus I get to play with the welder and plasma cutter

 

[KristinU]

We also bought the cook top attachment and plan to create a metal top with wire mesh around it. We camp at Nascar and NSRA's so we get a lot of use out of it, plus I get to play with the welder and plasma cutter

Awesome!

 

[scuba]

scuba, I hope you don't mean this literally. Gray water should always be captured (in a bucket or tank) and disposed of properly. The Fort has the two Tent/popup loops and you have to bucket it or tank it. You can empty it in the Comfort Station laundry room sink (oversized) or at an empty site that does have the sewer hookup.

I stayed at a Kentucky State Park just south of Cincinnati where I 71/75 split called Big Bone Lick last month. Cute little campground. I was just in/out for the one night.

Bama Ed

PS - I like camping in the loops with the sewer hookups in my popup because most RV/trailer camps will likely use their internal facilities rather than the Comfort Station. Means little or no waiting for us!

Well, as for gray water it depends on where we are. Once or twice a year we boondock camp while scuba diving a quarry up north and we are allowed to take a 50 foot water hose and run STRICTLY Gray water meaning some biodegradable soap and maybe stale coffee, no Black down into a ravine behind the campsites. Anywhere else the the state parks was have 10 gallon collapsible water jugs.

as for Bone lick, I have never been there. past by it like a million times. more importantly did you get to any other attractions in the area before heading home? My wife and I are staff divers at the Newport Aquarium. Since we all love Disney, there have been times that we had considered, Before kids, to get hired at the living seas at Epcot but it seems we are still buckeyes.

 

[bama_ed]

In the last 25 years I have driven so many times between Alabama and Akron, OH so Cincinnati was just a pass through point. I don't get to do much sight seeing in town. Last month I left Alabama and made it as far as Big Bone Lick but I was on my way to the Pittsburgh area. I just spent the one night then was on my way.

All I know about your city, scuba, is I take my Skyline Chili as a 3-way, wash it down with some Little Kings Cream Ale, and chase it with some Graeter's Chocolate Chip ice cream.

Taking a popup to Disney is not hard. It's probably a 2-day trip each way and you have to decide to camp on that over night or get a hotel. I've done it both ways and its time/money/effort tradeoffs. If you camp on the road, you probably want to stop by 4pm, save some money by getting a KOA or State Park, do a minimal setup and get some supper. Or you can drive longer, get to a hotel around 7-8pm, spend more money but you are closer to WDW. Leave the pup hooked to the tow vehicle and park it under a street light in the hotel parking lot within sight of your room.

Good luck!

Bama Ed