to soon to book for March??

[OceanStateKelly]

Hi all,
We are planning a trip down to the Fort in March and I tried to see prices but the Disney site says there's no sites available. Is March a busy time or is just to soon for booking.
thanks
Kelly

Oh I almost forgot, are there loops close to the cabins? have family going to book a cabin.
thanks again

 

[Flametamr]

No it is not too soon. You can book over a year out. Can't help you on the cabin question. But there is a Fort fact question here that explains all the loops.

 

[Flametamr]

I would suggest calling. There should be something available unless that's during Spring Break or something. There are tricks to moving your dates other can expand on. I personally haven't done that. Good Luck

 

[retired and happy]

Cabins as well as tents and RVs are all located in loops. Most cabin loops are not very close to the RV loops, but one backs up to one of the other type, so close ties might be available. Such arrangements should be addressed in your reservations to maximize the chance of the loops (if not sites) you want.

 

[bama_ed]

Oh I almost forgot, are there loops close to the cabins? have family going to book a cabin.
thanks again

Kelly,

As retiredandhappy/Ken said, there is a loop combo that will help you.

Loop 1100 is a Premium loop for trailers/RVs and it backs up to cabin loop 2100. They share a comfort station (walkway from both loops). You need to make two separate reservations, then "link" the ressies by including the other's reservation number on their the ressie (yours on theirs, theirs on yours). Each should request these specific loops as a note on your ressie. The backside of each loop is literally within spitting distance of the other. Ten days before checkin, Disney sends you an email to allow "early" checkin and each can select those loops again to reinforce it.

You can call and make a ressie now for 2014 but you will be booked at the 2013 rates. The 2014 rates are due to be set soon in the next few weeks, and when they are your reservation will update to the new rates (you can't lock in old rates. Sorry ). Right now you can only book till end of year 2013 online as you found out.

Once the rates are set for 2014, the online Disney booking tool will be abe to make ressies for next year but at least now you can get on the phone, lock the dates down, and then continue to work the plan.

Bama Ed

 

[OceanStateKelly]

Thanks Flametamr,retired & happy and Bama ed -- you guys rock

 

[PixieCamper]

You can't book a site because travel agencies are now booking blocks of sites, 10 of their customers to a site- 2 to 3 families per site- then splitting the cost of the site 2 to 3 ways between the families.

$106 (when we went in May) per site divided 3 ways = $35.33 per family

Each member gets a resort ID which allows free parking $35.33 - $15 for parking. Which comes down to each family paying $15 to get resort IDs for everyone which allow extra magic hours and/or dining plan.

Then they stay off site at a cheaper hotel (or house) that has a microwave and fridge in a bigger room, with 2 queen beds (all things Disney rooms do not include) but still get the perks of staying on site.

Example: Super 8 nearby is newly redone, includes breakfast, has a large room with microwave and fridge, 2 queen beds, a back entrance to Publix, is 2 miles from Disney and is $45 a night. $45 + $15 for "throw away" site = $60 per night with all Disney resort perks. Families of 5 or more have to book two on site rooms or a suite since only 4 are allowed to a room so this works especially well for them

Yes, I know for a fact this is happening and yes, I reported it via email and phone call.

We were in a loop alone for 10 of 14 days (the other 4 we had 3 other campers in the loop) because of the above--yet, everyone was being told "no vacancies". I've never seen the Fort as empty as it was this last time but, "no vacancies" the whole time my brother was calling to surprise us by coming down (didn't know this until we returned of course).

Several campers came to our loop to ask why they were told there were no vacancies yet the entire loop was empty except us. It was creepy.

Stores were empty and Trail's End was way down. It was sad to see the Fort that way. We made other camping arrangements for October and December because of it.

It didn't bother me so bad when just the occasional family was doing it because of large family size, etc but now that agencies are booking blocks, it's out of hand and I hope Disney can fix it quickly. I'm not holding my breath.

ETA: I also hope it was just a coincidence that there were so many empty but booked sites and it won't happen like that again.

 

[parmtoo]

You can't book a site because travel agencies are now booking blocks of sites, 10 of their customers to a site- 2 to 3 families per site- then splitting the cost of the site 2 to 3 ways between the families.

$106 (when we went in May) per site divided 3 ways = $35.33 per family

Each member gets a resort ID which allows free parking $35.33 - $15 for parking. Which comes down to each family paying $15 to get resort IDs for everyone which allow extra magic hours and/or dining plan.

Then they stay off site at a cheaper hotel (or house) that has a microwave and fridge in a bigger room, with 2 queen beds (all things Disney rooms do not include) but still get the perks of staying on site.

Example: Super 8 nearby is newly redone, includes breakfast, has a large room with microwave and fridge, 2 queen beds, a back entrance to Publix, is 2 miles from Disney and is $45 a night. $45 + $15 for "throw away" site = $60 per night with all Disney resort perks. Families of 5 or more have to book two on site rooms or a suite since only 4 are allowed to a room so this works especially well for them

Yes, I know for a fact this is happening and yes, I reported it via email and phone call.

We were in a loop alone for 10 of 14 days (the other 4 we had 3 other campers in the loop) because of the above--yet, everyone was being told "no vacancies". I've never seen the Fort as empty as it was this last time but, "no vacancies" the whole time my brother was calling to surprise us by coming down (didn't know this until we returned of course).

Several campers came to our loop to ask why they were told there were no vacancies yet the entire loop was empty except us. It was creepy.

Stores were empty and Trail's End was way down. It was sad to see the Fort that way. We made other camping arrangements for October and December because of it.

It didn't bother me so bad when just the occasional family was doing it because of large family size, etc but now that agencies are booking blocks, it's out of hand and I hope Disney can fix it quickly. I'm not holding my breath.

ETA: I also hope it was just a coincidence that there were so many empty but booked sites and it won't happen like that again.

I don't really understand this reply??

 

[PixieCamper]

I don't really understand this reply??

Can't book a site because travel agencies are booking large amounts of "throw away camping sites" for their clients to get the benefits of staying on site. The clients stay elsewhere leaving the sites empty but "booked" so no one else can use them.

 

[parmtoo]

So there are no sites available for March 2014? I was going to call to book a site at the end of this week. That's just insane! It's almost 10 months from now.

 

[bama_ed]

So there are no sites available for March 2014? I was going to call to book a site at the end of this week. That's just insane! It's almost 10 months from now.

Take a deep breath, parmtoo.

I made a March ressie earlier this week with no problem. I hope you can too.

Bama Ed

 

[parmtoo]

Thank you Bama!

In fact I just got off the phone. We're booked! No problem, plenty of sites available
So excited! Can't wait for our long overdue trip to FW!!!

 

[snowmedic]

Just got off the phone with a nice ressie specialist, and booked a tent/pop-up site for 30 days in March. Cann't wait to get there!

 

[bama_ed]

Just got off the phone with a nice ressie specialist, and booked a tent/pop-up site for 30 days in March. Cann't wait to get there!

30 days? Wow!

I'll be there too in March 2014. I'm gonna look you up. Will you be bringing your new-to-you pup?

Headed to the Fort!

Bama Ed

 

[snowmedic]

30 days? Wow!

I'll be there too in March 2014. I'm gonna look you up. Will you be bringing your new-to-you pup?

Headed to the Fort!

Bama Ed

Bama Ed,

It's great that you are going to be there also
My DW and I have been talking and our new-to use pup is 22 years old. I don't think I would feel comfortable towing it for 1400 miles, my luck the axle would fall off. We did have it up last month for about a week when a strong thunder storm can through with high winds, and I must say, surprisingly it did not leak or blow over, just not sure on the towing part, soooo, we will be staying in a tent for the month. The longest we have stayed in a tent was 6 months in the Florida heat, and that was not to bad.
Are you going to be down any other time this year? We have a 2 week ressie for Halloween also. Was just wondering. If not, I hope to see you in March. 134 days and counting.

 

[bama_ed]

We won't be there any other time till March snowmedic.

Summer is full of summer school for the college kid, summer job for the high school grad, and contract work for DW. So no summer trip to the Fort.

Fall is full of high school football games on Friday nights (DD in colorguard), college games on Saturday (Bama season ticket holder and dad to a DS in the Million Dollar Band at Bama).

So spring is the only time we can get to the Fort. As luck would have it, the college/high school/work calendars all align in 2014 for the same week off for spring break (the last week of the month). Sort of like some celestial planet alignment. The Fort is one of the few family places DW approves of. (I had a tough time in New Orleans this past spring with her negotiating Bourbon Street even at 10am in the morning ).

Me, I'm so old I get 33 days of vacation at work so I'm ready to go anywhere just about anytime.

March is a great time to tent at the Fort. The weather is crisp at night and pleasant in the day. October is the same but i bet you already know that since that's when you chose to travel. We'll talk closer to time.

Bama Ed

PS - Vermont should issue you a Historic license plate from the DOV for your camper....

 

[FSU ED]

Hello to all. Im new at this board stuff. Have followed it for years thru my DW.We have been camping at the Fort since 2001. We camp about 4 times a year. March is always a week long spring break camp. Its just the best time of year for us. As a family we are passholders. DW has been a passholder since they started the passes back in 1982. I was lucky to join in 2001. We have four children, DS, three DD. I called about two weeks ago and booked for March of next year already. Got 7 nights book from the 22th thru the 29th. One thing I have learned is to call early to get the dates that you need. I would like to give a shout out to Bama Ed. I enjoy your post. You are dead on about every thing. Really enjoy when you post a trip report. There was one time you posted a story about watching people backing in their trailer to the spot. How its always the DW in the back telling or yelling at the DH doing the backing. That is my DW and me to a T!!! I laugh all the time about that post. But you left one thing out, that when the trailer gets in the spot. IT's the KISS after thats makes it fun. LOL!!! So I see you and your family will be at the Fort in March, I hope I get to meet ya'll. Thanks, FSU ED

 

[2goofycampers]

Welcome to the camping board FSU ED!

 

[Boomer1]

Booked yesterday for March 3-13/2014 at a Premium site, no problems. Looking forward to our spring trop

 

[gator287]

Glad to know we are camping the same time as BamaEd adn FSUEd. Actually, I am married to FSU Ed. LOL. We have a mixed family with the Gators and the Seminoles. But I still Love you!