Walmart parking lot??

[RvUsa]

Ever pull into an interstate rest area after 11pm? They are usually packed and many truckers are even parked along the entrance and exit lanes. I'm not going to pay some CG $40 to spend 5 hrs sleeping. ( Do You really want us to pull in next to you at midnight when you are sound asleep? btw our tow vehicle is a semi---no way to sneak in quietly) Don't get me wrong. I prefer to travel from campsite to campsite. I love my tv, morning coffee, and long hot showers. However sometimes life goes wrong and we end up on the road a lot later than we planned. Its nice to know that many Walmarts are available as a back up plan.

Don't get me wrong, if you are comfortable with it, go for it, I just feel that I would rather go to a campground, I have spent many many nights in rest areas, before I got married and had a kid.... Now if I was not gonna stop at a campground, I would find a truck stop, I personally HATE walmart, just out of principle.... but that is a whole other thread

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Don't get me wrong, if you are comfortable with it, go for it, I just feel that I would rather go to a campground, I have spent many many nights in rest areas, before I got married and had a kid.... Now if I was not gonna stop at a campground, I would find a truck stop, I personally HATE walmart, just out of principle.... but that is a whole other thread

I LOVE "I hate...." stories.........whats your beef with walmart? I HATE BestBuy!!!!

 

[RvUsa]

I just think they are corporate bullies! They are terrible to work for from what I have seen on the documenteries on tv. Do you know why walmart doesn't have any butcher depts? Because one walmart voted to unionize their butcher shop, so walmart closed ALL their meat depts, and fired all the employees. They threatened to do the same to the auto dept too. I am not pro union per say, but that is just the tip of the iceburg with them.

This country has anti monopoly laws for a reason, and at times I feel walmart has pushed those laws to the limit. They have run out every small mom and pop store withing 40 miles, they force small companies to give them better and better prices on products until the company can't afford it any more and then either doesn't sell to wm, or go out of business.

OK I am off my soapbox....

 

[thebrain]

When we've traveled south for vacations (from NY), we have stayed in WalMart parking lots, but only if they are well-lit and in what appears to be a decent area. We usually travel in a group and feel better about parking with other campers. While a campground would be preferable, we're often only stopping for 4 or 5 hours - long enough to stretch out, get the kids out of their car seats and take a power snooze. Our friends thought we were crazy not to stop at a campground for a full-night's sleep UNTIL they stayed at a campground that was so scary that they didn't sleep all night because the "natives" were something out of "Deliverance". While we may have felt like gypsies sleeping in the parking lot outside WalMart, at least we had a few hours sleep! Cracker Barrel, Flying J's and some other "big box" stores are better alternatives than the packed rest stops if you plan on stopping for more than an hour or so.

Also, the vibrations of rigs pulling in and out of parking spots and the constant sounds from the highway at highway rest areas aren't exactly conducive to productive sleep either, especially with children.

 

[RvUsa]

Our friends thought we were crazy not to stop at a campground for a full-night's sleep UNTIL they stayed at a campground that was so scary that they didn't sleep all night because the "natives" were something out of "Deliverance".

Hey, I have stayed at that campground, YIKES!!!!

 

[Mr Man]

I have done the Wal-mart "dry-camp" thing before. Not my cup of tea. the security guards give me the creeps.


If no rest area is available, I am fine with Truck stops in a pinch (especially the ones with an Arbys onsite- beef n Cheddar aaaahrrggh (_8-(I).

Specifically, I highly recommend the rest stop in Mississippi at the Stennis NASA Center. Real nice, spacious and not so much creepy security guard factor there. Personal favorite of mine.

I find the closer to WDW I get from Tejas, the less inviting rest areas & truck stops are (unless you are interested in meeting the scantily clad gals in the billboards.....). I presume this is because the Tourism Board has a long reach.

 

[Flametamr]

Personally never camped at Walmart. But I live near a super Walmart right off I-10 and there seems to be campers there all the time. I thought it was kind of a neat idea. You can restock and catch a nap all in one place.

On a side note I just bought a large pop up and will be staying at Fort Wilderness for the first time in September on a split stay. Were doing the free DDP bounceback offer and adding a few days to camp.

Also wanted to give a shout out to BigDaddyRog. I'm a professional firefighter and fellow IAFF member from the other Mardi Gras city east of you. Mobile AL which is the disputed birth place of Mardi Gras. Nice to meet you and maybe we can share a beer if we ever cross paths at the fort.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Personally never camped at Walmart. But I live near a super Walmart right off I-10 and there seems to be campers there all the time. I thought it was kind of a neat idea. You can restock and catch a nap all in one place.

On a side note I just bought a large pop up and will be staying at Fort Wilderness for the first time in September on a split stay. Were doing the free DDP bounceback offer and adding a few days to camp.

Also wanted to give a shout out to BigDaddyRog. I'm a professional firefighter and fellow IAFF member from the other Mardi Gras city east of you. Mobile AL which is the disputed birth place of Mardi Gras. Nice to meet you and maybe we can share a beer if we ever cross paths at the fort.

Southern Bama gets alot more of us Nawleaneans than the fort does during Mardi Gras.....I take the family to Gulf Shores at least once or twice a summer, .............and , HEY, I LOVE BEER(and vodka, and rum, and rumplemintze, and everclear, and moonsh.........)

Congrats on your new pop-up.....you'll be addicted to the fort and this forum in no time! BigDisneyDaddy is a firefighter...I think there's one or two OTHER FFs here also. You guys are nuts, running into burning buildings...that stuff hot man!!!
Here's to you unsung heros, risking your lives to save stupid people who start fires, and those unlucky enough to live near them.......

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I just think they are corporate bullies! They are terrible to work for from what I have seen on the documenteries on tv. Do you know why walmart doesn't have any butcher depts? Because one walmart voted to unionize their butcher shop, so walmart closed ALL their meat depts, and fired all the employees. They threatened to do the same to the auto dept too. I am not pro union per say, but that is just the tip of the iceburg with them.

This country has anti monopoly laws for a reason, and at times I feel walmart has pushed those laws to the limit. They have run out every small mom and pop store withing 40 miles, they force small companies to give them better and better prices on products until the company can't afford it any more and then either doesn't sell to wm, or go out of business.

OK I am off my soapbox....

I'll jump on your soapbox!

I couldn't agree more! I used to live in Bentonville (I think I was depressed the entire time). We had friends who could barely make ends meet because Wal-Mart would have them work slightly less than full time, not give them any benefits, and pay them chincey wages. These people ended up using medicade for their kids, so the government had to take up the slack of Wal-Mart! errrr

ok, I'm done

 

[LONE-STAR]

When I was reading this post I was like man, this chic bought out Lone-Star. Everything he has you have lol. I forgot about Miss Lone-Star.

Thats funny, Stack . Yes Miss Lone-Star reads the board at work on her breaks. Just dose not post as much as me

 

[Colson39]

Target is oh so much better than Walmart. Especially Super Target

I'm not one for shopping, but that's one place I don't mind spending some time in (I also love to look at all the miniature tent models ).

 

[Flametamr]

Southern Bama gets alot more of us Nawleaneans than the fort does during Mardi Gras.....I take the family to Gulf Shores at least once or twice a summer, .............and , HEY, I LOVE BEER(and vodka, and rum, and rumplemintze, and everclear, and moonsh.........)

Congrats on your new pop-up.....you'll be addicted to the fort and this forum in no time! BigDisneyDaddy is a firefighter...I think there's one or two OTHER FFs here also. You guys are nuts, running into burning buildings...that stuff hot man!!!
Here's to you unsung heros, risking your lives to save stupid people who start fires, and those unlucky enough to live near them.......

Thanks BigDaddyRog, I thought I saw an IAFF sticker on your truck in another post. But it may have been BigDisneyDaddy and I got confused. Yes we can be certified crazy for our work. Just yesterday my crew and I were first in on a large house fire. We fought for over an hour and saved a lot of the home. I love the job and certainly don't do it for the money. Unfortunately our city pays bus drivers more than fireman. I transfered over from the police department 11 years ago. Its nice to have a job that when you show up people are actually happy to see you.

About the drinks. I really pefer Gentleman Jack and coke. But I figured a beer was easier to offer. Take care and hello to the other firefighters here. I am looking forward to my first Fort trip.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

You probably saw the pic of the cart in my truck, I have an IAFF sticker on the left rear.
Lawnspecialties is also a FF from Raleigh area.
I think someone else is a career FF here but I cant recall just now.

Scott

 

[kimluvswdw]

We always stop over night at a Walmart in Georgia. We feel perfectly safe.

 

[RvUsa]

I prefer target too, to shop, not to camp LOL

 

[Drew A]

We have thought about over-nighting at either a Wal-Mart or truck stop, but I can't believe that people doing this in the summer are comfortable. If it's hot, especially going to Florida in the summer, what do you do?

I can't even imagine sleeping in my camper in the south in summer without air conditioning.

What do you do?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I prefer target too, to shop, not to camp LOL

I boycott Target. Personal reasons.

 

[RvUsa]

I understand... I boycott Wal Mart, but dw loves the place and drags me there kicking and screaming....every day, I swear.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I boycott Walmart, too. I do like Kmart. But my all time favorite store is Lowes.

 

[RvUsa]

See, now I like home depot, cuz I do not like jimmie johnson. Lowes does have a lot better tool dept tho.