Extended tent camping?

KalamityJane

KalamityJane

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
We tent camp a lot, but usually 5-7 nights in a row, just me and the kids. My family lives in Orlando and we will have annual passes this year, so I was considering tent camping for 10-14 days. Would this be too long? Family is in Scouts and camps and can set us up and we fly Southwest and can bring our kitchen tote/sleeping bags/tent easily.
 
Tent camping at the Fort is kind of glamping compared to some of the places we camp, so I'm not concerned about that part :)
 
KalamityJane said:
We tent camp a lot, but usually 5-7 nights in a row, just me and the kids. My family lives in Orlando and we will have annual passes this year, so I was considering tent camping for 10-14 days. Would this be too long? Family is in Scouts and camps and can set us up and we fly Southwest and can bring our kitchen tote/sleeping bags/tent easily.
Click to expand...

I'm thoroughly confused, Jane. If you live in Orlando, why mention flying Southwest? I mean, I love me some SWA peanuts and the gates in NOLA but either you're local to WDW or you're not.

Help me understand.

Bama Ed
 
bama_ed said:
I'm thoroughly confused, Jane. If you live in Orlando, why mention flying Southwest? I mean, I love me some SWA peanuts and the gates in NOLA but either you're local to WDW or you're not.

Help me understand.

Bama Ed
Click to expand...
Oh, I'm sorry, I just reread that without context LOL Ok, my extended family (parents and siblings) live in Orlando, me and my hubby + kids live in Idaho.
 


Thanks for the clarification, Jane! :jumping1:

BTW, I'm a Scout camper too. Over 300 nights as a kid and dad although I'm getting to the age where I can still do it but I don't want to if I don't have to....

It's not too long but my point here is to confer with your local family. WDW is great tent/popup camping January to about April. (we have normally gone in the spring during this time). By May it's pretty warm at night (by my standards in Alabama) and the summer months are pretty uncomfortable unless that's the only time of the year you can come. You can do it but you probably need a cooler - the Trading Post sells ice for about $3 a bag. If you can rent a car or have transportation, you will need to resupply food/water/etc during a stay of that length.

Don't plan to do a park day every day all day. It will wear you out. The Fort is great for tent camping Jan-Apr and Oct-Dec (what I call the shoulder seasons). Plan some full non-park days for the Fort (swim/explore) or head over to Dis Springs or play putt-putt, etc. I know you're coming a long way but a relaxed approach in the shoulder season will pay off. :artist:

Bama Ed
 
bama_ed said:
Thanks for the clarification, Jane! :jumping1:

BTW, I'm a Scout camper too. Over 300 nights as a kid and dad although I'm getting to the age where I can still do it but I don't want to if I don't have to....

It's not too long but my point here is to confer with your local family. WDW is great tent/popup camping January to about April. (we have normally gone in the spring during this time). By May it's pretty warm at night (by my standards in Alabama) and the summer months are pretty uncomfortable unless that's the only time of the year you can come. You can do it but you probably need a cooler - the Trading Post sells ice for about $3 a bag. If you can rent a car or have transportation, you will need to resupply food/water/etc during a stay of that length.

Don't plan to do a park day every day all day. It will wear you out. The Fort is great for tent camping Jan-Apr and Oct-Dec (what I call the shoulder seasons). Plan some full non-park days for the Fort (swim/explore) or head over to Dis Springs or play putt-putt, etc. I know you're coming a long way but a relaxed approach in the shoulder season will pay off. :artist:

Bama Ed
Click to expand...
Nice to see another Scouting family!

I was planning Dec or Jan (used to live in Orlando, I wouldn't ever camp in any other months :teeth: I remember camping in the swamps in June, not fun). We will have annual passes and plan to go into the parks here and there, but mostly enjoy family on the weekends, and the warmer weather during the week, maybe going into the parks in the mornings a few times a week, and catching the fireworks here and there. I figured might as well utilize the APs and not go commando park crazy, as that is a good way to have a crap vacation.

I'm thinking with the electric and water at the sites, and showers (!!!!) it's more doable for longer periods of time. I might tack on a couple of nights at a resort for fun at the end.

We stayed at the Fort the very first time we came to WDW back in 89 and I've been jonesing to stay again since then! Any tips on longer stays and how to make them more comfy? I was debating another tent or covering as a cook shanty. I'm used to cooking over a fire pit, do we need to bring a camp stove?
 
KalamityJane said:
so I was considering tent camping for 10-14 days. Would this be too long?
Click to expand...
Nope... Not in my opinion.

The Fort is awesome. If you like Tent Camping, I don't see this being an issue at all.

BTW, for the record, I am a former Scout, former member of CAP, and other groups where I loved to go camping (and hiking) with the tent. Now that I am older and Married (with children) the DW is more of a "Glamper" so no tent for us. But I, personally would do it. I suspect a LOT of the folks at the campground are also former (or current) Scouts too.
 


We've tent camped at the fort for 14 nts straight a variety of times and loved it each time! I've even done it alone with my 2 children and all was well. Have a great time!
 
This is going to be awesome!! I asked my 8yo if she wanted to camp there as I was watching a video about FW and her response was big eyes and YES!
 
KalamityJane said:
I was planning Dec or Jan (used to live in Orlando, I wouldn't ever camp in any other months :teeth: I remember camping in the swamps in June, not fun). We will have annual passes and plan to go into the parks here and there, but mostly enjoy family on the weekends, and the warmer weather during the week, maybe going into the parks in the mornings a few times a week, and catching the fireworks here and there. I figured might as well utilize the APs and not go commando park crazy, as that is a good way to have a crap vacation.
Click to expand...

The week after Thanksgiving into the first two weeks of December used to be a low attendance time. Coupled with great weather for central Florida, it was a "secret season" for people in the know to go to WDW. Well, the secret has been out for a while and coupled with free dining offers and bounce-back offers, it's not the low attendance period it used to be. But it is still a nice time to go and the parks and resorts are in their Christmas decorations.

The thing about January is to avoid the two high-demand times at the Fort. The first is the first week and weekend following New Years which is the Disney Marathon weekend. The Fort is booked full that week well in advance. I know because I was there two of the last three years and booked my reservation for those trips a year in advance. The other busy time is the MLK Federal Holiday 3-day weekend which is also in high demand. It's not long after New Years that the resorts take down their Christmas decorations all in one night (this year the Fort stuff came down between when we went to sleep Tuesday January 3 and woke up on Wednesday January 4).

Also there is slightly more demand for weekends as locals/Floridians come in to enjoy the Fort for a short stay so sometimes you can see weekdays but the weekends are hard to get. Getting a tent site is probably not as tough though as getting an RV/camper site in either of your two possible times.

Bottom line: my advice is if you are looking at December 2017 or January 2018 is to call and make a reservation for each one, firm up your travel plans and pick your actual travel period, then cancel the reservation you won't use (a "room" only reservation is held with one night's cost as a deposit which is returned to you when you cancel more than 5 days before arrival). With the longer stay you want, booking earlier will improve your chances of getting the dates you want.

Let us know how your planning goes. We love following along!

Bama Ed
 
Okay let me see if I have this right. You have made the decision to go. As tent campers, you are already aware of what to expect and mentally prepared for it. You plan on bringing "some" of your own equipment and the rest ie Tents will be provided by family that resides in the area. Having your Family living in the WDW area they will set your site up in preparation for your arrival. That may be something you will need to do some research on, not exactly sure if that will be permitted
Having read Ed's post above all I can say is HEED THE ADVICE OF WISE MAN. unless they on your reservation e have gone in Sept., Oct, Nov, Dec and Jan. September was IMHO too warm for tent camping but later would be far more comfortable. Holiday decorations start going up Immediately after Thanksgiving and come down soon after New Years like Ed said overnight. Added time spent relaxing in the Fort is a major plus for us If you are there while the holiday decor is still on display I recommend taking some time to just resort hop and check out each resorts style.
One word of caution Be AWARE of the NSS. As a tent camper you will need to take added precautions to avoid falling victim to their nefarious antics. All food should be secured in Squirrel Proof containers and Never left unattended along with any small shiny objects and children. While it has been rumored that paying a tribute to their leader a regular poster here who shall remain nameless (Did I get that right, Tiggerdad ) helps but will not insure your safety
 
bama_ed said:
The week after Thanksgiving into the first two weeks of December used to be a low attendance time. Coupled with great weather for central Florida, it was a "secret season" for people in the know to go to WDW. Well, the secret has been out for a while and coupled with free dining offers and bounce-back offers, it's not the low attendance period it used to be. But it is still a nice time to go and the parks and resorts are in their Christmas decorations.

The thing about January is to avoid the two high-demand times at the Fort. The first is the first week and weekend following New Years which is the Disney Marathon weekend. The Fort is booked full that week well in advance. I know because I was there two of the last three years and booked my reservation for those trips a year in advance. The other busy time is the MLK Federal Holiday 3-day weekend which is also in high demand. It's not long after New Years that the resorts take down their Christmas decorations all in one night (this year the Fort stuff came down between when we went to sleep Tuesday January 3 and woke up on Wednesday January 4).

Also there is slightly more demand for weekends as locals/Floridians come in to enjoy the Fort for a short stay so sometimes you can see weekdays but the weekends are hard to get. Getting a tent site is probably not as tough though as getting an RV/camper site in either of your two possible times.

Bottom line: my advice is if you are looking at December 2017 or January 2018 is to call and make a reservation for each one, firm up your travel plans and pick your actual travel period, then cancel the reservation you won't use (a "room" only reservation is held with one night's cost as a deposit which is returned to you when you cancel more than 5 days before arrival). With the longer stay you want, booking earlier will improve your chances of getting the dates you want.

Let us know how your planning goes. We love following along!

Bama Ed
Click to expand...


Hubby may have a work conference at Universal mid Nov, so I booked for Nov 1-12 (we will stay with him at Universal if he goes to the conference from the 12th on). Would it be better to go from Nov 17 on?

I called and got 3 weeks in January booked as well :)
 
FtW Mike said:
Okay let me see if I have this right. You have made the decision to go. As tent campers, you are already aware of what to expect and mentally prepared for it. You plan on bringing "some" of your own equipment and the rest ie Tents will be provided by family that resides in the area. Having your Family living in the WDW area they will set your site up in preparation for your arrival. That may be something you will need to do some research on, not exactly sure if that will be permitted
Having read Ed's post above all I can say is HEED THE ADVICE OF WISE MAN. unless they on your reservation e have gone in Sept., Oct, Nov, Dec and Jan. September was IMHO too warm for tent camping but later would be far more comfortable. Holiday decorations start going up Immediately after Thanksgiving and come down soon after New Years like Ed said overnight. Added time spent relaxing in the Fort is a major plus for us If you are there while the holiday decor is still on display I recommend taking some time to just resort hop and check out each resorts style.
One word of caution Be AWARE of the NSS. As a tent camper you will need to take added precautions to avoid falling victim to their nefarious antics. All food should be secured in Squirrel Proof containers and Never left unattended along with any small shiny objects and children. While it has been rumored that paying a tribute to their leader a regular poster here who shall remain nameless (Did I get that right, Tiggerdad ) helps but will not insure your safety
Click to expand...

NSS LOL We have that issue with squirrels here too but probably not quite as badly. I had a trash bag hanging on a tree, and couldn't figure out why it was moving... Yeah, one had crawled in and was feasting. We usually lock up food in the car because of bears here so will plan on doing the same. Maybe in locking totes?

I plan on lots and lots of Fort time, I'm happy we get to camp in the winter! Usually we can only camp May-Sept here because it is too cold.

We can get bikes, is there a bike rack by the ferry/busses to lock them up if we decide to go into the parks? I was thinking about a golf cart but it may be cost prohibitive for the length of stay.
 
I don't think it's too much time at all. Actually, with camping set up and break down, the longer the better.

Does anyone have a mini fridge you could borrow? With a 2 week stay, that is something that would be nice to have.
 
Bike racks are at both bus depot near reception outpost, Pioneer Hall , and the Marina. I believe but don't hold me to this that Disney only rents bikes by the day and they must be returned each evening. Most of us that rent golf carts use an outside vendor. I believe there is a thread on the subject
As for The NSS they are no laughing matter. The Fort is home to their extra double secret Headquarters and Training Base reported but yet to be confirmed hidden inside the abandoned River Country Complex. These little buggers make even the most vile organized crime syndicates look like a cub scout pack. All cute and funny while robbing you blind. Now if you are there in Jan we have 2 NE Florida Savage Hounds you can rent that should do the trick Of course the have the manners and appetites of goats and you will return to tornado like chaos each day but the NSS will have been kept at bay Private message for rates only honest inquires please
 
Last edited:
FortForever said:
I don't think it's too much time at all. Actually, with camping set up and break down, the longer the better.

Does anyone have a mini fridge you could borrow? With a 2 week stay, that is something that would be nice to have.
Click to expand...
Totally going to either borrow or buy a minifridge!
 
FtW Mike said:
Bike racks are at both bus depot near reception outpost, Pioneer Hall , and the Marina. I believe but don't hold me to this that Disney only rents bikes by the day and they must be returned each evening. Most of us that rent golf carts use an outside vendor. I believe there is a thread on the subject
As for The NSS they are no laughing matter. The Fort is home to their extra double secret Headquarters and Training Base reported but yet to be confirmed hidden inside the abandoned River Country Complex. These little buggers make even the most vile organized crime syndicates look like a cub scout pack. All cute and funny while robbing you blind. Now if you are there in Jan we have 2 NE Florida Savage Hounds you can rent that should do the trick Of course the have the manners and appetites of goats and you will return to tornado like chaos each day but the NSS will have been kept at bay Private message for rates only honest inquires please
Click to expand...

On the bikes, my extended family has some we can borrow, so they wouldn't have to be rented.

I'm very interested in these NE Florida Savage Hounds, are they descendants of Cerberus? If so, I'm interested :D On the NSS, I'm not surprised they are at River Country. That's probably the real reason they had to close RC, the NSS took control, right? Perhaps you need to breed the Savage Hounds for greater effectiveness ;)
 
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