RE: Tropical Palms/Florida

[PopUpPeeps]

 
I ve heard great things about Tropical Palms and am considering taking a trip there.  Does anyone have any information about the sites?  They have back-up grassy sites and paved pull-through s.  Are either of these any better than the other as far as location and privacy?  Does anyone have a site map or recommendations?  They don t have a site map on their website.
 Thanks!

[Tim5055]

 PopUpPeeps
I m going to throw in a shameless plug here.
 
 If you are going to tow that far it would be a shame not to camp at Fort Wilderness.
 
 Now with that said The [link=http://www.tropicalpalmsrv.com/index.asp]Tropical Palms web page[/link] does not seem to have a map on it.  So unless someone has scanned one and put it on their web site you may be out of luck there.

[PopUpPeeps]

 PopUpPeeps
Tim,
 
 No need to call it a shameless plug. We agree there is not a better place to camp (for us anyway...). We are big time " Disneyheads" , but we are trying to do this as cheap as possible this year. We went last year with a code for 12 nights at $24 per night (which is what Tropical Palms is). Right now there aren t any deals that I know of at FW and it would cost us more than double that to stay at FW. Well worth it I agree, but we are on a low budget this year and it will be tough as it is to pull it off. In fact we weren t even going to go this year, we had a nice 5 day trip  planned to Niagra Falls/Toronto for June 20th, but we cancelled today due to the latest SARS issues. We are trying to scramble to put something else together to replace it... why not the mouse, even if we don t stay in his house.
 
 We are watching the Disboards and Mousesavers for some deals, but there haven t been any good ones. I  do agree If we are driving that far, why not do it right. I just need to convince the President of my personal bank (DW) of that...
 
 Thanks!
 Joe

[Tim5055]

 PopUpPeeps
Ok, lets do a little Disney math.  I didn t know how many nights you were planning on staying, but I picked 6 because it sounds nice.
 
 Tropical Palms $24 per night X 6 nights = $144
 
 Fort Wilderness $48 per night X 6 nights = $288
 
 Difference $144
 
 But, lets looks at some other things:
 
 If you drive to the park rather than taking a bus which doesn t usually run on your schedule you will spend $7 a day in parking.  Remember, taking a shuttle bus from Tropical Palms is going to take extra time.  This is park time you loose. Even if you only go to the parks 4 days thats $28 extra you will pay at Tropical Palms
 
 Staying away from the Disney property takes away the ability to drop back over to the pop up for a lunch or dinner.  For a family of four that could be big bucks, but I ll only say $40.  So thats another $40 extra you will pay at Tropical Palms.
 
 So now it is only $76 more to stay at FW.  Thats only $12 a day or $3 a person.
 
 Now I put this together without some of your details.  Remember, some discounts are almost always available.  Do you have AAA?  That usually saves 10%.
 
 Can you tell I have had to make this pitch to the President of my personal bank? [8D]
 
 Now if you are looking for a nice inexpensive vacation, how about some time on the beach?  [link=http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/stateparks/parkdetail.asp?PID=1019]HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK[/link] in South Carolina has a beautiful campground right on the beach.  YOu could do a few days at Disney and then relax on the beach.  The best of both worlds.
 
 
 Good luck an have a wonderful trip wherever you go.

[PopUpPeeps]

 PopUpPeeps
Tim,
 
 Thanks so much for your insight and time. I can t believe I din t even think of parking... among all of the the things you broke down.
 
 This could be the info I need to convince the President!
 
 Thanks Again!
 Joe

[Flacamper]

 PopUpPeeps
Yea, thanks Tim.  I wasn t even thinking about going to Disney, but with a pitch like that, If my bank president reads this, she may to change my mind. []
 NICE SELL[]

[sandykayak]

 PopUpPeeps
When I had a tent, I wanted to go to FW.  When I had a VW EuroVan poptop camper I wanted to go to FW.  Now that I ve had the popup for FW, I STILL want to go to FW.
 
 As I was heading to the airport last week (visited son in NYC) I saw a billboard that said 4 days at Disney all parks for $109.  Of course, that s a Florida residents only special.  They usually try and drum up the local trade in the hot months.
 
 One thing that always " gets"  me is that when I look at people s websites and the map and read the tips I remain confused about where to try and get a site.
 
 I have two small doggies...oh, wasn t that one of the downsides? something about you weren t allowed to take doggies if you were in a popup?

[Tim5055]

 sandykayak

 

ORIGINAL:  sandykayak
 
 One thing that always " gets"  me is that when I look at people s websites and the map and read the tips I remain confused about where to try and get a site.
 
 I have two small doggies...oh, wasn t that one of the downsides? something about you weren t allowed to take doggies if you were in a popup?
 

 Sandy,
 
 Shame on you[], as a Florida resident you should be at FW a few times a year.
 
 With pets you are restricted to the 1600, 1700, 1800 & 1900 full hook up loops or the 300 and now 700 prefered loops.  I personally like the 1800 & 1900 loops because they are quiet.  That is except for the 3 or 4 1800 loop sites that back up to the dog walk on the canal.
 
 For pop up owners, be careful.  The Disney website states:  
 
 

Q. Can you tell me more about keeping my pet at Disney s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground?
 
 A. Specific areas of Disney s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have been made available to Guests with pets. These are full hook-up campsites. There is a $5.00 per day pet charge. (This is a per day, per site charge only, not per pet.) Sorry, Guests in tents and pop-up campers may not keep pets at their site - they must be kenneled.

Rest assured if you are camping in a tent or pop up  you can bring your pet to the site.  I have spoken to FW Cast Members several times and they state that the statement should be that pets can not be left unattended in a tent or pop up.  During the day when you are at the parks you must use the FW kennel.  If you have any questions regarding this give the reception outpost a call at 407-824-2900.
 
 For more information on the kennel and everything else FW check out [link=http://www.title-3.com/FWFacts.htm]Fort Wilderness Fun Facts and Information[/link]
 
 Now Sandy, go to FW[]

[woodthumb]

 PopUpPeeps
FT Wilderness is a must see if possible, but living only 100 miles away and being there several times in a tent and once in our pop up, I can personally tell you it ain t cheap in any way.  Actually, it s not even fair.  The sites are very expensive most of the time, the trading posts will gouge you big time, and the ice is never quite frozen solid, and at $ 3.75 per bag, it adds up fast in the summer.  Also, several campers I have talked to over the years have had A/C problems while there, including me. My capacitors fried on the second day there last summer. I voiced a concern, but they really didn t care.   One camper friend told me they have a serious voltage problem in the hot months. But, with all that said, you just gotta go at least once.  Just riding the boats from resort to resort and trying out all the pools is worth it. They are fantastic !!  Tropical Palms is about 8 miles east down 192 and one of our favorite weekend getaways.  Reasonable,even the store, clean and ALWAYS a extremely friendly staff. One of the few resorts that looks just like their brochure.  You really can t get a bad site at either resort.  Have Fun !!!

[tlhdoc]

 PopUpPeeps

 

ORIGINAL:  PopUpPeeps
 
  In fact we weren t even going to go this year, we had a nice 5 day trip  planned to Niagra Falls/Toronto for June 20th, but we cancelled today due to the latest SARS issues.
 
 

 Joe why not go to the rally in Virginia?  It is June 22 to the27th, and you wouldn t have to drive as far.  You would meet a great group of PU campers too.
 

[PopUpPeeps]

 PopUpPeeps
Tim,
 
 The " President"  signed off, made our ressies last night (10 nights), got Disney club discount!!!
 
 Thank You again!
 
 
 Tracy,
 
 Thanks for the invite, actually a Busch Gardens,VA/Washington DC trip came in a close second. The Rally even made it more appealing (at least to DW and I... ).  
 
 Thank You!
 Joe