Two Weeks

[Tim5055]

Well, I just noticed that our trip to Fort Wilderness is about two weeks away

As usual we will be stopping at hunting Island State Park for a couple of nights so Natasha can run on the beach, then it's on to see Mickey :Y

I guess it's time to pull the pop up out of the garage and make sure everything is ready.

[Starryart]

You're making us jealous! How about you take us with you? Is your camper big enough for all of the PUT members?
He he
Have lots of fun!

[B-flat]

Take a sack of money and enjoy it.  Oh, how I wish I could go, too.:W

[TJWSANTAFE]

Tim, I hope that you have fun. Be safe on your trip.. We hope to see you guys next season.

[campingboaters]

I feel your anticipation!!   :J  
 
We'll be leaving for a long weekend at Disney World on December 4th!  It's too short a trip for camping, but we can't wait anyway!  This is our first non-camping vacation in FOUR YEARS!  While I LOVE camping, I also love just walking into a hotel room and falling into the bed at night!
 
Have a great trip!  :W

[MommaMia]

It's too short a trip for camping,  
 
 :W

There is no such thing as a trip too short for camping!!!  When we lived in CT our favorite place to camp was a SP just 25 mins. from home!

Now, here in FL, we are going camping for Thanksgiving in right in Jacksonville, just 45 mins away from home!  Camping close to home makes spur of the moment trips much more doable!  Once you are there, all set up with your feet propped up next to the fire you forget how close to home.  Once you are camping, home and all the busy day to day hub-bub is a million miles away!

[SkipP]

Well, I just noticed that our trip to Fort Wilderness is about two weeks away

As usual we will be stopping at hunting Island State Park for a couple of nights so Natasha can run on the beach, then it's on to see Mickey :Y

I guess it's time to pull the pop up out of the garage and make sure everything is ready.

Tim, not sure when you last visited the guy with big ears. Our last trip down a few years ago saw long lines to get into the park because of newly initiated security measures after the 9/11 attacks. After the first day, we planned a little better and it wasn't such a big deal. They did go through every bag and backpack.

Enjoy the trip! Let us know how Hunting Island is.

[campingboaters]

MommaMia, I agree that weekends in general are not short for camping -- as we camp every other weekend during the season, but a 5 day weekend having to drive (and haul the camper) 1000 miles each way, MIGHT be a bit much...  

[MommaMia]

MommaMia, I agree that weekends in general are not short for camping -- as we camp every other weekend during the season, but a 5 day weekend having to drive (and haul the camper) 1000 miles each way, MIGHT be a bit much...  

ooo wait a minute!!  I thought you meant too close to home!  (stupid me for not looking at where you hail from) You mean short as in time, not distance!  I agree then!  Too short!

[tlhdoc]

Our last trip down a few years ago saw long lines to get into the park because of newly initiated security measures after the 9/11 attacks. After the first day, we planned a little better and it wasn't such a big deal. They did go through every bag and backpack.

Skip we were there in October and they still check all the bags, although not very well in my opinion.  We were prepared for it and didn't have any problems.  The family would go through with out any bags and I would get in line to have my purse and small cooler searched.  Then I would join them.

[forestwalker]

Lucky you ! DW and I sure enjoyed Disney World when we were there about five yrs. ago.We stayed ten days at the Caribbean Beach Resort on our honeymoon.We liked it sooo much that we plan to return for our 10th.anniversary.Next time we go we plan to take our pu,and camp at Fort Wilderness.From your post I assume that they allow dogs.What are the rules and regulations for pets? Chances are that you are in for a great time (as you probably already know).Please do share your experience with us.

[Tim5055]

Lucky you ! DW and I sure enjoyed Disney World when we were there about five yrs. ago.We stayed ten days at the Caribbean Beach Resort on our honeymoon.We liked it sooo much that we plan to return for our 10th.anniversary.Next time we go we plan to take our pu,and camp at Fort Wilderness.From your post I assume that they allow dogs.What are the rules and regulations for pets? Chances are that you are in for a great time (as you probably already know).Please do share your experience with us.

Having lived in Florida for over 30 years before moving to Maryland, I have over 100 trips to Disney World under my belt :Y

As a matter of fact, I have put to gether a web page of information:
Fort Wilderness Fun facts and Information.

As to your specific question, Fort Wilderness has an on site kennel for your standard house pets.  It will probably be best to leave your tiger at home. The kennel does NOT accept reservations at all, so don't bother trying. Current 2003 rates are $6 for a day stay and $9 for overnight. If you check in for the week you will pay the overnight rate.  Pets must be kept in the pet loops which include the 1600 - 1900 or any preferred loop, and on the canal pet walk. You must drive them to the kennel, you can NOT walk them to the kennel.

FW employees do NOT remove the pets from the cages for any reason. You must stop by to walk them yourself. Most of the cases are stacking models, one over the other. Interior dividers can be removed to allow space for larger dogs. In addition to these cages which are indoors, they still have a number (I'd say 15 or 20) of outdoor cages/runs. While they have ceiling fans over them it does get quite warm during the summer.

The kennel is open from 7:30AM to 10:00PM, but if you are out late the staff at the reception outpost can walk over to the kennel to get you dog to allow them to come to the site for the night.

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.  If you have any questions regarding this give the reception outpost a call at 407-824-2900.

[B-flat]

Thank you very much for the information about FW and about camping with pets.  Wow!  100 trips there under your belt!  Please give us a complete report about your trip when you return.  I'm sure that plenty of us will learn a lot from your experiences.

[jstaddwtr]

We were supposed to go to FW last X-mas but our TV broke down the day before we were to leave (after spending $1000. in mechanical stuff to get it ready for the trip). The Disney folks could not have been more gracious!

We bought a new (to us) TV and went during spring break.  We mentioned before that we saw a guy with a brand new 5th wheel wrap his trailer around a tree.  That evening we stuck a bottle of wine in our back pack to bring over to him (honest) but got behind in time and ran off to some evening event at Epcot....found ourself at security with the bags being searched and the bottle getting discovered.  

Again the security folks could not have been better.  I don't think they believed we were not trying to sneak it in but when we told them to just dispose of it, they kept trying to assure us it was ok if we wanted to leave and come back without it so we did not waste it.  Not the response we expected!  

Tim, we followed alot of your advise on that trip and had a wonderful time!  We would go back in a moment!  Have a great trip!

[Tim5055]

Thank you very much for the information about FW and about camping with pets.  Wow!  100 trips there under your belt!  Please give us a complete report about your trip when you return.  I'm sure that plenty of us will learn a lot from your experiences.

When it is only 3 1/2 hours down the road it's easy to make the trip.  As I say on my web page, I camped at Ft. Wilderness during High School which would have been within the first couple of years the campground was open.  It is truly amazing to see how things have changed.

Things I miss:

• Trams running around the circle road of FW all night
• Fruit/Veggie wagon traveling around the loops
• The train!!!