Need help..

Hi all.
I need some help again. Starlight and all of the others who have camped at Ft. Wilderness, please help me out.

I am booking a trip to Ft. Wilderness for the first of June. It is a trip for our daughters birthday. She don't know about it yet and I am having trouble finding out anything about the campgrounds. So here is my questions.

1. Has anyone ever booked one of the "preffered sites"? What loops are these in?

2. We will be pulling the TT so I need to know what to expect as far as room to park and room to turn.

3. I also know there is hundreds of things to do, but is there something that you would reccomend above all others? (Especially for an 8 yr old)

4. Most of all What is the easiest way to get there. I google mapped the trip and they have me going all ver Fla. to get to Orlando.

I don't really understand the reasoning for it.

5. We are planning on driving half way and staying the night, both ways. Is there a campground or rv park close to I-75 that you would reccomend somewhere around Perry or Tifton GA.?
Thanks!

we will be there the first week of june too.. can we come visit you?? lol

go to the disboards and check out the disney campground forum. they can tell you everything. I have learned so much about disney from that board

http://www.disboards.com/

You will LOVE staying at the Fort! We cannot wait to go back!

1/ Preferred site - we stayed in a preferred loop (200)
The preferred loops are: 100 through 800 and 1400.
Do you need to be in a pet loop?

Before we went to Disney, I thought I wanted to be in the 1400 loop...the preferred loop closest to the pool, campfire program, etc. However, I ended up being very happy that we were in the 200 loop. It was so close to the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall, Trails End Buffet (great breakfast!) and the marina. Everyone seemed to congregate down on the beach each night to
watch the Electric Light Parade and the Magic Kingdom fireworks. One night we grabbed the bus and took it down to the campfire program. We waited maybe a minute for the bus going down and no more than 3 minutes to grab a bus back from the campfire program.

I have put only a few pictures on my webshots of Fort Wilderness and you can find them here...

We took the boat to the Magic Kingdom but drove to the other parks.

I would be happy in the 100 or 200 loop again. If I ended up by the pool in the 1400 loop, that would be okay. However, we came home during the hotest part of the day and rested up. Had we been REALLY close to the pool, Meghan (5) would not have wanted to rest but would have wanted to go to the pool.

Fort Wilderness really is something you have to experience first hand.

2/ we were pulling a 33' TT and had no problems. One hint I received, add an inch or so to your Trailer length when reserving. Be sure to let them know if you use your awning and/or have a slide. We saw many many huge Class A's who had no problems.

3/ we arrived on May 21st (i think) and the parks were not that crowded. Once the holiday weekend arrived, the crowd levels increased dramatically. One thing we invested in and helped IMMENSELY was tour guide mike As for must see's... everything : ) My older two did not want to go to the waterparks. However, they loved them. So, I would include a waterpark. We LOVED the FANTASMIC show. It is at MGM.. which is now called something different I believe. We took advantage of the "Fantasmic Dinner Package" so we wouldnt have to arrive as early to get a seat.
Fantasmic The Magic Kingdom is a must do. Also, the parade at night and the fireworks. I could go on and on here : )
What I can do is put some more pics up on webshots and also write down my thoughts on the different parks and the "must sees" and email them to you.
It will not be until next week though as my surgery is Thursday morning and I am not sure when I will be out of the hospital and then when I will be able to sit at my laptop.

4/ We drove from Bristol (sorry I dont know the exact names here and dh is asleep) but we ended up going near Asheville? And we ended up in Savannah (I-95)... we dropped the camper at the Savannah South KOA and headed to Tybee Island. I really want to go back there one day.. was really nice! Next day we finished our trip to Disney. Not sure of exact highway names, but can ask DH tomorrow if you like. Heading home, we were in the tropical storm! (Last June)
and it was SCARY! I thought our TT was going to tip over. We made it to our halfway point at Fort McAllister State Park in the pouring rain and unbelievable winds. The next morning it was no longer raining so we got a quick glimpse of the campground and we would definitely like to stay there again sometime.

I would love to share info with you as soon as I am able. However, you need to get reservations asap! Also, get your meal reservations made as soon as you can.

You will love Disney!

Check out this forum... you will get tons of info here...
disboards

Happy Planning : )

Betty

Stacy if we are there at the same time I would be disapointed if we didn't look each other up. Ya'll are welcome at our place anytime. Starlight I hope the surgery goes well and things look up for you. We will be remembering you in our thoughts and prayers.
The trip is gonna be a doozey for us. Can't you just imagine a couple a hillbillies and their young'un fallin into that place.

I used the chat thingy when we was making the resv. and that lady had a ball out of us. She said she was gonna have to find us when we get there. lol

Thanks for all the info. It has really been good. Still accepting ideas tho!!

Thank you for your prayers. We picked up our new camper today, so that is incentive to get better : ) We actually ate dinner in it : )

You are going to really enjoy staying at the Fort. It is so fun!
Did you give them a preference regarding a loop?

Didn't know what to tell them as we have never done anything like this before. I did ask for a preferred site. It is booked for June 8 thru the 14th.
that is why I was wondering about the sites. I hope it is easy to get to.

I have been looking at the maps and I think we will be going down I-75 to Perry Ga. I am looking at a campground there to spend the first night and then drive in the next day. I checked and the check in time is not untill 3PM. We got park hopper passes for 5 days and hopefully we can find every thing before I pull out what little hair I have left.

We still haven't told the daughter yet. Just in case we have to cancel. I hope we don't. I am looking to get a couple of short trips in our new camper and get some time in it before we go. We are really looking forward to camping this year. The wife has already been looking at what shifts I will be working so they can stay at camp and I will come on to work.

I did tell them I wanted a bigger site than the size of our camper

maybe things will go good. When you get to feeling better maybe we can talk on the phone sometime and you can tell us more about it. My wife is so excited she don't know what to do.

Hi again.

As for check in time. Alot of people arrive before 3pm and head to their site if it is available. However, there is an overflow lot you can park on and head to a park if your site is not available yet. You can take the bus near the overflow lot or take a bus down to the marina and catch a boat to the Magic Kingdom.

As for loops... do you think you would want to swim? If so, how much? If you
think you might like to swim alot and attend the campfire program, then the 1400 loop would be good. If not, then you may wish to consider the 100 or 200 loop.
Its a quick walk to the marina, store, etc.

Your daughter is going to be SO surprised! : )

I will check today and see if I have saved any of my Tour Guide Mike stuff on the different parks and rides.

I would be more than happy to talk to your wife ...nothing I like talking about more than Disney.

Makes me want to start planning our next one.

If you really want to get excited, check out these pictures
Post Your Campsite at Disney I spent alot of time at Disboards and learned alot.

You wouldnt believe how some people decorate : ) Check out the Mickey Lights.. if you want to make one my dh can send you instructions as he has made 3 : )

Also, you may want to check out the Fantasmic Dining Package. The Fantasmic show is... Fantasmic : )
Fantasmic Dining Package

One thing I cannot emphasize enough is to make dining reservations as soon as you can. If you are at a park one day and decide you want to eat at a restaurant, good luck getting in without a reservation. One of the workers at a restaurant told us they double book reservations, planning on people to not show. and so they take no "walk ins" However, Trails End at Fort Wilderness is generally not too bad.. we only made reservations for dinner there. And, if you want any character dining, make it as soon as you can. You can go here and plug in your dates and it will tell you how far in advance you can make dining reservations at specific restaurants
advanced dining reservations

I think your daughter will love the Magic Kingdom!

Well, now I am ready to plan my next trip : ) As soon as income tax is here, I will be making reservations for 2009.

Oh, my Meghan, who is 5, said her favorite restaurant at Disney was the Rain Forest Cafe. We went to the one in Downtown Disney.

Are you going to be able to squeeze in a day at SeaWorld?

Your family is going to have a blast.

Darn we will miss you, we will be there the week before....

We have ADR'S (advanced dinding reservations) for Chef Mickey's.it is a buffet character dining with Mickey,Minnie,Goofy,Donald,Pluto and sometimes Chip n Dale. It is at the Contemporary resort. Crystal Palace is a good place to eat also I have read. you get to see Pooh characters there. My sister is going to the Princess Story book B-fast at Epcot.

We have a villa so we will eat at home most of the time and in the parks hitting up the counter service ones. I made index cards for every place in each park that I would want to maybe eat at and where it is.

I have tour guide mike so I will list for you the perfect days for what parks to go to, he lists them Green,Yellow and Red.. stick to them if you can

Sun June 8th
AK all day
HS-all day
MK-morning only

Mon June 9th
Epcot day!!!

Tuesday June 10th
HS or AK all day green

Weds June 11th
Magic Kingdom day!!

Thurs June 12th
AK or Hs Green all day

Friday June 13th
Epcot,AK all day green
MK morning green only

Sat June 14th
MK before you leave

So i would do it this way to get the best out of the park following Tour Guide mikes guide

Sunday check in
Monday Epcot
Tuesday-Hollywood Studios
Weds- Magic Kingdom
Thurs-Animal Kingdom
Friday-Rest up,go to the beach,or hot one of the 3 parks listed
Sat- pack up and head home

My itinerary is sort of like this one but I get there on Sat and rest on tuesday on my list

any other questions pm me. I have a book i am reading and have learned so much off the internet too

Stacy, are you doing the "Fairy GodMailer" thing on disboards? Meghan received two postcards before we left and I sent out several when I was there. I am sure Mackenzie and Ryan would like it : )

One important thing from Tour Guide Mike.. everyone races to the most popular rides first thing (good idea to ger there before rope drop)... TGM advises that you go elsewhere.. and send one person to pick up fast passes.

Another good thing, atleast it worked this way last year... you cannot return to the ride to use your fastpass BEFORE the time given. However, you can use it after.

Fisherpal, here is a link to threads on disboards about Fairy Godmailers
Fairy GodMailer threads

Thanks I added the kids

Thanks for all the help! My wife is ready to go and I haven't even got it together yet!

I told her that you may talk to her when you get home and get to feeling better. She is really fired up.
I have checked out the disboards and have found a lot of info already. The daughter is really interested in animals and i think she will really like the Wild Kingdom thing. I don't know about all the rest yet.
There is a really neat thing on the disney site that lets you look at what is in each park and then they will send you customized maps with your favorite choices hightlighted for free.
Since we are camping there, we have decided to take food and fix it at the camper. The resteraunts that it shows on the maps had price ranges on it from $14 per person to $99+ per person. I don't think we will make too many meals in there...

I figure if we get in there early and maybe stay most of the day, then we will come back to camp and rest for awhile and then go again. One of the guys I work with told me that the park hopper passes was the only way to do that so instead of being confined to one park per day I decided that maybe we can split it up some.

Stacy, I wanted to go the first week also, but school don't let out till that Friday and then I have to work a seven day stretch and can't really afford that many days vac. time. So I had to give in and go the second week. Are ya'll gonna go down 75 or some other way? If you are looking for a place that is just at half way. The guy that I work with reccomends Twin Oaks in Perry Ga. He has stayed there several times and it has a pretty high rating in Trailor Life Directory. The rates ain't half bad either for full hook ups. I think it is $28 a night and they also honor Good Sam's and Other club discounts.

It sounds like you all have wonderful trips planned. We have just finished with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. We had not been to Animal Kingdom before. We still are kids at heart so we still really enjoy going to the Magic Kingdom. I told my wife it truly is a magic place. One thing I found out was they allow people to ride up front in the Monorail with the driver. We got to do that and they gave us a co-pilots card when we did it. It would probably be harder to get the up front seats during June than it is now. If you can, do it, you sure get a nice view. I think the max that can ride up front is 4.
I could not believe how many kids were at Disney now. It was much more crowded than I thought it would be. It sure is an exciting place.