Fort Wilderness Questions

[Jopopsy]

Ok, this Friday around lunchtime it is. Thanks guys.

[Jopopsy]

Fax sent, lets see how it works out. Thanks for all your help everyone !

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

Fax sent, lets see how it works out. Thanks for all your help everyone !

I don’t know if it helped, but we pulled into the Fort at around 11:30 am. When checking in, they said they had received our fax and asked if I still wanted one of the loops I requested (1200 & 400). They put me in 1200 loop 1st, but site was too difficult to get into. We drove over to 400 loop, found a spot and called to see if we could have it. They said sure. So I think the earlier you can get there the better.

[Hog3loves]

Originally Posted by Bookemdanno

I don’t know if it helped, but we pulled into the Fort at around 11:30 am. When checking in, they said they had received our fax and asked if I still wanted one of the loops I requested (1200 & 400). They put me in 1200 loop 1st, but site was too difficult to get into. We drove over to 400 loop, found a spot and called to see if we could have it. They said sure. So I think the earlier you can get there the better.

Arrived at 11:30 am? I thought check-in was No Earlier Than 3 pm. Arriving before then would force you into the waiting lot next to the main office until official check-in time. True or Myth?

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by Hog3loves

Arrived at 11:30 am? I thought check-in was No Earlier Than 3 pm. Arriving before then would force you into the waiting lot next to the main office until official check-in time. True or Myth?

I waited in the pull off area for 30 mins and they called and told me my spot.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Hog3loves

Arrived at 11:30 am? I thought check-in was No Earlier Than 3 pm. Arriving before then would force you into the waiting lot next to the main office until official check-in time. True or Myth?

It all depends if the site you were assigned or requested has been cleaned. Some people have been given their site as early as 9:am since it was unoccupied the night before.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Hog3loves

Arrived at 11:30 am? I thought check-in was No Earlier Than 3 pm. Arriving before then would force you into the waiting lot next to the main office until official check-in time. True or Myth?

They are busy cleaning vacant sites early in the morning. IF your site is vacant, cleaned, and ready to occupy, then they may be able to get you in. You may have to wait until someone verifies the site is ready.


what Grumpy said.

[Octopus Prime]

Originally Posted by Hog3loves

Arrived at 11:30 am? I thought check-in was No Earlier Than 3 pm. Arriving before then would force you into the waiting lot next to the main office until official check-in time. True or Myth?

On the DisBoards, a few people report to have checked in at around 6:30 a.m. I think 6:05 a.m. is the earliest.
They will let you park in the overflow lot and use the campground amenities or go to the parks if your site isn’t ready.
I’m hoping we will check in before 8am when we go.

[klinner28]

I'm pretty shocked at the line of RVs checking in at like 8am.

We don't get out til noon so I guess the next guest will have to wait for us.

But RVers tend to be early birds and the majority seem to leave their sites first thing in the morning.

[ricemanwm]

Visited Fort Wilderness last weekend, 12 Apr 2019. When you complete the early check-in on he website there is a pull down menu to select your arrival time. I selected 1pm and at 12:30 received a text the site was ready. At the first gate where you show your drivers license the guard said no need to pull forward to the normal drive through check in and had me take a right into the “returning guest” lane and we went straight tot the site.

Believe the 3pm check in time on the site probably applies more for the resort hotel rooms and not so much the camp ground. Living 3 hours north of Orlando and having a 3yo grand daughter we have became Fort Wilderness frequent travelers. We normally arrive between 12pm-2pm and have never had to wait.

[Midnightmoon]

I'm glad this thread popped back up. It reminded me that I have to book an overnight for our trip down. We stopped in Kingsland Ga last year on the way in and it was close enough to give us a good early start on our arrival day at Ft. Wilderness. I may try and get a spot at that KOA there again.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by ricemanwm

snip...
Believe the 3pm check in time on the site probably applies more for the resort hotel rooms and not so much the camp ground. Living 3 hours north of Orlando and having a 3yo grand daughter we have became Fort Wilderness frequent travelers. We normally arrive between 12pm-2pm and have never had to wait.

True. Plus, IMO, the 3pm check in time is to allow the campground/housekeeping crew time to have cleaned all the sites/rooms. They want to 'exceed expectations' so if they say 3pm and a site is available before that, then they've 'exceed expectations' and made happy campers/guests.

[Hog3loves]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Unless it has recently changed it is 499 from the day of CHECK OUT not arrival.


The really best way is get a good Travel Agent that specializes in DISNEY. Doesn't cost you anything extra they get paid by the MOUSE.

Haven't made my own ressies in over 10 yrs, Resort, camping or cruising

Grumpy, here's an update on "499 days prior". A post on the DIS forum yesterday advised they in fact did change policy recently. Within the last few weeks, apparently. I was able to book our Dec 2020 trip 499 days from check-in (12/03) and 507 from check-out (12/11). That was online and NOT on the phone. FWIW.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Hog3loves

Grumpy, here's an update on "499 days prior". A post on the DIS forum yesterday advised they in fact did change policy recently. Within the last few weeks, apparently. I was able to book our Dec 2020 trip 499 days from check-in (12/03) and 507 from check-out (12/11). That was online and NOT on the phone. FWIW.

I've been told it's kind of a glitch since it's not consistent. Works at times and at other times it still holds the "from date of departure" rule. Typical Disney.

[Hog3loves]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I've been told it's kind of a glitch since it's not consistent. Works at times and at other times it still holds the "from date of departure" rule. Typical Disney.

My first instinct was that they were hacked....by the Russians, of course.

[Octopus Prime]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I'm glad this thread popped back up. It reminded me that I have to book an overnight for our trip down. We stopped in Kingsland Ga last year on the way in and it was close enough to give us a good early start on our arrival day at Ft. Wilderness. I may try and get a spot at that KOA there again.

Consider Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, FL for the night before. It’s a beautiful park, and you can get an earlier start on Disney the next morning.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Octopus Prime

Consider Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, FL for the night before. It’s a beautiful park, and you can get an earlier start on Disney the next morning.

Thanks. We are already booked for this year but I will keep that in mind for future travels.

[Midnightmoon]

Leaving this morning by the way.

[Midnightmoon]

Arrived this afternoon. 100 loop this time. The bad news is that these sites are especially tight to get in to. The good news is that we are literally just steps away from the marina, Hoop Dee, etc.

[Octopus Prime]

Enjoy your time there!! It’s a blast.