EnchantedSurprise

Thanks everyone for all the advice!  I wasn't planning on going too fast if it would fishtail I just wanted to know if it was a legitimate concern etc.

I talked to DH last night and told him the general consensus was to take a local trip before considering such a long drive with the pop up.  He apparently never thought we were going to use that this trip and thought I was insane for considering it  

So I am bartering my way to a very used 1998 pop up camper.  We checked it out today and it seems in good shape, but I am left with some questions and I thought this would be a good group to ask.

1. He said when you tow a trailer you should not go more than 60, 65 at the very most because of fish tailing.  Is this legitimate?  65 is the speed limit around here but when we drive down to Disney we hit some higher speed limits and I do not like the idea of making the trip longer or at the very least need to take that into consideration.

2. I already have a rental lined up for our trip, but since we are going to own one I was thinking we would just drive ours down.  However, we won't really have an opportunity to try it out before then as camping season is really done around here (imo).  Is it realistic we could figure out hook ups etc. ?

3. How much does towing a camper alter mileage (approx)?

Thanks for any advice or info.

All three transportation modes have a series of collectable business card sized cards.

Some bus drivers, monorail CMs, and watercraft CMs carry them to give out if asked.

Thanks!  

And thanks for the youtube link Mo, my oldest is really into Hidden Mickeys

As mentioned above, it would help me make suggestions if I knew the age range of the children. Fort Wilderness is a big place. I wouldn't send young kids unfamiliar with the campground out to run around unsupervised. Are we talking about elementary school age? Preschoolers? Teens? It makes a big difference.

TCD

5,7,12,16 - so all of the above

Send them off to the Outpost bus stop and tell them to get a bus transportation card signed by a crabby old bus driver with Lou on his name tag. They'll be gone for a week.

 

Ok, you may not want them gone that long, so just ask them to get the card from one of the internal bus drivers.

I don't know what that is, but thanks - I will.

Are they older kids with phones or cameras?  You could do a photo hunt....giving them a map of the Fort and a list of things to snap selfies of themselves with.  Like specific loop signs (say the 500 or 1600 loop entrance), on the porches of Trails End and the Meadows trading post, with the pool slide in the background, at the marina, in the horse barn, etc. 

I like the photo hunt idea, thanks.

Love this idea! Now I know how I'll offset the next 3 weeks of waiting to get there. This will be fun! The last time we were at the Fort we ended up extending our stay another day just so we could relax and check out the camp. I was debating whether or not to get 4 or 5-day hoppers but this makes that decision easier. Of course, some of my time over the next 3 weeks will be spent practicing my mad apple pie baking skills.

Good, you can try it out and let me know what to put on our scavenger hunt

Loved it there so much it made the short 'worth eating at even without the DDP list'.

Following along :)  I wish I lived close enough to take off for a few days with one kiddo - what a fun experience for the both of you!

Looking forward to an Aulani TR!  One of the owners where I work went there and loved it.

Oh no, hope today was better :\  

Love all these pictures.  I had started multi quoting to reference all the cute ones but there were just too many.

I've only cruised Disney before and am really interested in your final reviews.  You mentioned the entertainment being better at Disney, what about the food overall?

I would not get off at Nassau when I went (I only had my birth cert and was nervous lol) glad I didn't miss anything

I look forward to the trip we get to have a Disney date night, Ohana looked delicious per usual.

Cute kiddos, looking forward to reading more.

I like this plan too. except for the hire part. That would cost me money. Anyone want to be a guide for beer? I would offer 1 but dealing with SIl i should make it at least a 6 pack. 

Sure,  I volunteer my husband.  You just have to postpone your vacation two weeks.

I was thinking of putting together a scavenger hunt about Ft. Wilderness for the kids and figured you guys would have some good suggestions.  I thought it would be a good way to get them out and exploring a lot of what the Ft. has to offer our first day before HDDR.

THANKS!

Good call on the kid poles, they like fishing anyway and they we will be easy enough to pack.

You give Curt at Fort Camper Rental your info, and the camper arrives at the site before you just like magic! It's pretty cool. 

 

Feels crowded is a Josh from easywdw reference. I was hoping Lou would catch it since I know he secretly reads it. 

 

If I were going to pick between the HDDR and Dessert Party, I would choose HDDR hands down. Both are cool, but the HDDR is hysterical, and you can see the fireworks from anywhere.

 

Katman has also done both... what would you say Jason? 

I am a big fan of Josh, I appreciated the reference.

HDDR seems to be the winner, we want to try it at least once and it seems like a fun place to go for a bday dinner.

I love that it could be there before us depending on when we roll in - this just sounds better and better....

I have only cruised once, a short 3 nights on DCL so I am happy to read along about RCCL from a Disney fan's perspective.

Looks like your little guy had a great birthday, fat lip and all :)

Thank you so much for all the explanations.  I think I am going to go Cat 3.

Because her example was Tuesday?  LOL  I just figured if Tuesday was good maybe Monday was?

If you pick a slow night, and a less popular showing time, I'm told you can pay for Cat 3 and you get moved up to Cat 2 or even 1 if it's really slow.  Ticket window ladies won't mention this and will still push the expensive ones at you, but if you are going to be around on a Tuesday or something like that it's something to think about.

I am guessing Monday would be a slow night, a surprise upgrade would be nice indeed.

Depends on your family size I think. With only 3 of us, it's not THAT much more to do 1. With a big family, I'd probably do 2. Also know that they do send performers up to the top deck.

There are six of us.  Are there any bad seats in 2?  I read a couple reviews about being behind a pole and cannot remember if they were cat 3 or cat 2.

Thanks for the input everyone.  

We have never been to HDDR but we are going to try it this trip.  Checking out reviews and categories and looking for advice - which category?  Is Cat 1 worth the extra $?

Yeah weighing at the bottom would make a lot more sense.  Waiting until the top is cruel.

Well, I was going to upload some pics from our last trip but they didn't come out right.  I will add that we LOVE Tusker House breakfast and lunch (never tried dinner.)  None of us are picky eaters though and like to try new things.  My oldest has an obsession with the Jungle Juice .

We are definitely trying Sleepy Hollow our next trip - the kids are a little Nutella obsessed.  I want the spicy chicken one, they look good!

Universal starts at $17 now too :\

Bravo sir, your bat letter almost made me lose my mind.  :panic:

I have the Dumbo magnet but it has other dates like the day I can make dining reservations and select FP+s.. So for that it is more helpful.  Or would be if it was not a surprise trip, leaving the book/magnet sitting in a drawer at my sister's house.

I read your TR yesterday and had about 20 things I wanted to comment on but cannot remember now... It has been a very helpful intro to the fort.

Great TR - thanks for sharing pics of the camper.  How did that work with you getting there after the camper?  How did they know which site to set it up on?  I hope to be there way before the camper but was not sure how that would work.  THANKS!!

'Feels crowded' made me lol and though there are many cute pics I just love that picture of your little guy about to dive into his strawberry shortcake.

Oh and love the dessert party and Hoop De Doo pics.  We want to do one special thing next trip - if you could only budget for one of those, which would you pick?