PAWDWcamper 14 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Has anyone arrived at the fort very late at night (or very early in the morning) and been able to park in the overflow lot until check in?After this last crazy adventure it got me thinking about driving the MH straight through and just sleeping in the overflow lot until they let us check in the next day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 If it's much before 6am, they usually require you to have a reservation/pay for the previous night. We often drive straight through and stay at a Holiday Inn near DTD, then drive on over to the Fort 8amish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daverene 14 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I never had a problem but might not have a site till 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PAWDWcamper 14 Posted March 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 We would usually get in around 1-2am and need to get some sleep. We would just need to sleep until the morning then we could waste time in the parks until they let us check in.We could sleep at a Flying J or rest area if they wouldn't let us hang out in the overflow lot, but I would rather be there and done with driving on check in day.I have seen 5ers and motor homes in the overflow lot at all hours and some have even been there for day! I was just hoping we could take advantage of it for a few hours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 On check out day, you are allowed to leave your Rig in the overflow the rest of the day until you pull out. Also, in limited circumstances, they have allowed folks to leave their rig while on a cruise, or staying in another resort on property for a few days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 :bump2: Just wondering if anyone else had experience with this. Typically we leave our home around 3am and arrive at the Fort (after stopping for breakfast) around 11am. This time we are considering driving down after work, which means we would pull in between 2a and 3a. Will they turn us away if they ask to park in the overflow? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Not allowing guests to sleep in the overflow lot is one rule that Disney makes an effort to enforce. Think about it- they can't have people showing up in the middle of the night and camping for free. As Carol said above, if you arrive before 6 am, and haven't paid for a reservation for the night before they will turn you away. They will not let you camp in the overflow lot. If you want to arrive in the middle of the night, make a reservation for the night before. You can check in and go to your site. It's done all the time. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 We drive to St. Augustine and overnight at the Flying J. Then it's less than 2 hours to the fort the next morning, and we usually leave FJ between 4 and 5 am. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Thanks. Looks like we'll stay with our normal mod of operation... and leave really early :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Last time we got to the Fort, it was late.... I want to say 1:00 AM... We checked in and went to our site. For me, it was worth paying for the extra night to wake up at the Fort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Live4FW 30 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Thanks. Looks like we'll stay with our normal mod of operation... and leave really early :) Coming at of atlanta can be brutal after work. We found getting up an leaving in middle of the night makes for.a less stressful trip. Kids sleep and Much less traffic. Dad can sleep once he gets there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Coming at of atlanta can be brutal after work. We found getting up an leaving in middle of the night makes for.a less stressful trip. Kids sleep and Much less traffic. Dad can sleep once he gets there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, there is very little traffic at night...which is nice :) I usually drive and DH sleeps. Last trip we got lucky and both children went back to sleep...previous trip, even up in the middle of the night, they did not sleep. Too excited I guess :) Plus, what TCD said makes perfect sense: Think about it- they can't have people showing up in the middle of the night and camping for free. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PAWDWcamper 14 Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We tried talking our kids in to stopping at a campground along the way and they said,"NO, we want to get to Disney as quick as possible". So we are leaving very early from Pa and driving to the rest area around Orlando for a couple hours sleep then off to the fort early.Darn kids an their excitement! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We tried talking our kids in to stopping at a campground along the way and they said,"NO, we want to get to Disney as quick as possible". I do this too - which is why I drive 10-14 hours, we take a quick nap at a truck stop, and then get back on the road. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kadancer 82 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We drive all night with cat naps along the way too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ceemike...Mike & Judy 50 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We've tried the St. Augustine Flying J but it can be noisy. We like the I-95 rest area just south of Exit 305 (the Flying J exit) but I've heard that Florida limits you to no more than 4 hours in their rest areas. I don't know if that is aggressively enforced or not. We did overnight at the FL Welcome Center north of Jax one time with no hassles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We've stayed overnight in the rest areas near St. Augustine a few times, stopping around 8-10pm until about 8am. The first time we did I made DH go over and ask the officer sitting in the car there if it was ok. He told us it was fine, just don't put out your slides and setup camp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We've tried the St. Augustine Flying J but it can be noisy. This is our usual overnight stop. Parking with the 18-wheelers is noisy. But usually the RV spaces calm down around dark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PAWDWcamper 14 Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 We've stayed overnight in the rest areas near St. Augustine a few times, stopping around 8-10pm until about 8am. The first time we did I made DH go over and ask the officer sitting in the car there if it was ok. He told us it was fine, just don't put out your slides and setup camp. That is great info! They say no overnight stays, but I figured they just didn't want people popping out the slides and dry camping for days. I will just need a few hours of sleep then we will go the the Fort and see how early they will let us in! This trip we will be checking in on a Tuesday, not sure if that helps or hurts us but we will find out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 That is great info! They say no overnight stays, ... Yup - that's why I made DH go ask the first couple of times. We got the same answer both times. The last time we stayed at one was about 18 months ago, no problems at all and it was quieter than the truck stops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ceemike...Mike & Judy 50 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 We've stayed overnight in the rest areas near St. Augustine a few times, stopping around 8-10pm until about 8am. The first time we did I made DH go over and ask the officer sitting in the car there if it was ok. He told us it was fine, just don't put out your slides and setup camp.I kind of figured this was the case. Like stopping at a Wally World, be a good citizen and don't abuse the privilege and you'll be OK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Classact....Mike 17 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 I kind of figured this was the case. Like stopping at a Wally World, be a good citizen and don't abuse the privilege and you'll be OK.Speaking of Wally World, the last 3 or 4 times we've made the trip to the Fort, we arrived at the Wally World on Turkey Lake Rd around 2am and slept until next morning to head over to the Fort. We asked 2 different times and were told it was fine. The last time - in March - the security guy came by and said overnight parking was not allowed, but agreed to look the other way. I told him, and this is the truth, that my DW was inside buying supplies and "I'm not sure how long she'll be in there". Anyway, we like it there because it's an easy trek over to the Fort, but will likely find a different landing spot for the future since I don't want a knock on our door at 4am. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Interesting! We pulled into one in Kissimmee a few years back at about 6-7 pm (still light out). Before we'd even shut the engine off a security car raced over and told us we couldn't stay there. Um... we weren't planning to, but thanks anyway. It's my understanding that there are county ordinances that prevent overnight camping in any store parking lots around WDW. But I'm with you - I'd rather not get woken up by that knock on the door. Especially since in our case, if anyone knocks all 3 dogs will go off like a bomb! :rofl2: 4Brians.....Todd 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
XBoater 8 Posted June 1, 2014 Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 We were checking in last Christmas Eve about noontime, the rv next us was making quite a stink. They arrived a day early and there were no sites and Disney would not allow them to stay overnight in the parking lot. The guy really did not take it well, guest he dropped his Disney spirit at the last fill-up. As we were finishing our check-in the Disney Po-Po were escorting the Rv to the exit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted June 1, 2014 Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 We used to overnight in rest areas and Walmarts/Cracker Barrels/Flying Js etc. but got tired of mid-night knocks: seldom from security, but usually from someone begging. After many such encounters I suspect that the beggars are not really begging but seeing if the camper is unoccupied (ripe for a break in) or if the occupants are good targets for home-invasion. I hate to think what could have happened if I weren't a big burly guy. It's just not worth the $40 a night to take the risk, IMHO. We generally stop at a cg at the GA-FL line, which is close enough to wake when we want, have a leisurely prep and drive and still be to the Fort in plenty of time for checkin, or even for lunch at Earl before checkin. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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