POLL: When Did You First Camp At The Fort?

[DaveInTN 3,247]

In which decade did you first camp at the Fort? Or, are you dreaming about your first trip yet that is in the future?

This includes both campsites and cabins...any stay at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

We know the Otter Spotter started camping at the Fort before it was even built, and in fact I've heard rumors that she was the one who left her lawnmower leaning against that dang tree. But when did you fall in love with the Fort?

[DaveInTN 3,247]

My first stay was Christmas 1977, with my family. I was 9 and absolutely loved the place.

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

I think it was the 70's but I don't remember. No not be cause it was the Groovy 70's, I was too young. :)

[North7... Jeff 2]

It was March Break 1978. I even remember the site... 1313 Tumbleweed Turn. My parents made sure all of us knew the address in case we got lost :rofl2:

[Disneyzombie-Brenda 10]

We didn't camp at the Fort until 2000. We camped on all of our other vacations....we had a pop up...not sure why we didn't think to bring it to Disney.

[Momoffive aka Loretta 34]

I was 2 so 1973. I was almost 3. I even remember being on the beach and my Mom loosing her ring in the water. I remember the truck that used to loop with fresh fruit veggies eggs and such.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

DH camped there as a kid around 1974.

We first camped there together in 2004. Long story short, we suddenly found ourselves with a camper, a couple of dogs and 2 weeks vacation time and said, "what the heck, let's drag this thing 1300 miles south"

It was the only trip we made with that camper, but we were hooked. 2 years later we were back with our hybrid and the annual pilgrimage to the Fort was born! It started as a 2 week trip, but by 2007 we were already finagling how to make it 3.

Now DH is trying to find a way to make it 6 months out of the year... :heartsmiley:

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

2010 - Christmas

Loop 300 - site 318

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

My first stay at the Fort was in 1995 in the predecessors of the Cabins- they were called Wilderness Homes (but they were really poorly disguised double wide trailers). Mrs. TCD was lucky enough to have visited in the 70's, and even remembers riding the FWRR.

We made several return visits after our first Wilderness Home stay. Loved the Cabins when they arrived in the late 90's. Tried some tent camping, and then finally we purchased our pop-up camper in 1999. The rest is history.

TCD

[Live4FW 30]

Our first stay was for our 5 year anniversary in 1993 (we have since celebrated every five years on Disney property). We stayed in a popup in the 100 loop. Sadly, it took ten years to return for our next trip.

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Our first stay was June 1988. Our oldest son had just graduated from high school and we were making this our last big trip as a family, before he headed off to the Air Force

. We stayed in the 800 loop for 9 days. We did the Breakfast with Melvin the Moose, The HDDR and spent several of our days at River Country! Good times!!

[photogal06...Sommer 10]

For us, it was 2001. DD had just turned 2, and she was having serious health problems. I decided very spur-of-the-moment that if she wasn't going to be with us much longer, the one thing I wanted to do was take her to Disney World. DH had fond memories of camping at the Fort as a child, so we rented a Class C, loaded up DD and the dogs, and headed down. We only stayed a few days, and it was the first time I had ever camped. The Fort totally hooked us, and we fell in love with the Fort and with camping. I was profoundly disappointed at first when I realized that all other camping is nothing like the Fort, but I have grown to appreciate that other type over the years, lol! The Fort is still the best though. And DD is still with us and has been 100% healthy for 4 years now (knocking loudly on wood!)

[drafthorsecrazy 10]

My first visit was over Christmas in 1980 with my DH and 8 month old son. We pulled in without a reservation and got a site! Try doing that today without reservations booked a year in advance.

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

My first trip was in 1977 and I was 1 1/2 years old. My second trip was in 1979 and I still have my certificate from my day at the Mouseketeer Clubhouse; which I believe was at the Contemporary Resort.

We went to the Fort about every two years or so...my dad tells stories about the FWRR....and we have "slides" of it. I like to think I remember the FWRR, but realisticly I probably remember the "slide" show. I believe the FWRR was a seasonal operation at that time and was not running 365/7 as it was when it began.

I do remember hopping on the trams and buses. We always stayed in the 900 loop (Quail Trail), right across from the Meadows. I do remember seeing the old "Wilderness Homes".

River Country was awesome and it sucked when it closed. We always swam and made sand castles on the Bay Lake Beach too.

I remember walking up to the Meadows Trading Post and buying the plastic cubes filled with various types of candy, playing checkers, etc.

One of the best things then was the evening movie and sing a long. I am glad that is still around. The thing my DS always brings up about our trip to the Fort two years ago is watching "Cars" outside with Smores and popcorn, and "exploring" in the golf cart.

4 months and 2 weeks to go!!

[ajcjmom 8]

I believe our first stay was February of 1972, the 200 loop.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

My first stay was in December 2001 in the 2000 Loop tent camping.

I enjoyed camping and it was my way to make my annual solo December trip a bit less expensive. (My site was $21 a nite that first year!!)

That lasted till 2006.

Then I met you folks, talked myself into a camper, then the rest is history :)

[We4mickey 6]

Love this Dave! Stayed at the Fort for the first time in 1989. We only had one child and I was pregnant with the other one. Stayed in our tent for 2 weeks. We had been to Disney many times before that. My grandparents had a place in Bradenton and we came down every year. My parents always camped someplace midway between the two. It only took the one trip and we were hooked. We have since converted, my sister and brother in law, parents, brother, aunt and uncle and tell everyone else that will listen to us. LOL

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

My first trip was in June of 1985. My grandparents took my brother, sister and me when my parents were separating. An Uncle, Aunt and cousin met us down there. We stayed in the cabins or wilderness homes as TCD says they were called then. It was also our first time to Disney World.

[LORNADUCK 261]

My first time was in 1979, in our first MH. I think we had his kids with us and I think we stayed in Big Bear, Little Bear loop. Went every year since then until, we sold our camper and then didn't have one for 10 years. The first place we went when we got another one about 10 years ago was the fort. Rich had stayed there before in a tent that came down on him, so he basically was there in a sleeping bag LOL.

What's was reservations, we never made any, just pulled up. The first time we ever had to make them is when we go a camper for a short time, when Matt was 5, 21 years ago, but even after that we have pulled up and gotten. That time I made them for the wrong day ( a Lornaism) and they got us in anyway.

[ImDownWithDisney 342]

The first trip that I can remember had to be in the early 80's. I do remember riding the train and watching it cross by the loop. My first trip as a married "adult" was in 2001. My wife and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in the 200 loop after honeymooning at WL.

[SCTigerCock 171]

1972 in a converted bread truck RV while my mom was expecting me. Back kicking and screaming the following year.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Surprisingly (to me anyways), the 1970s are in the lead so far! We have some long time Fort lovers around here. And no one has voted yet that has not yet visited the Fort. I figure there have got to be some members here who are planning a first time trip, right?

[LONE-STAR 370]

My first trip was in 1979 as a kid with my parents. A few more trips in the 80's and 90's. Then me and the DW went in 2002 and stayed in a tent. Came back 2003 with a 5th wheel and have come back every year since. We have since then bought a new camper, and golf cart to use at the Fort. If it was not for Fort Wilderness we would not even have a camper. But we really enjoy it now. Now my nephews and daughter also love the Fort. I wish we didn't live so far away.

[stefa70 205]

Great thread Dave!

My first stay was around '75 in a tent. I can remember riding the trams all over just for the air flow. We went on the Marshmallow Marsh and then watched Mary Poppins at the campfire area.

I also almost drowned in Bay Lake, and never did get any brain eating amoebas.....or did I?!

[ZombieResponseMouse 0]

1989 I would have been 4 I do remember one year driving on a golf cart after the movie a giant frog jumping up and landing on my chest scared the ever loving crap out of me.