If I arrive early, do they let you park in the overflow area?

[DVCJones]

We are heading FW in April (19-25) and we are driving from MA. Not sure how long it will take us. If we arrive around midnight on the on the 19th, will they allow us to park there til morning to check in? If not, any suggestions on where to park for the night would be appreciated. Love to hear what you guys do.
TIA

 

[bama_ed]

Jonesy,

Basically, no - boondocking is not allowed on WDW property - even at the Fort parking lot. See this thread posts 10-13.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/newbie.3258771/#post-51205098

Bama Ed

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If we arrive around midnight on the on the 19th, will they allow us to park there til morning to check in?
. . . no
. . . that is lke trying to get an extra night free
. . . people even try this is the parking lots of the hotel resorts
. . . so, it is not only The Fort that disallows it

If not, any suggestions on where to park for the night would be appreciated.
. . . some Walmart parking lots

 

[DVCJones]

Thanks so much Bama Ed!!! It has been a looooooong time since I camped at the Ft. I think I was 17. I'm 45 now!!! So......
I appreciate the link to that thread. I figured there have been a lot of changes since my last experience. I guess we will plan to stop for the night outside of Orlando. Maybe a Walmart outside of Orlando... I have no problem paying for a site. I just don't know what kind of time we will make while traveling. This will be our maiden voyage in the new RV. I have so much to learn.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Thats the problem with traveling long distances to get to the fort. Sometimes we dont really know what the weather will bring, I have arrived early and I have arrived late, its not always easy to say for sure when you will get there. We have stopped in Ocala a couple times and occasionally in the Florida rest areas (usually crowded) and slept till 5 or 6 AM and then went on. I think that like so many other things, people have abused the privilege of using the overflow for early arrivals and now no matter how convincing your story is they will say no.
Also note that the Walmarts around that part of Florida prohibit overnight camping.

 

[DVCJones]

You are so right about not knowing when you will arrive BigDisneyDaddy. We were suppose to go in Feb. but the good old New England weather impacted our departure date, so we rescheduled for April. I think I will research some places outside Orlando. I wonder how far out is far enough...

 

[Maligator]

We are going down from April 12-27th and also coming from MA. Maybe we'll see you there!

If you plan to do a walmart lot in the Orlando area, call the store ahead of time and confirm that they allow boondocking. Many if not all of the Orlando area Walmarts do not. It would suck to settle in and get a knock on your door saying to leave and have nowhere to go.

We are planning to stay at a KOA just north of Jacksonville the day before check in. That way we just have a 3hr drive the day of check in and can time it better without rushing.

 

[bama_ed]

In that linked thread I posted earlier is yet another link resource in post #11 showing WM locations that DON'T allow boondocking. It's not an official WM website but I had come across it perusing another rv board (non-Disney related). Basically hard to find one that DOES allow it down the I75 or I95/I4 corridors between I10 and the Orlando area.

Bama Ed

 

[KristinU]

We drive down from CT and do what Maligator suggested - spend our last non-Fort night at the last GA exit before Jacksonville. We've done the KOA a few times and most recently tried Country Oaks at that same exit. I would stay at either one again. Then 3 easy hours and you arrive fairly fresh and ready for fun!

The only downside to this location for a stop is that the Florida Welcome Center with the free orange juice is the next exit or so and my DH never wants to stop for free OJ right after we get going. I talked him into it only once

 

[Bishoparc]

If I could tag on and add in a question along the same lines, in Sept. we're doing a Disney Cruise and then going to WDW after (3 night cruise). Was thinking about bringing our motorhome down to stay at the Fort. Do they let you park it in the overflow lot at the Fort while you're cruising, if not anyone know of a good place to park for something like this? Wife's parents live in Orlando and we're going to ride with them to the Port but they don't have a yard big enough that we could park the motorhome in.

 

[PaHunter]

The other option for staying the night, is look up Flying J truckstops, you can alway park your rig there for a couple hours sleep and then head back on down the highway.

 

[LHARPSTER]

What about booking that day? Can you just arrive late and check in at midnight but just stay in overflow till 7am so you don't disturb the other campers.

 

[Judique]

If I could tag on and add in a question along the same lines, in Sept. we're doing a Disney Cruise and then going to WDW after (3 night cruise). Was thinking about bringing our motorhome down to stay at the Fort. Do they let you park it in the overflow lot at the Fort while you're cruising, if not anyone know of a good place to park for something like this? Wife's parents live in Orlando and we're going to ride with them to the Port but they don't have a yard big enough that we could park the motorhome in.

You could try calling the airport parking companies.

 

[bama_ed]

What about booking that day? Can you just arrive late and check in at midnight but just stay in overflow till 7am so you don't disturb the other campers.

If you pay for a site and arrive at midnight, you're certainly entitled to go to your site. But out of respect for the late hour, maybe do a minimal setup (and a quiet one) till morning.

Bama Ed

 

[Disney Vacationers]

There is a Flying J's in St Augustine that has a larger parking lot for RV's and is only 2 hrs away. Never stayed there, just fueled up but coming from CT, We have stayed at other Flying j's and camping worlds on I-95.

 

[bjschil]

If I could tag on and add in a question along the same lines, in Sept. we're doing a Disney Cruise and then going to WDW after (3 night cruise). Was thinking about bringing our motorhome down to stay at the Fort. Do they let you park it in the overflow lot at the Fort while you're cruising, if not anyone know of a good place to park for something like this? Wife's parents live in Orlando and we're going to ride with them to the Port but they don't have a yard big enough that we could park the motorhome in.[/QUOTE

Have you looked into Parking right at Port Canavarel. You can park your motorhome, as well as truck/trailer. I recall in January for our 7 night Fantasy Eastern Caribbean it was $150.00 for the week. It is a bit more for oversized vehicles. Enjoy your cruise and Fort Trip.

 

[John VN]

If I could tag on and add in a question along the same lines, in Sept. we're doing a Disney Cruise and then going to WDW after (3 night cruise). Was thinking about bringing our motorhome down to stay at the Fort. Do they let you park it in the overflow lot at the Fort while you're cruising, if not anyone know of a good place to park for something like this? Wife's parents live in Orlando and we're going to ride with them to the Port but they don't have a yard big enough that we could park the motorhome in.

Call FW to get current policy rules.

We had a DVC Member's Only 4 night cruise with FW reservations after. I called FW and spoke to manager about parking MH in overflow lot for the cruise. Reply was that we needed at least 1 night BEFORE the cruise in order to keep the MH in overflow lot while on the cruise. Saturday night was added to our reservation.

This past January's Marathon Weekend we stayed at FW for 5 nights, then Dream cruise with MH in overflow lot, then back to FW upon return.

 

[Random Ninja]

Many Cracker Barrels have RV parking spots and will let people stay overnight. You might want to call first and check that it's okay as it's up to store management. I worked at one in Jacksonville on I10 and our managers always let people camp out overnight in RV parking.

 

[sirenia88]

Hi,

When I drove down to WDW in November 2014, we stopped at the KOA Kingsland, GA (Exit 1? on I95 South) We were 3 hours from the gates of the WDW property. It was easy on/ off. Pull Thru sites. For a KoA cheap. I think it was 33 bucks for the night. There is a Cracker Barrel about 3 miles going North on 95 for Breakfast. I did notice the rest stops were patrolled/ monitored in Florida so said the signs but then again you are in rest stop on the side of the highway If you are comfortable with that it's an option. Good Luck!

 

[LHARPSTER]

Hi,

When I drove down to WDW in November 2014, we stopped at the KOA Kingsland, GA (Exit 1? on I95 South) We were 3 hours from the gates of the WDW property. It was easy on/ off. Pull Thru sites. For a KoA cheap. I think it was 33 bucks for the night. There is a Cracker Barrel about 3 miles going North on 95 for Breakfast. I did notice the rest stops were patrolled/ monitored in Florida so said the signs but then again you are in rest stop on the side of the highway If you are comfortable with that it's an option. Good Luck!

Did they have gates blocking entry after hours. We're not sure what time we would arrive if we stayed there.