Summertime at the Fort - Tips?

mickeyfan0805

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
It's a little ironic to be talking about summer heat in the midst of a cold snap, but we are slowly approaching our 180 day mark, and I'm wondering about any tips and tricks you might have from past experience of enduring summer visits to the Fort.

There are a few things we plan on...
  • Rope drop the parks (with FP+), take afternoons off, and then return for the evenings (for FP+ we grabbed after the morning).
  • Schedule most ADR's for between 1p and 6p.
  • Try to select a more shaded loop at FW.
  • Rent a cart to lessen walking and/or waiting for buses.
Beyond these items - anyone have any suggestions or tips we haven't thought of? Being from the northern states the FL summer is not our friend, but our kids have reached the age at which summer is our only realistic option, so we are going to make the best of it.
 
It's a little ironic to be talking about summer heat in the midst of a cold snap, but we are slowly approaching our 180 day mark, and I'm wondering about any tips and tricks you might have from past experience of enduring summer visits to the Fort.

There are a few things we plan on...
  • Rope drop the parks (with FP+), take afternoons off, and then return for the evenings (for FP+ we grabbed after the morning).
  • Schedule most ADR's for between 1p and 6p.
  • Try to select a more shaded loop at FW.
  • Rent a cart to lessen walking and/or waiting for buses.
Beyond these items - anyone have any suggestions or tips we haven't thought of? Being from the northern states the FL summer is not our friend, but our kids have reached the age at which summer is our only realistic option, so we are going to make the best of it.
Plan on a water park option or staying close to the pool?
 
Plan on taking your time, crowds and temperatures can drain the energy of your party. Also plan for the afternoon quick rain storms. We've done the 4th of July a couple times, and by the 6th crowds at the fort were much lower and the parks were fine. Early mornings and late nights make for a long day, so the mid-day break is really important.
 


The little battery run fans/water misters for the parks.
 


Spare shoes! From what I understand, last summer right around the 4th of July was unusually rainy with torrential rain nearly every evening from around 4pm to around 9 or 10 pm...but I know it usually rains at least a bit. DS totally killed a pair of shoes in a downpour and only had a pair of flip flops along in addition to the sneakers. Off to the outlet mall we went (he was happy, of course!)

We usually bike around the Fort, but we did get a golf cart for the summer trip, it was nice to have on those hot days.

Otherwise, just hydrate and have fun!
 
What are your dates for Ft Wilderness? We may overlap with you.

It's a quick trip for us. Really, we realized that we would already be in Pigeon Forge, TN with the camper in tow, Annual Passes in hand, and a week to spare! So... :car:

As for dates, we will arrive late on Saturday, July 21 (we are coming all the way from Pigeon Forge that day) and will leave after lunch on Thursday, July 26. You?
 
As for dates, we will arrive late on Saturday, July 21 (we are coming all the way from Pigeon Forge that day) and will leave after lunch on Thursday, July 26. You?


We arrive on July 12 and pull out on July 23, may get to see you, we'll overlap a couple days.
 

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