the_Meirkat

This was a fun vlog to watch!  Charming family!  Thanks for sharing!

3 hours ago, Travisma said:

Check out the new Disney Corp homepage masthead!

https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/

I really do not like seeing the Simpsons posted with anything Disney related.  *sigh*  And now apparently, the Simpsons are Disney related.  Change is good but not for everyone all at the same time.

Fort Wilderness site prices are steep.  No doubt about.  Accountant Hubby chafes at paying so much "for a parking spot" but because he is married to a certified Disney nut, he puts up with it for our once a year trips.  This year, we are spending the last week of April at the Fort and will probably only go into the Parks a day or two.  

We are headed to D23 in Anaheim in August.  I have already started managing expectations for Star Wars at Disneyland.  I am thinking it will still be too crazy to be anywhere near the Parks at the end of August.  

This is demand pricing, right?  Not my favorite thing.  But, still works out for me as none of the other resorts let me bring the dog.  :)

We checked in on 2/11, with a pet loop premium reservation. Hadn't requested any site particulars. CM told us the resort is sold out and put us in the 1400 loop. When I pushed back that both dogs ARE with us, she said the entire campground was being considered all pet loops for the weekend. Okay, but we are staying through next weekend and are we going to have to change campsites? She said no and not to be concerned about having the dogs on a no pet loop. Being somewhat rule-bound, this has made me a little anxious. We are the only pet group on 1400 right now.  I am hurrying the dogs through the loop three and four times a day, rushing up to the road and down to the bark park, which blessedly isn't far. (Love the dog park!) I am extremely conscious of ruining someone else's  vacation while I am trying to enjoy mine. Just weirds me out. Why have pet loops if exceptions are being made all the time? Why risk upsetting guests, either way (pet, no pet)? 

P.S. You Fiends have taught me so much and I was way better prepared than usual for this trip. Fiends rule!

4 minutes ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

At least the harmonic waves are about gone :)

So true!  What was that all about, do you suppose?  Made such a racket, no matter the speed.

That stretch of I20 between Atlanta and Birmingham.  The pavement is awful and the semis are flying.  Doesn't seem to matter if we are heading out or coming home (to Atlanta) because it's horrible both ways.

Bienvenue!  

Only 10 days!  I am so excited for you and your family!  Is this your first trip to the Fort or Disney World?  

My first trip to Fort Wilderness is still months away, sadly.  

So pretty!  Gotta love a shiny new truck!

What a gorgeous new truck!  Congratulations!  I am sure you are going to just love it! 

Hubby and I saw a Ford commercial recently talking about that back-up assist gadget.  I think that's an option I would have to pass on.  Like you, I've been backing trailers for a long time and have a pattern in my brain as to how it works.  The knob/program would really throw me off, I think, not to mention the psychological "I'm not in control" aspect.  My husband tells me I have some issues with "not in control"...,

Again, congrats on the new ride!

I have a 32' TT we use a Chevy Suburban to easily tow it.  I see you mention two teens in your family.  I'd really look at those bunks. Some run really small and become unusable as teens "grow" into adulthood.  I find most 5th Wheels to really be designed for the "full time" rv folks rather than family. We are ready to move up to a Class A after many years in our TT.  Good luck with your shopping!

Heya, Hammer!  Still shopping.  Still on the fence about TT versus 5er.  And yes, the bunk space is a serious issue.  My son is already a foot taller than I am and looks like my (I cannot believe she will be 13 in a few weeks!) daughter will be as well.  We'd really like their bunk space to be a separate sort of room as it was in our old unit.  Makes everybody happier at bedtime, since Hubby and I are old and require quiet for sleeping and apparently teenagers don't sleep quietly EVER.  :) 

So, still hunting the perfect unit.  Starting to worry that perfect isn't out there.  We have friends who starting shopping the same time as we did, and they've not only bought already but have been on two short trips with their new unit.  *insert dramatic sigh here* 

Hijacking for a moment.

 

Saw this on a pop up site I visit.

 

http://www.govplanet.com/Recreational+Vehicles

 

RV/TT at government auction.

 

Not much at this time, but they had some nice ones on previous sales.

Ooooh, hijack away!  I never would have thought to peek at government auction sites for an RV.  Cool tip!

On the BRIGHT side it only took 1 guy to screw in the bulb.

Scary, because this is exactly what I said in my head while reading the previous post!  Great minds!

Wow, even more to think about! 

Have to look up the Anderson hitch.  Never heard of that one.  A neighbor recommended the B&W hitch but doesn't actually use one.  That seemed a bit strange to me. 

Looking at clearances on some of the 5er's when hooked up scares me some.  Looks really tight.  And I am a big ole chicken when it comes to towing.

Today's outing included a Coachman Chapparel X-Lite 31BHS fifth wheel.  This one meets all the requirements of floor plan and weight restrictions but it didn't thrill me or my son.  Actually felt a little flimsy.  I assume that due to the X-Lite construction.  ??

Are there manufacturers/brands I should cross off the Look List?  Since Coachman/FR is what we had, it's what I know the most about (not so much at all). 

Again, thanks y'all!

Just voted!  Good luck to John!

I think it comes down to towing and money. Your truck seems like it will fit fine with both. I personally think you have way more choices in floor plans for everyone's space in a TT. A 5er to me always seemed like it catered to a couple who wanted a good size bedroom, a living room and a nice kitchen dining section. If you have more than 2 people you will always be braking the living room and dining room down for sleeping quarters. A TT can give you more options such as a bunkhouse. I'm sure there are 5er bunkhouses but with a heafty price. I also like my truck bed being a truck bed. I guess a lighter weight detachable hitch will also put you back some and I hear you can't remove it yourself

That's my understanding also, that the fifth wheel hitch isn't removable or is at least only partially removable.  That doesn't make me happy as we use the truck for lots more than just hauling the camper.  And the bunkhouse 5er's are harder to come by, nevermind the outrageous prices!  The floor plans just don't seem "ideal" the way our older TT was.  Like you described, the 5ers with no bunkhouse sure are nice, but we would always be breaking down or pack up the living room couches.  Not my idea of a good time.

Hubby and Son are just so excited about the "new" factor of the 5er and I hate to spoil their fun.  I am just not sure we wouldn't end up hating what we can manage in our price range given our weight restrictions. 

Thanks for your time!

Other then towing down the road, I regret having our current 5er.  I liked our TT better then this one.  Also, had to upgrade to a new truck to handle the "light weight" 5er.  And that wasn't for towing power either...  Which is why I went with a gasser over diesel.  Payload capacity will be your biggest enemy looking for a 5er.  You need to find out what the payload capacity of your truck is.  There should be a sticker on the driver's door opening telling you payload/cargo carrying capacity.  With your's being a 2003 plus being a diesel, I expect it to be low.  Probably less then 2100 lbs.

 

With that being said though, we have the perfect 5er picked out and it gvwr fits into our truck's safety margins for capacities.  Just need the extra $$$$$ to make it happen.

Hi, Bob! I am still looking for that tree that grows money, the one my dad used to mutter about all the time.  Sure would make that extra $$$$$ thing easier.  :)

Figuring out our truck's payload was ridiculous.  Ended up calling our dealership to get a Ford-wide service search based on our VIN.  Irritating.  At 2250lbs, we are definitely limited in models we can feasibly consider in a fifth wheel.  This is a serious factor in my thinking we should stick with a travel trailer. 

So, the towing really is so much easier/more comfortable with a fifth wheel?  What is it you don't like about yours?  Did you have difficulty locating a floor plan that met your needs comfortably? 

When people have commented about our camper shopping recently, they look at me like I'm crazy when I say it isn't all that fun.  Is it supposed to be?  To me, it feels like work!  I can feel my brain starting to overheat when I start calculating all the various factors.  :) 

I have never personally towed a 5er though have towed a gooseneck horse trailer. Personally I'm used to towing boat trailers so a travel trailer is more in my comfort level. That being said if I found a fifth wheel with the perfect floor plan and price haha, I'd go with it.

One of the reasons we stuck with a tt was that we put the golf cart in the bed of the truck a lot. In a fifth wheel we would have had to go with a toy hauler and couldn't find one that met all the right requirements, price being a big one. So take into mind if or what you normally carry in the bed of the truck while camping and where you would put it in a fifth wheel.

Ah the joys of rv shopping. Look and see if there will be any large rv shows in your area they can be overwhelming but also good places to see pretty much all that's out there.

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Thanks for the reply!  Just as you said, I like having the truck bed to haul around whatever isn't packed in the camper, like maybe, someday, a golf cart!  And we are used to pulling a TT and/or boat trailer so I am really feeling we should stick to what we know.

I know that I am change-adverse by nature however, that's why I appreciate hearing from others.  :)

Hello, Fiends!  I could really use some advice from folks who've actually experienced the transition from TT to 5er, with family members. 

We are in the market for a new camper (Doesn't have to be NEW new, but honestly, who doesn't love new camper smell?) and are trying to sort out if we should go up to a 5er with this purchase.  We have tried to educate ourselves as to towing capacity/payload for our tow vehicle (2003 F250 diesel 4x4 with 8' bed) and are aware we have to look at the super lite lines in fifth wheel RVs.  This limits our choice a good bit but there are still a bunch of choices out there. 

We looked hard this weekend (in the rain!) at the FR Flagstaff Classic Super Lite and the FR Sandpiper Select.  Both nice, with a bunkhouse option that would be comfortable with two teenagers, and under our weight limit by a good bit.  Keystone has a model we like, with a more crowded bunch arrangement, but workable, also within our weight limits.  We were hoping for a clear difference in "feel" between manufacturers but didn't notice anything particular.

Our previous unit was a 2011 Coachman Catalina 32BHDS.  That puppy was huge (40' total after Hubby finished all the add-ons) but we got used to maneuvering it and only wrecked it once.  :)  We are all used to having our space while camping so going into a "small" fifth wheel isn't going to work. 

So, finally, I'll come to the point.  Is it worth the extra money going into a fifth wheel unit?  Hubby and Son say of course it is!  Son wants to experience a fifth wheel.  Hubby says it will tow easier.  I am thinking we should stick with travel trailers and essentially just purchase a newer version of what we had, saving $10k easily.  We have the hitches, sway bars, etc. for a TT.  We'd have to buy everything for a fifth wheel. 

What do y'all think?  I promise I am not asking for ammunition against Hubby. (It's his money we're spending so really, whatever he wants goes.)  I just want to know if the fifth wheel experience is really All That. 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice!

The mermaid tails with the swim fin are brilliant!  My great niece practiced dolphin kicks for an entire summer to convince me to buy one for her birthday.  I did and she is thrilled and nearly wore it out in the first week!  Was great fun to watch her racing up and down the pool!

We just came back yesterday from Fort Wilderness and observed a number of campers with a lanpost and this lighted Mickey head globe on the top in front of their sites. I check the tading posts, Downtown Disney and all the on line venues with out any luck. Anyone have information were we could buy such an item. Thanks in advance.

Hello and welcome!  Don't you love the lightposts!  My favorite is the way people customize them so individually.  Love that!  My son and I are working on our two using the directions mentioned here.  So far, so good. 

 

But the busses aren't as cool......

Has there ever been a comparison of monorail vs bus vs ferry ridership?

I guess to make it fair it would just have to be to the MK from the parking lot.

I think the buses are cooler than the monorail.  (And not just because I'm trying to butter up Lou so he'll check out a site for me.)  Occasionally, we get the coolest drivers, who sing, joke, do hysterical tour guide routines, etc.  I LOVE the buses at Disney!

OH, that is marvelous!  And such a good reminder of the "magic" of camping.  :)  My parents camped, in a homemade pop-up, with my brother and I beginning when I was about six weeks old.  All I can think, looking back, is "crazy people."  My own daughter is eleven and I still think maybe she is too young, considering all the fussing/directing/rescuing I have to do each trip.  I have no doubt our upcoming trip with the little cousins will be Interesting, and possibly similar to your experience.  :)

Thanks for sharing!

My son and I are having the best time reading all about your re-do adventures!  So inspired!  (Not sure we'll do anything.  Got to finish the Great Race project before taking on anything else so large.) But, having a blast keeping up!  Thank you so much for sharing!

Also, Most Adorable Spooky Storytelling Award goes to Little E!    Too cute, that one!

Looking forward to the next update!

Hey, just because I've lost count of the number of times I've gone to 4 parks in one day...

 

All FOUR Parks in one day?!  I don't think I was ever up to that, even at my most-Disney-fit!  Wow!  I bow to your superior enthusiasm and stamina. 

Now, about those waffles....

Welcome. Since Dave came and introduced himself you now have a good feel for what the asylum is like here :)

It's okay to be crazy, just don't let it drive you nuts.

Welcome!  Am new 'round here myself and looking forward to meeting some of the "characters" in person during my family's first foray into the Fort (October).  Lots of helpful advice is available to you.  Just ask!  This bunch seems to either know it all or know someone who does.  :)