keith_h

2 hours ago, ftwildernessguy said:

So will my EZ pass transponder from PA work in Florida or do I need a Florida E Pass extra transponder?

I would expect it to work on some roads. The Central Florida Expressway Authority says they accept EZ Pass for their roads around Orlando but no other Florida toll roads do. 

4 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Morimoto's and Kimono's  actually have "real" sushi - not just a bunch of fancy rolls but a full menu with sashimi, etc., but I have only been to each once so I don't have a lot of experience.

We have been to Morimoto's a couple of times and they seemed consistently good but we haven't been there in a while. One thing I really liked about Morimoto's besides the sushi/sashimi  is the Japanese/American fusions they come up with. It makes for a nice balance if you don't want just fish and rice.

1 hour ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

However some of the best fried chicken I've ever had did come from a gas station in Jarratt Virginia!  

When we first moved here in the early 90's I was trying to find a decent deli. An Italian guy I worked with told me to go to a BP station which I thought was crazy. Turns out the owner had moved here from New York and decided the gas station would give him the most business. For a long time it was the only place in the area where you could buy good crusty breads. We eventually found a Kosher deli as well. Again it was some refugees from New York. Sadly neither are around anymore.

6 hours ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

We rarely eat dinner there. It’s usually appetizers, sushi, and drinks. 
the quality of those items seem to e the same. 
I’m sorry to hear the quality of the entrees has gone down. 
We like the seating area next to the bar. 

We prefer the bar seating area as well. We try to get there early enough to get a good seat to watch the fireworks but late enough we don't go broke from libations while waiting. 

2 hours ago, Travisma said:

That’s at $10 savings if you buy early!

That certainly got me all fired up to go.

9 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

But that would mean the renter/guest didn't pay for their site so DISNEY wouldn't put them in another resort.

I think Disney might put the guests up somewhere else in either case of the guest losing access to the trailer. Whether the site was paid for by the rental company or by the guest it is better public relations and better for Disney financially to put the guest up somewhere else for a few days at Disney expense. They look good for taking care of the guest for circumstances beyond their control and keep them onsite to spend more money in the parks and restaurants.

The note pad is a nice touch. I guess it is to write last thoughts to your loved ones or maybe a quick update to your will. I had already decided I would never ride these during the day but if the potential is to get stuck for 3 hours I'm not sure I would ride them even at night.

You've convinced me.

It was nice to meet folks and put some faces to the names.

We arrived home about 8PM EDT. The trip was mostly uneventful until we were a couple hours from home and some jerk decided to run up the left lane and merge by forcing us off the road when there was plenty of room to merge before the lane end. All it bought him was to arrive at the end of the construction zone 20 feet in front of me. It's things like this that make me wish the highway patrol would send some officers out to actually enforce the construction zone laws. Anyway we enjoyed the trip and really liked the Defeated Creek campground. It will be added to our list as a possible stop for some of our longer trips. 

14 minutes ago, ImDownWithDisney said:

Just a tip to any first time visitors.....don't follow GPS to turn on to 263 in Carthage. This road is very twisty, hilly, and not RV friendly. Stay on 25, turn right on to 80 (Pleasant Shade Hwy), and then turn right on to 85 (Defeated Creek Hwy).

Those are the same directions in my confirmation email.

I can say be careful with Google for Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg coming from the east. It wanted to take us in via Foothills Pkwy and all of the twisty, turny roads in between.

We have Prime and didn't even consider grocery delivery when we are traveling. Good idea. I'll have to keep it in mind.

We arrive on Thursday. If the predictions are accurate it looks like summer time temps in the mid to upper 90's during the day.

1 hour ago, ImDownWithDisney said:

Getting closer. I sure hope it cools off some.

1 hour ago, Travisma said:

Here in Tampa a cold front came thru, high today is only going to be 89.

Can't say what it will be like on the other side of the mountains but that cold front is keeping daytime temperatures for us in the 70's for the next few days and forecast to be back up into a more seasonal 80's after that. Nighttime temps are going to be in the 50's and low 60's. We leave Saturday for the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg so hope temperatures are similar over there.  

On 9/17/2019 at 9:15 AM, Duane said:

Now, now, remember some of us are FROM here you know...     Everyone knows that the old Mt. Olive Church is just beyond that old oak tree on the other side of the that big 'ole curve in the road where the old school used to be.

Well that clears the whole thing up then.

Congratulations. I'm sure you will have some good times with the new MH.

5 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Running family joke is "how many tow trucks does it take to change a tire in NC?"

Now, now be nice. Some of us live here you know.

Of course I still haven't figured out how I'm suppose to know where to turn when I don't know where the old Mt. Olive Church use to be.

On 9/7/2019 at 9:05 AM, Grumpy and Grandma said:

And as Mo said, I would too.  The same applies at many of the popular State Parks around the country..

We have the same problem around here with State Parks in the central to western part of the state. Part of our issue is the number of parks that have electrical or full hookup is not that large. Adding to the problem is many of the parks without any type of hookups also lack dump stations which I think stops many RV folks from visiting them. We've been fortunate that one of our favorite parks while only an hour and a half away has remained undiscovered so we can almost always get a site at the last minute. Our other favorite park we need to plan for months ahead of time unless it is winter. Much like the Fort during the week there are plenty of sites but it's booked solid for the weekends.    

1 hour ago, momof3kids-Yvonne said:

21 Days until the Defeated Creek GG!!!!

We've started buying food for the trip. We leave the 21st to spend a few days at Dollywood/Smoky Mtn. Nat. Park. before heading over to Defeated Creek.

Rene an I have been talking about going to a diesel Class C or possibly a smaller Class A after she retires and to put her FWD Mazda CX-5 on a tow dolly for local driving.  I don't know what it is but hitching and unhitching a TOAD just seems like less work than a trailer. I know its not but perception is everything, right? We've seen a few plans that would fit us well and have plenty of room for the two of us and the occasional grandchild. 

With what seems to be the changes to center the Fort around the Meadows and the way the Settlement is encroached upon by Reflections I suspect the Settlement will become more of a Reflections location. Once Reflections is finished and its restaurants, etc are opened I wouldn't be surprised to see Disney start to renovate the Settlement more in line with the new resort.  

While the water damage could come from the inside ours was from the outside in. One place was behind the wheel wells where the tires threw water onto the bottom of the floor. The other was in the front corners where road water from driving would accumulate and wick into the OSB. I don't know what they treated the floor with. It was kind of waxy and ok for the first couple of years. It wasn't until 3 or 4 years that we started seeing problems. The floor had a 5 year warranty but that only covered the floor and its replacement. It didn't include removing the walls to get to the floor. Due to the old trailer I decided I wouldn't by a trailer that didn't have some type of water proof barrier between the floor and the elements. While it doesn't guarantee a good floor it does eliminate one vector for rot. 

Pay close attention to the floors in the R-Pod. Like some of the other Forest River brands they used exposed treated OSB floors in their trailers. This frequently results in rotted areas large and small. While we didn't have an R-Pod our previous trailer had some areas I had to repair where the flooring had rotted due to water getting into the OSB.  

On 8/25/2019 at 3:50 PM, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

At the World Discovery neighborhood in Epcot, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will feature the first reverse launch into space! The thrilling, family-friendly attraction will feature a never-before-seen storytelling coaster that rotates to focus on the action – wherever it may be.  

The story telling and car rotation sounds a lot like what Universal does with their Escape From Gringotts coaster which is good in my mind.

I also like the idea roof top bar. Hopefully it will be open to patrons for the fireworks similar to the California Grill.  

I'd have to see how it all turns out once the building is finished but I would probably spring for it once for Rene and I if it lives up to its hype. 

1 hour ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

I am sorry to say I am going to have to cancel. I was really hoping to find a way to make it work but it's just not possible. Maybe next year. 

Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to meeting you face to face but life does whatever it wants.

18 hours ago, Travisma said:

Or you can go to ebay and get the set for $125

I'm with Mo on this one.

On 8/17/2019 at 3:31 PM, Beckers said:

So, you are picking me up when?? 

4 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

[sorry can't type, in the car now]

 

 

 

Seriously if it weren't for the darned day job...

That's a great idea Beckers. Y'all have to go right by here on your way down and back so I can give y'all the money on the way down and pickup the loot on your way back.  I'll even throw in a round of drinks on me.