PghBob

Kids will be everywhere, so from a loop point of view, I don't think that matters.  The time of your trip likely be the major factor with respect to kids at the Fort.  We have stayed in both 800 and 900 loops, and like them equally.  800 is a bit closer to the Settlement, so it makes walking a little shorter to Pioneer Hall and the boats.  900 is closer to Meadows Trading Post, so a shorter walk to that place, and the pool.  Campfire area is probably equidistant.  The only other issue is 800 is a much bigger and longer loop, so some sites can be far from the main road and buses.  In either case, I think you will find the sites to be pretty good.  Have a great trip.

9 hours ago, shaffecv said:

That was one of the questions I had when we did a DVC tour. Was told "no problem" to use points toward the Fort, but friends who are DVC members told us different after trying.

It was a real pain for them to use DVC points at the Fort.

You were wise to check with DVC members you know.  There is a HUGE problem trying to use points at the Fort.  Your proposed stay must match up with their, unknown to you, availability.  You cannot book or determine online availability either, like you can for a cash paid stay.  I would not recommend DVC for anyone who is thinking in terms of using their points mostly at the Fort.

To answer the question about DVC points and the Fort, yes you can use points only if there is availability.  We have done so only a few times.  Most times, we cannot.  There is a game played by the management of the Fort and DVC.  When you talk to the Fort, they have no idea of DVC availability, and cannot tell you WHO to call, only the generic call DVC.  When you call DVC, they cannot provide you with any information on site availability most of the time.  You have to give DVC specific dates and then they may check.  You cannot find out in advance WHEN there may be availability, for example, you cannot ask them "is there any availability in September?"  It is a real pain.  Yet, we all know that there is someone, somewhere, that has this information, yet you cannot get the details.  Frankly, this style of running things is the primary reason that we have not added on more points to what we have.  Disney needs show us that they can be more efficient with this DVC/Fort operation before we buy anything else.

When we were at the Fort a couple of weeks ago, we talked with the person who told us previously that the area would be developed at some point.  This person told us that River Country was being in the "process" of becoming a DVC property.  Hope the new plans for RC spare the Settlement.

I don't think its a scam.  We have been at WDW during Dapper Day, and it is a lot of fun to see how people dress and act.  (Think of your grandparents going to parks as young adults).  I don't know how to contact them to find out the dates, but have been told that the hat store in Disney Springs has some info on this.  Can't offer any advice on singing, have not seen or heard any of the Dappers singing while we were there.  Could someone be confusing the Dappers (the dress-up group) with the Dapper Dans the singing group?  They are not the same groups.

Thanks for the heads-up.  I was wondering how soon the new lane would open to FW.  I thought it was done to relieve congestion, but apparently not so far.  Maybe when all of the construction is done, traffic flow will improve.

Thanks for posting TCD.  Your info and pictures are invaluable in our trip planning.  Thanks again.

Thanks for posting.  This will be our first Thanksgiving at the Fort,  and our first time in a cabin rather than our RV.

I think the porta-potties and hand washing stations were for the drive in set up near the hitch/unhitch area of the main road.  We really did not see the crowds we expected from the posts relating stories of years gone by.  My sense is that Fort management did a good job of crowd control and followed their own rules this night.

We were in the 900 loop for Halloween this year.  During the day, we had an opportunity to talk with a CM who identified herself as being in charge of "traffic flow" that day and evening.  She told us that this year, because of the problems identified in the past, if you did not camp at the Fort or could prove that you had reservations at the Hoopie, Mickey's BYB, or Trail's End, you would NOT be permitted to enter the grounds.  She noted that there would be security at all entrances to the Fort, including the boat dock, and Disney Security would be backed up by the Orange County Sheriff.  We did not see the numbers of kids we thought we would see, based on the stories of past years.  After, TOT. we walked over to 1600 - 1700 loops to see some of the sites, and indeed, the Orange Co. Sheriff was there helping move traffic from out of the quad loops to the main road.  Hopefully, the idea of keeping "outsiders" out of the Fort this night will continue in the future. 

2 hours ago, Starbuc71 said:

It will be like Avatar. Nobody will know who the guardians are in 4 years

I don't know who they are now.

We use our Flying J "RV" card often.  We save .03 cents per gallon at the pump, which over-time, can add up in a 55 gallon gas tank.  In the gas stations we have been, the limits on dollar amounts purchased by card, have been limited by the credit card companies, I think.  This is because, I have seen $100 limits on one card, and $150 limits on another card, at the same pump.  Can't imagine the station would do this, but nothing would surprise me.  BTW, over the years, the cheapest gas we have found is at the Flying J in Rock Hill SC.

We tried to get into the WL gym last Feb. while at the fort.  We could not access the place with our magic bands.

To return to the OP's question about "outside groups".  Years ago, maybe 20-25, I was attending a professional meeting in Orlando.  One of the evening activities was a Bar B Que at the Fort.  We had several bus loads of people off-loading at what is now MBYBBQ, for a grand evening of food and booze.  I cannot imagine that this was done without Disney's knowledge, rather I suspect, Disney promoted this.  So, yes, at least at that time, outside groups were permitted (and encouraged) to enter the Fort for at least some of the experiences.  Likely, this has not changed.

Thanks for the detailed up-date.  We will be on our way down to the Fort in a few weeks.

Glad you are safe and the house did not appear to suffer much damage.

A colleague of mine who moved to Appolo Beach area (near Tampa) just checked in with me and his family is safe as well.  Glad to hear most fiends are checking in and are OK.  Hope that continues.  BigTom, sorry about your crop, but glad you are OK.

Prayers and best wishes to all in Florida.

Thinking about fiends living in Florida and other areas that may be affected.  Hope all goes well for you and hope you will be able to let us know you're OK.

Best wishes.

Please guys and gals, get out of Florida ASAP.  We keep looking at the models showing the likely path of Irma, and it seems only a remote chance of the storm missing Florida.  You don't want to be stuck on a highway when the storm hits, and I think more gas stations will be running low or out in the coming days.  God speed!

5 hours ago, Andrew Roberts said:

I see a lot of the larger fifth wheels on the side off the road with blow out so I know it's not unique to me.   Also have noticed that it is almost always the passenger side rear.  As we're all three I have blown 

Andrew, my understanding is that this IS the most likely tire to blow.  There are two reasons mainly, but one does not apply to towed rigs.  First, the rear passenger side tire often leaves the pavement, picking up damage from the berm of the road.  Second, in motorhomes, especially Class C types built on the Ford E450 chassis, the hot exhaust pipe is very near the in-board rear tire, heating it more than the others, thereby weakening it.  I'm not a tire guy, so I don't know for sure, but this is what I heard from knowledgeable folks.

We bought tix for the last week in October.

My uncle used to be a Supervisor at the Cape and lived in Titusville.  I tried to visit at least once every couple years in the mid-late sixties to enjoy the Florida warmth and outdoor activities.  Every so often, my uncle would return home from work, enjoy dinner, and without notice say something like "I think we should all go out into the yard for some fresh air".  Moments later the fascinating sight and roar of a rocket going up would capture our attention.  Man, that was the heyday of the Space Coast.  I miss it. 

12 hours ago, LONE-STAR said:

You would not survive in Texas,  you just described everything we eat. 

LOL.  Great point.  But..... I have been to Texas probably about 6 times, but not recently.  I have been to the Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso major areas, and some smaller places as well.  Somehow, I managed to survive without eating the BBQ - spicey stuff.  Did manage to wash down my dinners with Lone Star however.  

OK, I believe most of the fiends will think (maybe already think) that I have some strange tastes.  RF took away the cheeseburger and replaced it with something with BBQ sauce and onions.  Yuk.  It's me, I guess, but I don't do onions, garlic, hot sauce, or other spicy, hot, BBQ stuff.  Oh well, another WDW restaurant to cross off the list.