Duane

Okay, is just me, or do the rest of you guys think Andrew has a secret love of light fixtures? Just sayin'....

With that new grill location and these lush bushes, I may have to give that site a try.

Okay, I've followed this thing through this far, so I might as well chime in.... Andrew, I've read enough of your trip reports to know that if you would like to give this site a try, you are most likely saying this "tongue in cheek".... However, if I'm wrong, and its been about 5 years since I was wrong, and I'm due, but if you do ever get the luck of the draw and get to stay in that site, it had better be in the winter.

Let me tell you that Sunny Sage Way, gets its name honest... Any site on that side of the road in Loop 600 (at least the newer part) has to be the absolute hottest place in all of Disney World.

We had the unfortunate luck a couple of years ago getting placed in that Loop, on that side of the road, just a few sites down, and even with 2 A/C's blasting as hard as they could, I swear I could feel my skin begin to melt off...

Well, as I was standing in line waiting for our pasta orders to be prepared, I hear someone call my name. I turned around, and a fellow introduces himself to me. It was fellow Fiend, Duane, from right here on ff.net. He was there with his daughter getting pasta too. We had a nice chat, and he told me where he was staying at the Fort, and that he was leaving the next morning. I told him I would stop by his site later with an old railroad spike. And I did, but Duane wasn't there. We never did see each other again, but at least we got to chat there in line.

So, Duane, I hope you're reading this- it was nice to meet you. And your daughter too.

Hey Andrew, Yes I am reading along finally.... Although I am not reading from the comfort of home, alas, I am still in Chicago working... It's Sunday morning here, and I am getting ready to head out for yet another day of fun and games in the relocation bid'ness. We are relocating over 1100 folks from an accounting firm into their new "digs". We finished up last night around 1:00 AM. Gotta go over in a few to walk the new space to get ready for the onslaught tomorrow....

I did really enjoy chatting with you at Riverside, as this is one of our favorite food stops.

For anyone here that has not experienced this little hidden (well maybe, not so little) gem, I highly recommend giving it a try. However, I do not recommend going during breakfast time, because it does tend to be a mad house there.

I hate we didn't get to see you guys again, but unless someone throws me into the Chicago river or I get whacked, we will be back...

Well I'm off to suport my wife and daughter's lavish lifestyle... I'll check back tomorrow when I can!

Hey, I have some of that Frontline stuff that I put on my dogs once a month for fleas and ticks.... You know, that stuff that you squirt between their shoulder blades... Do you think it would work on me?

On second thought, if I did use it, I might want to lick..... ummm better not go there... :rofl2: :rofl2:

Andrew, I know you have about 100 things to list.... I want to know where to find the following:

1. Carrot Cake Cookie

2. Chicken Waffle

3. Someone once mentioned some desert that they had at Roaring Forks at WL, but can't remember what it was...

Carol, that looks good! Is it like rice pudding?

I have one, but no picture. Haven't had it in a couple of years, but the Chocolate Creme Brulee' at Fulton's Crabhouse is pretty tasty...

Alright, I have wanted to start this for a while now, so let's see where this goes...

If you are like me, I have read lots of trip reports from the good folks here on this board. On just about every report someone shows a picture of some tasty snack or food item that a lot of the rest of us either didn't know it existed, or knew where to find it. Also, there have been food items that are duplicated all over the "world" that are ultra expensive in one location and relatively cheap in others. Tonga Toast comes to mind... Kona - expensive, Captain Cooks - cheap.

Here's the place to list those tasty little tid-bits for the rest of us to know where to find them...

So let's keep this relatively simple. List the item, where you can find it, and post a picture if you have one. Also, if you know they have it somewhere else, list that as well.

As we are planning out our trips, we can make little mental notes of where we need to go to search out these important items.

Ready..... set..... Go!

well TCD and I are both from the south whats your point?

I really don't have one.... However, you have a great point!

You know, everytime I see this one's picture (DD4), even the first one when they were their way to DW, I can almost read her thoughts from here in my pallatial office suite (my spare bedroom that got turned into an office). She's probably thinking... "if they only knew how tightly I have managed to wrap them all around my finger... and the best part, is that they don't have a clue that its even happening..."

Boy, you had better stock up on guns and bullets now while you still can to ward off the boys in about 10 years from now....

Man! talk about chasing rabbits... or squirrels... I try to post a public service announcement, and look where this thing has gone... This is not one of Dave or Andrew's trip reports... :rofl3:

... according to the latest AllEars newsletter:

"Parking at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be very limited now through July 12, as the entire guest parking lot is being paved. If you'll be attending the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue during this time, consider taking the boat from Magic Kingdom or a bus from another theme park instead of driving."

Not sure if this will include the overflow lot, but I'm sure it will... However, I can't see them closing the lot off entirely to traffic. The ME and and DCL buses, not to mention all of the other traffic will have to be allowed in somehow...

I ate there night before last when I snuck over from Tampa, and it was 26.62 + tip, out the door for the buffet. It was pretty good too (especially since I can get my company to pay the tab).

Stopped by there today before catching my plane home, and other than them re-striping a section of the parking lot, it looked to be business as usual. I guess things will get a bit cozy there when LD and CW start competing selling campers basically on the same strip of ground....

Well this will be interesting to watch how it will unfold... Since I have been doing a lot of work in the Tampa/Brandon area for the last couple of years, CW and LD has been the place I go to kill an hour or so before heading to the airport in Tampa to fly home... When I want to go look at RV's at LD, I simply walk in and tell the receptionist that I would like to just browse around and look, she says make yourself at home and away I go. I have appreciated the fact that they didn't sick one of their salesfolk out to pester me.... they just let me wander around at my leisure. All the units are unlocked, unless its been sold, and most time the A/C's are running.

Same thing with CW, even though I have reached the point where I really don't need any new gadgets, I still like to bum around and see what they have on the shelves. Like someone else said, that place is always a zoo. If they can't reach some sort of agreement, they can move that store anywhere within a 20 mile radius of I-4 and I-75 and make a killing...

I've got to go down again this Tuesday, I just might wander over there and see what's going on....

Okay, so now a "real" driver has spoken up.... I now surrender :flush2:

There is just something that I need to get off my chest.... Now I'm no more predjudice than the next guy, but Disney needs to get these guys off the "front line" here... I mean come on, when I think of sushi, I want to see a couple of Asian guys out there speaking broken english serving up this stuff... This is like having a couple of backwoods rednecks twirling the flaming torches at the Polynesian dinner show, or going to a fancy chinese restaurant and seeing a couple of Mexican guys back in the kitchen cooking up a batch of fried rice... Perceptions I say! If Walt were still alive, I bet he wouldn't put up with this stuff! :rofl3:

Steve, what Lou hasn't told you is that when he drives on I-4 he's in either his :hah: :hah: yellow Smart car or his lime green VW Beetle... I would like to see him pilot that DW bus down I-4 during rush hour... :rofl2:

As far as stern looks go, I haven't seen my man card in years....

Man! It's now 11:08 here in sunny Nawth Carolina... I have managed to waste, become engrossed with reading this trip report. Now what am I supposed to do for the remainder of the day? Work?!

Have a great weekend and a safe trip!

Like Lou said, "if you're a real man, take I-4".... But if you're just "a man" and still coming in on I-4 from the east (and I assume, you're coming from I-95), take I-4 until you get to the Sanford area, you will cross that large lake (Lake Monroe). Take Hwy 417 (Exit 101A) and follow it all the way around Orlando. It will add about 30-40 miles to your trip, but take it from me, no, take it from my co-pilot, it is a nice calm relaxing drive that will drop you off right at the Mouse's front door step. You will not have to deal with the downtown Orlando mess on I-4. Now this relaxing, serene drive will have a price... its a toll road, but in my opinion its will be money worth spending.

If you take this route, be sure to follow 417 ALL the way around Orlando and take Hwy 536 (Exit 6). This will become World Center Drive, then will become Epcot Center Drive, just keep going straight. Depending on which way you like to approach the Fort, you can take one of two ways in... If you like to go through the MK parking gate to make that left turn into the Fort, continue on Epcot Center Drive to World Drive and follow the signs to the Fort. If you want to make a right turn into the Fort, then follow Epcot Center Drive and follow the signs to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. Following these signs will put you on Bonnet Creek Parkway via a small offramp. Once you pass PO Riverside, take a left at the next traffic light and the Fort will be just up the road on your right....

I know this is a lot to digest, but is truely a more relaxing drive....

Duane

Going down, I would suggest that you take your time and drive what you feel is comfortable. I agree with Pam and Dave's advice about doing everything that you can in order to get DC and Richmond behind you a quickly as you can. From Richmond all the way to Florida, I don't recall any other major traffic tie up's that you may encounter.

If you take it easy on your way down, you are more likely to be more rested and ready to usher those little one's around and deal with their excitement. If you get there all worn out from the drive, then patience for all may be in short supply.

From our driveway in NC, it's appox. 642 miles to the entrance to the Fort. We drive the first day to Brunswick GA, and stay at Coastal GA RV resort for the night, then its only about a 3 1/2 hr drive from there to the Fort.

Years ago, when I pulled a TT and then later on a 5'er, we would leave around 4:30 AM and drive straight through. When I did this, I found that I was more fatigued when I got to the Fort not only due to the drive, but me being vigilent on what was going on around me pulling that large mass down the road. I guess I was more mentally drained than physically.

Now for the drive home, we usually get up and hot shot it home. I've had my vacation, had a good time and trying to get home to make more money so that we can come back.

Take a look at this: http://www.i95exitguide.com/index.php I have used this as a planning guide as I travel in the infamous I-95. It will show what all of the construction is going on, where all of the restaurants are, as well as places to stay. And for you and the little ones, where the potty stops are.

A couple of things that I will mention that were the best pieces of information that I have ever been given about the travel to and from Disney:

1. Once you get to Jacksonville, do not take I-95 through town. Instead, take Hwy 9A around the city. Going south, its basically the clockwise direction around the city. Its a quick travel around that is a pleasure to drive. There is one very high bridge that you have to go over, but I would say its no higher than the bridge over the James River on 295 in Richmond. Going through J'ville pulling a trailer is not for the faint of heart.

2. Once on I-4W and you get to Sanford FL and cross a big lake, look for Hwy 417. This is an outer loop that take you all the way around Orlando and drop you off almost at Disney's front door. It is a toll road, but believe me, what you pay in tolls will certainly out weigh the white knuckle experience you "may" have when traveling I-4 through the City of Orlando. Its a little longer distance wise, but a very comfortable drive. Just follow 417 to 536 once you get close to Disney, follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom, and there you will be directed to the Fort. There are other ways in, but if this is your first trip down, this is the easiest.

If you have a toll transponder for your area check to see if it works in Florida, this may save you a few coins on the tolls.

We had a debate for a while about this next inflatable:

The TCD twins both said it was a moose.

I said who ever heard of a Christmas moose? That's a reindeer.

We had a long discussion about this.

The antlers aren't right for a moose.

But the nose isn't right for a reindeer.

I ended up agreeing that those could be moose antlers.

So, we ended up agreeing that this was, indeed, a Christmas moose.

Andrew,

Don't you know anything? Everyone knows that in West BF China where that thing was made, there are bunches of "reinmoose" and "deermoose" running around.... Man, where were you edumacated? :rofl3:

Next time you go out exploring, make sure to wear your new Fort shirt in case you're stopped and questioned...

Now that my friends is a trip report! I could only dream that my wife and daughter would ever consider doing something like that.

How many miles did you guys drive for this "loop" around the country?

In case you didn't know, there's a picnic table there.

I don't think Bob would mind if you used it as long as he is not at the Fort.

The view is pretty nice:

Don't tell Bob, but on occasion, we have enjoyed a Mickey Bar or two on that dock at that very picnic table.... :clint:

Pam,

I hope you don't think that I'm rude or pushy on this subject.... If you are interested in TRA or GBR, keep looking. You have the right attitude that you are not in a hurry.. because if you go and sit down with any of these folks, they make you feel, that if you don't sign at that particular moment you will lose the deal of a lifetime...

Anyway with that being said, if you are still interested in TRA, check the Raleigh Craigslist. I see ads for TRA all the time. In fact, for grins, I just put Travel Resorts in the search field in the Raleigh Craigslist and came back with this..... http://raleigh.craig...2719063507.html