Duane

I don't know about you, but I find that hard to believe that they were not given any special treatment during the shooting of these pictures... Or the guy is a master at Photoshop!

I saw the night pictures on Facebook a couple of weeks ago... This photographer is really good at what he does!

21 hours ago, Travisma said:

No mention on how he got out there.  Swim, boat, if boating where did he launch from and how did he get a boat on property un seen?

This article says that he used one of Disney’s boats to get out there.

Discovery Island Castaway

How do you think they will determine who the 50% will be?  First come, first served, admission by "boarding" group similar to RofR, Florida residents, annual passholders, DVC members, or a combination of any/all of these?

You're not giving up on us are you?

... then following that question, someone is going to say "Whew, what is that smell?".  

We all know hot it gets wearing basically a sheet of plastic draped over your body.

I'm with you on this Carol... We attended a MM short that is now playing now in HS in a small theater beside the Frozen Sing-A-Long, and wasn't impressed at all.  It was the new animation format and to me, just left a lot to be desired...

I'm with Blake on this, Disney should be able to keep these rides up and running on a fairly regular basis.  Its not like new owners have taken over and began a maintenance program from scratch, Disney has been working on and maintaining these rides for a long time.  My feelings is that Disney has shifted its focus on the newer and shinier things that tend to bring in the masses and have started to neglect the things that brought them where they are today.

The statement that this Sage guys said in the article is about the stupidest things I have ever heard:

I'm waiting for Disney to really get creative...  When we took our first Disney cruise, it was right after 9/11 and the travel industry had gone into a slump.  Disney was offering a BOGO sale... Buy one cruise and get a 3 day cruise later on for "free"... we just had to pay the taxes on the "free" cruise.

Even though I prefer camping the mountains versus the beach, Holiday Trav-L-Park in Emerald Isle, NC is a good place.  We camped there right after the hurricane this past year.  Its not cheap, but they really keep the place clean and well maintained.  Its not crazy like Myrtle Beach.  Has a great family atmosphere with plenty of good places to eat and things to do.

Holiday Trav-L-Park Resort

It wasn’t that bad of a wait... we were off at about 9:15. 
 

Not to spoil it, but the ride premise is a lot like the RotR and the trackless system it uses. I think they could have stayed with the Great Movie Ride theming and had a real winner!

Got here at 7. We were herded down Sunset Blvd to the end of the line that turned back just before the entrance to R&RC and ToT. The line made its way back up and toward the entrance. It’s now 7:40 and the line is queued up for park opening. 
I’ll let you guys know how we make out later. 

Like TCD, we used to go to the Halloween Party all the time... now,  its turned into just another "park day" disguised as a "special event".

I wonder if they are going to start putting up the fall or Halloween decorations in August?

Ashleigh and I are down here now. We got up early this morning, and was at the park at 7:15.  They started letting everyone in at around 7:20-ish.  The herd was gathered and held in the area just before the entrance of the Star Wars "tunnel".  At 8:00 sharp, we managed to grab boarding group 19.  We were off the ride by 9:30.

All in all it was a cool ride, and Disney did a great job of immersing you in the story.  I'm glad I did it, however, I still think Flight of Passage in Pandora is a better experience.  I guess I don't have to get up before dawn anymore to try to snag that coveted boarding group. Maybe in about 2 years, or the next new and shiny thing comes along, I'll get to ride RotR again.

I think those old foot massaging barrels from the Fort would fit in really well to the left of those restrooms!

When we were there at the beginning of November, we were issued parking passes for our car, our tow dolly (which we always park in the overflow lot) and one for our friend's car who were on our reservation...

I guess I don't have an issue with this as long as the check-in agent in the "lane" still has the power, knowledge and ability to override what the Central folks have done.

This last trip, I used the fax option for the first time and was assigned to one of my loop choices (800 loop).  When the agent told me the site number, I wanted to see exactly where we were physically in the loop, so he handed me the infamous "site book".  After seeing we were kind of close to the main road, I asked if there was anything open in the loop I really wanted to try (1300), he said "let me check".  I was still holding the "site book" in my lap.  He gave a couple of sites to choose from in the 1300 loop and I asked him how deep they were.  He said he would have to have the book back to check that information.  I looked really quick and promptly gave him the site I wanted.  No problem, a few key clicks on the computer and we were off to the 1300 loop to our site of choice.

I guess my fear with this going "off site" (no pun intended), is that the new "breathing bodies" will have no clue as to any knowledge of RV's or camping equipment, or how to assign sites on length, equipment, or possible obstacles.  Not that the current group has that knowledge now, but I do hope they have some idea of what they are doing based on the information given to them through the reservation and check-in information. 

We shall see how this all shakes out... 

We were at the Fort last week and an "empty" carriage (no passengers in the back) came through the 1300 loop on two separate days...  Not sure if they were just out exercising the horse,  the carriage and/or the driver, but they were out...

I read somewhere that the Wilderness Lodge has a gingerbread log cabin for Christmas this year.  Maybe someone can venture over there and take a look...?  

Boma at the Animal Kingdom resort has always been our favorite.  It is not a character b'fast, so you're safe there.  It is a buffet with a good selection of b'fast items.

We found out the “hard way” last night coming back. 2 busses were queued up behind us and had to wait while we backed up and turned around. Disney needs to put up some sort of sign...

On 9/1/2019 at 2:39 PM, Duane said:

We have had 1 tent, 2 pop-ups, 1 travel trailer, 1 5th wheel and now the motorhome...  I can say that each has its own set of specific things that make them unique and enjoyable to use.  

For us, the motorhome has been the best choice so far.  When we travel, I feel that I am not as tired at the end of the day or whenever we get where we're going.  I found that when I was pulling some sort of trailer, I was more mentally tired then physically tired due to the heightened sense of keeping an eye on the trailer and all the idiot drivers around me.  Don't get me wrong, I still have to keep an eye out now, but it is somehow different. Also I think the ride is better overall will the MH, no bucking and chucking going down the road. If we want to stop and eat, or just have a snack while on the road, my trusty "flight attendant" gets up and grabs something from the fridge.  Really the only time we have to stop is for fuel or if I need to visit the "facility".

I think they all are great RV's to have, you just have give it a try to see how it works out for you and your situation...

On 10/2/2019 at 8:59 PM, PGHFiend said:

Figured I should update with the 2 weekend trips under our belts.  

While I have a CDL and love driving trucks, and how much I loved 5th wheel towing and the power of the dually and driving the 2 Super Duty trucks we had, everything about our traveling has changed. 

There is absolutely no comparison to having the party start once you pull out of the driveway! No more waiting for the relief of the weekend until you arrive, its happening as soon as we shut the garage door.   

Got stuck in an hour long traffic jam. My wife made food and I cranked up the Sirius radio through my phone app and we had a great time. 

I truly can't believe how much easier the motorhome is to travel in with no bathroom breaks necessary and to have the ability to get snacks and to pet the dogs or whatever. I don't have to move the dogs back and forth, or the kennel in and out of the truck.  My wife no longer has to pack road snacks and coolers,  or move pillows and blankets The dogs can get comfy on the floor anywhere.

Setting up camp is backing in, hitting the auto level and putting out the usual gear.  Leaving is just as easy, crank it and go. 

The ride is no contest better than the truck and 5th wheel.  All of the bumps I used to picture the wheel breaking off the camper is soaked up with ease by the motorhome, even thought it's a leaf spring coach. Also, g rated tires on 22.5 wheels definitely eased the blowout gear from the trailer (though that can happen to any vehicle) 

I did the "Cheap Handling Fix" with the sway bars and it drives so much better than the way home from Georgia. One hand steering now. 

The views are unbelievable with the huge windshield.   When we came through Wytheville, VA on the way home it was like watching a movie with the mountains rolling ahead and we saw a fully grown pumpkin farm in the morning mist, truly a new sight we hadn't ever seen on a route we've driven a dozen times. 

Fuel mileage is back to exactly what it was with the 2008 v10 we used to tow with, but the difference is now I drive an f150 that gets 8 mpg better when going to work. Insurance for the truck went down 200 a year, the 5th wheel was 100 a year and the motorhome is 500, so it is costing about 200 a year more for insurance.  

Travel time is definitely reduced with an 80 gallon tank and limited need for stops. 

Never say never, but I'm not sure we could go back to towing.  

 

My thoughts exactly!

On 9/28/2019 at 11:38 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

I can't see them not running in the summer. There will be challenges, but they run the MK train, the resort boats in Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, the Animal Kingdom safari vehicles and the monorails in the summer, and none of them have air conditioning.  The only problem I see with the Skyliner would be if you had to stop for a prolonged time in direct sunlight.

TCD

"Re-imagined" revenue stream...  Disney can up-sell those squirt/fan water bottles just before the loading areas.  Turn it into a new souvenir.  The water bottle part can look like the cab with the trigger/fan part on the top!  Charge $25.00 a piece and call it a day!

Are there any changes to the "Placeholders" that they have offered in the past?

Andrew,

Since you have ridden in one of these things, what is your impression of what may happen during one of the many summer downpours, high wind events and/or thunderstorms?  Could/would rain have a way of blowing into the cabs?

I know they will try to suspend operations as best they can in extreme events, but I don't think the ones who are "out on the line" in between stations will fare too well...