Tuke

The more I see and hear of Pandora, the less I'm impressed and motivated to visit. I caught a quote from Jon Landau saying his hope is that visitors will leave Pandora with eyes opened to see their world different. As an environmental professional forgive my frustration with assimilating fantasy and science fiction with reality and Science.  It's tough to draw accurate narratives and world views through the lenses of fiction. I question why Avatar World is even in AK to begin with.

And I get that it's all earthy and nature centered but have a problem when conclusions are drawn, solutions are proposed, and essentially propaganda is disseminated, especially to children, based on fantasy and fiction. Evidence certainly would not suggests that Disney believes by any imagination their own story line being sold here. IMO Pandora brings a warped view and politicization of the AK that previously was much more subdued.

I know this topic has become a dead horse but the author does an excellent job in summarizing much of what has been expressed here often. 
http://micechat.com/145982-disney-world-upsell/
...Welcome to the era of Disney upcharges. Except in some ways, we’ve already been here for a long time. There’s a long history of upcharges at Disney parks. To put all this into perspective, let’s go all the way back to the beginning. In this case, the beginning means even before Disneyland itself opened. Walt was benchmarking amusement enterprises, shopping his ideas around, and the carnival and fair operators famously thought Walt had lost his mind, mostly because he didn’t want barkers, those midway upsell people constantly harassing (and in some cases conning) people into parting with their money...
 

IDK, it seems everyone has their favorites. Personally, I've heard nothing but great things from the EcoBoost engines and above and over the Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation system). I believe there is some confusion among fans and critics when comparing the different EcoBoost engines at the top or bottom of a model lineups.

I have to disagree. If crowd control and the immediate bottom line are the primary goals, I would argue that Disney has NOT gone far enough! There are a myriad of ways to provide a quick shot to the bottom line for most travel/destination businesses, but those have to be carefully balanced within what the market demands. I'm more than sure Disney knows the market numbers and consumer preferences much better than anyone in this business and I'm not second guessing them. On the other hand, enhancing guests experiences through pricing algorithms while accurate, is also very limited and can be risky. This is where Disney is a bit shortsighted IMO, and especially as a business whose attraction continues to be heavily based on a traditional "right of passage" experience.
It's well understood that Disney had few choices regarding their park crowds and essentially the park prices had to increase for such a demand; thus, the tiered pricing has proven to be a win. But from an investor standpoint, it is not understood as to why Disney has chosen to narrow its customer base for a short-term win. If parks are indeed the problem, what's with the other significant increases across the board and certainly the new approach of "nickle and diming" as continues to be rumored from guest surveys such as $15/guest/day resort fees, tiered parking fees, magic band fees, transportation fees, and etc. Are we anticipating future capacity based on coming attractions where the market will more than bare such costs and in reality non-Disney like inconveniences? IDK and only time will tell. No doubt we don't want to leave money on the table, but nothing leaves more money on the table than a frustrated or disenfranchised consumer.

Disney's Imagineering continues to say that the show has struggled with technical difficulties and new technologies being used. From the PR dept, it sounds really complex if not impossible to explain in an article. Nevertheless, talk on the street suggests Disney is simply trying to overcome the physics involved with projected light shows (vs pyrotechnics) where it's only impressive from a limited number of perspectives; perfect angle and from a very limited number of seats. IMO, Disney is aware that they must get this, along with the World of Avatar, right the first time due to the public's cooled enthusiasm for the special effects-laden film and anticipated franchise. Of course, much like the Magic Bands, too much is invested to back out of this franchise in the making.
 
Also, the latest news has AK ending all night-time attractions beginning Sept 5, 2016.
http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/15/disney-world-gives-animal-kingdom-the-night-off.aspx
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-animal-kingdom-nighttime-problems-20160816-story.html

Disney's Imagineering continues to say that the show has struggled with technical difficulties and new technologies being used. From the PR dept, it sounds really complex if not impossible to explain in an article. Nevertheless, talk on the street suggests Disney is simply trying to overcome the physics involved with projected light shows (vs pyrotechnics) where it's only impressive from a limited number of perspectives; perfect angle and from a very limited number of seats. IMO, Disney is aware that they must get this, along with the World of Avatar, right the first time due to the public's cooled enthusiasm for the special effects-laden film and anticipated franchise. Of course, much like the Magic Bands, too much is invested to back out of this franchise in the making.
 
Also, the latest news has AK ending all night-time attractions beginning Sept 5, 2016.
http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/15/disney-world-gives-animal-kingdom-the-night-off.aspx
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-animal-kingdom-nighttime-problems-20160816-story.html

Follow-up:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-attendance-earnings-20160809-story.html
 
It appears Disney is doing what they intended to do and that is increase spending per visitor. Certainly, I'm not predicting the decline of Disney or even frowning on the articles posted above. However, just my personal experience here but there has been a dramatic mentality shift among our Disney loving family and friends in the last couple of years when considering the value of the Disney Park experience. For several families, that annual or biannual week long vacation has become a once every 3rd or 5th year extended weekend. No doubt some price hikes are a part of this preception but IMO all the inconveniences of the local county fair and the feeling that you are being charged for every ounce of entertainment has crept into what once felt like an "all-inclusive" Disney experience.  Of course, we still loves it but find ourselves considering a plethora of alternatives, even within Disney, from what was our standard family vacation.  
 

Actually, there is a big difference. Dumping grey water into bushes or into soils allows the soaps and other organics to peculate and absorbed through the soil slowly. This allows plants and other microscopic organisms to feed upon or directly fertilized by the grey water compounds. There are many companies now offering residential grey water reuse systems, which are great for landscape irrigation.
On the other hand, dumping your grey tank into a "ditch", which is likely a storm water drain or dry ephemeral stream, is illegal and for good reasons.  These dry ditches serve as direct drainage arteries that are directly connected to running streams and rivers during wet seasons. So that grey water may or may not have an opportunity to be naturally processed by nature before the next storm flood. Nature will still take care of the "storm water pollution" after it hits larger water body but at a much greater costs. A good example is Florida's state of emergency declared over algae blooms affecting the "Treasure Coast." It's all been attributed to storm water pollution from a myriad of insignificant sources.
Of course, dumping grey water onto the ground at a campground is less of an environmental issue and more of a overuse and mess issue. 

Episode 105: The History of Fort Wilderness
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-guides-disney-dish/id452620851?mt=2&i=371770487
 
Years ago, The Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast recorded a much more thorough History of Fort Wilderness than the one linked above. I think you can still get it if you don't mind paying a few bucks.  If I remember correctly, it was Episode 19. Of course, the one linked is still a very interesting summary and includes the Fort's initial planned location, size, and the means by which Fort Wilderness was constructed in the after hours with almost no budget through borrowing, bartering, and stealing from Disney offices and many Disney construction projects that were developing the larger WDW. Also, it mentions some original concepts that were never built. Hope you enjoy! 
 
 
 
 

Episode 105: The History of Fort Wilderness
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-guides-disney-dish/id452620851?mt=2&i=371770487
 
Years ago, The Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast recorded a much more thorough History of Fort Wilderness than the one linked above. I think you can still get it if you don't mind paying a few bucks.  If I remember correctly, it was Episode 19. Of course, the one linked is still a very interesting summary and includes the Fort's initial planned location, size, and the means by which Fort Wilderness was constructed in the after hours with almost no budget through borrowing, bartering, and stealing from Disney offices and many Disney construction projects that were developing the larger WDW. Also, it mentions some original concepts that were never built. Hope you enjoy! 
 
 
 
 

I don't think there is any doubt that such prices have the intent of offering a more exclusive premium product and I certainly don't fault Disney in that decision. However, a surcharge for this and a surcharge for that is the opposite of essentially pricing visitors out of the market and the tactics of many of the off-site resorts luring customers away from Disney. Obviously, many businesses do this at varying levels within their business models and some even hide such extra costs until check-out. Nevertheless, I'm surprised that Disney is even testing this idea and especially on the heels of other price increases.
In support of lector's comments, Jim Hill recently described a presentation by Disney Travel Company to travel agents classifying their target audience in 1 of 7 categories. Alas, 6 of the 7 broad categories they recommended travel agents to target were households with incomes greater that $100K. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see that as a good sign for FWC, which the powers that be have always struggled with the fact that they created a place that, more than others, doesn't push visitors to the parks. Certainly, I'm not foolishly announcing the end to FW here, but I can't foresee it making the list as a long-term priority vs other improvements.

Offically new here but have been lurking for years.  Thanks for all the info and help everyone continues to provide.
 
Yellow Fly Alert:
My family just returned from the Fort and thought I would give eveyone a heads-up that the yellow flies or deer flies were more abundant than I remember from years past. If you're not familier with these pests, they are a type of horse fly and more persistent and more painful than mosquitoes. The good news, the peak yellow fly season in FL last only from about May to June.
 
Black Bears:
FWIW, late last week two FL black bears were spotted near the Meadow Swimmin' Pool. Notifications were posted on the doors at each Comfort Station.  According to one Cast Member they were caught on several cameras and she also mentioned that these were likely the offspring of two that were spotted in 2012.

Offically new here but have been lurking for years.  Thanks for all the info and help everyone continues to provide.
 
Yellow Fly Alert:
My family just returned from the Fort and thought I would give eveyone a heads-up that the yellow flies or deer flies were more abundant than I remember from years past. If you're not familier with these pests, they are a type of horse fly and more persistent and more painful than mosquitoes. The good news, the peak yellow fly season in FL last only from about May to June.
 
Black Bears:
FWIW, late last week two FL black bears were spotted near the Meadow Swimmin' Pool. Notifications were posted on the doors at each Comfort Station.  According to one Cast Member they were caught on several cameras and she also mentioned that these were likely the offspring of two that were spotted in 2012.

Cottontail Curl #1501
Privacy/Noise: The back of the site is separated from the bus stop/Big Pine Dr by only a matter of feet and inadequately screened on most sides. Terrible site for light sleepers. Small: It is a tent/tent trailer site but still cramped with the street on one side and neighbor on the other. Very little vegetation to separate the sites. Backing: Easy. Buggy: Can become swampy after a rain shower. CS Walk: Average. Shade: Average.