swimmarz

just finishing up the report, 
got back to camp and did a little bike ride

then upstairs to the camp store

 
the view while eating ice cream


on the way back the big guy said he didn't want training wheels anymore, so off they come... he said he wanted to make them into skates


he did great, ill try to post a video

looking at the sunset from our site

everyone looking sad as were packing up

lil man making sure everything is clean

 
 
 

Tuesday started off good, we went to the old fort

checked out the sights 

Played with some Cannons


Got in a lil trouble

Had some ice cream to cheer them up

and Caught my First Fish

we then heard a crack of thunder and it was time to get off the pier.
we headed off to lunch at a local crab shack just thinking it would be a typical storm

however we got back to the site as things got bad... I mean really bad

I had the awning on the pup deployed and did have straps to hold it down, due to the gusts of wind that were well over 45 MPH one of the legs came out from its holder and we had to put the awning away.
my Wife who is 100 LBs dripping wet had 1 job, hang on to the awning as i un did the straps that were holding it in place, the awning lifted her like a sail and i grabbed the rail just in time. 
no damage to her or the camper, or the awning for that matter.
 
The kids were shaken by this storm as was the pup, mom and kids huddled in the end pointed away from the wind/ water where as i was in the bunk on the other end as it was lifting with the bigger gusts.
about an hour later things start to die down.
Our poor neighbors site was a wreck!

thats a 10x10 dome tent that didnt fare the storm well, as did the tarp, it was new but now its ripped and not salvageable, things were littered across the entire campground, we found some of our stuff a few sites down( towels, pop up trash can)
just glad it was over and no one got hurt.

Wow its been a busy month for me, feel like I have not been on the site in a while.
Anyways locals have told me( TCD and I for the get S/N but i believe his name is Travis) i need to check out Ft Desoto and i was able to book a site way back in September for this past week
Kids were off for spring break and its super cheap when compared to the other fort.

we booked site 212 for 3 nights, and total cost with tax was $138, or about the same cost as 1 night at the FORT during the same time!

Fort DeSoto is on Mullet Key, and is very close to St Petersburg Florida, for me it was just about a 2 hour drive and got to go over the sunshine skyway bridge!

Just got there, site 212 time to set up!  Check in time was 1 pm and we got there just before 2.

We had a water front site so this was our view

All set up and heading to the beach, with your nightly fee at this camp ground includes admission to the statepark ( $5/ day)

I am in. Loved camping in our pip at the fort. Even with the troubles we had. Can't wait to read more. 

I want to be there. I love the Fort when it's cold. Looks like yall were having a good time.

I agree! Even in the tent, I enjoy waking up when it's chilly out.
Enjoying your report! Looking forward to more!

My son was determined to finish the wilderness explorer badge but as hard as we tried we couldn't. There really is a lot to them and a ton of learning! We are guarding the book like its a million dollars because we want to save it and finish it, don't want to have to start all over again!! One of the stations had you play Mancala with a CM and my son loved it so much we got him it for Christmas.

Nice looking family enjoying your TR.  Yes, it's been cold here.  Well, cold to Floridian standards.  btw, I love the cold weather.  Going to warm this weekend and it's super sunny out right now.  Looking forward to more of your trip. 
PUG  (pop up gizmos) are worth every cent.  We first used them in NH in October a few years ago.  Didn't have them on the first night and the insides of the tent ends (we have a hybrid) were dripping the next morning.  Put the PUGs on and no more problems.  So they are good for hot and cold weather. 

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

Great trip report so far.
I'm jealous you can just unhitch and push it into place (even more jealous of Carol and her motorized set up). S'more with peanut butter cups sound excellent, I'll have to try that sometime.
Can't wait to keep reading along!
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You have a beautiful family!  Looking forward to more of your TR.

Thanks for taking the time to write this TR. Looking forward to hearing more about these memories you are creating with your family.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

Great post! I feel the same. 

I agree with you!!!  me, To me Disney is just magical and Fort Wilderness is just the icing on the cake.  I love going as much now as the first time my parents took us.  That was opening year.  My Dad loved Disney and he passed his love of Disney to me.  My 2 sisters just don't get it.  They think Disney is fun, but can't understand the fact that I keep going back.
We now take 3 of our grandkids and they love Disney.  Their Dad is a Marine so they are stationed at Camp Pendleton is California.  They went to Disneyland 47 times last year.  So I guess we did a great job with giving them the love of Disney!!!  Right now, their Dad is at Parris Island training to be a drill instructor.  So they will be closer to us and about 250 miles from Disney World, but not as close as they are to Disneyland.  They are only 45 minutes from Disneyland.
So the bottom line is that I don't know when it will be too expensive to visit Fort Wilderness.  The problem is that Disney knows that too!!!!!
 

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

Love the pic of your son and the stickers. 

to me I cant put a cost to the memories that i made as a kid growing up at the fort.
I know my mom and dad worked OT, or second jobs to make it work and for that I am grateful.

That being said, I have made it, camping at the fort, a priority for my kids.

I am a Disney fan like most others, and it came to the realization that staying at a Disney property was going to be expensive, but the benefits about the transportation/ planning out weigh staying anywhere else( unless were there for 1 night)

back in 2014 we spent 27 nights in Disney hotels, and that set me back just over $6,000 for just the sleeping portion, that didn't include food/ drinks , add in tickets/ food and drink and I am sure It was over $10,000
The decision was made to skip 2015 and save money, I used that money to purchase our first pop up, something i never had as a kid growing up, I was in class C's at a young age and then transitioned to a trailer as we camped less and less.  
we have now camped at the fort 2 times for a total of 7 days and were only in 2 months in to using it, my kids faces light up when they see dad backing the truck up to the garage to hook up the camper, and for that I can not put a price on it.   
on our most recent trip, this just melted my heart...

he was so excited to be back at the mouse house.
so to answer the question, at what point does the fort become not worth it, Id have to say it will be at the point you stop making memories....

mom and dad told me you can always make more money, but you cant always make more memories
 

234 is next to 236 and has same issue with basketball court due to how its angled , had to ask a few girls to stop playing at 10:30 pm as they were not that good and kept missing, if it was nothing but net it would have been a non issue, but that metal back board sounds like a "gong" every time they missed.

I agree without knowing the topography we really can't make more than a guess as to how things are laid out. I haven't been to the Fort on their previous unsuccessful attempts to implement WiFi but from what little bit I've seen it appears they are trying to get it right this time around and likely will be successful. 

 
 
Thanks for the updates!!

That would depend on the power requirements. If the draw is to high for the wires in the Ethernet cable it will either burn out or cause signal degradation.