CJHokie

It stinks when you have to plan fort trips around your kids school calendars. When they were in preschool it was great, we never went camping on busy times and we could even go up north to see the changing of the leaves Disney is on to this too since their block out dates align with most FL school break dates

Yes! Mine are in HS & MS now and you just can't take them out of school.  When they were younger we had some great trips to DW during Sep. & Oct.

Don't feel bad.  I know from towing our snowmobile and utility trailers that backing up a small trailer like that is actually a lot harder than something much bigger!

 

The one time I backed the TT into a site was actually a girls weekend with my sisters when DH was away with the guys.  I think he was more nervous than I was about that, but it went fine.  I even managed to use the dump station on the way out. 

 

I've actually floated the idea of driving the whole way to the Fort myself early and having him fly down and meet me (long, convoluted plan) - and I would totally do it, but he's not keen on having me on the road alone. 

 

I used to drive our pop-up; in fact, I bought it and picked it up. The guy doing the orientation was like, are we waiting for your husband? When I said no, he said he didn't get a lot of orientations with just the woman. But I could not back that thing! One time I got to our house right at school bus time and couldn't get it in the driveway and started panicking the bus was going to come while I was blocking the street.  Mr. CJH had experience backing a boat trailer, so he could do it okay. And he has no trouble with the MH, though we've learned it's better for our marriage if someone else at the campground gives him hand signals.  Oddly, he can't back my Buick Enclave at all.

Would love to do a girls' weekend but do not have the confidence for that yet!  One of my friends went up early for our annual Halloween camping (about 45 min away), so I talked Mr. CJH into driving the MH up and helping me set up and then coming home to be in charge of the kids for 2 days! So nice to actually relax by myself at a campground for once. 

That's what I said!!  :D

So, Mr. CJH takes our MH by himself to the mountains for biking and usually takes the dog. One time the smoke detector battery ran out while he was driving and started beeping.  She completely loses her mind when that happens in our house (I think it has to do with her invisible fence training), so you guessed it, she lost her mind while he was driving.  She is a 90 lb. golden retriever and was trying to climb in his lap. He was pushing her away and then she went between the seat on the wall side and was up under the steering wheel and around the pedals. He finally had to pull off on the shoulder and shut her in the bathroom.  I wish we still had her crate, but alas, we don't. 

Thank you both.

It's going to be interesting.

I'll take a look at the 500 loop.

Nooo!!!  ;-)  

We're trying for that loop and will already be checked in, but my friends that we are hoping to get near or next to are checking in the same day as you. 

But if we do end up in the same loop, I'd love to check out your new 5th wheel. :D

When we first got our MH, Mr. CJHokie & I would take it out on the interstate for driving practice.  I was way more comfortable than him at first. But he does the majority of the driving so I have fallen out of practice and now am very nervous if I drive. Part of my problem is I'm short and the seat & steering wheel, while adjustable, don't adjust to fit me great.  Also I remember the salesman telling us when we were test driving that the brakes take about 1000 miles to get used to, and I just haven't reached that point. So, to sum up, he does 99% of the driving.

My friend just told me she got one for when we're there, so I'll let you know!

Your prohibited list had this listed

 

Weapons of any kind

 

Now when I think of weapons, I envision, pistols, rifles, cross bows, flamethrowers, spears, swords,  etc.

 

I don't consider a pocketknife a weapon, but I guess it depends on how big your pockets are! 

Agreed, but that is nothing new. My brother lost a nice pocketknife back in the 80s when he was going into a concert and was too lazy or out of time to walk it back to the car.

oh Lordy.. pray for me then... thats great that we are closer to the marina... since now I am not sure if we can get a cart rental at this late date until I can call tomorrow...but we have a 40ft Class A.. we have had 2 months... while I feel pretty confident parking it as it seems tons easier than the 35ft toyhauler with the big truck.. but oh my... I will keep my eyes open for a Premium and may switch.. thanks so much..

Yeah, we had a 40 ft in 302 (preferred) once. It was extremely hard to get into. That was our first trip in ours. We have been to many campgrounds across the country since and still say the one at Disney was the tightest one we ever got in.  Good luck!

Very cool!

And this is why I love it here.  Only on Fort Fiends could we get in-depth knowledge of the Three Stooges on a WiFi thread.

LOL, this article showed up in my FB feed the same day this thread took a turn. 

http://mentalfloss.com/article/29410/shemp-forgotten-stooge

We bought my son a clear backpack - found it at Office Max.

I see backpacks, tote bags, and even lunch boxes (though not insulated) on Amazon.  Seems like all the buyers are prison employees, NFL fans, or students.

Maybe I'll check around here first. Would like to try it on to test for comfort.

I think that would also be fairly waterproof for certain rides as well as maybe somewhat less time through bag check.

I was thinking I need to find a clear vinyl bag or make one to make checking my bag faster, then it occurred to me I'd still have to wait in the bag check line.

I'm anti-sunrise.

I am very anti-sunrise, but my son started high school this year, which starts at 7:15, so I wake him up at 5:45. Horrible.  Yes, I know he's old enough to get up on his own, but a friend told me that's the only time you have to actually spend time with them when they reach that age.  I do usually nap after he leaves, though. :D

So, I remembered reading this article (see below) when it came out and wondered if this was the same guy. It's not, but I found it and thought I'd share anyway.

I apologize for my fellow alum. 

http://www.magazine.pamplin.vt.edu/fall13/disney-alum.html

Well, I have been in the winter, but not in the camper, and pretty sure not specifically around Christmas. Here's what I think.

1) It will most likely be cold.

2) It will definitely be crowded.

3) Snow is always a possibility.  

4) I love walking around Gatlinburg in the winter. 

Would be nice if they notified their customers about these specials... Since they have our phone numbers for texting, and our email address.

I got an email. Maybe it went to your spam?

You'd be surprised, I was at Wal-Mart once, and a Disney Manager type was at Wal-Mart purchasing 20 cans of whipped cream. I overhead something about their stock running out on them.

I knew a guy who worked as a buyer for a grocery store and he said Wal-Mart sells stuff on their shelves (I think he gave an example of canned peas) for cheaper than he could get wholesale from the supplier.

Me too!  I saw it originally in some random internet article and thought, "this must be hooey." Turns out it really isn't.

At first I thought it was just for Thanksgiving day, but I think I read it is for now through end of your billing cycle. Not that it will last that long, but the kids will definitely use a lot on the way to my parents'.  

And yes, it was surprisingly easy to do.

Just ran across Verizon's Thanksgetting promo.  If you're an existing Verizon customer on a qualifying plan, for the next 4 days, Verizon is offering up 1GB FREE data for your current billing cycle and the next one. I just signed up and it took all of 30 seconds. No strings. No kidding!!

 

https://www.verizonwireless.com/thanksgetting/

I did it this morning and kept looking everywhere for strings. 

We have never been at Christmas before and have therefore never seen the lights, so we will have to fight the crowds when we're there and see them.

Thanks Dave. Have you guys been to Wilderness at the Smokies?

We have stayed at Wilderness at the Smokies.  We liked it.  Pretty much the same as Great Wolf Lodge if you've been to one of those.

This can't be the first time this has happened. <br /><br />Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk<br /><br />

I was thinking the same. Maybe it's just the first time someone filmed it.

They've been telling people to move all the way over in the shows to make room for all guests for as long as I can remember. So, that's not new.  Maybe she just went at a busier time than she's used to.  I am also confused why she says in the article they said to go to the middle of the aisle.

I have only been once with Magic Bands, and I loved not digging tickets out.  BUT, none of our magic bands ever worked at the FW gate.  Also, mine was hit or miss at the laundry at the CS. Had to get one of the kids to let me in to get our laundry.

I completely get her beef with the loss of spontaneity.  

Done! Good luck!

I love Dollywood.  I went on a school trip back when it was Silver Dollar City, before Dolly bought it, and then had a season pass with friends when I was in HS.    Haven't been in about 3 or 4 years and have never camped in the area, so I can't help with that.  I know they've added more coasters and stuff, but we have never done more than one day.

There is definitely a back way in to cut out some of the traffic but I don't remember what it is. 

Hope this helps!