Hammer bird

Update:  Got a site in the 1000 loop.  Nice wide, long site.  no problems backing in.  Lots of big rigs in the loop. Plus it's close to the trading post and pool!

January can be great however, in the past, it has been a popular time for large tour groups and cheer competitons.  If you work around that then it should be good.  I took my kids out of school years ago and January was near deserted...oh how times change!

I'm arriving in a few days!  Just wondering if anyone is at the  Fort now and if it's really crazy.  Also are there crazy cart parades this time of year?

We stayed at the fort in 2000.  I remember back then that the bus routes were "Chip" and "Dale" and the "cabin" and "home" routes.  (remember the "homes"?)  We were also there when the pool was River Country.  In fact I have a picture of my DD standing under the water tower (pull the string and you got drenched) that is now part of the pool/slide.  It just seemed much more quiet, less chaotic.  I'm not sure if they allowed 10 people per site back then...

I stayed at the Poly in Oct.  Yes they do drive you to your room in a cart if you wish.  Also the parking lot that "appears to be" close is really not that close.  And of course the walkways aren't in a strait line.

I'm hoping that Disney saw the error they made with the Poly bungalows.  But I do think Disney has realized (finally) that not every family has 4 people and the need for suits and bigger rooms in general.  The Poly studios had sleeping room for 5 and a bath and a half.  I'd have to think that they are planning to add higher occupancy rooms along that line.

We're going to be at the Fort in March during the Spring Break madness time.  So I may have to pray for the best!

5 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

The problem is that they ignore the big things and harass guests about minutiae.  It's amazing and magical.

LOL I can only imagine!  I"m sure I'd be the one person on the loop that would be called out for having party lights that are too bright!

So there are "rangers" but apparently they don't enforce much!  

How is it that other campgrounds can enforce one car per site, but Disney can't?  But I've also seen the main parking lot full to the point of parking on grass.  Maybe Disney has to re-think the 10 per site.  That's just too many people.  Realistically the average family has to be 4-5 so why 10?  That's two families essentially.  So that's the reason you get too many cars. And put golf carts into the mix....

We're thinking about bringing down our fire pit to use at the Fort.  My question is:  exactly who actually looks to see if the fire pit you have is Disney approved?  After all the crazy going-ons at the Fort (underage golf cart drivers, people parked all over etc.) is anyone really policing the joint? or do you just do your thing and figure you probably won't get caught?

I've always found it  odd that when you're in a campground/resort that's "totally full" yet you see several empty sites.  As a former employee of a major hotel chain working in reservations, it happens regularly.  Usually it's no-shows and odd overlapping arrival/exits.  So someone leaves Monday from site 123.  The next group slotted for site 123 arrives Wednesday.  So site 123 is "available" but since there are no 2 day reservations booked for Monday night and Tuesday, the site sits (frustratingly) empty.  Now with some 'play' usually you can piece together several small nights into a seamless trip but it's hard work.  I always make direct calls whenever I book a hotel/campground.  Never trust online booking...

First time going to "camp" at the Fort - did cabins previously.  I've read about the "book".  Is it best to park and walk to check in to utilize "the book"or should I just do drive-through check in?  We plan to arrive before noon on a Monday.  However, sadly it's Spring Break.  Best option?  Thanks.

I have a premium site booked.  Thanks for the suggestions.  I'll use the app!

People who do the phantom reservations.  They never physically appear at the fort. - never check in. So the site was reserved and never "claimed"

Best day to check in is any day that ends in Y.  

LOL -  so true!

I've been mulling over posts, lists, pictures... it's still very difficult to figure out what loops are class A friendly.  Obviously it's all back-in and the ease of backing in depends upon the neighbors being parked all over the place.  Are some loops just easier to maneuver? I don't care about being close to anything. In fact I prefer a more remote place! Thanks

If they also had specific sites you could reserve, they'd also be able to tell right away if someone reserved a site and never checked in.  

Any thoughts on arrival day?  I tend to think (hope) that the best day to arrive is a Monday or mid-week. I tend to think that a Friday/Saturday arrival would be nutty.  Any experience with this? Thanks

Here's what I don't get.  Don't  these people link their reservations? Especially if they're traveling together?  I know that's no guarantee but... I'm also hoping that arriving on a Monday will be easier than a Friday...

I've seen this mentioned in a couple of posts.  People arrive at their assigned site only to find someone in the site or the neighbors "holding" the site for friends.  I hope this rarely occurs.  If the neighbors are holding the site and it's assigned to me (providing they haven't parked a vehicle on site) do you just pull in? and pray that they don't mess with you? I'm not sure the front desk would be terribly helpful.  And I'm going during a very busy time (spring break) so moving to another site (or another available site) might be impossible.... what would you do?  

I think it has to be intentional. Some kid probably got hurt and they are either

1) taking them away one by one so hopefully no one notices or 

2) taking them away when they are bad and not replacing them.

I'll bet it's really along the line of "some kid got hurt"   I'm sure some little mope fell off the swing and mommy and daddy (who where no where near) raised a fuss.  Down come the swings.  Our local group of nut-job parents tried to get rid of swings at all our village parks.  They wanted them moved 50 ft away from streets (putting the swings in the center of the baseball diamond) ... someone may grab a kid!!!!  facepalm.

Just curious but do they really do a head count at the sites?  It seems to me that anyone can easily get into the fort at anytime.  Unlike the traditional resorts, you can't just drive onto property.  When we saw Hoop-de-doo last month we just told the guard that's what we were doing.  Didn't check our reservation..nothing. So if you have 10 people on a site ... who's counting?

What is it about campgrounds that makes people crazy idiots?  I just don't understand how kids are allowed to drive golf carts period!  Drivers license needed to operate!  I just can't stand kids who barely know how to control a vehicle careening around with a group of others hanging onto the side!  and dare I ask... where the heck are the parents?? One good accident and maybe Disney will put a stop to it.

Thanks for the good info.  We have a premium booked (a class A) so we need wide and long!  I'm going to consider 1000 or 1100.  I'm going to request backing up to the canal.  That should be good.