bdm

Our last trip the WDW we stayed at Bay Lake Tower, we did early checking (I think i did it 24 hours before check in time).  When our flight landed we went to the Magic Express and as we were headed down the road the txt came in.  Bus dropped us off and we went right to the room it was really great.  Made traveling with, at the time, a 1 year old way better.

I think you can do it up-to 30 days in advanced? 

The recently passed a law (last few years) in Ohio that it was illegal to post how much tax is collected per gallon of gas at a gas station.  Their reason, the tax changes and no one updates the posted signs....

My Google map rout shows several tolls.  Looks like I'll pre order my sunpass

Would you all recommend the Mini Sticker Transponder? 

12 minutes ago, Travisma said:

They had a decorated Honda at D23 with big Minnie Ears and a bow on the roof.  maybe that's what they meant?  Or maybe they couldn't make a deal with Honda?

I thought when i was watching the video from D23 they said they partnered with Honda on the Mini Van...  No worry, I still think its a great idea.  The $20 is a bit steep but people will use it.

In the final stages of planning our trip to the Fort,  trying to decide if I should pre order a sun shine pass or not.  Last time down we didn't, and ended up having to write a check at one of the tolls due to not having cash on us.  

Heading down 75 how many tolls are in central Florida and does it make scene to get the pass?

One of the biggest advantages i can see is they offer car seats.  In an uber or other service you'd have to bring you own car seat then once at your destination you'd have to find a place to store the car seat.  

I'd use this service if we wanted to get someplace and not wait on the bus service.  I wonder if they would be permitted to pick you up at your camp site or at the entrance?

Also when announced at D23 they were honda mini vans...  Wonder whats going on with that.

As Travisma stated, the only real advantage is the ability to select the type of loop you'd like to be in, and request a loop where you'd like to be.  I haven't looked at the costs between Renting campsite, and camper vs renting a cabin. but my guess is you will save a few dollars a day renting campsite and camper over a cabin.  

If you are looking to stay for an extended time or believe you will visit the fort several times in a year or two you may want to toss the idea around of hiring someone to transport you camper to Florida and store it there.  Or, you and one of your children move the camper down and allow your wife to fly down. or travel down with the other family members.  

I know, in the past I've gone swimming in pools at resorts I'm not a guest at.  

With the new gates I think a lot of this has been eliminated.  

As for the fort pool, Disney must not see it as a huge issue or they would put up gates at the campground pools like they do at the resorts...

I hold mine in place with water jugs. 

On 7/13/2017 at 3:22 PM, Seals said:

Lesson learned. Read FF even on vacation. I could have saved us over an hour, a heated "discussion" with my husband and an almost burst bladder had I read this before we came through Cincinnati on our way back from Cedar Point last week . My map app was trying to route me to those other routes, but no I wanted to see Cincinnati, and ended up only seeing a a lot of truck exhaust and a frightening gas station restroom. 

Sorry you had to suffer.  The view coming from the south into Cincinnati is really great, but not worth the traffic issue..

Current rumor is this construction will last another 2 months. 

This is a two sided campground.  One side is what they refer to as Premium sites, and they are that.  Large (side to side) but not very deep sites.  Level paved pads and paved roads.  The other side is summer cabins, and summer renters in campers.  There are a few weekly spots open for rent there.  Those spots are very small.

Nice headed pool, and very very clean facilities.  The grounds were very well maintained and quite times were observed by all campers.  A good spot for families looking to get a comfortable site. 

Beautiful Buildings and welcome center.  Clean and well kept.  Nice laundry facility and heated pool is a ++

Our camp site was very close to the play ground and we spent a lot of time digging in the mulch with our trucks and tractors.

Very close by the camp ground is a blueberry farm, that had fresh made blueberry donuts, bit hit.. we also picked about 5lbs of blueberry some that went into pancakes the next day.

our sleeping arrangements are a bit difficult.  the Boy gets the queen bed while mom and dad get to sleep on the fold out sofa / air bed.  32lbs of child take up 80% of a queen size bed...

And yes, Dad had to get a tractor was setup... 

Went for a ride on the sand dunes and had a blast.  The sand is amazingly fine.

On the last night we went out for some ice cream, that what you do when in Michigan i'm told.

Great 4 night trip.  The boy has taken to camping like a fish to water.  There were about 30 minutes of tears when we had to unhook the camper and drive up the driveway.  

On 7/12/2017 at 9:25 PM, caveat lector said:

I think getting a cart is best.

I think riding a bike is best.

Doesn't matter, as long as I'm doing it at the Fort. 

2nd

7 minutes ago, rtguy007 said:

Bypassing to 471 is a muh easier drive around cinci vs through it. Did it last time on our trip to the fort and I will never drive through downtown cinci again.

They are doing construction north of 471 on 71 and it's a mine field.  Plus all the 75 traffic is being redirected to 471 to 71 to go north.

I have not seen it in Tampa, but it was in Cincinnati about a year and a half ago and it was truly amazing.  The artist has a very unique ability to create complex shapes from blocks.

As many travelers know 75 through Cincinnati has been a headach for about a year as they work on "fixing" the highway as it runs through Cincinnati.  Just as they near completion of that project they have begun work on the 71 / 75 Bridge over the Ohio River.  Its been closed down to 1 lain in both north and south.  Avoid this area at all costs.  On Sunday there were 3 hour delays!

I've attached a map of alternate routs north and south.  

The Blue line represents I 75

The Green Line represents i 71

The Red is the parking lot formerly known as an interstate. 

UPDATE

All south bound lanes are now open!!!  There is still some construction happening on 75 north of the bridge but its not to bad and traffic moves well through it.  

North bound lanes are due to be open Saturday Aug 26

seems la-git

On 6/10/2017 at 11:28 AM, ceemike...Mike & Judy said:

I have a smartphone app called RV Parky that is very useful in situations like yours. It's free for either Android or iPhone. Check it out.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I have the same app, was looking for some 1st hand experience / advice 

On 6/12/2017 at 3:53 PM, Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie said:

Curious, on the way home will you just do the reverse and leave the Fort late?

Yes we will leave the fort around 1 or 2 drive north to just about the Fl Ga boarder and camp.  Then usually go hard the 2nd day since everyone will sleep well after a long vacation and then have a shot trip home. 

46 minutes ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

That's about right, but you said an hr from the FORT on the last day that is why I commented.  

Ahh yeah, sorry about that.  On arrival day we just want a short drive in to the fort. 

2 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

Your almost 575 miles from the FT at that point, plus you have to go through Atlanta. Don't think you'll do 500 miles in 7 hrs. 

We are looking to stay at Casey Jones Campground in Lake City Fl on our 2nd night (399 miles) then drive into the fort the next morning.  Google says its 5:41 so I figure its 6:30 driving add an hour / hour and half for lunch and other stops.  That will leave us just over 150 miles on our arrival day?

3 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

As previously stated, the Best Holiday Trav-L-Park south of Chattanooga is good, but if you want to push a bit closer to Atlanta, I recommend the Harvest Moon RV park in Adairsville, at exit 306.  Nice easy overnight spot.  

Funny Story about that Harvest Moon RV park.  Last winter on our way home from Orlando area in January we were towing the camper north and the one big snow storm of the winter hit.  We pulled off that exit and into the Hampton Inn.  The person working the front desk new someone at the flooring company next door and got the OK for us to park the truck and camper in their lot over night so we didn't have to maneuver it through the hotel lot the next morning.  

Thx for all of the great suggestions.  Leaning towards Best Holiday that would put us traveling about 7-8 hours and then the next day have another 6-7 hours travel to be about an hour or so north of the fort.

Ok Friends, this fall will be our 2nd trip to the Orlando area with our camper.  Our previous trip our son was only 1 and would sleep all day in the truck.  Now that hes going to be 3 we are not so lucky.  On our first trip down we drove from Cincinnati area to south of Atlanta and it was about 12 hour on the road (9:30 of driving time).  

We are looking to stop just north of Atlanta for our first over night, then about 2 hours north of the Fort on our 2nd night.  We would like a camp ground with at least a play ground, as we will be traveling with a 3 year old, and possible, a 5 1/2 year old.  A pull through is preferred but not required.  

Ok friends lets tap in to your knowledge base and help me make the family happy.

At close to $300 a night that really close to the cost of a cabin.  My inlaws are staying in a cabin this fall and I think they are paying around $325 a night... 

On 5/17/2017 at 3:07 PM, Travisma said:

redeem dining plan entitlements must place their order with a cashier.

 

Bummer...

5 hours ago, Travisma said:

We had a bad experience in the 2000 loop a while back.  Before we checked out I went to see a manager. Took a few minutes, but eventually spoke with one.  They ended up comping us 1 night.

Same issue, multiple people on various sites,  kids being wild all weekend, destroying the comfort station, screaming yelling until after midnight.

Its nice that they would comp a day, but comping a day doesn't return the lost family time that one comes to expect from Disney.  

Calling the cops wouldn't help.  You call the cops and the cops call Disney and still nothing happens.  If I was at the fort and issues like this went on for a whole weekend or longer I'd document it, photo, video and such while notifying security and document their reprocess and then turn everything over to the media.  A little bad press and Disney would quickly fix the issue.

Right now its a in house problem, no one outside the direct fort and this board are aware of the issues.  A 30sec story with a big YouTube news outlet, or even mainstream media and suddenly its priority #1 to get it resolved.  Remember how fast the fencing went up around the lakes?