Lantana

It might be because we're new to camping but the wife and I visit this site at least every other day if not every day. We just started camping because we were at a softball field 3 out of 4 weekends a month from the end of February to the first of November the last six years. Although we have been to Disney several times. Now that our daughter is playing college ball and we're not traveling all over the southeast we plan on going to the Fort at least twice a year, depending on how our daughter's team does. So here's to the Fort, the Fiends and a prayer Disney will be nice and lower their costs?.

Happy New Year!!
It's hard to believe 2017 is over, and 2018 is here.  For a variety of reasons, 2017 was a bit of a tough year around the DIT ranch.  I got off-line to focus on more important things.  We were incredibly busy at home, and at work.  But we did have some fun too, along the way.  And in looking back at my photos from 2017, I had to chuckle when I realized that INC and I made FIVE trips to central Florida during the year!  And for some unknown reason, despite my hatred for Disney, at least one of those trips involved a visit to see the Mouse.  
Maybe more than one.  
So I figured that maybe I'd share some of those pictures with you.  At least I'll try.  Hopefully life doesn't get in the way.  And hopefully the photo linking works for me.  I haven't tried that in a long time.  
Before I get going with the report, I'll test some photo posting....to see if the linking works, and to give you a hint of what's to come.  





 
I guess it works!!
So, I'll get writing.  And hopefully a few of you are interested.  Bear with me.  The first trip was nearly a year ago.  I need to get this old brain working and try to remember what was what.  
Coming up.....a Birthday Cruise on the Disney Wonder!!!!

We took our kid to the fort when she was 3 weeks old. She is now 8 we still have many trips left as long as we can afford it. Although we haven't camped since October and it will be March before we camp again.

I stop by a few times a day myself but don't always have something to add. 
At any rate, Happy New Year to everyone and their families.  Hope 2018 is your best yet!

WELCOME!!!

I’m new too. Staying in a cabin for first time ever next month. Hoping trip goes well and I can get my husband to camp for a week or so after that. Thank you for all who post and share info[emoji4]


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I’m new too. Staying in a cabin for first time ever next month. Hoping trip goes well and I can get my husband to camp for a week or so after that. Thank you for all who post and share info[emoji4]


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Welcome!

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I’m new too. Staying in a cabin for first time ever next month. Hoping trip goes well and I can get my husband to camp for a week or so after that. Thank you for all who post and share info[emoji4]


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Well, we've reached the end of the line here.
I just have these last few photos from Tuesday morning, May 30th, and that will be all.
Well, plus some bonus photos from a couple of subsequent developments.
It turns out that I there is a strange twist and a great photo to go with that story that will provide the exclamation point for this trip report.
As I mentioned above, I ended up packing up the camper on Monday, and slept on the sofa bed in the cabin on Monday night. I've seen a few reports from folks complaining about the comfort of the cabin sofa beds.  Anyone complaining about those beds must not have slept on the murphy beds or on some of the sofa beds you can still find in some of the DVC resorts.  These cabin sofa beds are a huge improvement over those.
Twin #1 was able to call and arrange for us to have a late checkout today.  Which was awesome, as we now just had the stuff in the cabin to pack up, and we had plenty of time to do that.
So, I headed out on patrol on Tuesday morning.
I laughed when I saw that this expensive fishing excursion guide had taken his customers into the canal where Fort guests can wet a line for free.  Of course, those guests on the boat didn't have to contend with the alligator fence:

There's a nice big heron sitting there on the other side of the fence, and the rotting old cabin beyond that:

One last stop and photo from my favorite spot:

The gates were open behind the Settlement Trading Post, which would have given me a good shot of a photo of the rotting wagon, but a bait truck partially blocked the view.  Don't worry, though, the wagon is still there rotting, and you can see a bit of it in this photo if you look:

All of those cones that they had set up over the weekend were now gone, and things were back to normal around the marina:

I enjoyed some rocking chair time.  We had a nice view of Pioneer Hall over to the side:

The water of Bay Lake kind of blends in in this photo, but you could definitely see it from the porch:

I never did get a photo of one of the horses and wagons, but they were going back and forth along here all night long every night of our stay:

On Monday, these campers arrived on the 700 loop, and set up these decorations on their site:


I think I've seen these same decorations around Halloween, which is fine.  But, what's the deal with setting these up after Memorial Day Weekend?
I guess it's a tribute to the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
A little strange.
We had noticed this big lizard hanging around the cabin porch all weekend. The kids named it Andi Mack (a new Disney Channel show which we all saw for the first time on the cabin TV):

It's kind of a big lizard:

I had to take the golf carts back.
That went fine.
And, then we packed up the cabin, and I headed to the 800 loop to hitch up the camper and head home.
My oldest daughter gave me this Big Al tsum tsum as an early Father's Day gift:

And, that's my last photo from Memorial Day weekend.
We did not get a drop of rain the whole time we were there.
And, I was able to go home and put my clean and dry camper right away.
I love trips like that.
Of course, in the almost month that has passed since this trip ended, it seems like it's rained every day.
Last weekend, for Father's Day, I had a quick day trip to Disney with the twins.
We visited AK, and ate dinner at the Satu'li Canteen in Pandora.  I used the App to pre-order, and it went without a hitch.  To my surprise, the restaurant was not busy.  I'm afraid the weird menu is not popular with guests who prefer hot dogs and burgers.  Too bad.  Because I'll bet that means they'll have to dumb down the menu.
By the way, I was able to book same day FP+'s for the Navi River Journey ride that morning.  So, getting same day Pandora FP's is possible.
That night, we popped over the MK to watch Happily Ever After. This time, we stood on Main Street, about where the moat used to go under the bridge there.  There was a lot of pushing and shoving in this area, but it does offer an unobstructed view of the castle (as long as iPad guy and Kid on Shoulder guy don't stand in front of you):

Check out Tinkerbill about to fly in these photos:


I really enjoyed the view from here.
But, it's very crowded.
I have one more story to tell, and then I'll be done here.
This past weekend, Twin #1 headed down from Gainesville to spend some time with her sisters in Orlando.
Yesterday morning, Twin #1 saw a post on Instagram from Joe Rohde stating that he was on his way to Orlando.
So, she convinced a couple of her friends to head over to the AKL last night to see if they could possibly bump into Joe.
And she did:

So, the twins went from geeking over getting a tweet from Joe Rohde during their birthday party and seeing his handprint in a cave to actually having an in-person conversation with him a few weeks later.
You never know what's around that river bend.
TCD

Before I start talking about Thanksgiving I feel that I should mention despite celebrating Thanksgiving for the last 13 years (strangely most of them outside of the US), I'm not American and it wasn't something I grew up with.
 
The plans for Thanksgiving probably changed the most. Originally we had Raglan Road booked and had to have breakfast while resort hoping. Resort hoping got dropped in favour of the Thanksgiving activities and Raglan Road got cancelled as I was able to get a reservation at Backyard BBQ.
 
Started off the day with cinnamon roll Turkeys cooked in the cabin. The oven may too small for a real Turkey but perfect for these.

 
After breakfast no one was interested in the scavenger hunt so I took my daughter down to the corn hole game after walking down to the outpost to get our tickets for lunch, she then lost interest so we shopped.

I decided to walk back to the cabin rather than wait for the bus, even cutting through the group camping area I got complaints of my feet hurt.
 
My son was happy doing crafts.

 
We headed to the pool to soak tired feet, my wife and son joined us after doing crafts before we got dried off and headed to the settlement.
 

 

 
Kids played for a bit while I shopped.

 
Then to lunch, this was the 2.30 seating my prefference would have been earlier do I was hungry.
 
I stuck to the Turkey, Ham and sides with a but of salad and some beer of course.

My wife started about the same before getting a plate of Mac N Cheese and ham.

 
The kids, well one had a burger and Turkey.

The other one had Mac N Cheese and Turkey with gravy.

 
I think I got both kids up for to dance once but they weren't that keen.

 
We jumped a bit when the trick roper came on but that was fun to watch.
 

 
Mickey Ice Cream bars and pumpkin pie before we left.
 
 
We had a carriage ride booked so later so we killed some time taking the boat to the contemporary.
 

 
We got the monorail to the Grand Floridian


 
This was mostly just to buy gingerbread

 
Back on the monorail.

 
Taking the MK boat this time.
 

 
We let the kids play on the beach for a bit before getting our carriage tour.
 

 
This is a really nice way of looping. I got what photos I could but it was dark I was using my phone and moving.
 

 
Quite a few of these inflatable Turkeys.

 
We had a few people come out of their campers and wave. My daughter said she felt like a celebrity.


 
I did see a Fort Fiends sign but couldn't make it out.

 
 

 
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Waited a while for a bus but got back to the Fort around 3. I walked to the cabin while my wife and kids moved the car. I think they may have gotten lost in overflow given I beat them there. First time in a cabin. Was nice using my magic band to open something other the the comfort stations. Unloaded, got the stuff from the cooler in the fridge, is it just me or does anyone else feel that the size of the fridge is out of proportion to the oven.
 

 
Kids explored I poured myself a beer, the cabin only had mason jars.

 
Then I set up the decorations, yeah should have brought more will next time.
 

 

Once we settled I ask if anyone wants to go back to Epcot, when we left it was with the intention of going back. Logistically this had to involve at least one child. Nope, ok maybe its not wanting to wait for a bus, what if we upgrade to park hoppers and do MK. Nope both kids tired. This is where I wish we went often enough to justify APs since I really wouldn't care then.
 
Well my daughter wants some snacks and we need milk(Next time we're putting milk and soda in the cooler but it was the first time we used it). So she and my wife get the bus to the trading Post. My son wants to go to the pool, initially he was wanted to go to the meadow pool for the slide. But he decided to try the pool by the cabins rather than wait for a bus, so he rode his bike over. I walked he still needs some help which I can't provide if I'm cycling. He was glad he this did pool, it was almost empty. Rows of sun loungers empty and you could actually get in the hot tub. Mostly people staying in cabins judging by the towels.
My only gripe would be the cost of the vending machine, my son actually told my wife it only took card. Not true I just find it easier not to carry cash when swimming.
 

 
Headed back to the cabin for a discussion about dinner, originally thought we'd eat in Epcot so not much planned. Son wants hot dogs cooked on the camp fire. My daughter on the other hand doesn't want to go out at all. I comprise and cook burgers and hot dogs on the cabin BBQ grill.
 
Now I had put my BBQ tools in the car but didn't really think we'd use them. The charcoal I'd bought from home was meant to be easy lighting and explicitly states not to use fire lighters or lighter fluid. However I had issues the last time I used it, and have been using the road trip at home recently. Didn't bring the road trip as was unsure about using near the cabin. I will say one thing I didn't need was the grill brush, was nice and clean.
 

 
By the time my wife and son get back with supplies I have about 4 coals glowing. Fortunately they bought lighter fluid.
If we do this again I'm putting more stuff in the cooler trading Post is a bit limited. After dinner I did smores over the grill.
 

I offered to take the kids to see the fireworks but my daughter was tired and ran her self a bath and went to bed. My son just flopped on the bed. We let the kids have the bedroom and took the couch.
 

 
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On Tuesday we left the cabin around 9:30 thinking we'd have plenty of time to make our first FP+ which expired at 10:30.
We were wrong.  
There was a huge line of people waiting for the boat.  But the boat didn't have room for our two scooters.  Lots of people in line behind us got onto the boat, but we were told we'd have to wait for the next trip.  One boat was down for maintenance, and so they were only running one boat, and it would be 20-25 minutes before they could get back for us.
 

So we sat and chatted at one of the tables near the dock.  And of course I started snapping photos.



After a really long wait, we finally made it onto a boat.

And arrived at MK around 11:00 ...


 

Great pix.  They look like they should be in a flyer or brochure for Disney. 
. 

What Gwen is not telling y'all is that it was she who saved MY sanity!  This trip was a much needed escape for all four of us!

More pictures from Disney Springs:





Oops, sorry, Jean Ann.  I focused on the wrong thing:





 

After getting settled into the cabin, we made a quick stop at the Meadow Trading Post.


Then we went to Disney Springs for lunch.  We decided to eat at:


The rest of the group opted for sandwiches:

But I couldn't resist the sides:

The Brussels sprouts with whiskey-caramel were amazing.  Then I tasted the BBQ cauliflower with paprika sour cream.  Wow!  It was even better!  And then I tasted the tomato and watermelon salad with feta, basil, and pickled onion.  I was in heaven.  
After lunch we shopped and just wandered around.

Jean Ann checked us into the cabin.  Mary and I picked up our ECVs, and Jean Ann picked up the golf cart.   It didn't take much more than an hour after we landed before we were in our cabin! 
Ever wonder what a disability access cabin looks like?

So there is a group about 3 sites up with Michigan plates on their car. They have a young girl somewhere around 8-10 years old with some crazy chalk art skills. Was blown away watching her do these. To bad it just started raining and they will be gone shortly.

A few weeks back, one of the TCD twins noticed a guest in the MK with a nifty Fort Wilderness ball cap she had never seen before. She asked the guest where he got it, and he said at the Settlement Trading Post.
The TCD twins made a beeline there when they got a chance, and sure enough, there were new hats, shirts, mugs, and other things.  They called to let me know.
But, they didn't take any photos.
There have been some mentions on this board about new merchandise.
But no photos.
Well, now there are.
I popped in to the Fort the other night for the sole purpose of seeing the new stuff in the Trading Post.
And this is what I saw . . .
A new long-sleeved green men's shirt- the front:

The back:

A new, short sleeved brown men's shirt- there is only a design on the front of this one:

A new ladies' shirt:

A new kids' shirt (I think this is different from the old kids' shirt) :

A new zippered sweat shirt (no design on the back) :

A new ball cap:

New mugs (these are kind of small compared to previous versions of Fort Wilderness mugs) :

A new magnet:

Did you notice the hidden Mickeys made with marshmallows on the magnet?  Cute.
New key chain:

New bumper sticker:

And even a new shot glass:

All I can say is wow.
I don't remember this much new Fort merchandise being rolled out all at the same time.
Ever.
But wait.
There's more.
Did you notice the sign on the table mentioning the Shop Disney Parks App?
I did.
I've never used that.
I figured they wouldn't bother putting Fort stuff on there.
But, they had the sign right on the table with the Fort stuff.
So I looked.
Wow again.
Look at all of this stuff!:


I didn't notice those pins they show online, or that metal key chain.  They did have the coozie there, but I didn't get a photo.  As far as I can tell, they are not offering the green shirt on-line- they had some of those other long sleeved shirts there, but those are not new.
Apparently, you can buy all of this stuff from the comfort of your own home:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/store/search/?search-term=wilderness
How do you like that?
I have the new green shirt and the new ball cap, but I want it all!
TCD

Old Glory over Bay Lake.    :D

FORT TRADING POST.

My favorite site 912 Summer 2010  :rofl:

Meadow Trading Post

Upon seeing this sign turn left and prepare to relax and have a great Fort Fiend time. :D