Grumpy and Grandma

Fully vaccinated guests at Universal Orlando will no longer be required to wear face coverings, the theme park resort announced Friday.

In a news release, the company said it is updating its mask policy and that fully vaccinated guests will not have to wear masks indoors or outdoors. The policy takes effect Saturday, Feb. 12. 

www.fox35orlando.com/news/universal-orlando-no-longer-requiring-face-masks-for-fully-vaccinated-guests

The only campsite loops that are somewhat close to the cabins are 1100, 1200 & 1300 premium,  2100 Full hook-up and 2000 partial hook-up.  So it depends on which level of site they reserved as to how close together you may be able to get.  The cabins that are in the same close vicinity are 2300 and 2400.  

I know some did not like him, but apparently he knew who helped him succeed.  This was his post on Twitter.

Just spent 3 days

& was reminded (yet again) what makes me so proud of

…our cast members! Thanks for taking care of me all these years. Thanks for your talent, your commitment & the gratitude you expressed. I am deeply grateful to all of you!

20 minutes ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

Thank you all for taking the time to read my trip report. Not sure when I'll be back to WDW. We have Disneyland and a Disney cruise on tap for our next adventures.

Thank you for sharing your adventures and have a great time on your trip to CA and your cruise... Always a fun thing to do.

2 hours ago, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

I’m not really good at being quiet. Ha ha

Hmmmm!  Haven't seen anybody disagree..

19 hours ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

   We went to see the singing birds and crooning flowers of the Tiki room.  The last time I saw this one, Zazu was the guest host.   He’s not there anymore now.  It was still as catchy as I remembered it, and we left with the Tiki room song stuck in our heads.   

Sounds like you're having a good time despite all the new restrictions and systems that need to be dealt with.

Grandma and I still enjoy the TIKI Room and probably since it was one of the first attractions we saw when we were at DL in 1969.  (I know we're old). It was our first trip to the park together since she came to visit me when I was stationed in San Diego.

There were a bunch in the overflow lot when we when stopped by in October.

1 hour ago, Disneybishops said:

Just checked this morning you can get tent, full hookup and preferred site. From 12/16 till 1/1 

Hopefully it won't be like Halloween where they double booked sites and then moved people to the resorts.

14 minutes ago, Disneybishops said:

I first camped at the fort back in the early nineties.  Tent camped but never had a problem with reservations.  I even tent camped on premium site. 

You have to remember that the locals also book weekends as soon as they can. All the years we were there many sites were available during the week but on weekends the FORT filled up with the same people and the majority were FL plates. Once the 499/500 day hits they are booking for their weekends, so if you want 10 days somebody probably already has the weekends on both ends of that reservation.  We never had issues either, but we always had a TA take care of it.  

The lack of open sites is happening across all campgrounds not just the FORT, just go on any RV blog/forum and many are complaining about the lack of availability in State parks and Private parks. RV sales have sky-rocketed the last 3 years.  

Let Jason work on it, save yourself the hassle.

Sure you can post a TR here.... Once a FF always a FF.  Looking forward to more updates.

3 hours ago, Disneybishops said:

I think this all changed when the fort stopped doing their own reservations

That had to be a long time ago then.  The TA's and other's were booking groups for at least 12 years, that is when we started our extended winter stays and they were doing it before that.

1 hour ago, Disneybishops said:

Why do they let her book groups. They have never had any problem filling up in the holiday season 

Any TA can sponsor a group.  She is just one of at least 4 that do it for the winter season. They all were part of the "Winter Settler's discount" groups that ended about 4 years ago.  You can even set up a group if you want to "front" the deposit.  Churches, Scouts and many others do it all the time.  There was a Local Fire Department that used to take over most of the 1400 loop every year too.

Carcare Center by MK.

From what I understand the reason they stopped was for "crowd control",  despite the price increase sales skyrocketed again.  

He/she may just be taking pre-reservations. Many did that when they still had Settlers Groups. Res wasn't locked until 499 days out.

9 hours ago, jlf said:

Hi everyone. Finally after 3 cancellation due to Covid, we are finally cruising 11/29-12/3/2021. We usually go in March, so this is our first holiday cruise. We take the bus transfer to the Port from Port Orleans and return to the Fort where we will stay for 10 days. We have always left our RV, truck, and our utility trailer at the Fort so it’s there when our cruise is over. We have never had problems before, but now with it being Sunday after thanksgiving the parking lot maybe crowded. Any suggestions on who I should contact or what I should do to have a spot for 5 days? Between this and having to test at the Port, my brain is hurting 😩

Port Orleans has a lot of extra room.  Many have parked their rigs there and since that is where you are boarding the bus that may be your best alternative. I take it you are at the FORT now so I would drive over to PO and talk to them, or have the FORT call them.

On 11/15/2021 at 7:40 AM, ThemeParkCommando said:

Very cool!  Trip report, please?!

Well we're back and I will do a modified report as soon as possible since we have the holidays coming up. One thing I will mention now is, we were the longest "post shutdown" cruise of any Cruiseline. 

On 11/8/2021 at 3:47 PM, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

Thanks

On 11/9/2021 at 6:31 AM, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

It must feel like you have the whole ship to yourselves.  Enjoy!!

Almost and thanks

On 11/9/2021 at 9:54 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Wow. What a unique experience you will have. Enjoy!

TCD

It sure is different..Thanks.

On the Wonder for the East bound Panama Canal.  Only 850 guests on board, 27 kids and outnumbered by the crew, 920.

59 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

True, but wait times were available on the MDE app for the entire existence of FP+. So Genie is no improvement on that. 

Further, Disney has not used the red cards that they used to hand to guests to accurately measure wait times since they reopened after the Covid shutdown. Thus, all wait times are guesstimates, and Disney has deliberately been posting inflated wait times. Inflated wait times probably help Genie+ sales, but I’m sure there is some other honest reason Disney is posting fake wait times. 

TCD

We found the wait times on GENIE to match what is posted at the attraction.

26 minutes ago, Starbuc71 said:

 We all know reflections were scrapped but talk about Disney basically abandoning the area. It was so sad to see the beach over grown and actually see a makeshift employee parking area in a dusty area where the river country ticket booth once stood. Also the mountains of dirt and concrete sewer pipes that are now overgrown with brush is just so not Disney. The whole area of the settlement is just ruined and there looks to be no fix in site. Once again, the fort takes back seat to any progress.  Again, happy for our memories years ago

Since nothing has been done it could very well be still in the plan, but after all the COVID BS is gone and things return to normal.  There would be no reason to do restoration if they are still going forward at a later date.  Just remember how long the buildings at AOA sat before work resumed. (I think that was the one).. 

I know there is a lot of negative discussion about the AP's , but the new FL Resident Pixie Pass (replaced week-day select) no longer has Summer months blocked out, only weekends and the typical Holidays as before.

Universal Orlando has announced that Shrek 4-D and its gift shop, Shrek’s Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe, will close on January 10, 2022, to make way for a new experience.

https://www.insideuniversal.net/2021/10/shrek-4d-at-universal-studios-florida-to-permanently-close-in-january-10-2022/

From FOX35:

ORLANDO, Fla. - Walt Disney World is giving guests another reason to celebrate.

Not only is ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration' underway, but Disney World has announced some entertainment fan favorites that were put to a stop during the pandemic will be returning soon – including socially-distanced character meet-and-greets!

And if you've missed the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" you'll love this: the epic, action-packed stunt show returns Dec. 19!

1 hour ago, dblr....Rennie said:

One person from the Forest River Forum board got this call and seeing they had a large group camping she declined as one room would not work so they offered her 2 rooms which she still declined. Later they called again and she said that  a Tree House at Saratoga Springs would work for them and Disney agreed and gave them one. Now where they will park the camper I do not know as I do know there is not room at the Tree House.

They have been known to use the lot at PO for other resort guests to park their RV.