As I mentioned Linda and I got tickets for the Night of a Million Lights and here are some of the pics...

The Magic Returns to the Village

We are thrilled to announce that nearly 10 months from the day that we said goodbye to our last wish family in March, we will be getting back to our mission of spreading joy and creating the happiness that inspires hope for critically ill children and their families by reopening our beloved Village beginning on January 17, 2021.

https://www.gktw.org/covid19/

12 minutes ago, AuburnJen said:

Someone needs to learn how to write a title to an article to a story.  That story was all about California.  Ugh

That's what happens when you no longer have actual reporters/journalists.  They are all now copy writers.  No looking for the facts anymore...

Off my soap box.......

But by then you may not need a pass.

On 1/4/2021 at 2:37 PM, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Could a viable fix for the Yeti be in the works?

 

https://wdwnt.com/2021/01/disney-files-patent-on-technology-to-limit-robotic-vibrations-possible-solution-for-new-expedition-everest-yeti-animatronic/?fbclid=IwAR3iLfK49sp1HQOfMmSSLRxg-Wq8Efz_zMlOgR61m_os5o1-15bIA-Lk0is

Sure looks like it will work to me........

On 1/11/2021 at 1:54 PM, Travisma said:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-08/what-quarantine-is-like-at-the-most-magical-place-on-earth

This was posted somewhere else before Bloomberg posted it, so I'd be a little leery of the story. How would Disney find out your party had Covid unless you told them.

Nowadays, Disney has taken steps such as wrapping shampoo containers and even the TV remote control in plastic to let guests know they’ve been cleaned since the last visitors.

 

Exactly, and since the shampoo, soap and conditioner are wall mounted I say this is a bogus article.  Our daughter and family were just at the FORT, in a cabin, and the only thing wrapped was the remote.

41 minutes ago, CCIntrigue...aka Gwen said:

Our First Park Day!  The more popular rides were 75 - 90+ minutes.  And the park was supposed to be no more than 35% full.  Didn't make sense.

Because of the limited seating as well as the fact that there are no FAST PASS lines. We have also heard that the times listed are not accurate, lines are moving faster. 

Our daughter and family just left and her longest wait was for SDMT. When they went to EPCOT there was no line for SOARIN and they also waited less than 45 minutes for TEST TRACK.  At AK they got on both Pandora attractions in about 60 minutes

Unrelated, but hey still have X-MAS decorations up in parts of AK and when we went to P&J's to pick-up dinner (they were in a cabin) the X-MAS music was still playing at the Settlement.

2 hours ago, CCIntrigue...aka Gwen said:

Grumpy and Grandma came to visit! 

It was great spending time with them.  The afternoon passed all too quickly! 

It was good to see you and David too!  

Looks like finding a site is going to even get worse.

From RV Business:

Best November Ever for Retail Sales; 2020 Could Top 500,000

https://rvbusiness.com/best-november-ever-for-retail-sales-2020-could-top-500000/

5 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

That all looks/sounds amazing! Olivia's has never been on my radar, but it is now.  🙂

One of our favorites and you won't regret it, but it is a little noisy if crowded since the acoustics aren't the best.

8 minutes ago, Travisma said:

I think some of the TAs have a large amount of staff members that all start booking sites as soon as they open.

I'm sure if Jason can get that lazy cat of his trained to use a PC, he could book more sites... 

But they don't get them any earlier than anybody else.      He could sleep in then too!  

1 hour ago, Disneybishops said:

 It’s just that certain travel agents gobble up all the sites. I’ve been told they get availability before the window opens to normal folks.

I think Jason will probably disagree with that. If that was the case he wouldn't be up at 12:01 am looking for reservations.  He always posts when reservations will open up and tells everybody to let him know so he can book.

4 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

Not happy about the repo's for what should be obvious reasons. 2020 was a tough year for a lot of people.  

It will be those who bought and then decided to get out after COVID and didn't do their homework when they bought. They figured they could sell it for what they owed not realizing the RV market doesn't work that way.  

33 minutes ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

I am actually hoping to take advantage of the sell off that will inevitably happen when people get to go back to their normal vacations. 

It's already started, went by the auction lot near Lakeland, more RV'S there than ever before.  Should be even.more repos than we've seen in a long time too.

50 minutes ago, Disneybishops said:

Am I the only one who misses the old way we made reservations at the fort?  I can remember getting reservations for Christmas most anytime during the year. Yes you had to be creative but you could get a site.  
 

Now they give all the sites to travel agents and they are gone in one day. I just liked the old way where I controlled my reservations.  
 

sorry to ramble just my 2 cents

The inability to get reservations is a complaint on every RV forum I follow and it is at all levels, State, County and even private CG.  The RV sales boom started in 2016 and has just gotten worse so you have many more competing for what's out there.  People say that if you don't start looking the day the reservation window opens you probably won't get one.

It was reported on the news that UNIVERSAL was at capacity 30 minutes before opening.

https://insidethemagic.net/2020/12/universal-capacity-30-minutes-ad1/

Local Florida Union Says Some Workers Were Recalled

It’s nice to deliver some good news on Christmas Weekend.

And we’re pleased to post that a local union says things are looking just a little better in Orlando.

https://mickeyblog.com/2020/12/26/report-some-wdw-cast-members-recalled-to-work/

And they are moving right along with  the construction, we go by there regularly.

I haven't seen this mentioned.  The OSBORNE LIGHTS went to GKTW and they have been doing a Fund Raiser. It has not been advertised on TV or anywhere else that we have seen, but we just got tickets for the last day. Just found out from one of the volunteers who live in our park. They are limiting attendance and masks are required.  Hope to post pics after we tour.

The Holidays Like Never Before

November 13 - January 3

Celebrate the splendor of the season with us at our newest, sparkliest event: Night of a Million Lights!https://www.gktw.org/lights/

21 hours ago, CCIntrigue...aka Gwen said:

If you all need a good laugh, my 72 year old husband just got carded at the trading post when he tried to buy a bottle of wine!

I had that happen at K-Mart about 10 years ago when I bought some beer, Linda thought the cashier was blind.  When I asked why she said "We have to card everybody!"

I always had 2' 25 water hoses, 2 10' sewer hoses and an 30' power extension cord.(Actually more since we did a lot of Fairground Rallies)  The other 64 thousand dollar question is where are the connections are your rig. 

It all depends on which site you end up with, the FORT has no set location for the utilities. Some are in the middle some are near the rear.

20 hours ago, rjpete said:

It is a careful balance to remain profitable and succumb to pressure. Golden Coral needs to make a profit to survive, 

Exactly and Golden Corral locations draw from from a very wide area (multiple neighborhoods) they don't have restricted access. 

Update:  Just announced on the news that numerous Golden Corral locations in Orlando are closing or being sold..