BuckeyeFortFan

We are the masters of rope drop.  I don't really care for the shows they put on right before - like everything else, they haven't changed in the last decade or two.  I also hate fighting all the other jerks to get to that first attraction.  However, you can't beat how much you can get done in that first hour or two before all the late risers start flooding into the park.  We do more before 11 am than most people do all day!  Then we are ready for lunch when the restaurants open, again no lines as everyone else is still full from their 9am breakfast and trying to get on their 2nd ride of the day.  After lunch we can use our fastpasses we got earlier and then enjoy the rest of the time doing those things that don't have a line, i.e. face painting, barbershop, carousel of progress.  Then when it is getting hot we can head back to the TT for a little nap in the AC or go fight all the locals at the pool!  Sometimes we go back to MK or EPCOT in the evenings, but only for the parade/fireworks or dinner as the lines are all longer than I will wait at that time. 

Just the one ferry line comes to the campground to shuttle.

Do you rember which one?  We always use Sheppler's.

Do the ferry companies send a shuttle to the campground for guests like they do the hotels?  We like to go to M.I. for 3 days or so but like to take the TT and combine it with a camping trip, but then I have to let a ferry company employee park the truck and trailer in the overnight parking and pay crazy $$$ to do it.  I considered renting a site at a campground so the TT could be hooked to electricity for the fridge, and then take a shuttle to the ferry dock to go to the island.  Any thoughts?

Thanks for the heads up.  I have been checking that site every couple of days for months waiting for a discount.  I quit checking last week as we are busy getting ready to leave Thursday.  I was able to get a premium site for 8 days for $12 more than my full hookup.  Granted, the change actually cost me $$$ but now I can hob-nob with the millionaires in the high rent district!

2 words for you...Jersey Week.  We were there the week after halloween 2010 with half the state of New Jersey.  Apparently all their schools get 2 or 3 days off for teacher in-service that week.  Any show we went to they would ask a volunteer "Where are you from?".  The answer 90% of the time was "New Jersey" and the remainder of the audience would cheer.  :D  Will not go that week again if I can help it.

We always drive to EPCOT, AK and DHS and sometimes MK, especially if you want to make rope drop.  I leave the campground 45 - 60 minutes before rope drop and thats with tickets in hand (you will want to leave sooner if you have to get tickets.)    EPCOT is a pretty good walk from the parking lot, then you have to go through bag check if you are carrying anything, then line up at the turnstiles.  They will open those gates 10 - 15 minutes before rope drop and stop you again between Innoventions for the pre-rope drop show.  If you are right on the rope you will get to shake the characters hands - it is a nice start to the day. 

If I ever make it to a GG, hugs are great.....as long as you have 2 X chromosomes. :thewave1:

I like Japan.  Love Tappan Edo.  The lady who makes the candy, the drum show, the storyteller, the architecture and I can sit or stand one the bridges up in the garden to the left and watch the coy? fish for an hour - completely peaceful and relaxing.

We are a half hour south of Canton, OH.  I will also keep an eye on these plans and would definately vote for a Cedar Point GG.

I just saw somewhere that Disney is coming out with a whole new set of refillable mugs this year. Since the mugs are suppose to be for your length of that stay, are the old mugs no good for refills anymore?

That's the way it is supposed to work - length of stay only - unless you have a forever mug that was sold some years ago. 

I think the "forever mug" myth was debunked on voldemort a few months back.  There was no forever mug but the resorts each had unique mugs and they were not changed very often, hence an old mug would look like the current mug being sold, and Disney being Disney, they would rather let people refill old mugs than enforce rules and upset someone.  I also think many castmembers are unsure of the actual "length of stay" policy regarding the mugs and will allow guests to refill old mugs without blinking an eye, so it depends upon the person working the counter as to what can be filled and what can't. 

1.  I would defer World Showcase for another trip and focus on the pavilions with breaks in innoventions.

2.  Make rope drop and go to Soarin' or Test Track while a non-rider gets fast passes for the other.  If everyone is riding then have one person get the fastpasses after you come off the first ride while the rest of the party checks out another attraction.

3.  Enjoy the rest of the day at whichever attraction interests you.  If your not doing WS you shoud have plenty of time for the rest.

p.s. If I only had 1 day at the parks I would go to MK.

Don't you guys know burnt marshmallows cause CANCER?! :popcorn:

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2010/05/27/barbeque-carcinogens.htm

:kickinass:

1.  The TT is paid for so  local trips will continue to happen; gas is insignificant for a 10 - 50 mile trip.

2  I did some math and in order for the cost of a WDW vacation to become more"economic" by flying and staying in a hotel rather than driving and camping, gas would have to be $25/gallon!  This is taking into account flight, a cabin or a deluxe hotel (if I am giving up FW it ain't gonna be for an All Star) and rental car.  I even paid myself $1000 for the time driving to and from the fort to offset the time spent traveling.  I didn't even factor in the money we save by eating in the camper!

any advice for a first timmer

"I am camping for the frist time in september and I normaly stay in a value resort."

"it will be in a camper and it will be for 2 nights so by my thoughts i wikll just be one level down from what I am used to " :D

Yea Nancy! :wave1:

:D

I am not sure where to post this but, Oh I Missed you guys!  Took me a long time to find you.  We will be at the Fort March 17th in a big Green bus with a big green sign!  I hope to get to meet some of you.

Thanks for the nice Forum to hang out at!  i am going to go look for some snarky comments now  :bugeyes:

Sorry Miss, but your gonna have to paint that sign, and the bus for that matter!  Green is so.....last month.  Purple is the new green, and "The Bird Bird Bird, said the Bird is the word".  :)

WELCOME!

Nowadays DHS is my least favorite park, even though I like ToT, RnRC, TS, LAM, F! and of course, Osborne Lights. The theming just seems pretty thin there, the layout is screwy (the only park I ever need a map at!), it just feels like Six Flags to me. I think the fact that the theming is huddled around individual attractions rather than areas of the park really hurts the "Disney-ness" of the park. The sorcerer's hat, if anything, detracted from the theming, IMHO.

Agree.  The sorcerers hat is very cool but I believe the design of the park had one entering the gates and looking down the street at the chinese theater, which is very cool architectually (sp?).  That hat should be moved, maybe to outside the entrance or down by F! where it makes more sense conceptually.

Like this Subject Matter Expert (SME). 

The bank I used to work for bought HFC (the dumbest acquisition in HISTORY) and all the HFCers used to throw acronyms around all the time (before HFC was totally closed).  SME was one of them - except that SME also stands for Small Market Enterprise and was already being used extensively for that purpose.  Acronyms are dangerous.  FUBAR!

Hey Al!! I'll see your FUBAR and raise you a SNAFU. :rofl2:

The reason for the SNAFU being FUBAR'd is that your dealing with a bunch of JAFO's.

We mainly go for TSM but with the kids we also do Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast show, The muppets, The Great Movie Ride, Backlot Tour and the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground.  Usually skip Indiana Jones, Car stunt show, Star Wars, RRRC, ToT and Fantasmic.  The parade is good and there is always some characters aroudn somewhere - the army guys back by TSM are great.  We manage to spend a whole day and skip alot of things.

I have heard, and my own experience has shown, that the RV show price is usually pretty decent and it is hard to get an equal unit for much less than what they will offer at the show.  The show price is comparable to the price a good negotiator could get down to at the dealership.  There are differences between dealers though and that is key - find the dealer with the lowest price.  Some dealers are willing to take less profit on a vehicle than another dealer if it means a sale.

I will tell you the absolute best place to watch from........BUT you gotta promise not to tell anyone else.

Is it from the Meadows pool with a cold drink in hand?

All the attractions listed are on the 'Skip List' but no one has mentioned the Tomorrowland Speedway.  A long wait, noxious fumes and a case of whiplash.  The kids do love it though so I am not able to skip it.