Laura

I can attest to this. When my family and I stayed at Kidani Village 2.5 years ago, it was our first family trip to Disney and we were very tempted. Then we started looking at the money and the "points" and realized we were not buying a spot in Kidani for a week stay whenever we wanted.
So now we have a 26' TT for 10k less than the buy in, we can camp whenever (and wherever) we want, and we are staying for 7 nights at the fort for less than what it cost for one night at KV (and that's including the 40% military discount used at KV).
But, man do they make the experience look great.

I am finding it is more and more just the people on this site. Yes, Disney and the Fort brought us together, BUT lately, I don't really care where it is, as long as we Fiends can get together around a campfire!!!

What is it about Disney World that makes us all do everything we can to get back there?  
 
There are plenty of great places to travel to in our beautiful Country where you don't have to fork over $15.00 for a six-pack. So what is it?  I am thinking a big part of is simply is that people can be themselves there. Away from life's daily routine, a chance to just worry about being nice to other people and being happy. 
 
What I see here on this site, the way people go out of their way to be nice to each other, do extraordinary things for people you hardly know, comfort someone who is going through hard times, or just talk about happy things. This is what life should be like all the time. It just amazes me.
 
Today I figured out it isn't just Disney I love so much, it is being around people like the ones on this web site. 
 
I say we all quit, sell everything and move the Fort Wilderness. 
 
Who's in?
:clint:

What is it about Disney World that makes us all do everything we can to get back there?  
 
There are plenty of great places to travel to in our beautiful Country where you don't have to fork over $15.00 for a six-pack. So what is it?  I am thinking a big part of is simply is that people can be themselves there. Away from life's daily routine, a chance to just worry about being nice to other people and being happy. 
 
What I see here on this site, the way people go out of their way to be nice to each other, do extraordinary things for people you hardly know, comfort someone who is going through hard times, or just talk about happy things. This is what life should be like all the time. It just amazes me.
 
Today I figured out it isn't just Disney I love so much, it is being around people like the ones on this web site. 
 
I say we all quit, sell everything and move the Fort Wilderness. 
 
Who's in?
:clint:

Thank Goodness! I was just in serious withdrawl this weekend and your trip reports really help us get through the hard times!
Laura

They must be tired of storing all these things for guests and not making a dime off it and being held responsible for them. 

Pineapple-Orange Sunshine Cake

Cake ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, including juice
½ cup oil
4 large eggs

Directions:

Combine cake mix, oranges (including juice) and oil; mix on medium speed until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour batter in a prepared (greased and floured) 9” x 13” pan or you can use 2 9” round or square pans. Bake for approximately 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Cool on a rack while preparing frosting.

Frosting ingredients:

1 package of Jell-O No Bake Cheesecake mix
1 (20 oz.) can of crushed pineapples, including juice
1 cup of sour cream
1 (16 oz.) container Cool Whip

Directions:

Empty cheesecake mix in a bowl; add crushed pineapples (including juice) and sour cream; mix until all ingredients are blended. Add Cool Whip and fold into the cheesecake mixture. Frost a completely cooled cake. This cake is best if made the day before you plan to serve. Keep refrigerated
 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Family-Recipes/148538501963831

This sounds like a confusing mess.
 
I'm in.
 
For reading that is- I'm not going to write someone's trip report.
 
TCD

Yes, you want a campsite on 1100 and a cabin on 2100.
 
Fellow Fiend lklasing did this on a trip, and wrote a whole report about it:  http://www.fortfiends.net/forum/topic/6012-this-life-is-just-a-test-now-pass-me-a-beer/
 
She used the services of Judy Fiest (a travel agent who advertises on this site)  to secure this request.  I think that's the way to go.
 
TCD

"Really Angry Patron".... :rofl3:  :rofl2:

WELCOME!!!!
As far as getting reservations for the December timeframe, I would recommend contacting a Disney travel agent that specializes in Fort Wilderness reservations. One is Judy Fiesty, she is a Fort Fiends site sponsor, and can work miracles with site availability.
Fiesty's Fun Time Travel (504) 722-0888 [email protected] Judy primarily deals with Fort Wildernes and other Disney resorts.
The other agent recommended is [email protected] with Travel on a Dream. Rhonda is a full service travel agent that can handle Disney, cruise lines, and any other travel needs.
As far as camper rental. If you are looking for a popup, I would recommend http://www.fortcamperrental.com/ or if you want to rent a 5th wheel, contact www.makecampingeasy.com. These folks are active Fort Fiends members!
There is one other camper rental place that is a site sponsor http://www.floridacamperrental.com/ . I have no personal experience with these folks though.

Not so fast you two loosers, as usual, Allears info is incomplete and slightly off.

Thanks.
The trips are better than the reports.
It is good to be TCD.
Jason is right.
The biggest gross-out photo of all time was not from the race.
It is from later in the day.
It will be coming up after the next update.
There is no way that you will miss it.
Although you will probably wish that you had.
It's bad.
The grossest thing I have ever seen at WDW.
TCD

Yup- Trading Post prices are very high and selection is very limited. Under no circumstances do you want to buy your beer there. We are talking $15+ for a six pack of domestic beer.
Publix is a nice Florida supermarket chain. There are a couple within a 15-20 minute drive of the Fort. There is also a pretty nice Winn Dixie store.
TCD

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR LOU AND BOB:
This is a tablet...

Not this....

The Beauty and the Beast show was closed in early Jan for a quick refurb, but was reopened and the internal calendar shows performances for the foreseeable future.
Can't say I've heard about it being replaced by a Tangled show.

Big Mistake. I go to Disney to get away from the normal. And Starbucks, although our local one here supports open carry and that is always fun-has probably the crappiest burnt tasting coffee. Not to mention overpriced crappy burnt tasting coffee. And their treats have the feel of pre-made sara lee junk. I walk in there and I immediately feel like a sucker. not happening. My Keruig makes 10 time better coffee.
I hope this is a trend that does not continue. Someone needs to contact that phil guy when he is done posing for oil portraits and tell the Disney higher ups to quit messing with a good thing. Keep messing with the Master's brilliant idea's and the magic will soon fade. Arrrrggggg. Beer in the kingdom, Starbucks, whats next? A freaking Waffel House?

Does anyone know where I can get a bear costume?
TCD

I know the tent you're talking about.
It's this one, right? :

That photo is from 2010, but I know these folks are on the 1800 loop.
They have had that tent for years. I've never seen one like it for sale anywhere.
TCD

Quickly, so it doesn't get warm.

The reason they don't sell gum or cigarettes has nothing to do with Walt's views one way or the other. It's all about keeping the parks clean.
The gum chewing morons that throw their chewed gum on the paved walkways have made it necessary that gum not be sold at WDW. It's very difficult to remove.
And the slobs smokers that throw their cigarette butts on the ground are disgusting as well and have forced Disney to have dedicated smoking areas, but even there, they still throw butts on the ground.

Curt-
I am not sure about the child watching thing, but one place that I have seen an opportunity for a business is in pet watching.
Since the kennel is now off site, it is a pain to go there (not to mention expensive).
Someone offering to keep an eye on campers' pets while they are at the parks might do well. You could just make rounds on a golf cart, make sure the AC (or heat on cold days) is on, take the dogs on walks, and just keep an eye on things for people. If there's a problem, you can just call the owner to come back to the site. If you had just a few clients, it could be a nice money maker, plus a great alternative to the kennel for Fort guests.
Or better yet, combine the kid watching with the pet watching. Let the kids walk the dogs, and you sit back and observe.
TCD

Conventional wisdom is send loop requests by fax 5 days before arrival.
That's what I do, and it works 90+% of the time.
I always just request a loop not a site.
TCD

Crumb crunchers... :rofl2:
You know there's a really simple solution to all this - just make the buses look as cool as the monorails...

How did you figure it out?
Nice job, but I'd ask for more than a toaster.