shoreline99

Interactive national SLOSH maps online showing potential storm surge impact along the coast - http://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingTextLegend/index.html?appid=b1a20ab5eec149058bafc059635a82ee Please note the maps are to show impact at all possible coastal areas, not just those affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Stay safe everyone.

Could also be that they, as you have mentioned, are now fully booked up due to the holiday weekend and the additional guest load from vacating the fort, bungalows, etc. has them at 'capacity'

This is awesome. Great use of the square.

The walls have ears... and they're mouse shaped...

Sigh. This is the first year we haven't had a WDW trip since 2013, and really the first year since 2008 that we haven't gone or at least considered it. We did have a couple of days at DL in April, though. There is just so much construction at the World and no commensurate value, honestly. With one going off to college next fall and another two years behind that we are looking at several Disney-free years. Unless, of course, someone signs up for the DCP or we decide to go back for the 50th anniversary in a few years. Until then we'll just live vicariously through others and social med

We have never been to one of the MNSSHP's. We did, however, attend one of the 'Pirate and Princess Parties' that were held back in 2008. It was very similar.

OOOH, try the Sake bar at the back of the store in the Japanese pavilion. I forgot that one too. We're still partial to Le Cellier for a great meal in EPCOT though. Over Monsieur Paul's.

I can only speak from personal experience, so If you haven't had any luck getting through to Kenny, try to get a hold of Kelly in the office. She usually gets back to you if Kenny is unable to, and I will normally contact both of them if we have an issue. Twice in the 7 or 8 years that we have rented from them I've had problems with a cart, and both times things were repaired or resolved quickly. Once was no headlights (wiring issue, one of his service guys came and fixed it while it was parked by the marina) and once was a battery issue (they replaced the batteries @ our site at FW).

Hey! I stayed in one of those cabins last year. first one on the left - 2102? maybe? Still, no thanks.

I'd also chalk it up somewhat to a changing of the original Walt Disney World demographics. People that grew up with the MK as new are all in their late 40's, 50's or above. EPCOT was new in the 80's. You're talking at least two if not three generations removed from the original park. So much has changed in the last several years and all everyone seems to refer to is 'the good old days'. Most of the changes are exactly what was noted in the articles - less visits, higher dollars per visit, more 'efficiency controls' designed to separate you from your dollar while giving you less

It's 1200 miles from here (CT) to the fort; we normally split the drive on the way down and try to drive straight through on the way home. On the way down, no one wants to be exhausted and miserable on the first couple of days of the trip trying to catch up on sleep. If we are on the road by 6 am from the fort when we leave, we're home by midnight. Either way, we stop every 300 miles or so for gas, a stretch, a driver switch and a walk around to get the blood flowing a bit. I'm used to driving 300 miles at a clip weekly, so it's not too much of a stretch. I don't, however, like

Nothing listed in the current permit applications regarding FW. Last open permit for the Fort looks like it's from 2008 BUT it is still listed as active.

Also, as has been mentioned, La Cava de Tequila is worth a stop, My wife and I were there last October for the first time sans kids and had a great time; we stayed at the Boardwalk and it was an easy stroll to EPCOT.

-Germany has beer and wine tasting in the crystal gift shop. -Have a drink at the rose and crown bar in the UK. -Enjoy a baked treat from the patisserie in France -Sit in any of the countries and watch the entertainment with out someone pulling on your arm every 5 minutes. -Enjoy a couple of small plates at the Spice Road Table in Morocco -Stroll over to the boardwalk through the international gateway and check out the scenery and new AbracadaBAR -Shop at the shoppes

Didn't see this posted anywhere, but the menu has been revamped as of the past week. http://www.chipandco.com/skipper-canteen-magic-kingdom-new-menu-244768/#prettyPhoto

We ate there last October, place was showing its age. It was definitely in need of a refurb. Menu looks promising, but many of the signature dining restaurants now all have some variations on the same themes for dining (sustainable fish/filet/bison).

How did those compare to IN-N-Out burger?

Regarding the freeloading, I think I mentioned it a while back that there is definitely a blind eye turned to cast members using the fort pool and their families/friends (not staying on property) using those same amenities. I can tell you after speaking with someone firsthand that has used the pool in this capacity that this is the case. I can't tell you if it is actively encouraged, but it definitely has not been discouraged and, from what I understand, was not a big secret either. Perhaps things will change with the new manager.

We did this probably 7 or 8 years ago; our older kids did the pirate cruise (which they all loved) and we had a nice lunch with our youngest (who was maybe 2 at the time) at the GF.

Sounds like you had a great trip! Thanks for sharing!

Hi - glad it was helpful! I'm curious to hear your thoughts on DL and California - did you drive up the coast as well? What did you think of Monterey and Big Sur? We were not impressed by LA, although we didn't get to see Venice Beach or some of the other touristy places. USC was nice, but the area around it was not so great. I've been to Yosemite and thought being at Big Basin was more impressive as well because of the lack of people. I agree about it being a very humbling experience, too, especially when you see the rings in that section and realize how old those trees really are.

Can we still feed the armadillos?

RCFD's contract is in negotiations. FF/EMT's have been working without a contract for a while now (unless something has changed in the last month or two). RCID has even considered shifting certain services (technical rescue, haz mat) over to the county under a separate contract. The fire union was going to protest at the opening of the newest garage back in May at DS, not sure if they carried through with that threat or not. My money is on upper management floating this to the press for the upper hand in bargaining position, but that's just the cynic in me. EDIT: FWIW, I'm not