caveat lector

My alcohol budget has had to be increased. From $10 to $20 for the week. ;-)

If any of those JFL teams are looking to round out their schedule, the boys from Knoxville might be interested......
 
Yes, tough to be a fan this year.......

Interesting that emotional support animals aren't covered by the ACA.  Whether they should be is probably a topic for a debate thread, but for me it comes down to the fact that a true Service Dog has been specifically selected because of their temperament and ability to perform whatever task is required. And then they're *trained* - a LOT.  They're trained not just to handle the task required, but to do that task while handling distractions and all that comes with being in a wide variety of circumstances out in the world.
The service dog in the article that was attacked by the very-much-not-a-service-dog, never even reacted to the fact that he was being attacked because he was so well trained to be focused on his handler.  I've seen a few service dogs at WDW and despite the crowds, chaos, and kids wanting to go up and pet the cute doggie, they remained 100% focused on their handlers.  
An untrained dog that is disruptive to the world at large and/or aggressive to people or other dogs - while their presence may be making their owner feel better on some level - is not "performing a service" by the very fact that they're not focused on their handler. That doesn't mean people shouldn't have pets that help them cope with the world and/or generally feel better - heck, my knuckleheads do that for me every day.  But that doesn't mean those dogs should be allowed access everywhere when they're not equipped, by temperament and/or training.

I guess I just don't get what the big deal is. It's one value resort, one moderate and one deluxe resort and then the Fort. If someone doesn't want to stay at a resort where dogs could be seen or be in a room a dog may have been in pick one of the other resorts, simple as that. If someone already has a reservation at a resort that will now be taking pets simply call customer service explain nicely why you don't want to or can't stay in that resort and I'm sure they will do something to get you into another equal resort.

It's not like all of Disney is going to be overrun with dogs, it's 4 resorts one of which already allowed pets in half of it.

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It's pretty simple. If you don't like their rules don't go. 
Does a business, that relies on profits, try to cater to a large group of people like dog owners. Or do they try to make allowances for the much smaller universes of "phobias" or "severe allergies"?  This is not a philosophical, philanthropic, or humanitarian decision. It's about profitability. If the company loses money, it won't be around for anybody long.
It's amazing the number of complaints before anyone actually witnesses the implementation. I will reserve judgment until then.

I am Groot 

I am planning a trip to assess the damage Irma did to the 3000 loop.  Beer lines are already scheduled for replacement, so mainly I will be focusing on the massage parlor.  I can't hook up the Outback, however, until I hit at least 650 likes.  So it's all up to you! 

I haven't been on here in some time, but I saw this thread and read through all 6 pages.  We may be an exception to some of the problems discussed here, but we will likely be coming back for several years...if we have several remaining years left.  With our three kids in wheelchairs we don't do the thrill rides, and we seem to visit the same attractions and eating places every year.  These are things the kids can participate in and can recognize from previous visits.  We used to come down a couple times a year, but skipped  last year entirely in favor of the Dollywood area.  We're back at the Fort this December and hope (with Jason's help) for a really good campsite.  I'm not sure where we would go besides Pigeon Forge for attractions within the interest of our kids.  And it's the kids we go for.  We have had APs for several years at both Dollywood and WDW, but might cut back there.  Dollywood is closer but there is less to do there and there are a LOT more hills to push the wheelchairs UP (never seems to be DOWN).  For the past few years we have brought our van and MH to the Fort, but I'm not sure Judy is up to driving this year, so we are going to try the trip with only the MH and trailer (with GC).  I'm not sure if there is a price cutoff for us, but we are not happy with the high level it has gone to in the past few years, especially with the difficulty in getting decent reservations.  For now we will endure and come enjoying watching the kids enjoy WDW while we stay in our own RV with kitchen bathroom, and bedroom.  
Edit:  And the Fort and our MH is the only practical way for us to travel with the kids with their equipment.

Glad y'all are alright BigTom 
 
We made it through here in Bradenton, we were very lucky! Some fence down, branches in the yard, a few shingles in the yard but not sure if they are ours yet or not. Amazingly we only lost power for about 30 mins last night. When I looked at the FPL website it says out of 184,900 customers in Manatee county 122,640 lost power with 109,309 still without.  When it's safe to get out on the road we will go check my aunt and cousins houses. 
 
We are still praying for all those effected and still in the path of Irma. Even though she's loosing strength still a dangerous storm. 
 

We made it through safely, Lost at least one barn, last oak tree in yard, it withstood Donna in 1960 and was a big tree. Some water intrusion damage, a few shingles of roof, but we are all well and safe,  have a generator going so have power and water. Wind was over 100 mph about midnight last night. Haven't been out to check grove, but know I lost most of my crop and probably some trees. Need to do a lot of clean up now.

I say just go until it's out of your budget, then forget about it and try something new. I am not sure what my breaking point is yet on going to Disney and staying at the Fort, but one day life will let me know that it's out of my reach. Untill then i will keep making memories with my family. Between Harvey and now Irma my next trip is not looking so good.

I agree.  I wish ALL teams would suspend players when they royally screw up.    including the NFL.   It wouldn't take long to weed out the bad apples and perhaps kids coming out of high school would realize that if they screw up they're out. 

Man, this thread died.
It's opening weekend people!
A bunch of idiot kids on the UF football team have ruined tomorrow's opening game against Michigan.  A game that I have looked forward to for years.  They got caught in a credit card scam and/or with marijuana, and now 12 players are suspended for the game.  12.
Friggin' idiots.
Go Gata.
TCD

It makes me mad, too.  Especially when they behave like this at a school that turns away over 75% of its applicants every year. These guys get handed a golden ticket to life, even if they don't make the NFL, and they routinely blow it. 
The truth is that it's sad.  A lot of these young men come from backgrounds where they have not had good parenting, and they go wild when they get to school.  They have no perspective about the opportunities they have been handed and how they can prepare for the future.   But, let's be honest, even if they had good upbringings, put a bunch of 18-19 year old men together without a lot of rules, and bad stuff is going to happen.  I was pretty dumb at that age.  Because of NCAA rules on student athletes, there are limits on what a University is allowed to do in terms of restricting how these young men live.
But just because it's difficult doesn't mean that the schools and coaches should be so hands off.  I've seen players do stuff on the field right in front of coaches, and no one does anything .  I'd sit their butts on the bench and make sure they know we don't do that here.  I hate it that my team is sitting six players on what is going to be a very tough game for them, but I'm glad that they didn't sweep this under the rug.
TCD

What chaps my hide is that these kids have a 4 year scholarship and all they have to do is keep their noses clean and play football.   it's pathetic.   This crap goes on at every school. 

Apples and oranges in my mind. THE Fort offers more intangibles that are not $ based. Why not compare the Grand Floridan and the Allstars. They are both rooms with a bed and a television.
More than 4 people can stay
My pups stay with me
My own bed
Parking at my front door.

It's easy to fault disney and other companies for these perceived bad practices.  Heck there's an entire multi-billion $ social networking company built on it.
However, a root cause analysis tells us that's its not the company. As publicly traded companies, they exist solely for the benefit of the shareholders / bond holders. What do those peo0le expect? Yep, a solid return on their investment. How does that happen? Yep, ever increasing profitability. Who are "those people"? Anyone who owns stock, mutual funds, 401k, retiree benefits like pensions that invest in the market, etc. Nope, it's not everybody, but it's a big chunk.  I doubt that any companies that offer these low wage jobs with no benefits, do it just to be mean.
Truth be told, if I had to choose between this kind of job and welfare, I would be thrilled to have a choice. 

Makes perfect sense. Spend ~$100 day to either hide a rock or Hunt for a rock. Yet another activity sending the US rocketing to the bottom of the academic pyramid.
Keiths comment about a pet service rock made me laugh out loud.  Spot on!

No the magic is not gone.   
Magic is in your heart and in your imagination  
Maybe you have grown cynical and let the magic die.  Or you've lost that inner child that doesn't see the man behind the curtain. 
Many of us on here and other Disney forums have visited WDW dozens of times over several decades and watched attractions, restaurants, etc. come and go and be changed.  And most of the time it seems like we don't like the changes. But we keep going back. 
Why?
Because we like standing in line for hours, or eating $14 hamburgers ?
No, because it is a magical place were we can spend time with friends and family and escape our every day lives.
Rock and Roll didn't ruin the kids growing up in the 50's & 60's. 
Television didn't fry the minds of kids growing up in the 70's & 80's 
and cell phones have not ruining this generation.   They are a tool. That helps us in our every day lives. It's up to the parents to control how, and how much their children use or abuse the technology. 
So if you think the magic is gone maybe you could try to put on blinders or look at WDW through the eyes of a child.  And hopefully you will find the magic you've lost. 

It was a two street. Disney CMs, no matter how high up, love to make what are called "Magical Moments", and as Dave can now verify, the CMs involved enjoyed making it happen. And unbeknownst to him, the GM and the CMs involved, got to see his reaction after receiving the sign. It was a nice moment for everyone involved. 

It has been written on other threads that the theming of Wilderness Lodge is changing somewhat with the upcoming DVC additions. One of those changes is that Silver Creek Falls, the main water feature at the resort, will be renamed Copper Creek Falls. That change made my family sad, as we have a history with Silver Creek Falls, as I'll explain below.
You see, both my wife and I are from a small town in western New York called Silver Creek. And both of my parents grew up there too. So imagine our surprise when we made our first ever trip to Disney with our kids in 2001, during which we stayed at the WL, and stumbled upon this sign.

Those 3 girls are 21, 19 and 17 now.
Six years later we had begun RVing and camped at the Fort with my parents. We took the boat over to the Fort to show my parents the sign, and continued what has become a tradition to get family pictures in front of the sign on every trip to Disney.


Fast forward....most recently, INC and I got a picture in front of the sign while on a date. We also stayed at the Lodge before our cruise on the Wonder this year.

And on our trip to the Fort a few weeks ago, I got one last picture in front of the sign of my parents, who spent part of the week with us. My Dad turns 80 next month.

I figured that might be the end of the story, as the retheming of the Lodge is proceeding at a rapid pace and will be completed before we return to WDW.
But that's not the end of the story.
Wondering what would become of the sign, I contacted the GM of the Wilderness Lodge to tell her about my family's history with the sign and our love of both the Lodge and the Fort. We traded some emails, and she assured me that she would try to find out what would be done with the sign as construction continues. I last heard from her a few weeks ago, and had not received an update since.
Until today.
A large box arrived at our home today. So I opened it.

Mabel is curious too.


Can you believe it? I was blown away. Also included in the package was a beautiful print of Silver Creek Falls, a WL magnet, and a very nice note.
I've heard of pixie dust but this is something else.
Do you now understand why I hate Disney so much? [emoji1]

I could not agree more.  The price doesn't not change the way I feel pulling through the Magic Kingdom entrance, hearing "Welcome Home" at the Fort gate, or getting 'it's a small world" stuck in my head.  I think we carry some of the magic with us always.....

Interesting thread.
I think every Disney fan often asks "is it worth it?"  I know that I do.
I've been lucky to have visited WDW from the time it was just the MK and a few hotels all the way up to now.  Has the quality declined?  No question, it absolutely has.  Are the prices to high?  Of course they are. You definitely get less bang for the buck than you used to. Are there Cast Members who should be working somewhere else?  Absolutely.  Has inept management wrecked some things at the Fort?  Heck yes.I could make a long list of things that are gone that used to be very fun and enjoyable.
But, is the magic gone?
No. Not at all.
The TCD gang just returned from a long Memorial Day weekend stay at the Fort.  We were in that mob of guests who packed Animal Kingdom for the opening day of Pandora.  The Fort was packed to the gills on Saturday and Sunday night.  It was hot and humid.  The sound didn't work for the fireworks at the Fort Wilderness beach party on Sunday night.  And we loved it.
I can't wait for my next trip to the Fort.  There's no place I'd rather be.
TCD

We're on our 3rd weeklong trip this year. I haven't encountered any rude cast members, but there's been plenty of examples of rude guests. I chalk that up to general decline of society and cultural differences of some people. I don't let that bother me.  
I think the maintenance issue is now based on how long a ride has been operating since a refurb. I think in the past they did more repairs at night now they seem to patch it up and wait for the long return. I don't like that.  It reminds me of six flags.
 

This is all very interesting conjecture. Thanks for sharing.
While being excited what new things there will be to explore, it's tough to dismiss all the great memories from the rides with their futures uncertain.