fortpartyof4

Just saw this from an RV group I belong to.  Thought it might be helpful to some Fort evacuees?

4 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

According to WDW News Today, the Fort will close at 2 pm tomorrow, and EVERYONE has to go!

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/10/update-evacuation-fort-wilderness-disney-world-ordered-ahead-hurricane/

This is what they posted:

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will close at 2:00pm on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of Hurricane Matthew. Guests are now being ordered to leave the resort by then, rather than it being simply suggested.

All RVs are being accommodated in the Cruella Lot of the Magic Kingdom parking area.

Campground guests are being moved to alternate accommodations as previously reported. Disney is providing transportation for all guests to their alternate accommodations if need be.

When I had to evacuate the Fort back in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd, we were allowed to take the camper with us to Port Orleans Riverside (which was still called Dixie Landings, I think).  I would not want to leave my camper in the MK parking lot.

TCD

What about all the folks who stay there for extended periods?  The ones who have sheds and EZ ups and all sorts of decorations to deal with?  I can't imagine that will be an easy task......

On May 3, 2016 at 0:25 AM, hunter99 said:

We are going to try him on an upcoming trip. As for hitching to my truck, I do that. I never let anyone else hitch to my vehicle. 

You can absolutely do it yourself.  He and his staff are friendly, cooperative, and we have always found they are very flexible/adaptable to our needs.  

We have had different guys meet us for pick up.  I am sorry to read that someone had a bad experience, but again, I have only had the best of service from him and his staff.  

Hope you have a great trip and enjoy looping in your cart!

This may not be the right place for the article, but it was my best guess.....also I apologize if it's already been discussed!

Article seems to point the bulk of the numbers at the film companies, but it does mention parks.......that's what they get for jacking up ticket prices and doing that tiered pricing thing (IMO)! 

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/10/disney-reports-q2-earnings-results-.html

5 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

I have had that "identifies as" thing explained to me by my daughters, and I reaffirmed their belief that I am a cave man by not understanding.

I'm glad to hear that you're savoring the time with your boys.  You're right, the time is not far off where you won't be needed.  Except for money, that is.  That doesn't seem to end.

TCD

Oh yes, I am very familiar with the "you just don't get it" eye rolling.

Some things, I don't think I really want to understand, anyway :) Ignorance is bliss, sometimes!

And, I meant no disrespect with my previous comment.  I just got a chuckle out of someone "identifying" as an animal.  That is all!  Back to my cave.

My philosophy is just to be kind and respectful to all, man, woman or beast!  Unless you mess with my kids.

OK I just read that link you posted re:  furries.  I too have never heard of this.  First, I am surprised to read the author is from here in Philly, and reports having seen furries out and about around here.  I have yet to, but maybe I am also suffering from "old eyes", like you are.

The other thing I noted as I read it was that it uses this new language we see so often lately "identifies as".  So, if one declares they identify as say, a fox....which bathroom do they use?  Or do they go outside like all of the other foxes?  LOL sorry I couldn't resist!

I know what you mean about the kids growing so fast.  And, I am holding on to every moment I can, as I see my friends sending theirs off to college and everything.  I make time to just hang out with them, doing nothing, or talking.  And every time I catch myself bemoaning another taxi assignment, I check myself and remember that soon I won't have anyone needing rides from me.......

7 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

 

Thanks, Cyndee.

I hope that all is well in Pennsylvania.  When I last heard from you, you were going to do something crazy and visit WDW over Easter.  Did that happen?  If so, was it as bad as you thought it would be?

______________________

Yes, we went, and no, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!  We also stayed in one of the "new" cabins - actually our first time in a cabin, ever!  It was a great trip, aside from a little more rain than we would have liked.

We were only able to do one park this time, and let our oldest decide, since we were celebrating his birthday.  He wanted the MK, but the only day we could do it was Good Friday.  I was very worried about that, but did a good bit of planning and asking around here, too.  When we lived in FL, I never went to the parks Easter week.  Now that the one of the only times we can go is over holiday breaks, I don't have a choice!  So, I do what I gots to do.  There were AM EMH that day which we took advantage of and we made out just fine.  I even stood in the crazy Starbucks line after we got all the rides in by 9, and the boys got their hair cut at the barber shop - all with minimum waits, considering the day and crowd level.  The rain helped keep that down, I think.

Here is a snap from that day.  I was hoping to run into you this trip, look how big these guys are now - I am officially the shortest person in our family!  Note the lack of people, this was around 8:30 - 9 am.

For perspective, here is another from "a few" years back.....

Sorry for the mini-jack - carry on!

 

I have checked in around here more in the past 2 months than I have in the past 2 years, just to see if you had returned!

Delighted to see that you have, but once again discouraged with myself because I am still 2 years behind!  You beginning a new TR gives me motivation to get reading!

As you know I am a runner.  Running at the Fort is among my top 3 favorites, along with Central Park and Jekyll Island GA.  Yes, I have become one of those folks who excersises while on vacation.  Never ever thought that would happen, but it did.  When we were there over spring break I even used the gym at WL.  No worries though, I still eat poorly and drink to make up for it :)

I began taking Turmeric to reduce inflammation at the suggestion of a good friend who is Indian.  I was having a lot of trouble with my joints and it has subsided quite a bit!  I take it in tablet form, she uses a powder that she mixes with warm milk at bedtime.  It's spicy though.

Saw this on FB as well.  I hope she gets it back and it's not trashed.

oooh I forgot one!  My fort coffee mugs.  I don't use them much b/c they aren't dishwasher safe and I despise washing dishes, but every once in a while I break one out for a little pick me up and reminder of my favorite place!

Seems I have a few too many favorites, can't pick just one!  But, these are all accumulated over many years, I typically do not spend much on "merch" while visiting WDW.

My favorites are similar to those already mentioned.

Things that I see every day - kept in the kitchen where I spend most of my time:  My spike, which is on a shelf in the hutch.  Mickey salt and pepper shakers, purchased at the MK the day my son marched down Main St. USA with his HS marching band.  Each time I see them I remember that day and just being there in general, and it makes me happy.  Bamboo coasters with Mickey etched into them, purchased at (DTD when it was called that), on one of our many visits.  Again, when I set my drink down on one, it makes me smile and think of all of our wonderful memories of times spent at Disney.

I also have a lot of Disney Christmas ornaments, and other Disney Christmas decorations.  I decorate one tree that is devoted to my Disney ones and Hallmark Keepsake ones an I just love it.  Most of the ornaments were bought during a trip and have special meaning.

My other favorite keepsakes are my pins, which I do not trade, and are mostly Fort related.  I particularly like to get the holiday one each year, even if I don't make it down there.  Most recently, my husband got me an Alex and Ani bracelet during our first Disney cruise, and then another Disney one as a Christmas gift.  I wear them often and again, they make me smile and bring back so many fond memories.

Just have to give a shout out to Kenny here.....we rented from him last week and had an issue with our cart.  As it was one of the busiest times of the year, he had no other available carts to swap us out with.  Cart still worked even with the issue so we just lived with it because Disney was also sold out.  When we returned the cart he told us it was no charge due to the problems.

Have done business with him for years, before we had our own cart and now on short trips it's too far to drag ours down there we use him.  Always get excellent service!

Hi Oscar!  I live in Doylestown, moved to PA 3 years ago this summer from FL (I know....).  Took my boys up to that water park near you last summer...can't recall the name but it's a spring and there are a bunch of sunken things to explore, snorkeling, and slides.

On March 19, 2016 at 0:37 PM, caveat lector said:

Been at the Fort 3 of the last 5 Christmas's. Been a lot of tiered closures, but never "as a resort guest", have I been turned away at the gate

Good to know!  Thanks!

On March 20, 2016 at 10:41 PM, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

I don't remember ever seeing a 4. Not saying it can't happen or that you'd want to be there if it was close. 

Of course I would not want to be there if crowds were that bad.  I was just curious, I didn't know anything about this had only seen "headlines" on here and on FB, was just trying to learn more specific information about how they handle it.  I never knew there were phases.

18 hours ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said:

I'm with Kelly and Nacole on not wanting to be there.

I'd keep an eye on the crowd calendars and suggested parks for they days you are going and if staying on property take advantage of Magic Hours. If there are evening Magic Hours and you don't mind and are able to stay in the park late I find that the best times even during the busier times of year.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Yes, I use the crowd calendars in my planning, and take advantage of EMH on the rare occasion we are on property and going to a park.  I was playing around online looking at crowd calendars, ticket options, etc. for possible future trips and that is how my question arose.  When we lived in FL and could go whenever, I knew to stay away during busy times.  Now that we live so far away and my kids are busy teenagers, trips are harder to plan.  Usually we end up not going at all due to timing and/or high airfare, or going but no parks because of crowds and ticket prices.

22 minutes ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said:

Luckily I have never been around for the parks closing. I do remember seeing a explanation of it somewhere I think on here and that it's a tiered system. I'm sure someone will be by soon who know more.

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neither have we.....when we lived in FL I knew better than to go to the parks during busy times....now our visits are so limited I have no choice

19 minutes ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

You can find the rundown on the different phases of closure here...

 

Thank you!  Very helpful info.

Anyone know if phase 4 happens very often?

Curious about what happens when parks hit capacity.  Have never been there during one of those times, but I've read about it happening.

If you go to a park first thing, then leave for a mid-day break, then return later but they've reached capacity, will they let you in because you were already there and part of that number?  What if you have ADR's?  Will you be allowed in for that?

Questions are based on a single day ticket no hopping, no pass holders.

There is a GWL near us here in PA.  Have not tried it yet, I looked into it the first year we moved up here but it so happened they had a bed bug problem and it creeped me out enough to say forget it.  They of course remediated that issue long ago and it is a very popular place.  Might see about going next winter, I see groupons for it a lot.

As far as the FL location, it is odd to me also to have an indoor water park.  Then again, having lived down there for many years and when my kids were very small, I might have considered it for reason already mentioned here - avoiding hot pavement, direct sun, and the thunderstorms.  It seems like it would also be easier to keep track of your kids than at an outdoor one.  The theming is a little weird for a place plunked next to I-4, but again, if it's nice enough people will probably pay to stay there due to proximity to WDW.

On March 17, 2016 at 11:26 PM, YENSIDCAMPER said:

It is amazing to me how similar our kitchens are to each other.  Our backsplashes are even in a diamond pattern.   Different colors but wow.  I guess people who like Disney, camping, and The Fort can have many other things in common as well. 

We were told not to put it in the washer either, but since we hate doing dishes too, we risked it.  Obviously didn't work out well for us.

Thanks for sharing.  I really enjoy getting to know other members better.

I didn't choose that backsplash.....it came with the house....but I do like it!  Other parts of my kitchen, not so much....the joys of buying an older house.  But the whole 2 sons, Fort trips beginning in 2006 is an exact match!  Somewhere I have prints of my boys on our very first trip to the fort in 2006.....but alas, no time to dig or scan right now.....that was pre-digital for me, I really resisted converting as I loved my old camera!  Some time I'll try to put them all together, from our first tent trip there, to the many visits when we lived in FL with our pop up and TT,  to our last visit when we borrowed my mother's class C and stayed a few nights at Christmas 2013 during a trip down from PA.  

I know what you mean about the packing, too......spring Fort trips are tricky, because it's not just shorts and T's, you need other layers and rain gear, the weather is so all over the place!  Other months, all you need are a few changes of shorts, t-shirts and swim suits!  Done.

What parks do you plan to hit?

We have similar taste in mugs, and coffee makers!  I haven't noticed the coffee getting cold, though my coffee almost always does because I set it down, then get busy and forget about it!  They told me when I bought mine at the trading post not to put it in the dishwasher.  So, it doesn't get used very much because I despise washing dishes!  

A YC TR including the coffee mugs?  Now I don't feel like the stranger I surely am around here!  Count me in.  Love it!

You began going to the Fort right around the time our family did (also with 2 sons, who appear to be similar in age).  We were fortunate to live only a few hours' drive back then and went often.  Now, I am 6 states and many miles away, and my Fort visits consist of a few hours here and there while in the area staying in a hotel, and vicariously via my lurking around here and on FB.

We still camp, and have upgraded from tent, to pop up, to TT over the years - we're on our second, sold our first to a fellow FF member!  But, the new one stays here in PA.  Not complaining though, there are so many wonderful places to camp up here, being in SE PA we are equally distant from the mountains or the shore.

Look forward to reading more, and envious of your upcoming trip!

How much are multi day tickets increasing?  If I buy tonight for a trip in the next few months, will I get current pricing?

Love the pink Mickey cake!  

Bummer about the photos!  But, at least you got to see him in person!

 

How was the trip, overall?

 

I heard the parks were crowded last weekend.  Did y'all get to do much.  Do groups like this have access to book FP+'s in advance?

 

TCD

Yes!  I am so grateful that I was able to go and see him.  It was an amazing experience that I will never forget!

The trip was exhausting, but fun.  All 4 days jam packed with travel, parks, performing, workshops, and very little sleep.  A great group of kids though, and we had no issues whatsoever except for the first night when it took 2 hours to get all of us from Epcot to AS Movies.  We had been up since 3 am the morning before and that was rough.

Parks were very crowded.  We did Epcot on Thursday (right from the airport - ugh!), morning workshop at Epcot and Universal Friday, MK Saturday, DHS Sunday until 3 then flew home.  Those with fit bits and other apps told me they logged 10-12 miles each day.  The way my own feet and legs felt, I believe it!  

One of my friends was there with her family, not chaperoning, and they were kind enough to add me to their dinner reservation at BOG.  So I got to experience that, I don't think I would ever have had the chance otherwise, and I was very grateful for that.  It was a lovely dinner!

No advance FP's, but we were able to get them last minute for most of the popular rides except the mine train and TSM.  We had old style plastic tickets for parks and magic bands for the rooms - we could have linked them but got back to the hotel so late each night, it wasn't worth going to the front desk to do it!  All the kids used the app and it worked out fine.  I found out later that we could have gotten the codes to our cards weeks in advance and used the app to set stuff up, but the director never gave them out until we arrived.

I have not stayed in a value resort in a few years.  They could use some deep cleaning.  Filthy carpets and mold on the ceiling in my bathroom.  But the food was pretty good (we only ate breakfast there), service was fast.  And, I was so tired each night I could have slept in a box, so I didn't really care!

Give me the date and time they marched and I'll look into the photos for you.

Oh Devores!  That would be awesome!  I truly appreciate it.

They marched this past Saturday the 14th at 2:30.  Our school is Central Bucks High School East from Doylestown, PA.  Red, white and blue uniforms.  There was a second band right behind us from Palm Coast who wore blue and black uniforms.

Just an FYI, Disney photo pass shoots the marching bands that visit. We have 2 photographers assigned to just marching bands. The band director will get the photo pass card or you can stop by the town square theater and they can look up the photos for you to add to your own account.

Oh, thank you!  No one told us this!  I wish I had seen your comment before today, I am home now…..my girlfriend set up one photo pass account for a bunch of us so the kids could scan their bands on rides (they were all broken in to groups and roaming around on their own) and get pictures taken with characters and we'd all be able to see them…..I wonder if it's too late to add the parade shots to our account now?

I would love to see what they got.  I did have a good viewing spot but when my son passed, I didn't get a good shot of him.  He plays trombone and was the second kid in his row. The kid next to him, on the end, had his slide out as they passed and his gauntlet blocked my son's face.  I was heartbroken.  Just steps later they had a rest and I would have gotten a clear shot.  Oh well. No way to plan that!

Hey all……sorry for being such a stranger…..I do still pop in now and then and miss hanging around here!  This whole moving thing seriously cut into my FF time.  

I also miss being 3 hours away from WDW.  But, I do love where I live now.

Our high school's marching band will be traveling to FL this weekend and will be marching in a pre-parade performance along the parade route in the MK this Sat. the 14th!  I was crazy enough to sign on as a chaperone, but anything to get me back to WDW is fine with me!

As this is a once in a lifetime experience for my son, and I am the only one in our family to see it, I want to get the best photos possible to share with the others, and for my son to have to remember that day.

I know which side of the street he will be on in his marching block, I just want to try and figure out the best place along the route that will have little or no obstruction and not be taking photos looking at the sun.

They are stepping off at 2:30, and I need to be on the right side of Main St., facing the castle, for reference.  I would kind of like to have the castle in the background if possible.

I know there are some expert frequent visitors who can advise me here and I thank you in advance!