fortpartyof4

So for the momentous, and more than a little ridiculous, occasion of my 25,000th post (yeesh!) I figured what better than to pay homage to the place and the people responsible for all my blathering on.  Feel free to join in!
 
I love Fort Fiends because...
 
When I'm having a lousy day, I can always count on a laugh (or 7)
  I get to share my love (ok obsession) with the Fort and Disney parks with people who don't just roll their eyes and make looping motions with their finger alongside their head or ask me "are you going AGAIN?"
  If I have a question, I know someone will have the answer - and then someone will hijack the thread (see point #1)
  There is always a Fiend on the Scene to find out the latest information on what's happening at WDW and the Fort - often complete with photos - and those people aren't shy about texting me that info live as it happens!
  Super fun times ensue when things like a private party at the Fort happens and we get to share minute-by-minute reporting on said event - complete with hilarious commentary
  Two words... GRAND GATHERINGS
  If I want to plan a crazy park "mission," I always know where I can find someone to accompany me, and a bunch of people to cheer me on
  I'm continually amazed by the kindness and compassion of fellow Fiends - from taking up and delivering a pin collection for a little girl no one even knows, to hand delivering a special popcorn bucket to an adorable Fiend 1000 miles away, to dropping everything to come to the rescue of a Fiend that finds themselves in a medical or mechanical bind while at the Fort, to supporting a fellow Fiend that's going through a difficult time... the list goes on. There are so many more reasons, but I'll try and keep this to less than my usual "epic" length and cut to the chase. The number one reason...
 
I've made some wonderful, amazing FrIENDS with people that I never would have met otherwise - interesting, caring, fun, smart, loving, hilarious, fantastic people.
 
As my 5 year old nephew would say (in suitably dramatic fashion)... my heart is full.
 
:heartsmiley:

That's brilliant. We saw the show last night.
The actual lighting part coupled with the projection stuff is terrific.
The show before is too long and super annoying.
Annas voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
#GiveCinderellaHerCastleBack

I thought he used them to chase the kids off of his lawn?

Hello and welcome!  I know what you mean about wondering what is up with the "other"place……had the same questions when I found this place a few years ago.  Had no clue, having never visited the DIS place…..this one came up before them in my Google search when prepping for a Fort trip one time.  I've seen their place since, but this has been, and probably always will be, my go-to resource for all things WDW and Fort related.
 
I don't get to spend as much time here as I used to, but still feel very welcome and have had the privilege of meeting many of these fine, crazy people in person.
 
Getting a spike is a badge of honor around here.  Mine sits in my kitchen, which is pretty much where I spend the majority of my time when I am home, so I see it often and it never fails to make me smile.
 
Here is mine.  Isn't it a beauty?  With a bonus autograph from Lou!
 

Same here!  And we saw some of the remnants of the big bash during our first couple of days the following week.  I had skimmed this thread on the drive down to FL, so had a rough idea of what was going on.  Not a country music fan myself, but this dude is hot right now and I admit I was a little bummed to have just missed the chance to hear him live!  I know he was touring, too, because many of my FB friends had posted from some of his shows.  So he took a break from that to perform for these folks - WOW!
 
I, too am trying to get caught up from everything that I've missed around here…. but fear I never will…so my comments are VERY late!
  
This is something that I never knew went on at the Fort, or any resort, for that matter.  I knew celebs and wealthy guests did private things at parks, but this?  Mind blowing.  I am not very far from where this family lives - hmmm wonder if I might get on the guest list for their next epic adventure?  Nah.  I agree with many of you.  This is a disgusting display of how the filthy rich spend their spare change.  So much good could be done with this cash!  
 
Another thing that occurred to me while reading this last month during our stay was that is HAD to be some kind of B.A.D. to have TCD lurking in the bushes by the barn, posting live ON A WEEKEND!

Yes!
 
Is she a friend?  Boy is she enthusiastic.  Like a modern day mousketeer!

TCD you know you're gonna go bounding down the banks of the canal from the Fort, with your inner tube around your waist, nose plugs dangling from your neck, clutching last year's mug expecting to float along that river and have as many Diet Cokes as you please!
 
Your description of a "real" security guard made me laugh.  I always call those guys "Wackenhut cops".  But only the ones who take their jobs a bit too seriously.  You know, the ones on a total power trip because they have a shiny badge.  I like the retired guys who want to chat right after you woke them up from their afternoon siesta in the guard shack.

Go to the marina and move golf carts around using a univeral key.

Oh - and great minds think alike!  This is my mouse pad:
 

 
See what I did there?  

Wow!
 
This is one of the reasons I am so glad I found you people.
 
I would like to thank (in no particular order):
 
Bill, for bringing this to our attention and sharing those alarming photos that hopefully will prevent many of us from a similar experience.
 
Mo, for the questions she posted…..which would have been similar to my own…..saved me tons of time and googling.
 
Beckers, for bumping this thread.
 
Nacole, for the link to the deal at CW.
 
Everyone who contributed to this thread with helpful info, relatable experience, etc….
 
And finally, Todd, for posting a link to this article on the Disney Campers Facebook page.  As I've explained on another thread, I haven't had much time to peruse FF lately (moving again), and your link reminded me to stop in here!  I had to sign in!  I am so looking forward to the days when I am able to pop in several times a week again.
 
Our surge protector and "freebie" lock has been ordered (bonus:  Good Sam got me free shipping), just in time for us to return to FL to pick up our beautiful new camper that we bought last year and only used once!
 
Which reminds me of another thank you I need to post…..to Curt, for keeping an eye on our home on wheels when he is in and out of the storage lot where he keeps his rentals.  Which I would have never known about had it not been for him, and of course FF!!!
 
The benefits of being a part of this group are limitless.

Sorry these are so large - don't have time to mess with resizing, gotta get back to work.
 
This was from our seats, early in the game, Josh on the mound:
 

 
Obligatory food & bev shot:
 

 
Obviously I had to take this one:
 

 
End of the game, all the Dodgers running out to the mound:
 

 
Look to the far left, here comes the Gatorade:
 

 
Final score showing 0 hits:
 

 
Me and my sons with the Philly skyline in the background:
 

 
Pat's King of Steaks, right across the street from Geno's:
 

 
Note the lines at both places.  Geno's:
 

 
And….the reward for waiting in that line:
 

 
I should have opened up the bun…..but you can imagine, it was soooo good!

Walt is not dead.  I saw him at a Walmart in Indiana this past weekend shopping for margarita mix with Elvis. 

Chariots of Fire playing in the background…….oh man if I had any animation skills and a few hours to kill I'd be all over making a video of this!

TCD you know you're gonna go bounding down the banks of the canal from the Fort, with your inner tube around your waist, nose plugs dangling from your neck, clutching last year's mug expecting to float along that river and have as many Diet Cokes as you please!
 
Your description of a "real" security guard made me laugh.  I always call those guys "Wackenhut cops".  But only the ones who take their jobs a bit too seriously.  You know, the ones on a total power trip because they have a shiny badge.  I like the retired guys who want to chat right after you woke them up from their afternoon siesta in the guard shack.

Loretta…how goes the progress on the Monopoly kit?
 
I put the mini Disney kits aside this winter and worked on a larger kit I'd been chipping away at for, oh about 15 years!  Still nowhere near done!
 
But - I did go through that tote of kits I mentioned - seriously it was a 30 gal. tote nearly full of them - and pulled out some that I knew I'd never do.  On a whim, decided to see how they do on ebay, and was pleasantly surprised to see that some are very popular!  I got almost 30 bucks for one that is no longer made, and it had been given to me years ago, so that was total profit!  And they are very easy to mail!  Something to think about for those of you who also said you had a lot of them.

Was going through some stuff in the basement and came across my ticket from spring break 1987, along with the brochure and times guide.  Snapped some photos with my phone (apologize for poor quality), no time to scan, etc.  I thought some of you might get a kick out of this, I did!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Finally found the Pirates one I had finished before I had done Lightning, and recently finished the first of many princesses in my stash of kits (Dave, look away!).  I had completed another princess but noticed her head was all out of whack so had to pull out half of the stitches to fix it and am working on that now.  She looked like an image from one of those fun mirrors at the carnival.  Not pretty.  Hopefully she'll be all fixed up soon and I will add her to the collection!
 

Salt on the windshield is one of the most annoying things in the world.
Sort of like people who wont start there TRs.
Or people who pretend they finished their September TR and then add their new trip to the "end" of it.

Umm Excuse me Mr. Ranter, Doth my eyes deceive me or is that a BACKPACK in the stroller not another kid. duh. AND My DH carried my son all through The World in the baby carrier (in man colors of course) and Lukas loved it. I think we need someone to make a huge Troll carrier and carry you around for a bit. You will be singing kumbya before you know it. 

Suck it d-bag.
 
I like it here.  I liked in FL.  Bloom where you're planted.
 
Ed, is that better?

And I was there to witness the historic event.
 
Some perspective may be in order.
 
The following SEC teams have had the specified numbers of losing seasons since Florida last had one:
 
Georgia-4
Alabama-5
Tennessee-7
LSU-10
South Carolina-13
 
It's still great to be a Florida Gator.
 
TCD

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes, and the information. A special thanks to mouseketab.....Carol, I was able to book Dec18-22, and conjoin my 2 reservations, and then cancel the 18th, and the 19th!
 
So I am now booked and Incredibly excited to spend the holidays in the Fort.
 
Again, a big thanks for all the feedback and ideas! Feel free to stop by for a cocktail or some eggnog if you see my sign!

Well if you don't match that just gives you a good reason to buy some cute new Disney apparel!  They'll take your money at any store there I promise!

Well if you don't match that just gives you a good reason to buy some cute new Disney apparel!  They'll take your money at any store there I promise!

The quality of these rants plus the trademarking of said rant should lead to a corporate sponsor for these TR's. Kotex would be a good one.