AC in A2......Aaron

Page One?

I have been working on my TR and didn't see this one started.

I SMB.

I'm in. This is off to a great start.  Glad you're here!

 

 

I have heard somewhere that management at the fort SMB. Oh wait that's here on almost every trip report.  Sad but True.....I know it was not always like that.  My parents used to rave about the high level customer service at Fort Wilderness.

After many years of trying to understand how so many simple things get screwed up at the Fort, I've reached the inescapable conclusion that the only answer is that the Fort is managed by idiots.  There's no other explanation.

 

It's outrageous that you were calling from a house phone and someone who claims to be a manager was giving you clearly false information.  How can that even happen?

 

I agree with how you handled it, though.  You'd be wasting your breath and vacation time complaining about it. If you went all the way up the chain, your complaints would fall on the deaf ears of the head idiot in charge- Jose.  He clearly does not give a flip about the Fort.  He's only there until he can be moved to a nicer resort.

 

TCD

I think the manager probably knew that these readers were in the beginning stages of installation and made an assumption based on only that knowledge.  In this case his assumption did "make an a*s out of "u" and "me".  Although my apparent rise in blood pressure occurred only after I felt like he was trying to use the jedi mind trick on me. 

This is nothing compared to an incident that occurred much later in our trip.  There was one other slight disappointment in between, but the later incident was absolutely FUBAR and had me and DW seeing brick red. 

There were a couple doses of pixie dust later on as well, so it wasn't all bad.  I don't want to give that impression.  But with the later incident, it honestly took me a long time to calm down, and if I was a really young and much more immature daddy, could have ended in me getting locked up or at least banned from WDW.  Happily, I am not 18, and have the benefit of experience and maturity.....and maybe just maybe an angel on my shoulder.

BTW, I am noticing my countdown banner.  It is awesome, that I am re-living this trip right now and it's under 7 months until a 10 night Fort only trip.  If I can figure out a way to make flying work, our trip could be even longer I think.  That may be a long-shot but you never know.

Honestly, these DVC APs are flipping awesome.  They are much cheaper than a normal AP.  We are taking two trips now and before these cheaper DVC APs, we would only take a trip every two years or so. 

That's cool.  I have never surf fished.  I need to see that.

We like to bass fish and pan fish in the inland lakes but also Walleye fish in the big lakes and rivers when we can.

My FIL and BIL steelhead fish up north.  I would like to try that.

We own some hunting property up north.  The kids like to go for trail walks and four-wheeler rides there too.

That's ridiculolous, what manager doesn't know what is and isn't working at their facility. I'm sure its been said before, but the Fort seems more like a training facility for management. Personally, I would have been on a golf cart myself with your luggage and cards the minute I hung up the phone. Customer service is priority and especially when the management was totally incorrect from the beginning.

 

Best Regards,

Norm

I agree.  I am not even a fan of the saying, "The customer is always right," because some customers are just ridiculously demanding.  But I am a fan of recognizing the customer is right, when that in fact is true.

Oh and the luggage delivery at the Fort isn't good (unless you get the special fiend delivery system we did). They called and said our luggage was up front and when we called back they said they were really busy and it would be a few hours.

I learned from the delivery driver that our luggage had been there for awhile. 

It wasn't something that I was going to let ruin my trip or anything, but we were going to go to MK for a couple hours and use our 3 FPs.  That would just have to wait.

I know someone always has to be last but it stinks, we were the 5th drop off and then the first of 4 pick ups.

I honestly didn't mind being dropped off last as much as why it took so long to board a bus to begin with.  Plus, I don't get why we were on a bus with POR, POFQ, SSR, and OKW?  The WL people left wayyyyy before us and the Fort is right next door.  I am sure they have their reasons though.  Not knowing the reasons is why I get frustrated many times; but that's my problem.

I'm in!  Looking forward to reading more.

 

I agree about the bathroom on the plane, most likely he was a bonehead, but it is possible that he was running late for some reason out of his control and was about to have a big accident.  But I guess if it was a can't wait thing it shouldn't have taken 15minutes lol.

 

WBI

Glad you're here.  I agree about the 15 minutes.  I am glad DS didn't start freaking out while just sitting there waiting.  He hates thrill rides and was apprehensive about flying, but he was totally fine and is now wanting to fly instead of drive.

I'm very late, but in! 

 

After the last few winters, I question the sanity of anyone who lives north of Georgia. Good for you for escaping the frozen north for a bit! 

 

The pooper... now that's funny stuff. 

The frozen tundra SMB.  DW and I will retire to the south someday.  She just doesn't know it yet.  :)

It makes me a little mad to hear about how Fort guests get treated on the Magical Express.  It's pretty crappy that y'all had to wait so long for the bus in the first place, but then you have to stop at four resorts before they finally let you off at the Fort?  That ain't right.

 

I believe that I detect some foreshadowing in your story about not needing a KTTW card.  More substandard treatment of Fort guests.  Grrrr.

 

TCD

You are correct.....just posted about it in the last update.

Okay.  I am going to move on.  I thought I had pics somewhere of our first fiend meeting, but I think my pics are all at a later meeting.

We hopped in the van and were whisked to the 400 loop to meet Dave and Linda; aka Grumpy and Grandma.

We always enjoy a good Grumpy and Grandma meeting.  It was fun to catch up with them.  While meeting with them, Donnie (Stacktester) was setting up the Fifth Wheel that we were renting from him.  After a bit, we left Dave and Linda, picked up our golf cart, and went for a ride. We stopped here:

We have a rule that you are not at the Fort officially until you have consumed your first Mickey's premium ice cream bar.  We had an ice cream and then met with Donnie at our site.  Donnie provided us with great service.  If you need a rental, it would be worth it to look Donnie up at his website or send him a PM.  We loved having the extra space and a bathroom in the trailer.  We are renting from him again in November.

While Donnie finished setting up, DS, DD, DW, and I played catch with the baseball.

Then, it happened.  We needed to use a bathroom and went to the comfort station.

Guess what?  There was no Mickey reader on our comfort station.  Now, granted we didn't need anything to gain entry at this time, but I knew we would later.  I called the Outpost from the house phone.  They again told me I wouldn't need anything but my magicband to gain entry.  I told them I was calling from the house phone and was staring at a door with no Mickey Reader.  They put me on hold and came back 5 minutes later with a manager on the line, who told me my magic band would work.  I told him there is no Mickey Reader.  He told me there was a Mickey Reader.  I told him there probably was a Mickey Reader, just not attached anywhere to the comfort station where I was located.  I was now getting p*ssed. 

I told him to come to the 1600 loop comfort station and show me where the Mickey Reader was......he put me on hold.  He came back on and told me there was no Mickey Reader on the 1600 loop comfort station.  Huh?  I already told you that.  He put the original person back on the phone.  He told me I could come to the outpost to get a KTTW card.  I told him he could bring a few KTTW cards to me along with my luggage that had not arrived from DME, even though it had been more than 3 hours.  This CM I believe realized his boss was being an arse and offered up extra fast passes for us to use tomorrow since we had been waiting so long and were unable to use our FPs that we had scheduled for today.  Now we would have have FPs for more than one park for tomorrow.  That eased my annoyance a bit, but why talk to customers like that manager did?  What an idiot.

About 30-45 minutes later, our KTTW cards and luggage arrived.  We had somewhere to be for dinner but, needed to do some exploring first:

BABH:

Moving on:

We will start to head to our dinner spot next.

While on DME, they play Walt Disney company commercials, cartoons, etc.

I have heard some things about DME in the past and was expecting something more.  I am not sure what I was expecting but the experience was just okay.  It was a free ride from the airport to WDW, so it served it's purpose. 

After dropping off passengers at Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Riverside, and French Quarter, we have arrived here:

DD looks like she is ready to get some fresh air while DS is reading his new Guardians of the Galaxy book:

We went into the Outpost and checked in.  While inside the outpost, I asked about a KTTW card for the comfort stations.  I was told I didn't need one because all the comfort stations had been switched over to magic bands.  I explained that I was a more knowledgeable Fort visitor than many and had information that that only a couple had been switched over to Mickey readers, but were only working off and on and were sometimes being covered up.  The CM told me that was in fact not the case and I would be fine with my MB.  I didn't want to argue so I left with our packet and met DW and the kids outside; knowing I would likely be back later for a KTTW card. 

Since we did not have have a car, we asked if a van would take us to loop 400 to meet someone before we went to our site.  Here we are waiting for a van:

We will meet our first fiend in the next update (technical difficulties).

Im in

Welcome!

Count me in.

You are so counted.

Keep me entertained and I am in. Doing good so far.

I will do my best and thanks

I'm in! This is gonna be good!

I hope I don't disappoint.

I'm in... and on pg 1!!   :)

Glad to have you.

I'm making a rare evening post so I can be on page one of this epic masterpiece. Excellent start. Did you interrogate the suspect to find out what he was doing in the restroom for 15 minutes? Sounds more serious than a Code Brown.

TCD

I am so honored.  I debated trying to figure out what he was up to, but with the flight attendants saying this happens all the time, I was less concerned.  I see the security implications of this situation.  He could have been assembling something nefarious in the bathroom or retrieving a weapon from a special cavity.  You never know.  Chances are that he was just using the bathroom, but how do you know for sure.  When i get on planes now, I am running scenarios through my head and thinking about what objects I have available to me that I can fashion into weapons to defend the plane if necessary.  Sad but true.  That is just training taking over.  I am running scenarios through my head when I am in stadiums, schools, churches, etc. as well.  Sometimes that makes it hard to just have fun and enjoy the moment you are in.

I'm in!

I am happy you're here.

:popcorn:

Did you bring enough to share?

Great start!

Thanks!

I'm in also!!!!!!

Did you bring any Yuengling?

Dang ghost.

I miss her here.

One more page 1 spot!!  Get it while you can!!

Nicely played.

I am here.

First on Page Two!  Dave stole your spot.

I'm in. First!

If you ain't first, you're last.

me too I am in

Welcome!

In!!!!

Becks is here!  Becks wants a coffee!

Fourth

Best Regards,

Norm

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just missed the bronze medal.  If you work hard over the next 4 years, you may be able to medal next time.

I'm in fifth!

That's better than needing to take the fifth.

I feel bad for the guy if he was really having belly issues but if he was just being a bone head then he SMB.

A few years ago when the plane was taking off a guy got up to use the bathroom it's a miracle he wasn't killed by the fellow passengers. It was scary because you didn't know was he going to the bathroom or to try and cause trouble. You could tell people were torn between beating him up to protect the plane or just tossing him the stink eye.

That's why I couldn't be angry. Maybe he had one of those issues that just creep up on you and hit like a ton of bricks.

I'm here and was there.

Yes you are and yes you were.

WOO HOO .My first page one . Hi , Aaron ,cute family .

 

 

NTM

Thanks Diane.  I am honored to be your first..............page one.

I like cliff hangers.

Me too.

Been waiting for this one.

I am happy to oblige.

Excellent work!

I enjoy these reports on your mission trips.

I hope Ray will take some pics when he goes in July so you can report back about it.

Danielle is learning some valuable lessons with these trips too. You and Ray are doing an outstanding job.

Not sure how i missed the last couple updates.

The pics of your son sneaking his breakfast were pure awesomeness.

Also, I'll take a Naked Pig and a Truck Stop Honey please.

Looking forward to Carol's pics of random wandering at DL!

That last update belonged in TCD's TR, because it was strange. I can't believe you liked the parade. I'm still not buying it.

Merida is a huge hit in our household too. That is probably my favorite meet and greet to take the kids to. They always have fun coloring while we wait in the line and they like shooting the bow. It seems Merida spends more time with each group which makes the wait worthwhile.

That looks like an excellent weekend!

I remember visiting a few Yogi campforunds as a kid.

They always seemed like a step or two above the other ones we stayed at; besides the Fort of course.

I noticed Brian's Cabelas hat. Does he also hunt and/or fish in addition to camping?

Let's get something straight.  When you are preparing to get on a plane, using the bathroom should be something that takes place during the 60-90 minutes you are waiting in the terminal after you go through security.

We'll get back to that.

This trip consisted of the normal AC in A2 family members.

-Me

-DW29

-DS9

-DD6

We have been taking a couple types of trips lately.

We'll stay at Bay Lake Tower and the Fort on a split-stay and then the next trip is Fort only.

This trip was a split-stay where we stayed 5 nights at the Fort and then 9 nights at Bay Lake Tower.

So we are all on the same page, this trip took place from January 24th thru February 7th.

In Michigan, this was the situation:

Harrison Ford also called me just before we headed to the airport to tell me that my tauntaun would in fact freeze before I reached the first marker.

Despite the warning, we headed to the airport in the four wheel drive sleigh.

I don't understand people from Michigan waiting until Spring Break to head south.  It's freeeeeeeeezing arse in January and February, so we get the heck out of dodge then.  Someday, we will have to go during spring break because of sports and school, but the kids are still in elementary school and do very well so we don't think twice about taking them out of school.  Some people think we are nuts but it works for us and besides the big man upstairs, us is all we answer too.

We got to the airport in great time and through security in a jiffy.  We had awhile to wait before boarding so you know, we all went to the bathroom BEFORE we got on the plane.

Here we are after boarding:

This was the kids first time flying.  DD was eagerly anticipating this new experience while DS was trying his best to not think about it and pretend he was somewhere else.

After the last group of people boarded, a 35-45 year old male subject decided to head to the bathroom.  um, he was the last person to board.  He had more time than anyone to use the bathroom in the terminal.  But no.......straight to the bathroom, where he stayed for 15 minutes.  I overheard a couple flight attendants talking to a passenger about the people who wait to get on board before using the restroom and about how much it pi*sses them off.  The pilot can not push back from the terminal with someone in the restroom. 

Finally, the pilot showed his frustration by making an announcement that once the passenger in the toilet was done with his business, we can take off.  The message was clearly meant for only the dude in the can. 

I mean, is it possible the guy was sick or had a digestive type issue or something?  I guess.  But the flight attendants were saying this happens all the time because people think they will have a ton of time before take off once they get on the plane.  But again, this guy was in the last few people to board.  Plus, um what if a kid or elderly person was having an issue and needed a bathroom?  You just hogged it for 15 freaking minutes!  This was a resounding start to our trip!

Finally, we were airborne:

The flight went without a hitch.  No issues at all.  DW usually does not fly well and she did great.  The kids were awesome and here we are on the ground headed toward Disney's Magical Express:

We were in our own queue for the Fort.  Right next to us was a queue for the GF, Poly, and WL I believe.

There was 5 people in that queue.  Those five were admitted and sent to a bus to be dropped off at those three resorts.

This is where they lost me.  We were the only ones at that point in the Fort line.  Why not just load us on the GF, Poly, and WL bus and drop us off after the WL?

We waited and waited while the other lines were all admitted and buses came and went.  They finally came back to us and then there were a few more people in line.  I don't get the system but it works for them so who am I to judge?  I did feel like the proverbial "red-headed stepchild" though.  Apologies to red-heads.  We want the red-heads.

Anyway, onward to the Fort on DME:

We made a few stops on the way:

Next stop................Fort Wilderness and an almost immediate fiend encounter.

I agree about the new LK Theatre.  they did a good job with that.

Now if they would add some new attractions.

I know.  I know.

Blue People Land and all that.

Thanks for all the Poly pics.

BTW, I looked at the latest Disney Files magazine and the new Poly pool is now on the list of places where DVCers can no longer pool hop.

A wise man named AC predicted that would happen when they refurbed the pool and added the bungalows for the stupid rich.

Sometimes it sucks to be right.  I will find a way to swim in that pool regardless, but it still sucks.

The blocks look like fun. I bet the kids loved them.

Hey, you ever notice that in popular culture dads are always portrayed as complete dipwads?

What are you talking about Troll?

Great pics!

Especially the artsy one with Rick's Christmas light sash!

Woo hoo!

Just the distraction I need on my breaks from packing the camper for our trip.

I am starting a new foundation......it is called IrishWolverines Helping Buckeyes. It is a kindler, gentler world when it's not football season. :)