Tri-Circle-D

Here's a new one. 
From a reliable source.
There have been meetings, including an onsite tour, in which the topic of discussion has been scrapping the current campsite level designations and creating new, simpler, ones. One idea is to charge more for campsites close to the Meadow Recreation area.
Thats interesting, but there's more. 
Included in the discussion is the concept of creating a new separate, restricted access area of super premium sites. This area would be gated off from the Fort, and will have its own amenities reserved for the campsites there. Where would this go?  Say goodby to the group camping area and the surrounding area. 
The 3000 loop is actually being discussed by folks who can make it happen. 
TCD

I took a self-guided tour of the area yesterday. It turns out this parking lot is for Pioneer Hall cast members:

Right after I took that photo, I was harassed by a security cast member who told be I was trespassing. I had to restrain myself from laughing in his face. 
But, they had two uniformed security guards keeping an eye on things back here. So be careful. 
TCD

Here's a new one. 
From a reliable source.
There have been meetings, including an onsite tour, in which the topic of discussion has been scrapping the current campsite level designations and creating new, simpler, ones. One idea is to charge more for campsites close to the Meadow Recreation area.
Thats interesting, but there's more. 
Included in the discussion is the concept of creating a new separate, restricted access area of super premium sites. This area would be gated off from the Fort, and will have its own amenities reserved for the campsites there. Where would this go?  Say goodby to the group camping area and the surrounding area. 
The 3000 loop is actually being discussed by folks who can make it happen. 
TCD

I figure that the CM lot is now the construction lot. Or it's in the footprint of the new resort. 
TCD

Here's a new one. 
From a reliable source.
There have been meetings, including an onsite tour, in which the topic of discussion has been scrapping the current campsite level designations and creating new, simpler, ones. One idea is to charge more for campsites close to the Meadow Recreation area.
Thats interesting, but there's more. 
Included in the discussion is the concept of creating a new separate, restricted access area of super premium sites. This area would be gated off from the Fort, and will have its own amenities reserved for the campsites there. Where would this go?  Say goodby to the group camping area and the surrounding area. 
The 3000 loop is actually being discussed by folks who can make it happen. 
TCD

Here are some poor quality photos I took from the bus yesterday evening as I was headed to meet the TCD twins at Trails End for dinner:




TCD
 

Not quite. We haven't moved on so much as we have evolved. All of my daughters currently live in the Orlando area, and the twins are full time Disney employees in junior management positions. The twins have an apartment with a dedicated daybed for overnight guests, so our on-property stays have been greatly reduced. In the last year, we've been to Disneyland twice and taken two DCL cruises.  And we have made a lot of day trips to the parks  
Like Travisma mentioned in his comment, it's a huge PITA to stay at the Fort these days. It's hard to get a reservation, and the cost is outrageous. We've had a few quick cabin trips in the last year at CM rates, but even with the CM discount, those are overpriced. 
Like Carol mentioned above, photobucket made it a lot harder to post a photo intensive trip report. 
Our most recent cruise was earlier this month. I have enough photos for a short report. I will try to find the time to get a report going. 
TCD

Dave-  I just saw your post, and I'm sad to hear your news. I totally understand. 
Sadly, things have changed, and the good old days are not coming back. 
I'm sad for your kids. I thought for sure that there would be a new Herbie for them to drive around the Fort when they got to be teens. 
I'm still hanging in there, and still plan to camp from time to time. But it will never be like it was. 
TCD

Not quite. We haven't moved on so much as we have evolved. All of my daughters currently live in the Orlando area, and the twins are full time Disney employees in junior management positions. The twins have an apartment with a dedicated daybed for overnight guests, so our on-property stays have been greatly reduced. In the last year, we've been to Disneyland twice and taken two DCL cruises.  And we have made a lot of day trips to the parks  
Like Travisma mentioned in his comment, it's a huge PITA to stay at the Fort these days. It's hard to get a reservation, and the cost is outrageous. We've had a few quick cabin trips in the last year at CM rates, but even with the CM discount, those are overpriced. 
Like Carol mentioned above, photobucket made it a lot harder to post a photo intensive trip report. 
Our most recent cruise was earlier this month. I have enough photos for a short report. I will try to find the time to get a report going. 
TCD

Not quite. We haven't moved on so much as we have evolved. All of my daughters currently live in the Orlando area, and the twins are full time Disney employees in junior management positions. The twins have an apartment with a dedicated daybed for overnight guests, so our on-property stays have been greatly reduced. In the last year, we've been to Disneyland twice and taken two DCL cruises.  And we have made a lot of day trips to the parks  
Like Travisma mentioned in his comment, it's a huge PITA to stay at the Fort these days. It's hard to get a reservation, and the cost is outrageous. We've had a few quick cabin trips in the last year at CM rates, but even with the CM discount, those are overpriced. 
Like Carol mentioned above, photobucket made it a lot harder to post a photo intensive trip report. 
Our most recent cruise was earlier this month. I have enough photos for a short report. I will try to find the time to get a report going. 
TCD

LOL. True. 
I have also heard people say that the name sounds like a high end substance abuse rehabilitation center. 
TCD

TCD

I'm in Disneyland right now and won't be back until late Saturday , but I'll get out there and take a look as soon as I get a chance. 
TCD

Continuing our family tradition of seeing the latest Disney movie on Thanksgiving (and I am thankful my pretty much grown children are still enthusiastic about continuing this tradition) we went to see Ralph Breaks the Internet.  And really liked it. It's about 15 minutes too long IMHO but lots of laughs about online sites and video games. A lot of humorous things worked into the background, signs, etc. And a good bit of funny Disney stuff, especially for Kristen Bell and others complaining about Disney princesses.  Interestingly our family and the 60 something aged couples in front of us were laughing more than the families with children around us.  I think one child was still traumatized by a scene in the Dumbo preview that set him/her screaming before being removed from the theater by the parent for a while.  Also saw two preview for Toy Story 4, one quite funny with comments about the decision to make Toy Story 4.  If you see Ralph make sure to stay through the excruciatingly long credits because there's a preview you won't want to miss. 

Good job. It's on a gate to the left as you walk past Pizzafari heading in to Pandora. 
#ShareYourEars alongside Mickey and his pals at this wall outside of the entrance to Toy Story Land! 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Show your stripes, spots and “ears” at this wall across from Tiffins Restaurant just before the bridge into Pandora – The World of Avatar.
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/11/visit-special-ear-walls-at-disney-parks-to-shareyourears/
You're right too. 
TCD

Perhaps not, but they do sometimes ask Probing questions.  

Excellent. I was waiting over that way at rope drop, and never saw these before. I'm glad to hear it's not a bench used for experimentation on guests. 
TCD

I would head over to Disney Springs, grab some poutine for dinner, then to the margarita bar for a drink and stalk a seat on one of the couches for a bit to listen to some music, then wander around and window shop for a while, making sure to get a frosting shot at Sprinkles before heading out.  🙂

Thanks. I found a video from that presentation. Stan Lee shows up at about 6:50:
TCD

I guess I need to tell my Stan Lee story.
At the 2015 D23 Expo, we had waited in line for a long time for one of the presentations, only to be told at the last minute that they had miscalculated, and they could not seat us. 
To make it up to us, they promised us reserved seating at the next presentation. Sure enough, we were ushered in a side door for that one, and placed in a specific row at almost front and center. Several seats at the end of our row had reserved signs on them, and sat empty for the beginning of the presentation. I was seated right next to those seats. 
About halfway through all the announcements, I saw some movement to my right and saw that there was now one old man seated by himself in one of those reserved seats. I thought nothing of it. 
Then they came to the part of the presentation when they were going to talk about Hong Kong Disneyland, and they start talking about the new Iron Man attraction that was coming there. Next thing I know, there's a spotlight on the old man, and he's yelling at the stage, then runs up and jumps on the stage, and participates in the presentation. The old man was Stan Lee.  He was 93. God bless him. 
TCD

I guess I need to tell my Stan Lee story.
At the 2015 D23 Expo, we had waited in line for a long time for one of the presentations, only to be told at the last minute that they had miscalculated, and they could not seat us. 
To make it up to us, they promised us reserved seating at the next presentation. Sure enough, we were ushered in a side door for that one, and placed in a specific row at almost front and center. Several seats at the end of our row had reserved signs on them, and sat empty for the beginning of the presentation. I was seated right next to those seats. 
About halfway through all the announcements, I saw some movement to my right and saw that there was now one old man seated by himself in one of those reserved seats. I thought nothing of it. 
Then they came to the part of the presentation when they were going to talk about Hong Kong Disneyland, and they start talking about the new Iron Man attraction that was coming there. Next thing I know, there's a spotlight on the old man, and he's yelling at the stage, then runs up and jumps on the stage, and participates in the presentation. The old man was Stan Lee.  He was 93. God bless him. 
TCD

I cut it (pun intended) super close, but I just got my 4th Food and Wine visit in this morning, and was able to pick up my cutting board.

good thing, too. Today is the last day of the Food and Wine Festival 
TCD

Look again!
TCD

Heads up- they still don't have permanent signage in place for the new Fort Wilderness access road off to the right, so DO NOT follow the signs for Magic Kingdom resorts. You want to stay in the far right lane as you approach the toll plaza. The new road is marked with a temporary flashing sign. You will turn on it before you get to the toll plaza. I was just by there on Tuesday of this week, and that was what was going on then.
TCD

I think they have 2 reasonable options to get people into and out of the new resort, noted on the below map.  The least expensive option (in yellow) would seem to be utilizing the WL's existing entrance road, and then forking off onto the bus road.  However, this would add a great deal of additional traffic to that entrance, which wouldn't seem to be ideal. 
A second option (in purple), would create an entirely new entrance off of Vista Blvd to the east of the existing drainage canal.  The road would run north toward the new resort, possibly joining at some point with the existing road utilized by the purple bus route out past the group camping area.  This would seem more ideal to me, as it would be an exclusive, themed entrance for the new resort.  It wouldn't come into view of either the campground or the Lodge.  Let's face it...Lodge guests don't want to see a bunch of additional cars streaming past their resort.  And the guests of the new resort don't want to drive by a trailer park to get to their fancy hotel room.  Everybody would be happy with this option.  Although it would cost the Mouse more money.  
I think we'll see how Disney plans on accessing the property for construction purposes fairly soon, and then maybe we'll have an idea of how they plan to have guests access it.  If they punch a new road through off of Vista, then I bet they may ultimately go in that direction for guest access.