Just announced, 12/20 is the return date

2 hours ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

I added those hatches. I don't have a furnace so have the under bench space. I also don't have the front bin or plastic tub. The frame on mine doesn't have room for a front tub.

I thought I could add at least a hatch on the passenger side, but I would have to mess around with the Alde hoses, so I passed on that idea.

All the modern conveniences sure eat up a lot of the storage spaces.

14 minutes ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

Actually I do 🙂

The power cords go in this hatch under the bench.

The water hoses go inside this hatch under the bench

The coax goes in the small inside cabinet above the TV 🙂

We don't have those hatches.

My power and hose go in a metal bin on the tongue that's just behind the jack and in front of the plastic tub.  I have the T@B power cord and a 50 foot extension in there along with other assorted items.

20 hours ago, ThemeParkCommando said:

I think it would be easier if Disney just did not allow the party of the maskless people to get the picure, but did allow a fully masked party on the same ride to have theirs if they want it. 

May be a moot point now, and maybe why they stopped the photoshopping

Magic Kingdom Stops Coasters When Guests Remove Masks

If there is a company that has taken health and safety measures seriously this pandemic, it is most definitely Disney. Having spent a large portion of the pandemic in Florida, I can easily say there is not another place I felt safer than Walt Disney World. One main reason of this is because Disney’s mask policy is like no other. 

We recently reported and were on the scene at Magic Kingdom when Disney halted the Carousel of Progress attraction midway through the first of four acts when a Guest removed their face mask. When a Guest removes their face mask during an attraction, from our experience, Disney will stop the attraction, and warn the Guest to put their mask back on in order to continue the attraction.

Carousel of Progress is seemingly an easy attraction to not only stop but catch Guests who are not complying with Disney World’s health and safety rules since it is an attraction that is either moving at a snail’s pace or not at all. Now, it seems we have confirmation Disney World will not only stop a slow-moving theatre attraction when a Guest removes their face covering, but Disney will also stop a roller coaster.

BlackbeardMatt (@BlackbeardMatt) was at Magic Kingdom yesterday and experienced the same attraction stopping scenario when someone was caught after removing their mask.

Was riding a rollercoaster at Disney’s Magic Kingdom today and it stopped dead mid ride. Someone had taken their mask off on the ride so they shut the ride down. Disney be serious. #WearAMask

Was riding a rollercoaster at Disney’s Magic Kingdom today and it stopped dead mid ride.

Someone had taken their mask off on the ride so they shut the ride down.

Although BlackbeardMatt did not mention the coaster at Magic Kingdom where this happened, it seems that Disney has no issue stopping a fast-moving attraction in order to ensure Guests are keeping their masks on.

Coffin Stuffer (@Coffin_Stuffer1) replied to the tweet saying:

When you said stop dead, I envisioned the ride just coming to a complete stop after 60mph. There were no survivors but at least you had your masks on!

To which BlackbeardMatt responded with “Definitely seemed like it”.

When you said stop dead, I envisioned the ride just coming to a complete stop after 60mph. There were no survivors but at least you had your masks on!

— Coffin Stuffer (@Coffin_Stuffer1) December 15, 2020

Considering the stop was described as abrupt, it seems that the coaster in question was likely one of the more intense options at Magic Kingdom. Personally, if I were to guess, I would think that the coaster was either Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, solely because there are more cameras that surround these two attractions, allowing Cast Members to catch Guests who are trying to be sneaky. However, at this time it has not yet been confirmed which coaster was stopped due to the mask removal.

That being said, we now know that Disney World will seemingly stop basically any attraction to make sure Guests are complying with the safety standards. Please remember that if you choose to visit Disney World during the pandemic, proper and approved face coverings must be worn at all times over your mouth and nose. Failure to comply could have you removed from the park, or in the case of doing it on an attraction, highly embarrassed as well as knowingly being the one to ruin everyone else’s experience around you.

Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming. You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you should be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing.

All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) must:

• Be made with at least two layers of breathable material
• Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the Guest to remain hands-free

At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas, and face coverings containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.

Costume masks are also not considered appropriate and are prohibited from being worn, in alignment with our existing rules.

The use of face coverings is not a substitute for physical distancing.

UPDATE:

After talking with BlackbeardMatt on Twitter, we discovered it was indeed Seven Dwarfs Mine Train that was stopped.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom. Right at the top after going through the mine they stopped it for about 30 seconds.

15 hours ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

I always carry 50' of power cord, 50' foot of cable coax, 75' of water hose, and 25' of sewer hose.

Well I know you don't fit all of that in your T@B, so that Sport Trac must be pretty full! 

36 minutes ago, DinDavie said:

I was recently at the Fort over the Halloween Season and noticed the same thing.  I also noticed that many of the more permanent residents were not there as well.  Maybe they all had to leave when they closed the Fort down at the beginning of this pandemic.  I'm not sure.  I'm hoping it wasn't some new management policy that encouraged them to leave.

 

From what I had read previously on various sites, the Fort was shut down completely in the early stages of the pandemic and everyone had to vacate the premise.

The lack of the regulars and their decorations may be due to a variety of issues.

Travel bans

Not thinking the restricted policies/lack of being able to enjoy all the past perks are worth the $$$

Health issues @ home

Not wanting to take the risk of getting sick due to FL's lack of taking the pandemic seriously

We were in the 2000 loop for Halloween and the Fort seemed to be pretty busy.

Did miss the cart parade and the usual Halloween campfire programs.

But the Headless Horseman did come thru the loop a day or two before Halloween.

On 11/8 djsamuel mentioned that 5G was getting installed around the Fort.

They may need to adjust the WI FI equipment.

I would notify the front desk that there are problems so they can let the installers know.

16 hours ago, fotofx....Steve said:

I have had multiple heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes.... Guess you could say I am high risk... I could go through the rest of my life being miserable or enjoy the time I have left. There is nothing I enjoy more then the Fort and Disney so I am willing to deal with it.

Mask wearing isn't just to protect the wearer, it's to protect everyone around you also.

Just like you can't tell if someone has a disability by looking at them, you don't know if the person next to you that you breath on while not wearing mask has a compromised immune system.

Someone posted on a FB page, the Fort is being treated like the rest of the Disney Resorts (whether we think it makes sense or not).

Anytime you leave your room (site) and go into the public areas, you have to mask up except for certain circumstances that are spelled out to you when you book, arrive, and see the various signs around the properties.

27 minutes ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Well I'm one of the people who are thankful for cooler weather after so many months of 90++ degree weather.  Hope you still have a good time while here.

I love FL weather (most of the time) but as I get older the heat is getting harder to handle.

I'm looking forward to the cooler/lower humidity weather coming this week.

46 minutes ago, rjpete said:

The Yeti will not be fixed because no one will pay to get it done. I suggest that "Yeti Cooler" company get onboard for a chance to make a name for themselves.

Smart thinking, there could be a light up board next to the repaired Yeti saying this fella is sponsored by Yeti Coolers!

Your photo pass could have a Yeti Cooler sitting next to you with a link to their website and a special AK discount!

And all of the ride cars could have a Yeti sponsorship decal on them like NASCAR.

21 minutes ago, fotofx....Steve said:

2021 Renegade XL 45BBC

https://www.renegaderv.com/renegade-xl-high-end-motorhomes-2021

They have more slide out sq. footage than the regular floor!

On 11/25/2020 at 11:06 AM, Duane said:

Hey, with all of the "contraband" fire pits that I witnessed the other week when we were down there, I doubt you would have any problems...

If someone asks, just tell them you have COVID repellent in the torches...

Wait, you need a specific fire pit? 

Last time we were in the 1500 loop over a year ago, one site had a mound of wood piled up in the middle of the site with flames about 10 feet tall.

https://blogmickey.com/2020/11/imagineer-joe-rohde-announces-retirement/

1 hour ago, fotofx....Steve said:

Called several but no one called back until the evening.

I actually fixed it myself. I could hear it clicking but no movement. I beat the solenoid and motor with a crescent wrench and it suddenly worked. Obviously not a long term solution but I was able to head home.

Time to get a rubber mallet for your take along tool box!

Sounds like a dirty/burnt spot on the solenoid contacts, or the motors brushes were stuck or sitting on a bad spot on the armatures commutator.

The crescent wrench put everything back into order!  

When you get home if there are openings in the motor you might want to hit them with some compressed air to clean everything out.

Police officers eventually arrived and restrained the suspect, who was later taken to a hospital in Celebration. The sheriff’s report described Arvid as being “in a state of excited delirium and unexpected strength.”

Arvid reportedly showed signs of alcohol and drug use, along with heatstroke, according to an emergency room doctor. He reportedly claimed that he took LSD, but said he couldn’t remember anything about the incident in the park. He pleaded not guilty to the battery charge.

In a statement obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, a spokesperson for Disney World said, “We do not tolerate violence of any kind on our property and appreciate those, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who quickly came to the aid of this cast member.”

Your Friday morning stroll just got upgraded. The all-new walkway (and swing-arm bridge) connecting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and the Magic Kingdom has officially opened to guests!

The walkway is fully set up with fences along the edges, and leads up to the new Magic Kingdom Resort Dock, where guests pass through security screening before entering the park.

Additionally, we will set specific Park Hopper hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper hours will start at 2 p.m. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time. Guests will soon be able to check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park.

https://insidethemagic.net/2020/11/strike-team-disney-world-rwb1/

The way this year is going, maybe we need a new topic category... Bizarre Disney happenings...

According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, a man from Pompano Beach was arrested and charged with battery of a Disney security Cast Member.

The man tackled a Disney security Cast Member in DinoLand USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and reportedly put the Cast Member in a headlock. Guests in the area noticed what was going on and were able to pull the man off of the Cast Member and hold him until law enforcement arrived.

The man later reportedly told a nurse at an area hospital that he “took LSD and tried to kill someone”, but said he did not remember the incident and pleaded not guilty.

The Disney security Cast Member reported cuts on his elbow but was not seriously injured.

Disney Parks Chief Shows First Looks Inside New Attractions

Disney Parks, Experience and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro kicked off the IAAPA Expo Virtual Education Conference with a keynote address that was both optimistic and defiant, while also providing an update on new Disney attractions around the world.

D'Amaro spoke from the Disneyland Resort in his pre-recorded presentation, giving fans a look at the upcoming Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, among other sites

You can see the recently installed Quinjet over D'Amaro's shoulder in the screen capture above. That was just one of several upcoming projects that D'Amaro previewed during his talk. He also provided fresh looks at the Worldwide Engineering Brigade headquarters that will be the home to the new interactive Spider-Man ride at DCA.

Yet D'Amaro's presentation included no visual or verbal references to the TRON coaster at the Magic Kingdom, which should fuel rumors that the project is being mothballed and will not open for the resort's 50th anniversary next October 1, as had been expected. The projects that D'Amaro confirmed as going forward in his presentation were the Avengers Campuses at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Paris, the Cars Route 66 makeover of the Studio Tour at WDSP, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and the Disneyland Hotel DVC tower at Disneyland, Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland, Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, The Art of Marvel Hotel at Disneyland Paris, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Harmonius, the Space 220 restaurant and the new entrance at Epcot, and the Star Wars hotel. And the "Princess and the Frog" makeover of Splash Mountain is still on, too.

D'Amaro only provided an opening date estimate for the Ratatouille attraction, which he said remained on schedule for a 2021 debut.

"Our properties have been likened into small cities," D'Amaro said, quoting California Governor Gavin Newsom's frequent explanation for why theme parks present a complex challenge for reopening during the pandemic.

"Walt Disney World property is nearly twice the size of Manhattan. We have a bus fleet the size of Atlanta. And if we counted all the boats at Walt Disney World, we'd have the seventh largest naval fleet in the world," D'Amaro said. "But unlike a real city, we can choreograph the procedures under which we actually operate. We can manage and control attendance, enforce protocols and adjust operations specifically to our business and our experience, and attractions can be modified to comply with safety recommendations."

D'Amaro again expressed the company's disappointment that it has not been able to reopen its California parks and that it has been forced to close its parks in France once again. But D'Amaro closed his presentation with a note of optimism and a challenge to the industry.

"When your foundation is rocked, but that foundation shows that it can withstand constant tremors, when your guests show their passion and yearning for your experiences, even when the gates are closed, when your cast members accomplish things in one week that would normally take a year, when you realize that the unthinkable or the impossible, or very much possible, then you have to ask yourself — what's next?," he said.

"Where can we go from here in the world that we find ourselves in today? Optimism, innovation, and courage — they will ultimately win the day. And at Disney, we aim high. At a recent town hall meeting, I had some Imagineers that I was speaking to, and I included my presentation with a simple call to action — I dare you. I dare you to dream bigger and differently. I dare you to say what you've always wanted to say. I dare you to throw out that dogma that has sometimes acting increments, rather than exponentially. I dare you to make yourself weak in the knees. I dare you to dare yourself.

"It's easy to get protective and defensive during a crisis. And while it's necessary to some extent. I believe that a crisis also creates opportunities for us to reinvent ourselves to think of our business and our industry in brand new ways. I dare us. I dare this industry — stand proudly on the foundation that we've built. Climb up on the shoulders of our legends. And then fly."

The IAAPA Virtual Education Conference this week replaces the annual IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, which was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.

“I’m confident that brighter days are ahead of us,” wrote Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro on Monday.

The Disney Parks Chairman gave a keynote speech during the IAAPA virtual expo this morning. Now, he’s taken to his personal social media to share his hopes for the future of The Walt Disney Company — and to challenge the theme park industry to dream big and move forward.

“This has been a year of unprecedented moments, disruptive forces, and new challenges,” D’Amaro wrote in a post published to his LinkedIn. “At the start of 2020, I could never have imagined something as devastating as COVID-19. I have never witnessed anything that has impacted our business, affected so many lives, and brought so many changes to our industry.”

The bright beginnings of 2020 were quickly overshadowed by the effects of COVID-19, the pandemic that spread throughout the globe and shuttered all six Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. By mid-March of this year, Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort had closed their gates.

The Walt Disney Company also recently disclosed that it lost billions of dollars as a result of the pandemic. 

But companies like Disney persevered and moved forward, finding ways to make magic for Guests who were stuck at home and unable to visit the Happiest Place on Earth. D’Amaro reflected on this in his presentation today, and he shared more of his perspective in his LinkedIn post.

D’Amaro wrote, “This year, even as our gates were closed, we saw our guests demonstrate their passion and yearning for our experiences through social media. We watched as our teams accomplished things in a few weeks that might normally take a year. We took what we once thought was unthinkable or impossible…and made it possible.”

The Disney Parks Chairman even went into a bit more detail about how Disney Parks have adapted their practices to fit the health and safety protocol that needs to be in place amid this ongoing pandemic.

“From the adoption of new technology that allows guests to check in to their rooms, order food and enter a queue from their mobile phones … to the introduction of selfie spots and character cavalcades so our guests can interact with their favorite Disney friends, we’re finding new ways to deliver magical experiences as we reopen our parks in the age of social distancing,” D’Amaro shared. “The pandemic has changed us and forced us to focus on the most fundamental elements of who we are, what we do, and what we care about. It reminded us of what is most important – while compelling us to adjust and innovate.”

Above all, it seems as though the Disney executive is challenging not only the Disney Parks team and The Walt Disney Company at large, but also the theme park industry as a whole — and even the general public — to dream bigger. The effects of COVID-19 are long-term, and this pandemic is still raging on. But Josh D’Amaro is sending out a message of hope during these tumultuous times.

“I dare you to ask: if we can navigate the challenges of this crisis – perhaps a little battered, but never beaten – what else can we do? Can we take what makes us special, reinvent it, and make something entirely new?” he wrote. “Here at Disney, that’s our opportunity. We can bring our world-class service, our ability to kindle connection and childlike wonder, and our experience immersing guests in meaningful stories and powerful franchises…anywhere.”

8 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I agree with all of the above. The other reason for having to wear masks while on golf carts and bikes is laziness and lack of leadership by Fort management to craft specific rules for the Fort. This is another example of them just using the rules for hotel rooms at the campground. In the hotels it’s easy enough to say that the rule is all guests must wear masks when they are outside of their rooms. That doesn’t make sense for certain activities at the campground, where the common spaces are vast, and guests can participate in outdoor activities where they are not likely to come in close contact with other guests. 

But just because the rule is stupid doesn’t mean that guests get to ignore it or do what they want. Like the teapot says in the video, wear your F***ing mask or stay home. 

TCD

That would require some thought and initiative!

And since they are using specific pamphlets printed for the Fort, all they would have to do is modify the wording.

It's not like they are using a generic one from another resort.

Lots of FB posts recently about how crowded the parks have been.

What people don't realize, is that the % of people allowed in seems to be based on their max (or close to)capacity and not the average daily attendance.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek has confirmed that the Walt Disney World theme parks are currently operating at 35% capacity, increased from 25%. This was made possible due to innovations in attraction operations while maintaining health and safety guidelines. Examples of this include the installation of plexiglass dividers at most attractions, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Earlier in October, Chapek had stated that the Walt Disney World theme parks were still capped at 25% capacity. Florida entered a full “Phase 3” reopening in late September, however face mask guidelines and social distancing protocols remain in place across Walt Disney World parks and resorts, with Disney Park Pass reservations required to enter each park.

It’s currently unknown when exactly the parks transitioned to 35%, although we have noticed a definite uptick in crowding and wait times in the past few weeks. Disney recently stated that table-service restaurants had not increased capacity, despite an accidental rollout of additional reservations.

23 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

While I don't disagree.... I don't believe that this gentlemen knew the extent of the rules.  Unlike some on this forum, he does not stock Disney or the Fort's activities/policies.  He was invited to join some friends who have a rig. He would not have checked in, but rather gone through the gate.  My friend is a retired professional and not one to purposely buck the system.

No, of course they make no sense, which is why I'm not sure (as I stated above) that he realized that the idiotic rule of covering your face applied to riding your bike.

They only reason I can think of them enforcing the cart/bike/jogging masks, is to make it simpler on the CMs.

The rule as it stands, is the only time masks aren't needed is on your site or unless you are on the pool deck.

Human nature and a lot of entitled Disney goers are always looking for loopholes and stretching the rules.

So it will go from  no masks on carts to no masks walking up stairs to .... you get the picture.

People tried to skirt the early mask rules about eating/drinking at Disney Springs and the parks and that ended up with stricter rules/enforcement.

And over Halloween weekend the rules were on pretty big signs at the entrance to each loop and at the bathroom bulletin boards.  I have a feeling they are there until this mess clears up.

A few times I started leaving my site to head to the bathroom and had to turn around because I forgot to grab my mask.