Travisma

I had to wear socks in my Crocs!
And I wore long pants out running errands the other day instead of shorts.  Long pants are for work, church, and funerals only!

A couple of people posted, wondering if Disney was checking state/federal databases once you made a reservation to see if you were licensed to carry a firearm.
Then the guards and CMs would have that info when you checked in and question you about firearms.
I think that is bordering on conspiracy theory.
 

Someone on FB posted two notices from their kids schools.
The one from FL said that the schools would be closed today due to extreme weather conditions.
The other was an email from their kids previous school district in WI.  "The district will cancel school when they have a sustained wind chill factor of minus 35 or lower.  Please make sure your kids are dressed appropriately for the weather."

Are you sure he wasn't pointing at you after a long night of festivities in the 3000 loop?

You can usually find deer, Turkey and gators around the main canal behind 1500. Lots of deer at dusk along the path between the fort and the lodge.

I joined a few FB sites about various  Disney subjects this past year, camping, WDW, Port Orleans
I'm about ready to unfollow the majority of them.
Heaven forbid if you have a negative comment about anything Disney on these sites. Everything is all Pixie Dust 24 hours a day.
The Fort camping site was abuzz about thefts a few weeks ago.  A lot of people posted about thefts but about twice as many said nothing bad has ever happened to them at the fort and that the people that had items stolen were exaggerating the severity.
Other sites, people just whine, oh I can't get the FP i wanted or I only got 10 of the 11 character dinners I wanted so my vacation is ruined!
And they ask the most off the wall questions like will my child like XXX without giving any particulars.
About 99% of them never try to use Google and figure out anything for themselves.
A lot just post on them for drama purposes only it seems.
This site is definitely still the go to site for anything Fort related and just about everything else WDW related.
And yes real life gets in the way of posting and trip reports.
I was going to post pictures of our WDW visit on Thanksgiving weekend but just haven't had the time or energy.

I guess a plus of frigid Northern life is when your nose runs the snot freezes to your face instead of dripping all over the place!
We left NY when my beard froze and I lost feeling in my legs while working on cable TV lines on top of poles.

Hate to disappoint all you visitors that will be at the Fort over Christmas.
The temps will only be in the mid to high 80's thru Christmas Eve, then the temps plummet to the mid 70's to 80's thru New Years Day with a slight chance of showers on 12/31 and a couple of possible days of showers.
You all might want to think about staying home and avoiding this crappy weather!
Us locals will gladly fill in the canceled rezzies, so Disney doesn't lose any $$$. 
 
63° /43° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° TUE 12/12
  Actual Temp
75° /45° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° WED 12/13
  Actual Temp
63° /46° Hist. Avg.
72°/55° THU 12/14
  Actual Temp
74° /43° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° FRI 12/15
  Actual Temp
78° /60° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° SAT 12/16
  Actual Temp
73° /57° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° YESTERDAY
  Actual Temp
79° /54° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° TODAY 12/18
  84° /63° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
72°/53° TUE 12/19
  82° /63° Areas of fog in the morning Hist. Avg.
72°/53° WED 12/20
  84° /65° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/53° THU 12/21
  81° /62° A passing morning shower Hist. Avg.
71°/53° FRI 12/22
  84° /64° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SAT 12/23
  85° /66° Times of clouds and sun Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SUN 12/24
  85° /67° Rather cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
71°/52° MON 12/25
  79° /60° A blend of sun and clouds Hist. Avg.
71°/52° TUE 12/26
  78° /62° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/51° WED 12/27
  68° /51° Rain and drizzle possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° THU 12/28
  74° /55° A couple of showers possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° FRI 12/29
  80° /56° Cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
70°/51° SAT 12/30
  72° /55° Cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SUN 12/31
  72° /56° Periods of rain Hist. Avg.
70°/50° MON 1/1
  75° /57° Clouds giving way to some sun Hist. Avg.
70°/50° TUE 1/2
  74° /57° Mostly cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° WED 1/3
  74° /56° A shower or t-storm in spots Hist. Avg.
70°/50° THU 1/4
  73° /55° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° FRI 1/5
  69° /56° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SAT 1/6
  74° /55° Sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50°

We've stayed there a couple times getting decent prices using Priceline.
But even booking thru the hotel, you end up paying a parking and resort fee, which can come to a 1/3 of the cost of your discounted room rate.
 

It looked like it was a totally new show, saw HS tree in the lake instead of out front.
They do some amazing work year round, and the effort to get the majority of the transformations done overnights is just crazy.
BUT, it royally pissed me off that Disneyland transforms Small World and Haunted Mansion, and we get left out.  Then to top it off they rub salt in the wound by having that family entering Haunted Mansion excited to see what's new, then exiting saying how they outdid themselves this year !  
BAH Humbug. 
We want Jack, We want Jack, We want Jack!!!!

Hate to disappoint all you visitors that will be at the Fort over Christmas.
The temps will only be in the mid to high 80's thru Christmas Eve, then the temps plummet to the mid 70's to 80's thru New Years Day with a slight chance of showers on 12/31 and a couple of possible days of showers.
You all might want to think about staying home and avoiding this crappy weather!
Us locals will gladly fill in the canceled rezzies, so Disney doesn't lose any $$$. 
 
63° /43° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° TUE 12/12
  Actual Temp
75° /45° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° WED 12/13
  Actual Temp
63° /46° Hist. Avg.
72°/55° THU 12/14
  Actual Temp
74° /43° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° FRI 12/15
  Actual Temp
78° /60° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° SAT 12/16
  Actual Temp
73° /57° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° YESTERDAY
  Actual Temp
79° /54° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° TODAY 12/18
  84° /63° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
72°/53° TUE 12/19
  82° /63° Areas of fog in the morning Hist. Avg.
72°/53° WED 12/20
  84° /65° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/53° THU 12/21
  81° /62° A passing morning shower Hist. Avg.
71°/53° FRI 12/22
  84° /64° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SAT 12/23
  85° /66° Times of clouds and sun Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SUN 12/24
  85° /67° Rather cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
71°/52° MON 12/25
  79° /60° A blend of sun and clouds Hist. Avg.
71°/52° TUE 12/26
  78° /62° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/51° WED 12/27
  68° /51° Rain and drizzle possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° THU 12/28
  74° /55° A couple of showers possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° FRI 12/29
  80° /56° Cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
70°/51° SAT 12/30
  72° /55° Cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SUN 12/31
  72° /56° Periods of rain Hist. Avg.
70°/50° MON 1/1
  75° /57° Clouds giving way to some sun Hist. Avg.
70°/50° TUE 1/2
  74° /57° Mostly cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° WED 1/3
  74° /56° A shower or t-storm in spots Hist. Avg.
70°/50° THU 1/4
  73° /55° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° FRI 1/5
  69° /56° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SAT 1/6
  74° /55° Sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50°

I tried to post this yesterday, then the site went down.
http://photos.orlandoweekly.com/how-to-camp-at-25-of-floridas-best-swimming-holes/?slide=1&weeki-wachee-via-camilogx-ig
See if any of those suit you.
Or this
http://www.floridasprings.org/visit/recreation/camping/
 
Rock Springs Run at Kelly Park is a county park with camping adjacent to it, but it's only about 1/2 to 3/4 an hour away from Disney.
We've been tubing at the springs, and drove thru the campground.  It was clean, not a lot of amenities (no nighttime movie or Trails End ), but there is a path to the springs and playground.

Hate to disappoint all you visitors that will be at the Fort over Christmas.
The temps will only be in the mid to high 80's thru Christmas Eve, then the temps plummet to the mid 70's to 80's thru New Years Day with a slight chance of showers on 12/31 and a couple of possible days of showers.
You all might want to think about staying home and avoiding this crappy weather!
Us locals will gladly fill in the canceled rezzies, so Disney doesn't lose any $$$. 
 
63° /43° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° TUE 12/12
  Actual Temp
75° /45° Hist. Avg.
73°/55° WED 12/13
  Actual Temp
63° /46° Hist. Avg.
72°/55° THU 12/14
  Actual Temp
74° /43° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° FRI 12/15
  Actual Temp
78° /60° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° SAT 12/16
  Actual Temp
73° /57° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° YESTERDAY
  Actual Temp
79° /54° Hist. Avg.
72°/54° TODAY 12/18
  84° /63° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
72°/53° TUE 12/19
  82° /63° Areas of fog in the morning Hist. Avg.
72°/53° WED 12/20
  84° /65° Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/53° THU 12/21
  81° /62° A passing morning shower Hist. Avg.
71°/53° FRI 12/22
  84° /64° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SAT 12/23
  85° /66° Times of clouds and sun Hist. Avg.
71°/52° SUN 12/24
  85° /67° Rather cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
71°/52° MON 12/25
  79° /60° A blend of sun and clouds Hist. Avg.
71°/52° TUE 12/26
  78° /62° Partly sunny Hist. Avg.
71°/51° WED 12/27
  68° /51° Rain and drizzle possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° THU 12/28
  74° /55° A couple of showers possible Hist. Avg.
71°/51° FRI 12/29
  80° /56° Cloudy and warm Hist. Avg.
70°/51° SAT 12/30
  72° /55° Cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SUN 12/31
  72° /56° Periods of rain Hist. Avg.
70°/50° MON 1/1
  75° /57° Clouds giving way to some sun Hist. Avg.
70°/50° TUE 1/2
  74° /57° Mostly cloudy Hist. Avg.
70°/50° WED 1/3
  74° /56° A shower or t-storm in spots Hist. Avg.
70°/50° THU 1/4
  73° /55° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° FRI 1/5
  69° /56° Partial sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50° SAT 1/6
  74° /55° Sunshine Hist. Avg.
70°/50°

I REFUSE to use MDE while in the parks. I will make my three FP+ and dining reservation before I get into a park, then load them into my calendar app so that my phone buzzes at me when it's time to get to my next attraction or meal, and that's it. I don't tweet, snap, or #anything, and posting pictures here or to family on FB can wait.

A different look at what could happen when Disney purchases parts of Fox.
 
Look, we all want to watch Avengers and X-Men fight, but this Disney-Fox merger still sucks
 
Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way first: Yes, it would be amazing if all of Marvel’s mutants and superheroes could align under one roof. No one would love that more than we would. Unfortunately, Disney isn’t Captain America, and 20th Century Fox isn’t Professor X.
 
What was mere speculation a few weeks ago is rapidly becoming a likelihood: 20th Century Fox is planning to sell of the majority of its assets to Disney. The approximately $68 billion worth of media properties are being negotiated as we speak, with a deal expected to be announced as early as Wednesday. Deadline has published a lengthy investigation into precisely what this would mean for the mass media landscape, and while there’s a lot of moving parts to this potential sale, there are two main takeaways:
1) This will be awesome for Marvel fans.
2) This will be terrible for all of us in a broader sense.
First, the good news. According to the report, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige is excited to get his hands on the X-Men universe, meaning all the rest of the Marvel mutants and superheroes currently in Fox’s stable. That includes “Deadpool 2, New Mutants, Dark Phoenix, Gambit, X-Force and the James Franco-starrer Multiple Man all on the assembly line,” as Deadlinenotes, with a telltale hole where any reference to the Fantastic Four would go. Still, there’s at least one person who’s ready for some crossover between that last team and the Avengers:
So who do I talk to about a Cap/Human Torch buddy comedy spin-off? I’m thinking Planes, Trains and Automobiles meets Parent Trap. 
Chris Evans 
Sounds good! That’s honestly a fun, potentially very rich merging of two universes that always belonged together. This past summer’s Spider-Man/Iron Man combo is just the tip of the iceberg, and a movie universe where there’s no reason that the Punisher couldn’t suddenly stumble upon Colossus fighting Hulk would be a gift to longtime Marvel fans. Unfortunately, that’s about the only real positive to come out of this situation.
  In the long run, all this merger does is contribute to an increasingly homogenized and calcified corporate dominance of the entertainment industry, with fewer and fewer media companies able to challenge the major studios. And in particular, it will make Disney arguably the most powerful studio that has ever existed. The company will exert even more outsized control than it currently does, muscling in on any turf where it can wrench an extra dollar away from someone who deserves it more. (One current example: Disney is demanding a massive increase in booking and profits —65 percent of profits and a guaranteed four-week screening window—from any theater that wants to screen the new Star Wars film, to the point where smaller movie theaters and locations in smaller markets are forced to turn down The Last Jedi, simply because it would be financially ruinous to keep a film up for two more weeks after everyone in their little town has already seen it.)
Also, it will strip the Fox broadcast network from the studio that produces most of its properties—and in a world where profitability increasingly requires networks to pair with a studio to sell shows in other arenas, that could mean the death knell for Fox television as we know it. Deadline notes Disney would likely keep brand-affiliated shows like The Gifted and beloved institutions like Simpsons and Family Guy, but beyond that, “observers do not see Fox continuing as a network focused on scripted programming.” Without control of the studio that provides most of its content, the assumption is that Fox will instead focus more on “sports programming, news magazines, and possibly reality shows” to fill its primetime lineup.
It also means FX, FXX, and more will be under the aegis of family-friendly Disney. It’s not unheard-of for the Disney brand to acquire edgy content (it has a 20 percent stake in Vice, for example), and it has utilized its different shingles in the past to put out harder fare—it was the Disney-owned Miramax that released Pulp Fiction—to profit off R-rated material from an arm’s-length distance. Presumably, the more arthouse-oriented Fox Searchlight film wing is hoping it currently falls into a similar category. But it’s also not unusual for Disney to water down film and TV to make it more accessible to the Mickey Mouse brand. Now that its deal with Netflix is ending, can anyone imagine an equivalent version of The Punisher being produced for a streaming service explicitly identified as “Disney”? “Just look at Marvel!” is not a good counter-argument, either. Just wait until the first Marvel bomb, then see how hands-off Disney remains.
  The deal also means Disney will have a greater stranglehold on the streaming market, as it will almost certainly gain control of Hulu should it go through—which would be a lot simpler than Disney trying to launch its own streaming service, as currently planned. It also means we’re one step closer to a full-blown Disney entertainment monopoly. Even if there will always be smaller alternatives, in the end, none of them will be able to compete on the same level. We may soon be left with a world where Disney and Amazon are circling each other, squeezing everyone else out on the way to their own inevitable merger.
Still, there’s enough awful news in the world right now, it’s easy to place this latest corporate streamlining as roughly the 400th most unfortunate thing currently happening. So we wouldn’t blame you for shrugging at it. After all, you might finally get a chance to see Scarlet Witch go up against Jean Grey!

Instead of a lot of typing, here's links to the latest news.
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock/
 
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/disney-fox-global-powerhouse-asia-europe-1202637277/
 
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/disney-fox-merger
 
Basically, they all say this will make Disney a HUGE (like they aren't already big enough) player, and Bobby Iger is sticking around until 2012.

Sounds like you get your Hot Cider somewhere at Wilderness Lodge before braving the cold and heading over to stare at those poor unfortunate lowlife campers.
Carolers on the Hay Wagon, something new?

I hope this gets fixed!!!
 
 The bad news is only Miss Piggy is featured in the new fountain, and there's no word on whether the other characters will return.

From Orlandoweekly.com
Disney's famous Muppets Fountain at Hollywood Studios returns after more than a year of just being a planter
 
Just over a year ago Disney drained the famous Muppets Fountain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, causing outrage and worry among many Muppets fans. The iconic fountain has sat outside the Muppet-Vision 3D attraction at DHS since it opened in 1991. With the area around the Muppets attraction being renamed "Grand Avenue" and given a modern-day L.A. theme, many worried that despite the addition of PizzeRizzo the end might be near for The Muppets at Hollywood Studios. 

When PizzeRizzo opened earlier this year, the lack of extensive theming inside the two-story counter service restaurant only perpetuated these fears, even while many said the fountain draining was only temporary. 

Some speculated that the fountain needed to be drained because of nearby Star Wars: Galaxy Edge construction. 

The fountain featured a large circular pool and a statue of Miss Piggy in a pose modeled after the Statue of Liberty with water squirting haphazardly in various directions around her. Numerous other Muppets characters were featured in the fountain as well. It was drained in late October 2016 and plants soon replaced the water. Since then the former fountain has been a planter with Miss Piggy still in her patriotic pose in the middle but all the other Muppets characters were removed. A large box covering the basin appeared a few weeks back and then without any notice the box was removed revealing the former basin now refilled with water. 
 
The fountain was turned on this past weekend, meaning this iconic centerpiece is once again welcoming guests while cooling the area. The bad news is only Miss Piggy is featured in the new fountain, and there's no word on whether the other characters will return. The good news is with Disney investing in new signage for the attraction earlier this year and with the fountain being restored, unlike many attractions at DHS, it’s safe to say the Muppets won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. 

From Orlandoweekly.com
Disney's famous Muppets Fountain at Hollywood Studios returns after more than a year of just being a planter
 
Just over a year ago Disney drained the famous Muppets Fountain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, causing outrage and worry among many Muppets fans. The iconic fountain has sat outside the Muppet-Vision 3D attraction at DHS since it opened in 1991. With the area around the Muppets attraction being renamed "Grand Avenue" and given a modern-day L.A. theme, many worried that despite the addition of PizzeRizzo the end might be near for The Muppets at Hollywood Studios. 

When PizzeRizzo opened earlier this year, the lack of extensive theming inside the two-story counter service restaurant only perpetuated these fears, even while many said the fountain draining was only temporary. 

Some speculated that the fountain needed to be drained because of nearby Star Wars: Galaxy Edge construction. 

The fountain featured a large circular pool and a statue of Miss Piggy in a pose modeled after the Statue of Liberty with water squirting haphazardly in various directions around her. Numerous other Muppets characters were featured in the fountain as well. It was drained in late October 2016 and plants soon replaced the water. Since then the former fountain has been a planter with Miss Piggy still in her patriotic pose in the middle but all the other Muppets characters were removed. A large box covering the basin appeared a few weeks back and then without any notice the box was removed revealing the former basin now refilled with water. 
 
The fountain was turned on this past weekend, meaning this iconic centerpiece is once again welcoming guests while cooling the area. The bad news is only Miss Piggy is featured in the new fountain, and there's no word on whether the other characters will return. The good news is with Disney investing in new signage for the attraction earlier this year and with the fountain being restored, unlike many attractions at DHS, it’s safe to say the Muppets won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. 

orlandoweekly.com
Disney will close Flights of Wonder and replace it with a show featuring the dog from 'Up'
Disney confirmed this morning that Flights of Wonder at Disney's Animal Kingdom will close for good at the end of the year, and will be replaced with a show starring Russell and Dug from Disney Pixar’s "Up."

The new show will open at some point before Animal Kingdom's 20th Anniversary in the Caravan Theater in the park’s Anandapur village, which means there's no more room for the long-standing bird show. Flights of Wonders last show will be December 31, 2017. 

From the official Disney blog: 
Disney did not reveal a name for this new show, or an exact opening date. 

From Orlandoweekly.com
Disney's famous Muppets Fountain at Hollywood Studios returns after more than a year of just being a planter
 
Just over a year ago Disney drained the famous Muppets Fountain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, causing outrage and worry among many Muppets fans. The iconic fountain has sat outside the Muppet-Vision 3D attraction at DHS since it opened in 1991. With the area around the Muppets attraction being renamed "Grand Avenue" and given a modern-day L.A. theme, many worried that despite the addition of PizzeRizzo the end might be near for The Muppets at Hollywood Studios. 

When PizzeRizzo opened earlier this year, the lack of extensive theming inside the two-story counter service restaurant only perpetuated these fears, even while many said the fountain draining was only temporary. 

Some speculated that the fountain needed to be drained because of nearby Star Wars: Galaxy Edge construction. 

The fountain featured a large circular pool and a statue of Miss Piggy in a pose modeled after the Statue of Liberty with water squirting haphazardly in various directions around her. Numerous other Muppets characters were featured in the fountain as well. It was drained in late October 2016 and plants soon replaced the water. Since then the former fountain has been a planter with Miss Piggy still in her patriotic pose in the middle but all the other Muppets characters were removed. A large box covering the basin appeared a few weeks back and then without any notice the box was removed revealing the former basin now refilled with water. 
 
The fountain was turned on this past weekend, meaning this iconic centerpiece is once again welcoming guests while cooling the area. The bad news is only Miss Piggy is featured in the new fountain, and there's no word on whether the other characters will return. The good news is with Disney investing in new signage for the attraction earlier this year and with the fountain being restored, unlike many attractions at DHS, it’s safe to say the Muppets won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. 

This is a long article, but the link didn't work.
While this isn't a legal Tome, I think it highlights some of the " service animal issues" that can be blamed right on the  various government agencies that muddle the rules.
 
Phony service dogs pose real problems
Owners of Legitimate dogs say when fakes misbehave, they hurt the whole concept,
Kansas City Star
The unleashed dog lunged from the woman’s lap and right at Andy, Michaela Chase’s dog.
“It was going for blood,” Chase said, thinking back to the narrow waiting room at her physical therapy gym in Lincoln, Neb. “It was in full attack mode.”
Shielded by Chase’s wheelchair, Andy avoided the other dog, which had a tag on its collar that said “service dog.” But though there was no fight, the damage was done.
“It really ruined Andy,” Chase said of her service dog trained by Paws for Freedom in Tonganoxie, Kan. Andy — the victim of a fake service dog, Chase said — now distrusts other dogs. He’ll even bark at other service dogs.
Fake service dogs are essentially untrained pets wearing vests or tags purchased online so Fido can tag along, too. They’ve become the bane of those who rely on trained service dogs to deal with disabilities.
Service dog owners take video of ap- parent impostors tugging at leashes in malls, groceries and other public venues. They record threatening fakes and describe attacks on their dogs.
Bloggers rail about fakes and fakers making people suspicious of real service dogs.
“When the fake service dog acts out, it hurts those that are legitimate,” said Sandy Bartkoski, co-CEO of KSDS Assistance Dogs in Washington, Kan.
 
Yet, trainers and advocates say there is no organized push to cinch up legislative loopholes that leave fakes largely unchecked or to resolve contradictions in federal laws that add to the confusion about what's real and what's not.
The result is an honor system that allows fakers as much easy access as owners of real service dogs.
Merchants say they're largely powerless in the presence of a fake. If someone says their dog is a service dog, there's little room to challenge them.
Online sites sell 'service dog' vests and tags, issue certificates denoting an animal as a service dog and operate service dog registries - all designed to make any animal appear to be a service dog. Packages range from $50 to $250.
All fake.
'These documents do not convey any rights under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal,' said the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice in its answers to frequently asked questions about the act.
But there they are, and some sellers make little secret of the notion that they're selling imagery rather than legitimacy.
Professionally trained service dogs help people with impaired vision or hearing, seizures, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's and other conditions. Trainers may need years to turn puppies into focused animals able to handle any social or physical situation they encounter while performing specific tasks for owners.
Personality even comes into it. A guide dog needs to be assertive, ready to stop its owner from doing something that will put them in danger.
Josh Lewis, 40, has lived with the after-effects of a brain aneurism for more than a decade. Six months ago, his life got a little easier.
Bing came into it.
'I don't go anywhere without him,' Lewis said of the sleepy looking Labrador retriever at his feet.
The dog works quietly and stays out of sight, perhaps under the table, when they're out. Off duty, he's a dog keen on tug of war, fetch and other playtime fun.
Bing helps Lewis walk, made difficult by paralysis on his right side. Lewis has been able to put away his cane and he walks faster with Bing.
A list of 19 short commands include 'brace' to take Lewis' weight if he needs help getting up, 'step one' to go up or down one stair and 'tap it' to open electronic doors designed for easy access.
Lewis got his service dog free from KSDS Assistance Dogs. But training is expensive.
'Our dogs are around $25,000 when they leave,' Bartkoski said. 'We've given somewhere around $14.3 million in dogs away.' Other dogs don't require the precise training that service dogs need.
Passive dogs are well suited to another role, that of therapy dogs that might work in facilities. They work at or visit schools, nursing homes and other sites that permit them, often providing calming and therapeutic time with individuals or groups. Facility dogs help the public generally but are not covered by public access rights that apply to service dogs.
Then there is a third category: emotional support animals. These may be dogs, cats or other animals that provide comfort by their presence and generally aren't trained for that job. A federal aviation law recognizes emotional support animals and protects their owners' right to fly with the animals in the cabin, though the airline requires documentation as proof.
The ADA says anyone can train their dog, or miniature horse, to perform a task that mitigates or helps them with their disability. Professional training is not required. It also specifically prohibits cities, merchants and others from requiring proof that a dog is a service dog. It allows, in fact, only two questions.
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Service dog owners may not be asked about the nature of their disability. They may not be required to provide documentation of the dog's training. Nor may they be asked to demonstrate the work the dog is trained to do.
All this helps ensure that Americans who rely on service dogs have the same easy access as anyone who walks up to a salad bar, into a bowling alley, through grocery aisles or onto an airplane. But it relies on the honor system.
Often the public and even fakers don't know the difference.
For example, one woman posted a video in which she confronts a man with a dog in a shopping cart. The dog's vest says 'service animal' but the man says the dog just makes people happy and that he bought the vest just to take the dog into stores.
'You know that's illegal,' she says
 
   

This is a long article, but the link didn't work.
While this isn't a legal Tome, I think it highlights some of the " service animal issues" that can be blamed right on the  various government agencies that muddle the rules.
 
Phony service dogs pose real problems
Owners of Legitimate dogs say when fakes misbehave, they hurt the whole concept,
Kansas City Star
The unleashed dog lunged from the woman’s lap and right at Andy, Michaela Chase’s dog.
“It was going for blood,” Chase said, thinking back to the narrow waiting room at her physical therapy gym in Lincoln, Neb. “It was in full attack mode.”
Shielded by Chase’s wheelchair, Andy avoided the other dog, which had a tag on its collar that said “service dog.” But though there was no fight, the damage was done.
“It really ruined Andy,” Chase said of her service dog trained by Paws for Freedom in Tonganoxie, Kan. Andy — the victim of a fake service dog, Chase said — now distrusts other dogs. He’ll even bark at other service dogs.
Fake service dogs are essentially untrained pets wearing vests or tags purchased online so Fido can tag along, too. They’ve become the bane of those who rely on trained service dogs to deal with disabilities.
Service dog owners take video of ap- parent impostors tugging at leashes in malls, groceries and other public venues. They record threatening fakes and describe attacks on their dogs.
Bloggers rail about fakes and fakers making people suspicious of real service dogs.
“When the fake service dog acts out, it hurts those that are legitimate,” said Sandy Bartkoski, co-CEO of KSDS Assistance Dogs in Washington, Kan.
 
Yet, trainers and advocates say there is no organized push to cinch up legislative loopholes that leave fakes largely unchecked or to resolve contradictions in federal laws that add to the confusion about what's real and what's not.
The result is an honor system that allows fakers as much easy access as owners of real service dogs.
Merchants say they're largely powerless in the presence of a fake. If someone says their dog is a service dog, there's little room to challenge them.
Online sites sell 'service dog' vests and tags, issue certificates denoting an animal as a service dog and operate service dog registries - all designed to make any animal appear to be a service dog. Packages range from $50 to $250.
All fake.
'These documents do not convey any rights under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal,' said the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice in its answers to frequently asked questions about the act.
But there they are, and some sellers make little secret of the notion that they're selling imagery rather than legitimacy.
Professionally trained service dogs help people with impaired vision or hearing, seizures, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's and other conditions. Trainers may need years to turn puppies into focused animals able to handle any social or physical situation they encounter while performing specific tasks for owners.
Personality even comes into it. A guide dog needs to be assertive, ready to stop its owner from doing something that will put them in danger.
Josh Lewis, 40, has lived with the after-effects of a brain aneurism for more than a decade. Six months ago, his life got a little easier.
Bing came into it.
'I don't go anywhere without him,' Lewis said of the sleepy looking Labrador retriever at his feet.
The dog works quietly and stays out of sight, perhaps under the table, when they're out. Off duty, he's a dog keen on tug of war, fetch and other playtime fun.
Bing helps Lewis walk, made difficult by paralysis on his right side. Lewis has been able to put away his cane and he walks faster with Bing.
A list of 19 short commands include 'brace' to take Lewis' weight if he needs help getting up, 'step one' to go up or down one stair and 'tap it' to open electronic doors designed for easy access.
Lewis got his service dog free from KSDS Assistance Dogs. But training is expensive.
'Our dogs are around $25,000 when they leave,' Bartkoski said. 'We've given somewhere around $14.3 million in dogs away.' Other dogs don't require the precise training that service dogs need.
Passive dogs are well suited to another role, that of therapy dogs that might work in facilities. They work at or visit schools, nursing homes and other sites that permit them, often providing calming and therapeutic time with individuals or groups. Facility dogs help the public generally but are not covered by public access rights that apply to service dogs.
Then there is a third category: emotional support animals. These may be dogs, cats or other animals that provide comfort by their presence and generally aren't trained for that job. A federal aviation law recognizes emotional support animals and protects their owners' right to fly with the animals in the cabin, though the airline requires documentation as proof.
The ADA says anyone can train their dog, or miniature horse, to perform a task that mitigates or helps them with their disability. Professional training is not required. It also specifically prohibits cities, merchants and others from requiring proof that a dog is a service dog. It allows, in fact, only two questions.
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Service dog owners may not be asked about the nature of their disability. They may not be required to provide documentation of the dog's training. Nor may they be asked to demonstrate the work the dog is trained to do.
All this helps ensure that Americans who rely on service dogs have the same easy access as anyone who walks up to a salad bar, into a bowling alley, through grocery aisles or onto an airplane. But it relies on the honor system.
Often the public and even fakers don't know the difference.
For example, one woman posted a video in which she confronts a man with a dog in a shopping cart. The dog's vest says 'service animal' but the man says the dog just makes people happy and that he bought the vest just to take the dog into stores.
'You know that's illegal,' she says
 
   

From www.inquisitr.com
 
NEW PERMITS FILED SHOW NINTENDO PLANS AND MAP FOR BOTH PARKS AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO – KIDZONE LIKELY GONE
 
 
By now, it is no secret that Universal Orlando has been busy buying up a lot of land and preparing to build a Nintendo land, but more information is finally starting to come about. With the clever minds of those on the Internet, filed permits have been found that sort of map out where these new lands will go. Making matters even better than that is that the permits appear to show Nintendo areas going into both theme parks.
In the last couple of years, Universal Orlando has purchased close to 600 acres for an expansion that will include new attractions, new lands, and even two new resort hotels. Some of the plans have been revealed, but many of the exact details have been kept under wraps for the most part.
Well, WFTV is reporting that more Nintendo rides and attractions are going to be added to Islands of Adventure in the future. That means both theme parks (Universal Studios as well) will have rides from the video game giant.
The thing is, sources also tell WFTV that more Nintendo attractions will also be built on the 500 acres of land that Universal Orlando purchased on the other side of I-4.
This gives a bit more perspective when looking at the actual satellite image of the area.
While the exact plans have not yet been revealed by Universal Orlando, the original thought is that Nintendo would take over a portion of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. That area includes attractions such as Fievel’s Playland, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Curious George Goes To Town, Barney, and the E.T. Adventure.
The new permits filed this past week show an 8.8-acre “Super Mario Land” in the area where KidZone currently stands. Different sections are named after Mario Kart and Donkey Kong, and further looking into the permit seems to prove that KidZone may not have much longer to live.
As of now, Universal Orlando has not commented on the speculation and rumors floating around about Nintendo Land, but they can’t deny the permits. Sure, the permits show plans, but those are always possible to change as time goes on.
Universal Studios Japan is set to open its Nintendo-themed area in 2020 with Orlando opening its version shortly after that happens.
There are a lot of plans in place for Universal Orlando with additions to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other sections of the resort. Nintendo Land is going to be absolutely huge and draw in large crowds who are already getting excited just by the permits filed. The only problem is that big fans of KidZone may not be thrilled if some longtime fan-favorite attractions end up being a casualty.