Travisma

I'm just upset about the entire fast pass, reserve everything months in advance scenario.
 
I understand that Ma and Pa Kettle from Wisconsin with their 12 little Kettles want to hit everything at WDW in 3 fun filled days since they have saved 10 years to get there and Ma's health is failing and they will never be able to come back again.
 
But I still hate the fact that you just can't go and have unplanned fun (for the majority of the time it seems).
 
Everyone used to be equal, you all stood in line and waited your turn.
 
But like others have said, the bean counters hated that, because if you are waiting in line, you're not spending $$$ on food and souvenirs.

No.
 
The BOG FP+'s don't even show up on your MDE. 
 
TCD

Dave, you actually raised a valid point:  this attraction, like many at WDW, has been neglected and could be much better than it is.
 
In the past six months, I visited the Enchanted Tiki Room at the MK more than I had in all of my previous visits to WDW.  That's because one of my daughters was working there.  Even though a lot of folks on this thread say they like it, the fact of the matter is that very few guests take the time to visit.
 
In December, we had the opportunity to visit the Disneyland version of the attraction.  Disneyland's version is far superior.  The audio and lighting in the attraction is state of the art, and everything is clean and functions properly. Disneyland still has the inside fountain, which was removed from the MK version when the "Under New Management" version was introduced. That fountain adds a lot to the show.  Also, the Disneyland pre-show area features a bunch of animatronic Tiki gods, while the MK version has two talking birds with a painfully boring routine.  And, to top that, the Disneyland Dole Whip stand is right out front of this attraction, and guests are encouraged to buy a Dole Whip float to bring in to the show.
 
But, despite its flaws,  the TCD gang loves the Enchanted Tiki Room.  Check out Twin #1's shirt in this photo with a bunch of her DCP friends (she's third from the left) :
 

 
The Enchanted Tiki Room is one of only 14 attractions at WDW that remain from the opening day of the Magic Kingdom.  The Tiki Birds need to stay.
 
TCD

I already know the answer to this question (if people shell out the $$ theparks will take it), but I thought I'd throw it out there for other opinions.
 
Do you think that amusment parks have finally gone overboard with annual passes, especially Busch Gardens/Seaworld with their buy a day get a year fun pass?
 
The parks are just getting so overcrowded all the time now.
 
At least with Disney there are 4 parks to divide the crowds up, but you go to the competitors and you have 1 park or go home.
 
We are going to bite the bullet and purchase FL Resident Seasonal passes.  We aren't crazy enough to want to go to the parks during the black out dates anyway, but a lot of the posts here and on those other sites make it seem like the parks are always crowded.
 
We went to Busch for one of their ChristmasTown Nights, and it was wall to wall people.  They included it in with the normal admission, and cut out the snow play area. I'd say everone in a 5 county area was there that night.
 
We walked, got to see one show, then took the sky ride back to the front and left.
 
Crowds are one thing, mob scenes are something else.
 
 

Maybe the "fireworks" scheduled at the BAH will be someone in the special party getting to push a button that will set off some C-4 and finish the demo in a blaze of glory!

Maybe the "fireworks" scheduled at the BAH will be someone in the special party getting to push a button that will set off some C-4 and finish the demo in a blaze of glory!

Should we add a pig roast over an open pit (with approved Fort fire shielding of course)?
 
Maybe get a backhoe in and dig a real swimming hole.

Should we add a pig roast over an open pit (with approved Fort fire shielding of course)?
 
Maybe get a backhoe in and dig a real swimming hole.

Maybe they can run some utilities to the group camping site, dump all the fiends there, and just charge $20 a person per night, and set up an open bar.

Should we add a pig roast over an open pit (with approved Fort fire shielding of course)?
 
Maybe get a backhoe in and dig a real swimming hole.

Maybe they can run some utilities to the group camping site, dump all the fiends there, and just charge $20 a person per night, and set up an open bar.

I brought this subject up last fall, and Lou.. yes that Lou, said it's only the weekends when the Fort fills up.  During the week there are a lot of empty sites.
 
So, maybe they should make some additional loops that are only open Friday thru Monday for the weekend crowd.  The rest of the week they could chain/gate it off and lock the comfort stations.
 
No cleaning, no trash pick up.  Just a quick spruce up late Thursday or early Friday before the chains/gates come down. 
 
Problem solved.

I brought this subject up last fall, and Lou.. yes that Lou, said it's only the weekends when the Fort fills up.  During the week there are a lot of empty sites.
 
So, maybe they should make some additional loops that are only open Friday thru Monday for the weekend crowd.  The rest of the week they could chain/gate it off and lock the comfort stations.
 
No cleaning, no trash pick up.  Just a quick spruce up late Thursday or early Friday before the chains/gates come down. 
 
Problem solved.

Yes, it was cool and cloudy and misty/rainy at the fort but the SUN is shining at this moment!!  :)

I never understood why you would go to the MK to play video games and it was there when I was a kid. Now the old Contempoary Arcade was awesome.

Lou would say that's what is holding them together.

especially when you want to go somewhere else....

The problem is they have a unique product (campground at an attraction) and they know it.
 
Now if Universal decided to build a campground, or if KOA built a large one in the area they may start to listen more to the complaints.
 
The general consensus seems to be that the Fort management won't do anything to make the Fort better.
 
So I say step it up a notch and start complaining to Iger and the CFO.  Tell them about the issues the Fort is having and how your overall experiences have slowly been going downhill.
 
Let them know what you loved about the Fort in the past and how it made you love all things Disney.
 
Invite them to visit you when you are there.
 
Ask them if they have ever set foot in the Fort as an average visitor and not with a 40 person entourage.
 
Let them know about the over crowded sites, bad behavior, lack of overflow parking, outsiders invading on weekends etc.
 
Ask them if they feel that these things make for a magical experience, and if they do, then why don't they tolerate the same things at the hotels.
 
If they allow 10 people on a site, why not 8 or 10 people in a room.
 
If they allow loud music and drunken parties on a site until 1 a.m. why not the same at the Grand Floridian?
 
The campsites used to be treated the same way as all of the other Disney properties.
 
Poor judgement and lack of good management has allowed it to slide downhill to an anything goes type of third world property.
 
But then again, when they do decide to start enforcing the rules about the lights being off at 10 (I know I know, they don't enforce evenly) people start raising their pitchforks and storm the castle !
 
Years ago you were told the rules and obeyed them, and if you didn't you were asked to comply or leave.
 
 Now management either lets things slide, or the rule breaker just ignores them because they know nothing is going to happen to them.
 
Start enforcing rules, drop back to 1 vehicle per site, clean up the overflow (it wouldn't be hard to give a dated, site numbered parking permit to place on the vehicle out there at check in).  If they park half-assed make them come out and move it.  If it's there after their check out date have it towed to an impound lot.  
 
Enforce the golf cart, skateboard, ripstick etc. rules.
 
Make quiet time quiet time.  You can still sit around your site visiting after 10, but I shouldn't have to hear every word and belch 3 sites away.
 
Crack down on the tweens and teens running wild around the loops
 
Eject outsiders from the pools.
 
Again, none of these things are tolerated at any of the other Disney hotels so why at the Fort?
 
Just my 2 cents....

The problem is they have a unique product (campground at an attraction) and they know it.
 
Now if Universal decided to build a campground, or if KOA built a large one in the area they may start to listen more to the complaints.
 
The general consensus seems to be that the Fort management won't do anything to make the Fort better.
 
So I say step it up a notch and start complaining to Iger and the CFO.  Tell them about the issues the Fort is having and how your overall experiences have slowly been going downhill.
 
Let them know what you loved about the Fort in the past and how it made you love all things Disney.
 
Invite them to visit you when you are there.
 
Ask them if they have ever set foot in the Fort as an average visitor and not with a 40 person entourage.
 
Let them know about the over crowded sites, bad behavior, lack of overflow parking, outsiders invading on weekends etc.
 
Ask them if they feel that these things make for a magical experience, and if they do, then why don't they tolerate the same things at the hotels.
 
If they allow 10 people on a site, why not 8 or 10 people in a room.
 
If they allow loud music and drunken parties on a site until 1 a.m. why not the same at the Grand Floridian?
 
The campsites used to be treated the same way as all of the other Disney properties.
 
Poor judgement and lack of good management has allowed it to slide downhill to an anything goes type of third world property.
 
But then again, when they do decide to start enforcing the rules about the lights being off at 10 (I know I know, they don't enforce evenly) people start raising their pitchforks and storm the castle !
 
Years ago you were told the rules and obeyed them, and if you didn't you were asked to comply or leave.
 
 Now management either lets things slide, or the rule breaker just ignores them because they know nothing is going to happen to them.
 
Start enforcing rules, drop back to 1 vehicle per site, clean up the overflow (it wouldn't be hard to give a dated, site numbered parking permit to place on the vehicle out there at check in).  If they park half-assed make them come out and move it.  If it's there after their check out date have it towed to an impound lot.  
 
Enforce the golf cart, skateboard, ripstick etc. rules.
 
Make quiet time quiet time.  You can still sit around your site visiting after 10, but I shouldn't have to hear every word and belch 3 sites away.
 
Crack down on the tweens and teens running wild around the loops
 
Eject outsiders from the pools.
 
Again, none of these things are tolerated at any of the other Disney hotels so why at the Fort?
 
Just my 2 cents....

That's how long it takes to get Chinese coal deliverd to you...

Ken, are you disparaging the beautiful slush ice you get from the CS machines?
 
It's much easier to chew on than the trading post ice.

Boo on Lou! EWP is still almost entirely original from back in the 70's. It's nostalgia at its best.

2. In addition to the $1000 charging limit (then once charged to your card it resets), apparently there is a total trip limit to protect your account
 
So Carol, what you're saying is that after you buy 2 hotdogs, a beer and a cinnamon roll, your card will no longer work because you reached its limit?

Cody
Disney/ABC having more control over our lives than you ever imagined!

Blah blah blah....that's all fine and dandy.  But I have another quote for you:
 
"I envision a grand electrical parade on the water that will entertain guests every night for decades to come.  And if anyone ever tries to change it, the ghost of my dead frozen head will haunt them for eternity."