DaveInTN

For my crew, a nice dinner out at Disney can easily run $300-350, and add in characters or a show like the Hoop and we're talking $600-700.  It's just not justifiable on a regular basis.   

First step toward my prediction that you will someday need to book bathroom ADR's 6 months in advance.  

First step toward my prediction that you will someday need to book bathroom ADR's 6 months in advance.  

The Catholic mass includes all you care to enjoy wafers and wine, for only $129 for adults, and $99 for children.  The Protestant service includes an assortment of regular and gluten free bread with grape juice, and is priced at $89 per person.  

Pretty cool video.  
My impressions of the biggest changes from 1982 to now:
The trees and vegetation have really filled in throughout the WS since then.  
Men's shorts were way too short in 1982.  
Kodak was still relevant then.  
Hard to imagine double decker buses driving amongst the crowds in the WS today.  

In my opinion, the problem at Disney Parks isn't the big strollers, or the wagons.  And the problem isn't the scooters.  The problem at Disney Parks is all of the dadgum people.  There are just TOO MANY PEOPLE in those parks.  Reduce capacity, and allow the folks to just enjoy their day without getting all stressed out over crowds, fastpasses, fireworks viewing spots, long lines, finding a seat at a restaurant, etc.  That's why I bailed on Disney and just go to Dollywood.  I can walk in at park opening without an ounce of planning, ride everything I want, get a great meal without a reservation, walk into a show and find a good seat, and leave not feeling like I need a week of vacation to recover from my vacation. 
There are big strollers and scooters at Dollywood.  You just walk around them.  Because you can.  

In my opinion, the problem at Disney Parks isn't the big strollers, or the wagons.  And the problem isn't the scooters.  The problem at Disney Parks is all of the dadgum people.  There are just TOO MANY PEOPLE in those parks.  Reduce capacity, and allow the folks to just enjoy their day without getting all stressed out over crowds, fastpasses, fireworks viewing spots, long lines, finding a seat at a restaurant, etc.  That's why I bailed on Disney and just go to Dollywood.  I can walk in at park opening without an ounce of planning, ride everything I want, get a great meal without a reservation, walk into a show and find a good seat, and leave not feeling like I need a week of vacation to recover from my vacation. 
There are big strollers and scooters at Dollywood.  You just walk around them.  Because you can.  

They should expand the PeopleMover throughout the park.   No walking allowed.   

In my opinion, the problem at Disney Parks isn't the big strollers, or the wagons.  And the problem isn't the scooters.  The problem at Disney Parks is all of the dadgum people.  There are just TOO MANY PEOPLE in those parks.  Reduce capacity, and allow the folks to just enjoy their day without getting all stressed out over crowds, fastpasses, fireworks viewing spots, long lines, finding a seat at a restaurant, etc.  That's why I bailed on Disney and just go to Dollywood.  I can walk in at park opening without an ounce of planning, ride everything I want, get a great meal without a reservation, walk into a show and find a good seat, and leave not feeling like I need a week of vacation to recover from my vacation. 
There are big strollers and scooters at Dollywood.  You just walk around them.  Because you can.  

My sources tell me they could only save one of MBYBBQ or MBYMPAC....not both.  Of course, the BYMPAC brings in a lot more money, and it's primarily cash.  The Mouse loves cash.  Even singles.  

Think of it as renewing your vows.  And your financial commitment to the Mouse.  😆

You know what Bob Barker would say.....

Let me see if I have this straight.  Disney used to sell commemorative bricks to guests, personalized with their family's name or whatever they chose to have inscribed, for use on a walkway around Seven Seas Lagoon.  I don't know exactly how Disney described these pavers at the time, but you can search online for information about the program and find the words "permanent" and "legacy" in many places, including on Disney's own Moms Panel website.  There is also information that indicates the bricks cost anywhere between $85-250 depending on size.  And now Disney intends to rip this walkway up, and it's not possible to save the commemorative bricks.  That you paid between $85-250 for.  But wait, don't worry!  If you previously purchased a commemorative paver that is about to be destroyed, Disney will now SELL YOU ANOTHER ONE!  Of course, this new one is at a much lower price of $10.  Which is about $9 more than it would cost you to buy one at Home Depot along with some stencils to make your own at home....which is precisely where the new brick will sit.  At home.  Not permanently along a pathway at the Magic Kingdom where you thought your brick would reside for you to visit on future trips, leaving a legacy for your children and grandchildren to someday seek out.  
I didn't buy one of these pavers, but if I did I'd be pissed.  It's unconscionable that Disney is actually charging previous purchasers $10 to get another to take home.  Not only should a replacement brick be provided to these people for free, but they should get some free FP's, meal vouchers, or something of value as a goodwill token in exchange for the $85-250 they previously spent on bricks that are getting ripped up and tossed in the trash.  

Illogical.  

Until I see otherwise, I am giving Disney the benefit of the doubt with this resort.  Let's face it...the Fort of our youth has been gone for over a decade, if not two.  The peacocks, train, trams, River Country, etc are never coming back.  But what will exist once this construction is all over in a few years might not be terrible.  While it's becoming clear that the Settlement and Clementine Beach will be significantly altered, I have yet to walk around a single resort at WDW where I thought to myself "good Lord this is awful!".  I believe they will create a beautiful place.  Different, no doubt, but probably pretty darn nice.  I too grieve the loss of what was a peaceful Settlement, where I enjoyed sitting on the porch with a drink while the kids played.  But I have other peaceful places in my world.  And I'm hoping we will see a nice combined area with enhanced amenities for the benefit of both resorts.  This talk of "our beach will become their beach" rings hollow with me, because I don't see Disney running a fence through the Settlement with razor wire to keep us out.  I imagine additional areas to walk around, like at many of the other resorts.  Yes, there will be more people.  That's a given.  But hopefully it will be nice to visit additional shops, grab a beverage at new bars with outdoor dining areas, and still have our peaceful campsite to relax at (and possibly some additional amenities to come in the Meadows area).   

Illogical.  

Until I see otherwise, I am giving Disney the benefit of the doubt with this resort.  Let's face it...the Fort of our youth has been gone for over a decade, if not two.  The peacocks, train, trams, River Country, etc are never coming back.  But what will exist once this construction is all over in a few years might not be terrible.  While it's becoming clear that the Settlement and Clementine Beach will be significantly altered, I have yet to walk around a single resort at WDW where I thought to myself "good Lord this is awful!".  I believe they will create a beautiful place.  Different, no doubt, but probably pretty darn nice.  I too grieve the loss of what was a peaceful Settlement, where I enjoyed sitting on the porch with a drink while the kids played.  But I have other peaceful places in my world.  And I'm hoping we will see a nice combined area with enhanced amenities for the benefit of both resorts.  This talk of "our beach will become their beach" rings hollow with me, because I don't see Disney running a fence through the Settlement with razor wire to keep us out.  I imagine additional areas to walk around, like at many of the other resorts.  Yes, there will be more people.  That's a given.  But hopefully it will be nice to visit additional shops, grab a beverage at new bars with outdoor dining areas, and still have our peaceful campsite to relax at (and possibly some additional amenities to come in the Meadows area).   

My sources tell me that the new Settlement area will include a permanent kiosk for Mo's Lobster Crack 'N Cheese.  

Until I see otherwise, I am giving Disney the benefit of the doubt with this resort.  Let's face it...the Fort of our youth has been gone for over a decade, if not two.  The peacocks, train, trams, River Country, etc are never coming back.  But what will exist once this construction is all over in a few years might not be terrible.  While it's becoming clear that the Settlement and Clementine Beach will be significantly altered, I have yet to walk around a single resort at WDW where I thought to myself "good Lord this is awful!".  I believe they will create a beautiful place.  Different, no doubt, but probably pretty darn nice.  I too grieve the loss of what was a peaceful Settlement, where I enjoyed sitting on the porch with a drink while the kids played.  But I have other peaceful places in my world.  And I'm hoping we will see a nice combined area with enhanced amenities for the benefit of both resorts.  This talk of "our beach will become their beach" rings hollow with me, because I don't see Disney running a fence through the Settlement with razor wire to keep us out.  I imagine additional areas to walk around, like at many of the other resorts.  Yes, there will be more people.  That's a given.  But hopefully it will be nice to visit additional shops, grab a beverage at new bars with outdoor dining areas, and still have our peaceful campsite to relax at (and possibly some additional amenities to come in the Meadows area).   

Until I see otherwise, I am giving Disney the benefit of the doubt with this resort.  Let's face it...the Fort of our youth has been gone for over a decade, if not two.  The peacocks, train, trams, River Country, etc are never coming back.  But what will exist once this construction is all over in a few years might not be terrible.  While it's becoming clear that the Settlement and Clementine Beach will be significantly altered, I have yet to walk around a single resort at WDW where I thought to myself "good Lord this is awful!".  I believe they will create a beautiful place.  Different, no doubt, but probably pretty darn nice.  I too grieve the loss of what was a peaceful Settlement, where I enjoyed sitting on the porch with a drink while the kids played.  But I have other peaceful places in my world.  And I'm hoping we will see a nice combined area with enhanced amenities for the benefit of both resorts.  This talk of "our beach will become their beach" rings hollow with me, because I don't see Disney running a fence through the Settlement with razor wire to keep us out.  I imagine additional areas to walk around, like at many of the other resorts.  Yes, there will be more people.  That's a given.  But hopefully it will be nice to visit additional shops, grab a beverage at new bars with outdoor dining areas, and still have our peaceful campsite to relax at (and possibly some additional amenities to come in the Meadows area).   

Sometime's when it's time to turn the page to another chapter in life, we resist mightily.  We are supposed to move on to a new, exciting phase in our lives, but we can't get there if we hang on to the past.  Perhaps your last RV purchase was that....it was time to move to the next chapter but you weren't ready and you were hanging on to what was.  I know I tend to do that.  But now it's time to jump with both feet and find out what is in store for your family.  I bet it'll be every bit as fun and fulfilling as those camping trips to the Fort....just different.    I hope you stick around here to let us know what you are up to, and how your family is doing.  

Sometime's when it's time to turn the page to another chapter in life, we resist mightily.  We are supposed to move on to a new, exciting phase in our lives, but we can't get there if we hang on to the past.  Perhaps your last RV purchase was that....it was time to move to the next chapter but you weren't ready and you were hanging on to what was.  I know I tend to do that.  But now it's time to jump with both feet and find out what is in store for your family.  I bet it'll be every bit as fun and fulfilling as those camping trips to the Fort....just different.    I hope you stick around here to let us know what you are up to, and how your family is doing.  

Sometime's when it's time to turn the page to another chapter in life, we resist mightily.  We are supposed to move on to a new, exciting phase in our lives, but we can't get there if we hang on to the past.  Perhaps your last RV purchase was that....it was time to move to the next chapter but you weren't ready and you were hanging on to what was.  I know I tend to do that.  But now it's time to jump with both feet and find out what is in store for your family.  I bet it'll be every bit as fun and fulfilling as those camping trips to the Fort....just different.    I hope you stick around here to let us know what you are up to, and how your family is doing.  

Sometime's when it's time to turn the page to another chapter in life, we resist mightily.  We are supposed to move on to a new, exciting phase in our lives, but we can't get there if we hang on to the past.  Perhaps your last RV purchase was that....it was time to move to the next chapter but you weren't ready and you were hanging on to what was.  I know I tend to do that.  But now it's time to jump with both feet and find out what is in store for your family.  I bet it'll be every bit as fun and fulfilling as those camping trips to the Fort....just different.    I hope you stick around here to let us know what you are up to, and how your family is doing.  

I wouldn't be surprised if it reopens with a sponsorship.   Pluto's Bark Park, brought to you by Pedigree.