lklasing

10 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

When we went, there were periodic announcements being made about when the show would start. Right at the 15 minute mark, everyone stood, and there was suddenly a lot more space. When this happens, try to find a spot where you won't be behind a giant or a guy who is going to hoist his kid with a poopy diaper up on his shoulders. 

TCD

Awesome.  Thanks! 

On July 14, 2016 at 9:07 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Hey Leslie-

As far as I know, it does seem to be at 9:30 every night through 8/21, and then it looks like it will be at 8:45 from 8/22 on.  I tried to find a schedule isolating just this event, and wasn't able to- but you can check dates here:  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galactic-spectacular/

So far, I've only been to this new show once.  That was just with Twin #1, so we were a party of 2.  We arrived at around 9:00, and walked as far as we could toward the stage.  At that time of night, guests are sitting on the ground saving their spots, and you have to navigate your way through these people to get to a good spot.  That was OK to do with two people, but it wouldn't work too well with a large group.

The best parts of this show are the projections, lasers, and other special effects that you can see on the Chinese theater building and the adjacent facades, so you want to be in that big area in front of the stage, with the new projection buildings behind you.

If you have a large group, you may need to be those people who find a place and sit an hour or more before the show.

And, I personally wouldn't do it, but there is a dessert party where you will pay a premium, but get a reserved spot to view the show.  It might be worth it to splurge on this if seeing this show is a big priority.https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/07/the-force-is-strong-with-star-wars-a-galactic-spectacular-dessert-party-at-disneys-hollywoodstudios/

TCD

Perfect info!  

Last question - am I reading this right that people stay sitting wherever they are, or is it a thing where people are standing for the whole show?

Thanks, TCD!!

Did it open back up yet?

Thanks for all this info!  I came here this morning hoping to get info about exactly this.  Is the show at 9:30 every night?  I'm having a hard time finding it on the online schedules.

Also, what time do you think we would need to get there to get a good spot without feeling like we will die in the crowds.  We had an incident similar to DIT's at the MK a few years ago where we were in a walk way (trying to walk) but completely packed in and unable to go anywhere.  Ray wants to avoid something like that happening again at all costs and I'm trying to balance that effort vs. getting to see the show.

Thanks for any info!

I got behind but am now caught up again.  And like Dory before, me, I had all sorts of great comments to make on several prior posts, but they're gone now.  

It looks like the twins had a great birthday celebration and like it's not over yet.  :)  

One question I remember intending to ask - You mentioned earlier about requesting loop 100 for a cabin.  I've always heard that they only give those to people staying short term (a night or so), so they will be available to a VIP if one were to come around.  But y'all were clearly there for several nights.  If we had just one cabin reserved for this upcoming trip, I'd think we might have a shot, but I'm guessing that getting both of the loop 100 cabins would be too much of a longshot.  But it's still something to think about...

Looking forward to more updates!

4 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

There is no conventional oven anymore.  Instead, they provide a convection/microwave oven.  I've never used one of these, and there were no instructions around, which could be a problem:

 

First, awesome rundown of everything in the kitchen!   Very helpful for planning.

Second, I'm guessing you didn't bake anything in the convection/microwave.  I'm wondering if anyone else reading has.  I know that several family members are planning to cook (casseroles, lasagna, etc.) while at the cabins this summer, and I'd love to hear if anyone has had any luck with these new ovens.

3 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Hey Leslie!

Wow!  What a trip that's going to be.

I suppose you know that the cabins have all been pulled off of the 2100 loop, right?  That's going to make it interesting as far as y'all trying to get a campsite close to the cabins.

I'm still planning the rest of June and early July, so I can't say for sure if I'll be around the Fort toward the end of July, but chances are good I'll be at WDW at some point that week.

Yep - this one is going to be a biggie.  Should be wild and crazy but fun.

I was so disappointed to hear about 2100 no longer having cabins.   Last time we did the 2100/1100 combo and it was perfect.  This time, the cabin people will just have to work a little harder to hook up with the camping people.

Hope to get to see you!

Oh my gosh - you're my hero!  Marathons and ultras - that's serious stuff.  I've done 2 marathons and lots of halfs, but don't think I'll ever get to the point of ultras.  

You're even more my hero for wanting to run in every resort!  That's one of my favorite things to do at WDW - run around resorts!  I've probably run at about 10 of them while either staying there or close by, but making it to every single resort would be amazing.  I can't wait to find out if you did it.

Page 2!  That's pretty good for me.

Good to see you still doing TRs, TCD!  I've been off the boards much more than I've been on lately, and am glad to see you still here.

Happy birthday to the twins!  I'm really looking forward to hearing about this trip - we've got a similar one coming up with a campsite for my dad's trailer, 2 cabins and a villa at VWL.  19 of us in total, including an infant.    I'm scared but excited.

Finally, I totally agree with what you said about things looking so different in DS.  We love Morimoto and I just can't place how that body of water is now where it is.  I'm really excited to get to escape the family for a while get to check all the new stores out one day on our trip.

Let me know if you will be around the Fort any between July 21-27.  Would love to get to see you again!

Thanks, TCD!  That looks perfect.  So glad to know about this now!  :)

The bus ride to the lodge from the fort and back is not bad. It's the only bus ride we do in all of disney.

We enjoy the ride and it's our only bus use as well. The walk from the bus stop to the lobby is short enough we don't need to mess with the scooters.

Such good info!  I've never ridden the bus to the lodge so that wasn't on my radar screen at all.  Thanks!

I agree.  Especially if you're on a loop served by they Yellow bus route.  The Yellow bus route travels through the campground and then becomes the Wilderness Lodge bus when it gets to the Settlement bus stop.  If you want to go on to the Lodge, you can stay on and go directly there.  On the way back, once the bus gets to the Settlement, it turns into the Yellow bus, and heads through the campground all the way to the Outpost.  Since the bus uses a direct bus-only road between the Fort and the Lodge, it gets you there faster and easier than driving.

 

TCD

Also very good to know.  We are hoping that everyone will be in either the 1100 or 2100 loop so that's not quite on the yellow line (if the routes haven't changed since the map I'm looking at), but I hope we will have a golf cart also in play, so we could just get someone to cart us to the yellow bus stop and make our way back.  So much better of a plan than walking or biking in the dead of night...

I hope for your sake that it's not so late at night that you have a problem like we did on New Year's Eve when no internal buses came to the Settlement bus depot. Make sure you find out how late the internal buses and the FW to WL buses will be running.

I saw your post about that.  Sounded crazy.  Hopefully that's an aberration like TCD said.  Plus, I doubt it would be too terribly late for us to be going back.  We hit the parks hard each morning so I wouldn't expect to be staying too late at night - just late enough to not want to walk back in the pitch black.

Just found this thread and am glad for the input.  We're going to have 18 or so people from 11 months to 74 years on our trip this summer   and transportation to and around the Fort is definitely going to be an issue.  Everyone except about 4-5 of us will be staying at the Fort in either a trailer or one of 2 cabins.  The rest of us (including my niece, my DDs and me) will be staying at WL.  We'll all be having meals together at FW and I expect it will be late at night when we are ready to return to WL.  Since so many people are flying, transporting bikes down there will be difficult and it sounds like a golf cart just isn't likely going to work for our purposes.  I'd hate to have to take a bus each way.   Maybe I can talk someone into taking us back and forth in my dad's truck.  

I'm so excited about this trip, though, so it's a fun problem to try to figure out!  :)

Thanks, y'all!

I'm starting to work on another big family trip for next summer.   :)  I'm finding info that loops 300-900 and 1600-1900 are pet friendly but I don't know how current that info is.  I know that I've seen dogs in 1100, but I don't know whether that was something that is officially allowed or if they just didn't get caught.  My dad will have a fairly big RV so I'm thinking he'll need a premium.  Some of us will be staying in one or more cabins and we'd all love to be as close to each other as possible.  

Any chance 1100 is a pet loop?  

Thanks for any thoughts!

Leslie

I'll be there in a week and definitely plan to try to figure it out.

I don't think anyone mentioned it yet, but think there is a new chair in the den. I don't remember there being anything like that before.

Wow! Those are really interesting!  I agree with the comment that the couch doesn't fit the wilderness theme, but overall I think the changes will be for the better.  Having a queen bed will be a big improvement.  I will definitely miss the oven though.  We are usually at the cabin with my dad's camper nearby, so we'll be able to cook there, but otherwise, losing the oven really takes away people's ability to cook real meals there, which I would think is one of the big benefits of staying there - not having to buy all meals in the parks.

Thanks for the pictures, Jason!

ETA - Does anyone know the timeline for the rest of the renovations?  We're hoping to return to the cabins this summer and would love to stay in one!

Don't need the site but sad you guys can't make it.  Hoping to see you guys again in March.

Me too!

Check with Jen (AuburnJen)

Jen and I got everything lined up.  Thanks!

Is anyone else out there wanting a campsite?  I'd be happy to give anyone who wants it our site 60, but if everyone is set, then I'll just cancel it.  Let me know if you want it.

Y'all have fun!  

Hey y'all - I'm totally bummed but we're not going to be able to make it.    We've got a church thing all week that week that Ray and I are in charge of.  I knew about it when I reserved but somehow thought it would work out to do both, but that's just not going to happen.   If it weren't so far away, I'd come for a day trip, but it's just a little too far to be able to pull that off.

I'm really bummed as we had a great time last year and I was really looking forward to seeing everyone again.  Y'all take lots of pictures and don't forget about us!  I'm really hoping to join up with everyone again soon.  Hopefully back to DeSoto again in March?  It looks like they didn't close that park like they had threatened to earlier this year.

Hey everyone.  We may try to get over there but not sure the stars have aligned yet.  Checking recreation.gov site so know everything booked up.  Also, not sure we would be trailering or just tenting.  For now, just watching the thread and checking site.

You're absolutely welcome to site 60!  

Either way we will make sure you get in. 

:D

If you want we can put your names on our site too so you will be able to come and go easier. They really crack down on people coming into the Fort at that time of year. 

Wow - that never occurred to me that we might have a hard time getting into the Fort.  I guess I'm just used to either staying there or visiting at less busy times.  I may take you up on your offer!  Either that or just find out which site you're in once you get there and then throw your name around to get in.  :)

I know we will be at the beach NYE watching fireworks hopefully along with other fiends so join in. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds perfect!

Seventh page bragging rights!  So much I missed but think I caught up on - Too many traffic cones!  New cart parking! Awesome FW prints!  Amazing lightening!  A Donnie sighting!  And even more!

As always, I'm enjoying your report and looking forward to more.

We're not staying at the Fort, but will be at WDW from Dec. 30 through Jan 3.  Would love to get to see some of you!!

I'm not sure what anyone is planning or even what I will be doing, but I would love to meet you!

I would love to meet you too!  Please definitely reach out if you're going to be around then!

There are a few fiends at the Fort for New Years Eve. We usually watch from the beach at the Fort with the music piped in. A lot quieter than going to MK. Epcot will have a special tag at the end. DHS also does a big party and fireworks. 

 

There is a Chirstmas GG thread going I believe. Check in on there. I am sure we will have some kind of GG even if not on NYE.

I saw the Christmas thread but haven't read it yet.  That makes sense that some of the Christmas people could roll in to the NYE weekend too.  I'll definitely jump in over there.

Just like you said, I was trying to think of a sane place to watch fireworks and that's when I thought about the Fort.  

Thanks!!