Avatab.... Steve

At the end of this process, it will be like trying to cram 10 pounds of you-know-what into a 5 pound bag.  The resorts exist to service the customers of the Parks. Until there is more capacity in the Parks they will just continue to get more and more crowded on more and more days. There is already almost no "off-season" anymore.

Disney has already been experimenting with controlling demand, how much more crowd-shifting can they do?

I cannot believe that they haven't considered building in Texas or another part of the USA to serve the obvious demand that exists. I know that's risky and it's easier to kick the can down the road and continue milking their already existing cash-cow, but how much longer can they keep doing that?

10 hours ago, Travisma said:

Disney is looking at purchasing Twitter.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/technology/ct-report-disney-considers-buying-twitter-20160926-story.html

 

Like a few other people that have posted on other sites, maybe they should take this money and upgrade their parks!

Agreed. 

All businesses have to balance investment with profits, gaining future customers without losing existing customers.

It seems like lately Disney is taking its parks and its existing customers for granted and concentrating on maximizing short term gains.

They have gotten away with that relative neglect so far because the demand for the parks is so deep. The question is how long can they do that?

I am hoping the company pendulum eventually swings back to another period of park expansion soon.  

Who knows, maybe this is a distraction and they are secretly scouting land on the Gulf Coast of Texas....   

20 hours ago, keith_h said:

Who needs Youtube when old westerns have taught us all you need is a bottle whiskey and a pair of pliers or Bowie knife to take care of any medical emergency?

Correct!   Surgeries and baby deliveries were best done in the back of a moving covered wagon LOL 

And the modern DIY equivalent is that you only need a roll of duct tape and a can of WD-40.

If it moves and it's not supposed to, use the duct tape, if it doesn't move and it's supposed to, use the WD-40    

The part of this that jumps out at me is that this was one break in one pipeline. What happens when there is, God Forbid, a real problem?

If the energy supply for an entire region is so fragile that it is disrupted by one failure in one subsystem then what would be the result if there were two or three failures either natural or man made?

I know you can't plan for every contingency but if your entire area is dependent on a single supply source for fuel it's time to start building more pipelines.

12 hours ago, bhall said:

Waze is awesome until it takes you down a narrow country road with a one lane covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and you have to back up with the 5er.  Don't ask me how I know.

I own a Rand McNally 7715 but I didn't have it on that trip because the charger cable for it got broken a day or 2 before the trip.

 

A couple of years ago we followed our older Garmin to the Bull Run Park CG outside Wash DC and wound up on a residential road that was a narrow, winding, hilly with blind spots. To avoid hitting trees on the sharp turns we had to be over in the middle of the other lane and several times I couldn't see if anyone was coming the other way. (We were towing our Jeep, and there was no where to even stop safely never mind turn around) So I just slowed way down and prayed every time we went around a corner or over a hill.

It was a very tense few minutes....   

When we got to the CG, they said "oh, we have a lot of people complain about going that way, you should have taken the other way in.."   LOL

Anyway, that's when I decided I wanted a GPS that knew we were in an RV.    

13 hours ago, JMSisko said:

Is the difference in features worth getting the 660 instead of the 760?

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Good question.  If I was shopping right now for an RV GPS I would get the refurb deal at GPS City for the 760 because of the larger screen and it would actually be less than the 660 (new) There's also one on Amazon I just found for even less at 269.00 refurbished and it qualifies for Prime (no shipping, no tax):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CZ6WFXM/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished

You might be able to find an even better price for the 760  (I haven't seen any 660 refurbs yet) or maybe find a non-RV model with the same 7 inch screen but with similar features.

It comes down to which features you need and what size screen you want.

The 660 has a 6 inch screen, which wouldn't work as well for me since I have the 760 attached to the glass a good distance from me (If I stretch I can reach it, but not a good idea when driving  )   The older one is a 5 inch screen and I have that velcroed  to the instrument panel right in front of me so the smaller screen is fine there.

I just switched to an AT&T unlimited data plan for my cell phone and they threw in a "free" 8 inch tablet also on the unlimited data, so I think I will see if I can mount that somewhere we can use it in the RV.  Maybe have Google Maps running so we can switch to satellite view or street view as needed.

If I'm not careful the Motorhome is going to start looking like an airliner cockpit   

And I should have added that I also like the voice command and lane assist features on the 760.  It works well, much better than their older units and it's very nice to not have to try and reach the right button while driving.

And the lane assist is VERY handy when coming up to an unfamiliar intersection.

Pretty sure both of those features come on some of the less expensive models too. 

1 hour ago, djsamuel said:

I've been looking at the RV 660LMT from Garmin.  Do you find the RV specific features worth it?  I noticed some of the Garmin Nuvi GPS systems they offer have all of the same features with the exception of the RV routing and RV related POIs.  The price is about $100 cheaper (give or take) so I am wondering whether it is worth the difference.  Both have things like voice command, blue tooth, traffic, proper lane alerts, etc.

Do you find the RV specific features useful?

I do like it, and I do use the RV features somewhat, but I mostly like the large screen, the ability to see what services are coming up, and the traffic alerts. All of those things you could get in a non-RV GPS, or even use a tablet or smart phone if you had the right app and data plan for it.

I do still like having a dedicated GPS (in my case two of them) that I can leave in the RV.

If I had to do it over again, I would still get the same one if it wasn't too much more than a same-sized screen Garmin.  I don't think I would pay another 100 over.

Looks like GPS City has both and the RV760 is 30 dollars or so more than the RV660.  The 760 has a bigger screen, but the newer 660 has some features the 760 doesn't (at least until the next firmware upgrade)

http://www.gpscity.com/compare/rv660lmt&rv760lmt

on edit:  Looks like they have refurbished 760's on sale for 279.00 or 50 less than new  

We have had the RV760 for a few months now and I really like it.  I have had Garmins for years both at work and in my own vehicles. The few times I have tried other brands, I have gone back to Garmin. (Magellan, Tom Tom, etc)

I don't have any personal experience with the Rand McNally, but when I did my research the Garmin was getting much higher marks from RV'ers.

It has a great big screen with lots of options, the traffic warnings work well and the Garmin has a good database for RV use: Campgrounds, Rest Areas, truck stops, visitor centers, etc.  It will also alert you if there is a possible hazard on your route. (Sometimes it works too well, it will ding everytime you use a road that it isn't sure is "safe" for RV's, including entrance roads to RV parks...  LOL!)

Having said that, due to long experience I don't trust any GPS completely. I always have a map handy, and eyes open for low bridge signs if off the interstates.

One tip that helps me a lot is to have the RV760 zoomed in to show what is right in front of us for the next couple of miles and to have an older Garmin on the other side of the dashboard zoomed out to show the bigger picture:  State lines, towns and cities, highways and their intersections.  That way I can see at a glance if we are still on the best route for the area.

If you search around, you can usually find the RV760 on sale for a better price than Amazon. I think we got ours from "The GPS Store" online IIRC.

On 9/13/2016 at 0:54 PM, Cortezcapt (Derek) said:

We have an Epson scanner that does all the slides, negatives, pictures and such. It was a very time consuming feat to scan 12 slide reels, plus several boxes and a briefcase full but finally got them done. I can't off hand remember the model of the scanner but it can be loaded with 4-6 pics depending on size at a time and once you get the spacing down it will scan them as separate pictures instead of one page. What we did and I plan to do when I start scanning pictures again is to set it up on a rolling cart with a laptop and take it out to the living room so they can be scanned while watching tv in the evening. Our pictures are a jumbled mess so I just downloaded them to one folder (unless they are in an album) then sort them later into years or events. I also like to keep them backed up on 2 portable hard drives, one that staying in our go box for evacuation or to grab in an emergency and another for general use.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Thanks Derek, that's the type of scanner I have, an Epson V500. It's great for small jobs but I am hoping to avoid having to use it for the tubs and tubs and tubs of family memories I have.  I must have 10-15 or more plastic tubs of negatives, prints, and also boxes and boxes of slides that my parents took way back when.

I even have stacks of CDs loaded with pictures from the first gen digital cameras I had, and I have no idea what to do with those either....  LOL!

Now, instead of CDs, I am collecting ziploc bags of CF and SD cards full of pics.

I agree with TCD, I wish I could send all this off to be done for me, but it would cost a fortune  

That is a really good idea about the rolling cart and watching TV, I may end up doing just that, thanks.

Apologies to Doug for the sidetrack  

On 9/13/2016 at 0:14 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

No.  I've looked into it before, but everything I've seen looks like it will take me forever.

I recall that DIT once recommended a scanner to me that he said was quick and easy to use.  I saved that information somewhere, but it still seemed like a lot of work.

I also looked into places that offer to scan and digitize boxfuls of stuff at a time.  Those places sound too good to be true, and would add up to a lot of money.

It's not a high priority for me, but it is something I'd like to get done. 

TCD

I've been promising myself for the last five winters that I would tackle this.....

I think the trick is to find a quick but accurate scanner, maybe with some kind of auto-feed. Or failing that to get one of the "scanners" that are really cameras that have good ratings, are fast and will take all sizes of film and prints.

If DIT or anyone else knows of a good one of either kind I would like to hear about it.      

56 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

First I have several boxes of negatives and print photos that I've put off digitizing.  I really need to get to those.  We took a lot of photos back in those pre-digital camera days, and they are not very well organized.

TCD

A quick OT question:

I have the same problem, boxes and boxes of negatives, prints, and even trays of different size slides....

I have a nice flatbed Epson scanner that will do the job, but it will be slow work.  I have also seen some photo digitizers on Amazon that would be quicker, but all of them seem to be glorified cameras that take pictures of your pictures.

Have you decided what your method will be, and is there a solution that will give good results while also being faster/easier than a manual scanner?

It's interesting that they are filling in the pool but otherwise not touching anything.

To me that indicates that there are no plans anytime soon to develop that area. After all, why fill in what you are planning on removing?

That wouldn't make any sense unless there will be no more work done there for quite awhile.

But then again this is Disney, so who knows....    

28 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

This all sounds good to me. 

Especially the secret lair. 

TCD 

Captain Awesome seven point four?    

3 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

 

 

I pictured TCD fidgeting in his chair in front of the computer with his car keys in his hand. 

 

And that's why we know we can always count on you! 

We need a "TCD" Bat-signal to shine in the skies over the Fort whenever he is needed.....

(A Big-A** Bat Signal! Awesome!  I think I just tied 3 different threads together  LOL! )

On 8/23/2016 at 11:08 AM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Now you watch yourself- that's Captain Awesome 7.3 you're calling a wimp!

TCD

Now I am picturing a huge "7.3" flashing in the sky whenever the city needs to call CAPTAIN AWESOME!....   seven point three.....    

10 hours ago, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

I think people are upset because:

1) Your first post on a board shouldn't be to complain.

2) You're threatening to make a stink about off-site rentals which will hurt lots of people... Not just Kenny.

I own my own now, so I don't rent from him, but I always had a good experience. I know he takes credit cards as payment, so why not just dispute the charge? If you never talked to him, how did you give the cart back? Just curious.

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You make four very good points.  Why didn't he just dispute the charge? And who did he return the cart to?

I will say this, I have also used Kenny in the past and while he is great in person, he is hard to get on the phone sometimes.

17 minutes ago, Tuke said:

No doubt we don't want to leave money on the table, but nothing leaves more money on the table than a frustrated or disenfranchised consumer.

I agree, the problem here and now is that Disney has more customers than it knows what to do with so they can "afford" to lose a few, or even many....

In a traditional business when demand outpaces supply, prices will rise temporarily until that business increases supply or a competitor enters the market to satisfy the extra demand.

Disney has chosen instead to "manage the demand" rather than increase supply (new parks) and it's competitors also haven't done much to take Disney's share of the market.

Universal has had success with Harry Potter, but like Disney with Star Wars they are using that to enhance their existing (already crowded) parks.

Until that plays out or a competitor like Universal opens a park in Texas for example, we will see more of the demand managing via playing with prices and new sources of profit like transportation, etc.

The result is that Disney will keep looking for ways to further separate people into classes: Those who can afford the extras and those who can't.

I'm not sure Walt would be too happy about that approach....

We are deep into the Lego stage here. I need to make sure my son doesn't see this....   LOL  

Then again, being a younger boy he is much more into building Lego spaceships and tanks at least for right now.

Hopefully, if/when he reaches a Castle stage (probably with lots of cannons and fire-breathing dragons if I know him) it will be on sale or on Craigslist.  

The box is impressive, I am looking forward to seeing pics of the finished product.  

On 8/9/2016 at 2:17 PM, rtguy007 said:

Well the rocks are in and the fence is going up. Still a lot of yellow vests standing around. Looks like a government job site to me.

 

The extra vests are forming a human fence in case any crazed irresponsible campers see the fence down and try to break through to open water......

Looks like they have multiple layers of defense.  Where are they on Halloween or busy pool days when we need them?

I'm guessing that the next thing they will do to save us from ourselves (and save themselves from lawsuits) will be to install side guards on the water mice.

They will gladly rent you all the "water toys" you want, but for Gods sake DON'T TOUCH THE WATER!  

22 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I'm not faulting you at all.  Who knows, maybe the new manager will surprise everyone and do something about it.

....  You would think some changes would be made then, but, despite repeated assurances that the management heard the complaints and would do something about it- nothing has been done.

We will probably have this same discussion next year.  And the same thing will happen.

TCD

How true.  

The Fort is such a great place in the off season, or mid-week, or after a holiday exodus. Even though there are still lots of campers there it's not a problem because it's comfortably below what the Fort was designed for.  It's only when large numbers come in and "take over" that the Fort starts to not be so great.

All Disney sees is that they have lots of money coming in, and as TCD said above, they know there are plenty to take the place of any of us who don't come back.

So they fill the Fort to capacity and beyond, or as my grandfather used to say: "Ten pounds of you-know-what in a five pound bag"....  and if you are there to enjoy a nice vacation, too bad!  Disney has left you at the mercy of the party people who care nothing about you and your family.

As far as expecting Disney to do something that will actually make a difference? A guest quote in The Unofficial Guide said it best awhile back:  "Disney is a pleasure to deal with when things are going well, but when things don't go well it's like trying to talk to a brick wall".

(And BTW, much respect to Rich and the others who take the time and effort to try and convince Disney to do something concrete about this. I really do hope you are successful, but based on the record so far, Walt's original idea of an affordable peaceful place for families is just a distant memory that has been replaced by a very different set of priorities...)

On 8/2/2016 at 8:37 PM, momof3kids-Yvonne said:

I have a friend in Florida who organizes a scout trip to the Fort every year. This was not her group. I shared the video with her and she was appalled at the behavior. I don't believe all groups should be banned from going just because of some idiots.

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If you re-read what I posted, I never said that all groups should be banned..... I only said that they were the source of the majority of complaints at the Fort.  I also said that Disney should hold them more accountable, and if they don't reign in their own members then they should be banned.

If your friend was appalled then I doubt her group causes any issues, but there are some that do and they make everyone around them miserable for days on end, then Disney invites them back again because their very-large check clears....

If it were up to me, I would create a larger set of group areas and require that any group of unrelated people (pick a number, maybe more than 10 people for instance) either use a group site, or rent an entire loop so as to not bother the small families and couples who are minding their own business and trying to enjoy their very expensive vacation.

No-cart List is right!  I would go one step further and Ban the entire group. It's bad enough they let their own kids do this but what lesson are they teaching all the other kids?

I've said it a million times:  Large groups of unrelated people are the largest source of complaints at the Fort.

Yes, individuals and small groups/families can act badly as well, but it's the large groups where the problems become truly bad.

Disney should make it clear to the leaders of any group that they will be held responsible financially and possibly banned from the Fort if their group generates complaints that go unresolved.

Too often we see the same groups year after year do the same things with no real consequences to their behaviour.

On 7/30/2016 at 0:55 PM, bdm said:

It plays through with no cost.  Its an interesting story, wish they would do a video so you can SEE the drawings and locations they are talking about.  Sounds like there will be a part 2 to this podcast in the near future. 

BTW the original Walt Idea for the hoop-de-doo review sounded amazing with all the different areas and changing stage.  

I am also looking forward to Part 2 of this.

They also mention that when they were scraping together men and material to get the Fort built that they "re-appropriated" stuff from all over WDW (even taking desks and file cabinets at night from the Legal Dept! ) and then they would hide things in the swamp near FW to be used later at the Fort as needed.

Made me wonder if that's where those two mine cars came from and how they wound up lost in the woods....  ?

Nope, no cost. I just listened to that episode and a couple of others from the same source.

BTW, I thought it was interesting that the podcast states that Walt originally wanted TWO campgrounds at WDW and that he proposed River Country as an add-on to the Fort and NOT as a stand-alone park. Apparently he wanted to have something novel and fun to sell to the campers (and extract some of the extra dollars they were saving by camping).

I know Jim Hill has a reputation for playing fast and loose with facts, but I still thought it was a very interesting show, especially, as Tuke said above, the part about the Fort being a forgotten note on a napkin until it was almost too late....  Sounds like the Fort has been an afterthought at WDW since Day One!   

They also said that they had to immediately double the size of the Fort because of the unexpected demand.  It must have been something to have been there when new loops were opening just as fast as they could build them