Avatab.... Steve

Even the Facebook groups related to Fort Wilderness have really slowed down.  I think the pricing and the difficulty getting reservations while there are so many new RVs has taken some of the appeal away.  

For me, we've actually lost some interest in Disney and the Fort. The uptick in prices, the fact that we can no longer buy an annual pass at present, and the pandemic, has put a damper on our enthusiasm for things Disney. (Especially since we just traveled cross country for three weeks, for less than a week at the Fort)

Am I the only one that likes to wing it?  who knows what I'll be in the mood for to eat or what ride I want to try 3 months or more ahead of time let alone that very morning.

Hey, y'all!  I'm back!  And my little finger is working better now, as you can tell. I have about 4" of incisions on my elbow,   I had a severe case of ulnar nerve entrapment in my elbow that was corrected.  Basically I had the same thing as carpal tunnel syndrome, only it was in my elbow. I ignored it too long, and it was to the point that it was either surgery or lose the use of my hand.  
I'm 10 days post surgery, and you wouldn't believe how well I'm healing.  I was unbelievably blessed with a wonderful surgeon, no pain, not even having to take pain pills after surgery, just everything went so well.  
Anyway, in 10 more days, if everything goes as planned, we're scheduled to make another quick trip to WDW, thanks to a wonderful friend you all know, but there are some circumstances that make this next trip iffy.  Anyway, I want to get this TR wrapped up before the next trip starts. 
So over the weekend I'm gonna try to make a huge dent in finishing it.  

Sadly, Gwen... yes.  Millions in our country have handed over their freedoms and liberties, in exchange for fear.  Common sense and educated reasoning has been replaced with mindless belief in the main stream media and many in our government.  A virus with a 99.9% recovery rate for an overwhelming majority of our population.  A belief that covering our faces not only does any good, but that it’s only about a virus.  Businesses ran for generations by families, destroyed because we allowed those “in control” to have too much power.  These same people will do as I’ve said for almost a year now... continue to force more control, they will push to mandate a vaccine that will be incredibly dangerous (have you seen the proposed bill in NY?!), continue to drive out the middle class and push billionaires to an even higher status (keep in mind this last “stimulus” gave MILLIONS to Walmart, a company that reported a gain in 2020 over their 2019 earnings).  Unless we (Americans from both major parties) recognize that elections are not honest, that our vote can be pushed aside...then our republic is lost.
 
If Americans do not wake up, if those living in fear do not step out and realize that they are being lied to, our country will crumble quickly into a totalitarian society.  It will happen and our children and grandchildren will pay a gut wrenching price.  If 2020 showed us anything....it showed us just that.
 
Love you, Gwen.  I’m sorry to jump in on a trip report....man, we miss the Fort...we desperately miss the innocent days of our greatest “problem” being how we’d get a reservation or make rope drop...we desperately miss our country.   

But those guests can see the lake perfectly. Screw the campers. This new resort layout pisses me off so bad. I wish the first version was being built. 

Yet another private viewing area for Happily Ever After.  They keep squeezing out the poor slobs who "only" purchased a park admission ticket, setting aside multiple prime viewing areas for those paying extra charges for the various dessert parties, dinner parties, etc.  Making matters worse is the choice they made when crafting HEA to replace Wishes to include all of the projections, making the real estate in front of the castle even more desirable.  That decision has led to the escalation in property values we are seeing in front of the castle....people are willing to pay more and more just to secure their spot, when in years past you could get the same essential show from multiple locations throughout the park for Wishes.  This is like a corrupt City Councilman voting to place a subway station right next to the apartment building he owns, thereby driving up values and rents.  Disney changed the show, molding people's viewing habits and creating increasing competition for a select few viewing areas, then cashes in by selling access to those areas.  
The Mouse is a greedy SOB.  

The year of a Million $chemes continues.
 
For only $29.95, get your Skyliner commemorative Depends before boarding for your jaunt in the sky! 
Changing rooms are to your right.
Family packs (2 adult, 2 children) are available at a discounted price of $110.00.
PS, no refunds.

You would think so,  but most of these are unpainted. I say it's to make way for freestyle cart parking 😂

My sources tell me they are replacing all of the existing fencing with chain link, as a means of testing the waters and conditioning Fort guests to accept this type of fencing.  Eventually, they will circle the Fort with chain link fencing, with barbed wire on top, as a deterrent to keep campers from entering the grounds of Reflections as well as the Four Seasons.  Although a memo to be delivered to Guests upon checkin will note that the fencing is designed to keep gators out of the camping loops.  

I would be amazed if Disney had that level of organization or even has access to that information.  Actual Police Agencies have to jump thru hoops to get and keep access to State and Federal Firearms databases. Any abuse of that access is a Federal Offense and can get your entire Dept kicked off the net.
And don't forget that this is the same outfit that can't train it's Security Guards to give the same answer twice let alone enforce rules evenly.
I mean, what are they going to do if you say "No" to any of their questions? Are the Security Guards going to bring out the portable Lie Detector?  Are they going to start waving RV's into a TSA type vehicle search?
There's a reason most of us in Law Enforcement call this stuff "Security Theater".....
 
 

Why does the foot hassock look like a hidden Mickey 

Not only is it a waste, but a crappy thing to do to your kid! I can’t imagine getting my kid all done up and then saying 2 mins later saying  “times up! Lets undo everything!” Poor girl. 

This guy is a shining example of why people mistrust and dislike the media.  Not only reporting bad information but doing so in an elitist manner.  

Here's a part of a thread I started quite a while back.
Maybe it'll give you some insight.
 
Article in todays Tampa Bay Times.
 
Family is at the Tampa RV show at the fairgrounds.
 
Here's the link to the article
 
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/more-people-can-live-in-an-rv-than-you-think/2161382
 
And here's some more info about them.
 
Follow the adventures of the Kellogg family at KelloggShow.com. They also document their travels on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
 
 
It sounds like they have the true family camping experience going on. :jumpforjoy
 
I love this quote from the mom...
 
People often ask Susie Kellogg how she can live in an RV with 12 children.
 
"We don't 'live' in here," Kellogg said from the couch of her 1999 Georgie Boy Cruisemaster. "We just sleep here. We live outside."

And country fans...
 
SeaWorld adds Grand Funk Railroad and more to Seven Seas Food Festival lineup
Two additional weekends were added to SeaWorld's Seven Seas Food Festival, including a performance from "American Band" Grand Funk Railroad. 

The slew of new concerts, running through April 29, will include sets from:

Nicky Jam - April 21
Tracy Lawerence - April 22
Grand Funk Railroad - April 28
Josh Turner - April 29

The festival also offers parkgoers a unique culinary experience with fare from around the world. You can learn more about the festival and menu items here.

Ok going to try and post some pictures here through Flickr. My son and I stayed at this place in Elizabethtown KY. It used to be a KOA but is privately owned now. We had a good time, even though pretty severe storms blew through one night. All things considered we had a good time and will probably go back sometime.
 

One of the Skyliner towers in the Studios parking lot this weekend:

No, this isn’t a Star Wars reference. My family spent Spring Break at Universal Orlando! Can you believe it? Can you also believe I’d never been there? Yep, it’s true.
 
Z turned 9 the day before we left. He’s into Harry Potter now, and he’s tall enough to ride most of the rides. As a result, we decided it was time. And what’s more romantic than spending your 15th wedding anniversary at a theme park? Ha!
 
We celebrated Z‘s birthday with a HP themed party a week before we left. Here’s a picture from that day.
 

 
I also have a weakness for over the top cakes.
 

 
I don’t have as many pictures as I would usually take for a trip report, but I have a good number. I can also share my thoughts on how Universal compares to Disney World. There are some things they do way better, and some things not so much.
 
If it sounds OK, come hop on the Hogwarts Express!
 
 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True, kinda like the $58 a night partial sites at the Fort.  One Wednesday the first week of March. 

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/04/05/universal-announces-details-on-new-resort-endless-summer
 
Universal announces details on new lower-price resort, Endless Summer
 
photo via Universal This morning, Universal Orlando announced the name and a few tidbits about their upcoming resort and hotel complex, Endless Summer.

The resort will be a combination of two hotels, Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites. These two hotels will be Universal's first lower price-point properties, with one-bedrooms starting at $73 a night, and two-bedroom suites starting at $111.  photo via Universal Despite the lower price, guests will have the same access to the parks that other Universal resort guests have, such as early park entry and free shuttles to and from the parks.

The first of the two hotels to open will be Surfside in the summer of 2019, while Dockside is scheduled to open in 2020. 

The two hotels are said to have a beachy surf theme with a "relaxed and easy vibe" which is no surprise considering they share a name with the famous 1966 surf documentary The Endless Summer.   photo via Universal

Just looked through the May issue of Trailer Life and there is an article about camping at the Fort. Boy, with it as hard as it is to get reservations there now, the Fort does not need this kind of publicity! Oh, and the top of one page is titled "Fort Wilderness "Fiends"". 

My motorhome self-identifies as a tent.  It's a little concerning at times but who am I to judge.   Maybe some of those people you saw in 2000 are going through the same thing.  I've been told it's best to let your RV express itself, and if staying in a partial site will show it the proper level of love and support, not to mention save a few bucks, I'm all in favor.   

Because 7 ate nine?