Santa ... Shannon

Fabulous!

One thing - "Site Maps

Please do not post this placemark on the GoogleEarth Community site as we need to retain editability of these markers. Please visit the camping forum at the DISboards for the latest version of this data set."

Yeah, the project-status site will need some major re-work to get it up to date. I was more worried about getting the info in post #1 right, and getting the GE data up to date. Thanks for reminding me that my work is not done though! LOL

The links have an extra http:// in them.

Thanks, I fixed the links in the original post.

Along with the help of a few 'operatives' (TCD, FlaFortCampster, DisneyBishops, Tiggntaz, and others) I have developed a resource to address a particular need in the Fort Fiend community:

Every map available for Fort Wilderness only list the loops numbers and they are not drawn to scale... until now!

Announcing the Fort Wilderness GoogleEarth Site Map. This is still an early version and there are many improvements to come, but I wanted to release it now to keep others from duplicating my efforts, especially due to the recent interest in such a resource. Since there are improvements to come, my prime request is that you not redistribute the .kmz file (GoogleEarth placemarks file), but feel free to send folks to the website to download it for themselves. This way, folks will always know where to go for the latest version.

Another request, use this information for good, not evil! Seriously, if FW suddenly starts getting tons of requests for specific sites they may decide to stop honoring such requests altogether. Besides, the chance of a particular site coming available to coincide with your check-in is pretty remote during all but the slowest seasons. So the suggested method for getting the type of site you want is: list the things you want in a site, suggest a loop that you think accomplishes those goal best, and then perhaps mention a couple of sites that you think would be ideal.

As I mentioned above, there are many improvements to come. The most recently completed was to update the 600 loop to match the newly expanded configuration. Next will be to add the cabin loops.

I am very excited to hear your feedback as to how this resource could be improved. Much more information about the project and plans for the future are on the webpage. So, are ya ready?

A Brief Tutorial:

First, you must download and install GoogleEarth software from here. If you have done that already and can successfully launch it and see the satellite imagery, then you are ready to use my file.

The next step is to download my placemarks file from here. To get started, I'd recommend getting the Fort Wilderness.kmz file. It is smaller than the Fort Wilderness.kml. Once you download the .kmz you should be able to double-click it to open it. If you get an error message saying you need to pick an application, find GoogleEarth to open the file.

My file is a set of data that gets mapped into your GoogleEarth. Once it is opened you should see a folder in the left pane under Places called "Fort Wilderness". If you see two (or more!) "Fort Wilderness" folders you would do well to select and delete them all, and then re-open the newest one.

If you double-click the folder, your view should shift as you fly to Fort Wilderness :banana:. The initial view is a high altitude position to see an overview of the whole Fort, like this:

From here you can use the hand to grab the view (just click and drag), or double-click anywhere to zoom in a bit. The more you zoom in, the more info you'll see. For instance, you will see the loop name first, but if you zoom in you will see individual site numbers.

Here you can see the loop numbers:

...and here you are close enough to see site numbers:

Note also, that as you got closer the big marker for the Meadows Recreation Area was replaced by the individual attractions in the rec area (the Sing-a-Long and Bike Barn can be seen in that last picture). If you see a site name that is underlined in the Places pane, that site can be clicked on to show more info... usually a picture of the site, like this:

You can try to click any icon you see, and there is often more info that will pop-up. For instance, of the three icons you see in the overview the Settlement and the Meadow have pop-ups with video in them, whereas the Outpost one is merely a marker and has no pop-up.

For instance, this is what you see if you click the "1500 Loop" icon:

That is a loop tour video (compliments of Tiggntaz) and some other info about the loop, including average walking distances to Fort features.

If you put your cursor in the top right of the view, navigation tools will appear which will allow you to manipulate your view, in just about every way conceivable (pitch, rotation, elevation, etc).

But the best advice of all is to play around with it... you can't break it! You'll be amazed what you can discover. Under the Places pane, there is a Layers pane with TONS of cool stuff to explore... try turning on 3D Buildings and check out the Disney Parks! Here is the 3D view of the Meadows area:

Enjoy, give feedback, and use it for GOOD!

I'd be sure to request the outside of the loop (water side) since many of the inside sites back RIGHT up to the sidewalk and road. Also note that the loop does not have it's own comfort station, and there are none close by, either, so it's best to have your own usable facilities or a golf cart.

On our last trip in 2009 Christmastime, we went to California Grill and it was about the best meal we've ever had at Disney... and dining is the main attraction of WDW for us so we've eaten at most of the better restaurants. We had stellar service, too. That said, I would not have enjoyed the atmosphere in the main dining room, loud and crowded. We were fortunate to be seated in the Wine Cellar which was dramatically quieter, roomier, and intimate. The view is far less dramatic, basically looking out over woodlands with MGM in the distance instead of the dramatic view of the MK. But that was the ONLY negative of our CG meal.

In season Sears and Kmart have surprisingly good selections online. I also got some good Disney bits from Walgreens and Lowes. Walmart generally has very little by comparison. This time of year you'll have to resort to eBay or CraigsList.

Which loop is the best. And would anybody be willing to sublet their site for a couple of afternoons? (smokers, cussers, and folk who won't loan bikes need not reply)

this is probably gonna sound lame but I miss the animation studios.  There was something very cool about walking through while they were working on pictures or just painting the cells.  I was very disappointed to find out they'd removed it.

Nowadays DHS is my least favorite park, even though I like ToT, RnRC, TS, LAM, F! and of course, Osborne Lights. The theming just seems pretty thin there, the layout is screwy (the only park I ever need a map at!), it just feels like Six Flags to me. I think the fact that the theming is huddled around individual attractions rather than areas of the park really hurts the "Disney-ness" of the park. The sorcerer's hat, if anything, detracted from the theming, IMHO.

I don't know, which is more relaxing, having a predetermined schedule that you set up at home, or racing through the park at rope drop to grab a fast pass for X and then racing somewhere else to meet your party to ride Y and then hoping the wait for Z will be short enough during the parade to do standby? Disney did a good job developing a workable fastpass system, I bet they can make reservations work... The hitch is they are lousy at web development, so that part of the implementation might be the Achelies heel.

I would like to see Tomorrowland Speedway get a major rework, and a Cars theme overlay. Swap the noxious gas carts for electric, and use embeded guidepaths to keep them on track instead of rails. On board sound effects (revving, peeling out and squealing brakes) and vibration effects could make the electric cars cooler than the gas ones ever were. Roadside animatronics and Monument Valley scenery could turn this from a dated snoozer to a crown jewel.

I just wanted to protest that in their day Journey to the Moon and Mission to Mars were very enjoyable. That and Dreamflight were real highlights of Tomorrowland for me. And, Alien Encounter was thrilling (horrifying), perhaps a little too much so. Prompting Disney to tame it down, all the way to making it a snoozer. Besides being boring, I dislike Stitch, so this attraction earns the Waste of Space Seal from me.

Also earning the Seal: Wonders of Life pavilion, Journey into Imagination pavilion, the huge "storage room" in Germany that was supposed to be the Rhine River ride, Rafiki's Planet Watch (zzz), Sounds Dangerous (revert, please), all the studios warehouses that are just props now that production has moved out, and the Odysey restaurant's prime real estate.

I asked Feisty about this, figuring she has had more "interactions" with the Fort about decorations than probably anyone, and she was assured that the restrictions will be to keep decorations within each campsite and out of the common areas. Apparently they are concerned about folks congregating by the roadside, or at least that's the story. The only folks I can see this really affecting much are the "over-achievers" in 1600 (as I like to call them), which is a shame. But they do get a ton of carts parking on the road to look at their display.

Consider also how they are going to get to the pool, also. Bike riding along the main roads can be dangerous (lest we forget).

El Rio del Tiempo!

LOL, just kidding! I'd have to go with Soarin'. The trip just isn't complete without a flight over Cali. Course, the trip isn't complete without Pirates, and HM, and RnRC, and ... well, you get the idea!