Cortezcapt (Derek)

2 hours ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

I'm liking this no pics report.  Thanks.

 

Thank you

2 hours ago, caveat lector said:

What do you mean no pics....I think you are painting p8ctures with words. Nice work 

Haha yeah I had just planned on a short little we were there and left report. But then I got bored and it turned into a long winded report lol.

16 minutes ago, Beckers said:

Enjoying your report, I hope your momma is doing well.

Thank you. She does a little better each day, will be having surgery on the 7th. 

Ok I'm very late but I'm in. Looks like y'all had a great time so far. If US had a campground they might be in the running for us, or a every other year thing. Unfortunately we love the Fort to much. 

2 hours ago, CCIntrigue...aka Gwen said:

Enjoying your TR!

 

Thanks Gwen, I only wish I had your photo skills and had remembered to empty my memory card before we went.

Ok I have time so I'm going to continue on. 

It's Thursday, I love my friend to death but she wakes up between 4 and 6 am every day, I wake up between 8 and 10 most days. Well I have got her to wait till between 730-8 before she starts texting me to see if I'm awake and want coffee. (Because when I do wake up I'll come get coffee, you really don't need to ask or give updates on the coffee). It was a nice cool morning so we relaxed and waited for her kids to arrive, had coffee, showered all that good stuff.  Around 1030 they said they were stopping at the store did we need anything, TONIC! My friend had bought them the 3 day Florida resident pass they had on special and added the park hopper to it, we had set up some fast passes at AK and lucked out in getting 3 for Flight of Passage. I hadn't been on any of the avatar rides yet.

Well after some unpacking and relaxing we decided to head off to AK. My mom decided to pass was a little worn out from the day before and just want to enjoy the Fort. So off we went with our trust popcorn bucket, we were prepared. Got to the Outpost looked at the tv 20 mins for AK buss, hmm ok we'll hang out. Oh look a HS buss let's get on that. Wondered around HS and decided to check the times on Rocking rollercoaster short wait maybe 20 mins the CM said so we got in line. Now here my friend didn't want to go, shes not a rollercoaster fan. Well we convinced her to wait in line with us then finally to get on the ride, she survived! But said no more. Odly tower of terror had a much longer line so we decided to skip it and head over to AK, but not before getting the popcorn bucket filled. Time to find our bus, wait who has the water, oh we weren't prepared at all. All 4 of us forgot to bring water, well after an expensive vending machine visit we we're prepared and refilled our bottles throughout the day.  

Made it to animal kingdom in plenty of time to stop at 2 photo passes before our firts fast pass at dinosaur. Ok I dislike this ride, it's pretty much just voluntary whiplash. After that we decided to go on dino spin to kill some time before our next fast pass. Well my friend didn't want to go so she was going to refill the popcorn bucket (twice because in the 15mins it took us to get through she had eaten the popcorn). 

Next it was off to Pandora and Flight of Passage. This was the first time I have seen Pandora and I have to say I was impressed. So we could only get 3 fast passes for FoP so I was willing to forgo it so the could all go together, I'd go another time. Well we got up to the entrance and the CM asked why one wasn't going we told here she asked us all to scan our MBs and said have fun. There's some pixie dust, we didn't even ask if we could get an extra person on..  so FoP I liked it, though I found it to be a little blurry, not sure if it's the screen or the glasses they make you wear. Oh and the vibrating can be a little different....... But overall I really liked the ride. I don't think I'd ever wait in an hour+ line for it, but there isn't much I would, I will look for fast passes for it though. 

Next we headed to Everest, and hit the single rider line. I think the 3 of us got the same train and were on in less than 5 minutes. Everyone loved it. 

Time for more popcorn, water refills and a slow walk to the Safari. We stopped by to see the bats seems like every time I go to see them their closed. We this time they weren't and it was just about dusk and they were starting to move around, they did come through tell us we would have to leave as they were closing that area. Ok had seen the bats, I live bats! Safari we were about 15 mins early for our fast passes but the standby line was only 20 mins so we went to the fast pass entrance, nope come back in 15 mins or go stand in standby is what I was told while my friend's son who scanned at the other CM was told he was a little early but could go ahead. Well when the CM I had gone to saw we were all together she said no. Ok we tried. Oh look corn on the cob, my friend and her son took off to the corn stand while his wife and I discussed the fact we didn't want corn stuck in our teeth so a soft pretzels is what we split. 

Best Safari ride ever! Glad the didn't let us go earlier. We were the first truck on the "night" route ( now it's been awhile so I'm not sure what the difference is if there is one, but she kept telling us we were wait for approval to switch to the night route.) I will say it's the most active we have seen the animals and the closest we've seen some. Could have reach out and touched a rhino. 

Well after Safari we were ready to go back and have some food. Hopped a bus back to the Fort and grilled some cheddar wurst and pigged out other than a pretzel and popcorn or corn and popcorn we hadn't eaten all day. 

Tomorrow is Epcot and yehaa Bob.

1 hour ago, Travisma said:

Any trip report is good, with or without pictures.

Just think all of the things you got to see in person and not thru a viewfinder!

Very true! Since they have been so nice to throw in photo pass photos as a "perk" (of paying more) for annual pass holders we tend to take them up on there generosity as much as we can. So I do have lots of pictures from the trip but they are of all of us and I wouldn't subject y'all to a trip report filled with pictures of me.

Had a nice gentleman come over to help guide me into the site, that's  one thing I like about camping is how friendly a lot of other campers can be. Got set up in record time especially since I was setting up alone, relaxed for a little bit then realized the morning trip to the scooter store had taken the place of grocery shopping. The only food we had was the premade dinners that were planned for other nights. Well I didn't feel like going to Publix and cooking so we headed off to Port Orleans Riverside for CS build your own salad, we love these and can usually make a meal and a snack out of them. On the way back to the Fort a check engine light came on. Dinner, a quick glance through the trucks manual then off to bed. 

Woke up to rain on Tuesday that ok, only thing we had planned was to relax, make salsa and a trip to the grocery store. Then I remembered the check engine light, well I wanted to get a tarp to cover the scooter since I had forgot the cover and didn't want to keep having to take it apart and put it the trailer. So found an advanced Auto parts, Walmart and Publix all close to each other and headed out. This is where I forgot about the handy car care center! Well got the code read p203c Reductant Level Sensor Circuit Low. Called Gator Ford our dealer and ask what it was, "you can bring it in" ok but I'm in Orlando. So I start try to find dealerships in the area that can look at it. No place would look at it tell Friday at the earliest. Hit Walmart, then dawned on me car care, so gave them a call, sure they'd read the code again, see if there was anything they could do or refer us someplace else. Now I'm panicking, we have to be back home by 1 the next day for an appointment that can't be missed or changed. Start the truck, check engine lights gone, hmm drive to car care center thought there was another entrance missed it had to go around again. Ugh a great day! Anyway get there the hook everything up, um no codes showing up. Great, I give up. Headed off to Publix get stocked get back to the Fort and realized I forgot tonic water. Oh well no gin tonight. 

After a sandwich and a short nap decided to go to the Contemporary and watch the fireworks. First time see the new ones from anywhere other then the Fort, met a nice older couple and watched the fireworks with them. On the way back to the Fort there were 10 people including our captain on the boat (I think may have been 1 or 2 +/-) well everyone was from Florida and 6 of us from the same area including the captain, 4 of us went to the same highschool just not at the same time, weird! Was time for bed wanted to leave early in case anything happened to the truck on the way to the appointment in the morning.  Made it safe and sound no lights, warnings, everything was working perfectly, picked up some thing from the house made the appointment and we were on our way back to the Fort. Called our friends to find out where they were and they were just pulling in. 

Got back to the Fort and heated up one of our premade dinners for us and our friends. He had to go back home to work and planned to come back up on Friday, she would stay the rest of the week and had her son and DIL coming up the next day for a night.

Well after dinner we check the time and figured we could make it to the MK in time for the fireworks, which we did and got right up in front of the castle. Well this was great till some ladies decided to come stand right in front of my mom in her scooter and put kids on there shoulders, several people around us made comments to them so they sat the kids on garbage cans off to the side so my mom had a little better view. Now I know many people loved wishes and so did I but I have to say I actually liked the new show from inside the MK. I don't like it as much from the Fort but I think that because I knew wishes so well I knew what was going on even if I couldn't see it and I'm no where near that point with this new show. After the fireworks we hit the Tiki room, followed by the jungle cruise with a great CM. Now I love the jungle cruise, the corny jokes and all and you can have really good captains, this one was. Unfortunately later in the trip the one we got just fell flat really flat!   Then they wanted to go to the hall of president, after some stalling and whining from me and another stall by buying a popcorn bucket we got to the hall of presidents and something went right for me on this trip, it was closed! Oh darn guess we'll have to hit the haunted Mansion. Well my mom decided to forgo the ride so we left her with the popcorn bucket, ooops we left her with an empty one, somehow we 2 of us scarfed down the whole bucket in the short walk to the haunted Mansion. Well a quick walk on to the haunted Mansion a refill of popcorn and we were back of to the Fort, but not before stopping and getting some freshly made cotton candy. For the dog of course, although she begrudgingly shares with us. Well that ends Wednesday, think we hit the rack after that preparing for 2 arriving in the morning and some fast passes at AK

14 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

Sounds like Adam needs to blow some pixie dust up the first idiot's butt.  What was her name?  I'm picturing Large Marge.  

Unfortunately I was so annoyed and frustrated I didn't write her name down and can't remember it.  Had a CM say they should be able to look it up. 

We got about 15 miles from home and a tire pressure light came on in the truck followed by some beeping. Got off on the next exit and pulled into a plaza. Let's get to book out and see, well it appeared to be a tire pressure sensor malfunction light. Checked the pressure in all the truck tires everything was good looked again lights gone. I thought well the truck is probably made is been ignored since October, went from a daily driver down to being periodically started and driven a few blocks a month. So back on the road. Made it to the Fort with no other problems and got to experience the new bypass/road, so much easier than having to go through the booths. Got to the guard shack at the Fort, "welcome home, go right up to one of the check in lines". This is where it all started to go down hill. We have stayed at the Fort many times not as many as a lot of people on here but this definitely wasn't our first Fort trip. Pull up and right into a open lane, turn the truck off and I excitedly greated the CM (it's been a hard few months, we're at Disney/Fort Wilderness, our happy place I'm excited) in return I got a very flat welcome to fort wilderness. Hmm ok people have bad days, even at Disney.  Gave her my information, and explained I had forgot to do the online check-in, which has never been a problem before, and that it should be marked on our reservation that we were traveling with another group who would be checking in on Wednesday. Her response "that's nice but I don't see anything about that, if they have a reservation they'll get a site". I'm then told we hadn't been assigned a site yet and asked if I had a preference, well 900 is my favorite loop right now so that what I asked for. She grumbled out a few site numbers and asked which one I wanted, none were near each other so I asked if there would be one close by any of those for our friends. She huffed and puffed and finally said she'd call and find out where to put us. Next she hands me the book and starts listing off site numbers like an auctioneer. This is were I'll admit at this point there was no one in line behind us or behind any of the others in line. After another phone call some very rude comments that I'm not sure if I was supposed to hear or not and a "ya know I don't have all day here" I just picked a random site and said I'd take it.  We had added a couple people to the reservation after our MBs had been sent, oh so these bands weren't ready and she couldn't get her thing to work, she'll have them sent to our site. Gave her the credit card, and off we went. Now all of this took about 20 mins. Long by not nearly as long as I have had to wait before. I was so annoyed at this point by her attitude that all I wanted to do was get away from her. 

So off we went to a site in the 800 loop, this is new never stayed in 800 before. Drove around the loop and saw lots of open sites, unfortunately weren't thrilled with the one we picked so after towing the trailer through the loop twice I found 2 empty sites I though would be perfect for us and our friends. Back up to the Outpost parked the truck and trailer and went inside this is what saved the day! Walked in and a CM I believe his name was Adam (have it written down so I can write giving him kuddos) called me up to his area and asked how he could help, so I explained I didn't care for the site we were assigned and asked if the sites we liked would be available, sure enough he looked, showed me in the book, offered a couple other sites that might work as well and boom we were done, sites changed, site next to us added to our friends reservation. Simple, easy, happy, what you expect at Disney! So happy again and full of Disney spirit we headed back to our site to set up.

So before we left I had all intentions of taking lots of pictures and writing a trip report. Well that didn't happen, my phone didn't want to stay charged, and the memory card was full in the camera. So I just decided to write a little about our trip. 

In October 2017 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, scheduled for surgery. Well the day before surgery the Drs decided to postpone surgery and do chemo first for 8 doses over a 16 week period followed by surgery. 

Fast forward to her last chemo day where I thought we need a break, Fort wilderness is her happy place let's see if I can get a reservation. We have friends who have blackout dates so I called to make reservations for the day after blackout lifted. Woohoo we got Monday-Friday at the Fort. Let my friends know and they called and booked Wednesday-Sunday, well looks like I need to add Saturday, no problem all booked and ready to go. 

The time before the trip was filled with her recovering from chemo, slowly getting a little stronger everyday, Drs appointments to get everything set up for surgery and me trying to get the trailer that's sat since October ready to go between taking care of her, my grandfather and work. Needless to say I forgot to do online check-in this was probably my first fail. Had a Drs appointment that couldn't be changed that was scheduled for Wednesday, well we tossed around the idea of cancelling Monday and Tuesday, or just cancelling Monday, her riding up with our friends on Wednesday but that through a whole nother issue in that she hasn't driven since she started chemo. Well we decided to just go up on Monday and drive home Wednesday for the appointment, it's roughly a 2 hour drive give or take. 

So off we went to the Fort. Got up the day we were leaving had everything packed, some meals pre made and my grandfather calls wants me to go to a store with him. Ok it's still earlier than we had planned to leave. So I go get him and he directs me to a mobility store, (we have a small scooter that my mom previously used to get around the parks or places she'd be doing a lot of walking because of bad knees, but it was very old, needed new batteries and wasn't overly comfortable for her) well he decided she needed a new scooter since she's having even more trouble getting around right now and severe neuropathy from one of the chemo drugs. An hour later I'm packing a new little bit bigger but still collapsible scooter into the trailer. Thank you grandpa! Of we go still on our original schedule. Look out Fort Wilderness we're coming!

9 hours ago, LONE-STAR said:

If you buy windshield make sure you buy a folding windshield

And this may be just my preference but we have one that's tinted it's great during the day but I can't see out of it very well at night if it's up. So I'd go with the plane clear one and folding. They are pretty easy to put on and take off.

Love it, but am I the only one that cringes a the thought of having to transport, set up, take down, clean, transport home and store those! Yikes 

Welcome and congratulations on the new TT.

That's just crazy, never had any Disney restaurant say that before. I've had them say there are no tables and have had them make us wait a few mins even when there were plenty of open tables, but no walk ups never heard such a thing. 

1 hour ago, LONE-STAR said:

I don't remember when they reopen but them being closed turned out to be a real pain for us over spring break. Not being able fill up with diesel before we left got us stuck in a ton of traffic.

I bet, kinda a bad time for them to be closed.

58 minutes ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

Here's what the news article said:

"No specific reopening date has been released".

I'll have to remember to check the fuel Saturday night and fill up before we hookup on Sunday.

Forgot to add.

Look to see if there are any RV shows in your area, they can be a good place to see lots of different brands and floorplans.

If looking at new ask if they have any previous year models leftover. We got the same floorplan we had seen at an RV show but at a much better price for buying a previous year model they still had on the lot and we're trying to get rid of to make room for the new ones coming in. 

I never had a GAG. Actually have only ever eaten breakfast in Trails End. Hmmm

On 3/26/2018 at 7:08 PM, LONE-STAR said:

Depending on when you are going the gas station by MK will work  for you but it is currently closed for remodeling.

This is the station we use if needing to fill up the truck before heading home. Never had a problem getting the truck and 34ft trailer through there, although have had to wait a few time for the diesel pumps. 

Glad I read that they are closed for remodeling, any idea when they'll be reopening? We have a trip planned the second week of April. 

On 3/26/2018 at 10:43 AM, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

The grand plan is find more land, less house, lower cost of living... so we can keep affording trips to Disney. 

 

I like the way you think.

On 3/27/2018 at 11:25 AM, Travisma said:

I hated that part also.

You know there is a smaller train ride in Parrish Fl that has specialty events. 

We went there years ago for Thomas The Train Engine and it looks like it's back for 2018

http://www.frrm.org/

Ya know I've never been to the one in Parrish. When I had horses we used to board out there, but never did the train. 

Everyone has given great advice. 

It seems like a lot of people I've talked to (myself included) always say "in my next rv I'll get ______" .  so starting with a used one give you a chance to see if you'll use it, and what options you might want or be able to do with out in the next one. 

Think of your family and what you plan on taking along with you, space you'll need for sleeping and ect. Then when you walk through you can imagine how you'll use the space and if it will suite your family. 

Also another thing to take into consideration is storage for the rv be it a travel trailer, 5th wheel or motorhome. Can you store it at home, what space restrictions do you have, if you can't what's the cost of off site storage in your area. 

If you're looking at travel trailers or 5th wheels figure out your weight restrictions before going to a dealer, sadly I have seen many sales people look at a vehicle and say oh yeah that can tow it no problem, when I knew there was no way. Don't let them sell you on the fact the dry weight is under your weight restrictions, you need to think of how you'll use it and the loaded weight of the trailer. 

Rvtrader.com is a great way to check prices at other dealerships as well as look for used RVs. We drove about 200miles to pick up our first TT, it met our weight restrictions and what we were looking for in a trailer at the time, not to mention the price. Craig's list is also another good option for finding used RVs in your area. If you do a Google search you'll find a lot of good info on things to look for in a preinspection of an RV. 

If you are buying a new trailer out of your area I would call the manufacturer of the trailer and ask if they have someone in your area that can do repairs and warranty work.

If you find a brand or floorplan you like do a Google search for that brand and floorplan. There are a lot of forums out there now for rv owners and it'll give you an idea of issues or things people like or dislike about that brand or model. 

Most importantly enjoy the search and enjoy your new RV!

Am I the only one who likes illuminations?

I'm not sure I like the show in total but I like getting up close and being able to feel the heat from the flames. 

Edited to add.

That being said I wouldn't be opposed to a new show. 

Sounds fun, I didn't know anything about this train. 

My one question will there be flying monkeys??????  Wizard of Oz was my great grandmas favorite movie and she would turn it on for me/her all the time, still to this day I still have not watched the parts with flying monkeys. They scared me to death as a kid. Haha

20 hours ago, bdm said:

I'm the same way, we usually grab breakfast or evening snack at the camper.  But I think most eat a meal or two each day at camper where hotel visitors eat all meals out.

When we used to do road trips and stay in hotels we almost always had a cooler along with sandwich meat and snacks  to eat on the road but also at the hotel. 

I think it all comes down to how thrifty the people are or want to be. I'm sure some that camp at the Fort eat all their meals out sorta it's vacation why cook, while others might not buy anything from Disney to eat or drink. It's also probably the same for the hotels although I'm sure the hotels have far more that eat out. 

Also people with cars are probably more likely to go off property to eat if they are at a hotel or campground. 

That's the one thing I dislike about cruises is the amount they charge to park at the ports. 

I don't like places that add on all kinds of fees. I don't want to have to read through all the fine print to find out how much it's going to cost me. Just give me the total and I'll know that anything I charge to my room will be extra.  I've seen places around here charge resort fees, parking, and cleaning fees and by the time you check out your bill is the same if not more than another nights stay. Its the same way at some campgrounds too having to pay for wifi, or one place near here charges 5.00 extra a night if you're going to run your AC or heater, it's Florida there's maybe a hand full of days that people aren't going to run one or the other. 

This is just a money grab by Disney, it's not like they have a shortage of parking at most of the resorts. Maybe the resorts around the MK do? 

I run ours on electric but turn the gas on when we someone is going to shower. Haven't had an issue with running out of hot water, though I don't take hot showers.  Might need to give it time to recover between showers.