This pic was posted on a FB page.  Mercy... this is SO sad.  The trees are all gone (this is where the barn was) and now you can see the Lodge!    Notice the sweet deer, on the left side of the picture, on the small mound of dirt.

This hurts my heart....

7 hours ago, cynnich said:

I love Best Friends at Disney. They have wonderful staff taking care of the dogs. If you get a suite or villa you can even check in on your pup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you!

1 hour ago, wdwpoohbear...Jennifer said:

When I go on vacation and have to leave my dog somewhere, instead of a kennel, I have found this couple who boards dogs in their home.  The couple I found are fantastic.  The wife is a vet tech and the husband is a dog trainer.  They live on a few acres and on top of having their own dogs/boarding other peoples dogs, they foster dogs and have other animals like chickens and goats.  My dog loves there and I swear she would live there permanently if she could.  I don't know if there is something like that in Orlando or by your house...you could look around now by your house and have your dog visit a few times in the time before your cruise.  Would that be a possibility?

Thank you, good thoughts.  I don’t know that finding something here would be the best fit, simply because we’ll probably camp before and after, so the 3 night need (for the cruise) would end up being much longer if we left him here. 

Having said that, I have had a couple of Fiends reach out to me and offer up solutions for taking care of Simon there in FL ❤️

The Fiesta has offered to put us in a lot, farther out, for the $40..... but after talking to so many, the North VIP sounds like one to take.  However, we did a day at the MK this past trip and hate to say it:  we missed the parks.   So, I think we'll use the money we would have used to go to the balloon fiesta, to save for tickets (probably not APs, but regular tickets).

Honestly, this would have been more for Tom and I;  I think the kids would have liked it, for a couple of hours.  Plus when I asked them if they'd rather do the fiesta or a couple days at the parks... the Mouse won.  LOL

We are doing another cross-country trip next summer so, that will be huge adventure.  On the list for this trip:   Glacier, the Oregon coast, Crater Lake, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore (plus lots in between, including fantastic family time) ❤️

On 11/8/2019 at 9:00 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

If your dog has to go to a Kennel, the Best Friends is a good choice. The TCD dog, Rocky, stayed there a few years back and loved it. Very clean. Nice facility. Great staff. 

Make sure that your dog's shots are up to date. They require proof before they will confirm your reservation. That's a good thing. 

Congratulations on your cruise!  There are some DCL experts amongst the Fiends. I ran into a Fiend on our July cruise and I know he's taking another one for Thanksgiving. The TCD gang will be taking our third DCL cruise for this year in a couple of weeks- so seriously ask away. 

TCD

Thank you.

On 11/10/2019 at 9:11 AM, Beckers said:

Nacole!! You on a boat! I’m so proud (and surprised!) 

I know.   It's still a good 13-16 months off, so I'm trying not to think about it.  I may have to start drinking... which I know will make some Fiends happy 

On 11/8/2019 at 8:26 PM, Grumpy and Grandma said:

If I remember correctly the FL Turnpike only accepts the SUN PASS or the EZ Pass Plus (or what ever the 18 state is) if that is where you're getting your bills from.  They don't recognize the standard EZ Pass which is good on the other Toll roads such as 429, 417 and 408.

Thank you.

16 hours ago, tim5055 said:

One of the most confusing things is tolls in Florida... The majority of the country has figured tolls out, join EZ-Pass - No, Florida has to do their own thing and confused it while doing it. So, understand there are multiple toll agencies in Florida. The two you will deal with the most are the Florida Turnpike System (their toll transponder is called SunPass) and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (their transponder is called E-Pass). But, the Central Florida Expressway Authority accepts both EZ-Pass and the Florida SunPass.

 

So, those of us who have an EZ-Pass account from out of state can't do everything with EZ-Pass.

 

So, what do we do? Well, originally I just broke down and purchased a SunPass. When traveling the Florida Turnpike/429 to Disney this will work the entire route. But, if you have an EZ-Pass you must put it in the RF cellophane bag to keep from getting “double billed” when you travel on Central Florida Turnpike Authority roads. Their toll plazas will read both tags and bill both.

 

So, if you don't have a SunPass as you travel south on the Florida Turnpike stop at the first turnpike service plaza (Okahumpka Service Plaza Mile marker 299 on the turnpike). They have a toll pass vending machine or you can purchase the pass at the plaza store.

 

The SunPass comes in two styles, a stick on pass that can not be moved from vehicle to vehicle or a plastic transponder with suction cups that can be moved from car to car. Once you have your transponder you need to set up an account. They have you covered here as well. You can either use the free WiFi at the service plaza with your device to set up the account or they have an account kiosk that you can use. You will need to “deposit” funds in your account, but you can use a credit card to do this.

 

Now, I have changed. The Central Florida Expressway Authority has now come out with an E-Pass Xtra. The Xtra is EZ-Pass. So, this one pass will cover all tolls in Florida, the few tolls in Georgia, the few tolls in North Carolina and the 18 EZ-Pass states.

 

You can set up “limits” on the account, so lets say when you account gets to a $10 balance they can automatically charge your card for XX dollars to bring it back up.

 

 

https://www.cfxway.com/

 

Good tips, thank you.

1 hour ago, alexwyattmommy said:

Have you thought about having a house sitter?

Then your dog could stay in his own home and they could try to follow all your normal routines with him.

I had thought of that, but I don't know that we know of anyone (that would want to come live in our home... they might allow him to stay with them).  Plus, the cruise will only be 3 nights and we'll (probably) camp there and back.   Truth of it all is, this darn dog that drives me up the wall, from the person who will tell you that she is NOT a dog person... it makes me sad to think that he might be sad.

Darn dog.

1 hour ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

I don't know how the Georgia website works, but on the FL Sunpass website, I can add the trailer tag.

The only thing I can figure... is GA doesn't allow it, because you're not allowed to pull a camper in the toll lanes.  What stinks, is we bought the silly thing, to (primarily) use while we're in FL.  Put $50 on it and now I keep getting a bill from FL.  Guess we'll just need to buy a Sunpass (or the 18 state transponder).  Probably the easiest.

3 hours ago, Seals said:

As someone who has had a little bit of a panic about being on a cruise ship, I hope the fantastic time you are going to have will override any of those anxiety feelings. One thought about the kennel is there any way you can test leave your dog there on a prior trip so he's familiar with it a little bit when you have to leave him for real?  May be good for both of you. I'm thankful my shelter dog feels that going to the kennel is like going to home so he's pretty good with it.  But even he needed some getting used to the people there and the smell of that particular place.  

 

Thank you.  I too hope and pray that the cruise goes wonderfully.  This is something special for my parents, or we wouldn't be doing it... LOL.  I know Tom and the kids will love it at least 

I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm not sure how it would work for two reasons:   1.  we don't live near Disney, so he could not get used to the smells at that kennel or with those people and 2.  even if he didn't like it, we're kind-of stuck because he has to be watched somewhere.  Ugh.  Hopefully we figure it out between now and then.

4 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

No.

Thank you.  Hopefully that's the same for us, when we go (gulp).

15 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

We did.  Also they may send you over to Riverside since they have  more parking area depending on the time of the year and how busy they are.

Good to know!  Is there a charge for leaving your rig there?

11 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

They definitely have in the past. 

Thank you!

8 hours ago, keith_h said:

I don't know the specifics for the Disney kennel. Every kennel I have dealt with in addition to rabies and DHPP vaccinations also wanted Bordetella within 6 months of stay. The best thing is to call them and ask what they require so you have time to get any vaccinations they might require so you can go over it with your vet.  

Edit:

Here is the link to Best Friends Pet Care and it covers their WDW facility.

https://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/location/waltdisneyworldresort/vaccines

Thank you.  

So... as I've mentioned, it looks like I'm going to have to get on a (DCL) cruise boat, which will be a huge thing for me (insert panic attack here).  As anxious as I am about getting on the ship, our little hot-mess of a dog is ultra-neurotic, so leaving him will be HUGE deal.   The thing is, he hates...hates being left.  He's such a love and is super cute (his two saving graces... LOL), but we have to drug him, to leave him.  

Not quite sure what we're going to do with the little guy, but considering the kennel down the street from the Fort as I think we'll do a couple of days at the Fort with our trip.  

Any feedback on the kennel??   I have ZERO experiences with dog kennels, so I know... nothing.

2 hours ago, keith_h said:

I thought Disney would let people park their RV's in the overflow lot if they were staying at the Fort as part of a DCL trip so some of those long term RV's might be related to that. I also wonder if some might be there prestaged for their preferred RV rental vendor. 

See... I didn't think they would.  Mom and dad want to do a family DCL trip next year, with a few days before/after at the Fort.  I need to find out if they'll let us keep our rig there.

13 minutes ago, Travisma said:

Or the full sized RV/motorhome that was shoehorned into a partial site.  Someone on FB said that if the full/premium sites are full Disney just puts them in the partial sites.

Yes!!  Actually... that one frustrated me because with our "smaller" (still 34' but smaller than the 40' we had ), we could fit into several of the sites in the 1500 loop and would GLADLY do so, to save money.

Ugh... oh well.

On a completely different note... but close to the back gate... I still don't get all the RVs that site in the overflow lot:  for DAYS.   Heck, we saw one RV (early morning and then very late at night) parked with all the other cars (have no idea where all these people were) on the grass once you've entered the Fort and started towards the loop (by the TOAD drop off);  that RV had a slide open and appeared to be "camping" there for the night. 

16 hours ago, keith_h said:

I'm not sure about Georgia but the NC Quick Pass system I didn't have to register my trailer it reads the truck's transponder and bills based on axle count. I haven't tried it in Florida yet but we had no problems going up to New England. It sounds like Florida isn't reading your transponder. Possibly a dumb question but are you sure yours is working or compatible with Florida's system?

Pretty sure as we've been charged when going through tolls without the camper.

15 hours ago, Travisma said:

Maybe because all it can see is the trailer tag?

 

I imagine so... but the transponder is on the front windshield, so I figured that's where it grabbed it from.  I keep telling Tom to cover up the RV tag when we get close to the turnpike, either that or write a big note that says:  PEACH PASS 

6 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Totally understandable.

I hear the cart issue.  We were in 500 the last time Halloween was a Saturday.  We ran out of (40 lbs) of candy in an hour and figured we might as well go visit some Fiends.  Our site was just about halfway through the loop.  It took us 30 minutes to get the cart out. 

On a different note...the 500 loop this year had a Coco theme with a live Mariachi band.  It was fantastic!!

On 11/1/2019 at 9:17 PM, FortNick03 said:

At least Collene and Aimy have a senss of humor about it.

 

Haha...we saw that too 😂

Interesting.  We’re from Georgia and have a Peach Pass....but Florida keeps sending us bills because our truck has the transponder, not the 5th wheel, so they get confused with the tag on the RV (can’t figure out how to add the RV to the Peach Pass...not sure it can be done).

On 10/31/2019 at 7:21 AM, ImDownWithDisney said:

We use EZ Pass which works with the Peach Pass. Sadly, I can't use the express lanes on I75 south out of the ATL when pulling my camper. I do love not having to get in those long holiday lines at the toll booths.

Yep.  Soooo frustrating some trips 😕

On 10/21/2019 at 8:26 AM, djsamuel said:

Some more pictures from yesterday.  These are from the area of the playground and beach near Trails End.

 

 

We’re here now and are so surprised by how far the new property is moving over.  I was upset when I found out about the barn and the BBQ (because I felt like those changes took it too close), so this one really took us back 🙁

4 hours ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

I think you might’ve missed my joke?

Evian spelled backwards is naïve.

You must be pretty naïvE to pay that much for a water! LOL

or maybe you did get my joke but it just wasn’t funny. 😂 

No, it is funny and yes, I missed it 🤦‍♀️😂

20 minutes ago, Travisma said:

True, but it takes an hour to check out at Wal-Mart!

Haha...true 😂

3 hours ago, Beckers said:

That’s why we did Prime now for my parents! I think we paid like $6 for a 12 pack of soda and around $4.50 for a pack of 24 small waters. Even if they tossed 1/2 of it, they were still ahead!

Or, IF you have a car, Publix and Walmart are just 15 minutes away ☺️

11 hours ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

How much is a bottle of Evian water?

i bet it’s about the same price. 
you’d have to pretty naivE to pay that much for water!!!  Lol!!!

It’s pretty crazy.  If you want a Coke..$4.22 for a 20 oz bottle.