djsamuel

The hiking trail between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge is now ready for paving. Shouldn’t be long now. 

On 2/7/2024 at 9:21 AM, mmfancipher said:

Hello,

     Hopefully this is the right place for this.  On the February events schedule it listed Crockett's Craft Corner: Wine & Woodshop it mentions making a wooden piece of artwork.

Does anyone know what the wooden piece of artwork is?  Thanks.

 

When we were last there in October it was a wooden Fort Wilderness sign.  It was actually pretty nice.

6 hours ago, keith_h said:

AGM have a different charging curve than your traditional wet cell lead acid battery so depending upon the age of the converter and coach alternator these might still need upgrading. There is no way to get an idea without the model number of the converter and year/model of the coach.

Good point.  I was also seeing today how much prices of the lithium batteries have fallen.  That could also influence the decision.

If you're not boondocking or adding solar perhaps switching to an AGM battery over a normal wet lead acid battery would be an option.  Less maintenance than what you have and a lot cheaper than switching to lithium.

I thought of lithium, but since I always hook up to electric, I couldn't justify the cost.  I switched to an AGM battery this time.

16 hours ago, AuburnJen said:

Has anyone been recently and seen more empty sites?  Just curious.

Right now it is packed. Very few empty spots. 

19 hours ago, jlf said:

I guess Trails End has closed. We are here now and the site says it’s closed. No one in the dining hall. Thank goodness Pand J is opened. 

It is normally closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Not to this point.  When we were there in December/January; a cast member working one of the boats told a guest that the boats will return when Disney buys some more boats.  Of course, who knows how accurate that is or how long it will be before Disney buys more boats.

Unforunately, this is another example of a few spoiling it for many.  We spent four weeks at the Fort from early December to early January.  There were quite a few people; many of them too young for a drivers license, who were riding around in what would be better described as electric motorcycles.  The had wide tires, a motorcycle like frame, useless pedals, and were FAST.  They also had loud radios and many were being driven very recklessly.  The Fort Rangers were trying there best to pull them over and keep them under control.  I have to admit, those electric sooters weren't slow either.  My wife and I both said that someone was going to get hurt.  I wonder if something finally happened.

Trails End Closing

We drove by Saturday and it was closed.  All lights at check in were red.

18 hours ago, Military Mouse said:

Sounds like you're having a great time.  We love taking the boats between the resorts.  Did you notice if the trail between Wilderness Lodge and the campground is open yet?

The trail between the resorts is still closed (in fact no longer exists).  However, there are signs of work that was done to repave a trail, but no progress in a long time.

The boats between the resorts are still not running.

On 6/28/2022 at 10:51 AM, ThemeParkCommando said:

Hope there will still be a place for fireworks viewing when we are there in September!

 

Still a great view out on the dock.

On 6/23/2022 at 7:34 PM, Grumpy and Grandma said:

Rumor has it that Clementine Beach is being restored.  Any Fiends on the Scene?

We were staying there from June 12 to June 22nd.  The area near the beach defintely looks like they are clearing it and we heard equipment moving things in the area.  Also, on Tuesday, they were driving new fence posts at a point about even with the end of the Trails End building closest to the lake.  My guess is they are working to fence off the area from Trails End up to the road and remove the fencing around the area near the lake.

We could look through the fence and there are a lot of flags placed around the area between Trails End and the lake.  They are definitely planning on doing something.  We also walked around the dock and could see past the fence now.  It looks like they added more sand to the beach there.

8 hours ago, momof3kids-Yvonne said:

Jen said to let y’all know Chris is Fixing the database for the app. It should be up and running correctly soon.

Thanks!

On 4/5/2022 at 6:42 PM, Pirates55 said:

I have the app on my iphone and it will pull up the loops and sites but no pictures.  Its been this way since early March when I was at the Fort.  I stayed in site 1002 and I gave me info on the site but no photos.  I just looked tonight at its still that way.

 

Same here.  I haven't noticed that before.

On 10/29/2021 at 4:46 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

That’s probably true, but the posted wait times are not accurate. They can’t be- Disney is not using the available technology to measure wait times. They are guesses, or in some cases deliberate exaggerations. There are numerous YouTube videos from experienced park visitors that show this to be the case. 

TCD

We're in at least one of the parks about once a week on average.  Since the re-opening, the wait times have been estimated by the length of the standby lines.  They have usually seemed to be about 10 minutes longer than actual, unless the ride is stopped a few times while waiting in line.  Since Genie+ started, the wait times for some attractions have increased significantly while others seem to have dropped.  For example, last Thursday, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was a 70 minute wait, Haunted Mansion was about a 45 minute wait while Pirates was a 5 minute wait.  The length of the stand by lines as we walked by seemed to back that up.  I don't know if the bulk of the lightning lane passes are going to certain rides, backing up the standby.  Looking at Genie+, Seven Dwarfs is an individual Lightning Lane purchase,.  Also, based on the available Lightning lanes time for the other Magic Kingdom rides, Haunted Manion has the latest availble times, meaning it is the most popular lightning lane ride.  As I write this, Haunted Mansion has an earliest available time of 11:25 while Pirates is 9:50.  So I guess it is plausible that Lightning Lanes is backing up the standby lines significantly for the more popular rides.

3 hours ago, Travisma said:

Did you call the front desk or reservation number?  I am looking for a number for the front desk. Thank you.

Unless it changed, the number is 407-824-2727

1 hour ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Is it still the case that there are county ordinances in the area prohibiting overnight parking in the area (like Walmarts and Cracker Barrels)?  I know that's been the case in the past, but it's been a few years since we checked. That pretty much precluded boondocking anywhere close to WDW.

Depending on where you're coming from...
We've done quick overnights at the rest areas along I-95 in the St. Augustine area the night before check-in.  They're generally posted as "no camping" but we've asked police officers parked there and they said "resting/sleeping" is fine, but don't put our your awning and setup your beach chairs.   

Yes, as far as I know those ordinances are still in place.  You are right; that pretty much stopped the overnighting around here.  It is also prohibited in Lake County.  The last year it was allowed in Lake County, the Walmart on Rt 27 near 192 looked like an RV dealer.  I guess that is what prompted the change.

22 minutes ago, pconn171 said:

Hello.  I will be traveling to Fort Wilderness a day earlier than planned.  I called the desk and they are sold out.  I have done this before and they got me into a spot without issue, but it seems like we're in a different world lately with Covid and now add the 50th anniversary and nothing makes sense anymore.  My question is, if I get there and they truly can't get me into a spot for the night, what is the best option nearby the fort that I can go to and spend the night without notice?  I'm thinking more like Cracker Barrel or Cabella's than another campground.  

Thanks,

Pat  

The Cracker Barrels nearby really aren't conducive to overnighting.  No Cabella's in the area and the nearest Bass Pro Shop is up on International Drive.  I don' know if I'd want to try that location, and doubt if they'd allow it (although I don't know for sure).  Not sure when you're coming, but a state park like Lake Louisa might have openings in their campground at a reasonable price.  Lake Louisa is in Lake County about a 30 - 40 minute drive from Disney.

6 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

The road that the bus used to use (by the old barn and next to the bike/walking path)... is that still there or did they tear that up too.  So sad over all this 

The road is still used, as Jason said.  When riding the bus, you can see where the hiking trail was.  All asphalt is gone but there are some drainage culverts that have been installed and signs that eventually the trail will return.  Who know how long it will be delayed since Reflections is certainly not close to starting or being cleaned up.  

I did see last Sunday that some flags were placed along the trail marking piping or wiring, but have no idea if that is related to any progress on bringing the trail back.

9 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

It is not open and I don’t believe the resort loop boats have restarted. The only option right now is the bus to Wilderness Lodge. 

Just there yesterday.  Jason is correct; the boats are not running, and there is no movement on opening the trail.  It is not paved at this point with no preparation underway.  The bus isn't bad right now.  Just pick up the yellow bus that is heading twards the Settlement from the Outpost.  From the Settlement it continues to Wilderness Lodge.  Never have an issue and use it frequently. 

20 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

I think 2 days at Dollywood will be enough.  However, take a look at ticket prices for 2 and 3 days, and compare to season pass prices, as some years if you buy a season pass in December you get the next year free.  Of course if a return trip in 2022 isn't in the cards then that doesn't help you.  

As far as other things to do, if the weather is cooperative, I recommend Anakeesta in Gatlinburg.  We also enjoyed the Titanic exhibit.  If you are looking for snow activities, Ober Gatlinburg is worth a look. 

I'd recommend having lunch or dinner at the Old Mill restaurant, and/or the Applewood Farmhouse restaurant.  The menus are pretty similar, so you may only want to do one, but we enjoy them both.  If ice cream is your thing, you can't beat the Old Mill Creamery. 

 

Other than the parking, it is hard to find anything wrong with the Old Mill.  The restaurant is great, as is the Pottery House Cafe nearby.  Never tried the Applewood Farmhouse restaurant.

4 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Right?!  I mean...Disney is not the federal government. 

Not many in the federal government either.  I'm third in seniority at my activity and will be retiring in December with 41 years.  The two above me have 43.  Most everybody else bail before 15.

We were there on the 15th.  Creations Shop is a really nice store.