djsamuel

There's an APP for that FORT WILDERNESS SITES..  Thanks to SUPER GEEK..
  apps.apple.com › app › fort-wilderness-sites   play.google.com › store › apps › details › id=com.loop..        

I know... but it's also our 25th anniversary and we ended up having to cancel our 20th trip, so we were really hoping to make this a two-fer.  

But hey, if we do end up putting it off a little longer, I'm going to have enough Chase Rewards points racked up to pay for a whole lotta Dole Whips!! 


In a normal year I would have driven down just for the day.  

(see: once drove 40 hours to be there for 24)

But if you're a real Disnerd, you will have to be there 10/1/2021!

We're in NH and right now are booked for a few weeks in November. Really hoping things are a lot more "normal" by then.  As much as we love hanging out at the Fort, it's too far for us to go and too much for us to spend if so many things in the parks are still weird/closed.

We had hoped to be there for the 50th, and it's our 25th anniversary to boot, but if things aren't more open by then we may shorten our time at WDW and maybe head to the coast or Keys for the rest.

As the old saying goes isn't that the pot calling the kettle black. I tried to watch it but decided best to go watch a train wreck instead 

My wife is retired from Disney, so as a result, her and I have passes.  We go in at least once a week and have enjoyed the parks.
That said, my wife frequently states that if she was a paying guest, she would be upset.  Even though we have the passes and only live a short distance away, we find the need for park reservations, the lack of restaurants and missing attractions frustrating, but at least we can come in for a few hours and enjoy ourselves.  Disney has done a great job dealing with the pandemic, and we do feel safe.  However, as they raised the capacity to 35%, they've obviously hit their limit in terms of social distancing.  The longer lines are getting really long.  For example, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train's line will stretch from the entrance, around the ride (in the direction of Dumbo) and ends across from the Little Mermaid ride.  Last Friday we were at Studios and the line for the Mickey and Minnie Railway was about an hour and weaved back in forth in front of the Chinese theater.  Remember, that 35% is a percentage of capacity; so the parks are not empty.  Add to that the fact there are fewer restaurants, and no character greetings, etc, and the crowd seems pretty normal.  Magic Kingdom a couple of weeks ago was similar to a typical day in August in terms of crowds; not packed but not what used to be off season.  
On the flip side, it is an opportunity to see things being run differently.  We do enjoy the Character Cavalcades instead of the parade.  It is much nicer to not wait for the parade.  The cavalcades are spontaneous and enjoyable.  I will also say that the cast members are excellent.  It is obvious that the ones who were retained were retained for a reason.  Most, but not all have seniority, and they all would have stood out for the quality of their service a year ago.  At the Fort, while I miss Trails End, I really enjoy having the dining area open for takeout from P&J's.  They've tried very hard there and it really shows.  
So, if you can come with limited expectations and want to take time to just relax at the Fort, then I think you won't be disappointed.  If you are looking for a full experience, then I agree with others; delay your trip for a year.  There is a LOT missing, and some frustrating polices as well.
As far as the masks go, I have a couple of things.  My biggest frustration are the guests.  You see several who do their best to get away with not wearing one, or at least pulling them down when they think nobody is looking.  When we were in line for Rise of the Resistance on Friday, we watched people walk up to cast members with the mask down at their chin and the cast members said nothing.  We watched other cast members try very hard to enforce the rules.  Watching it is very frustrating.  It is a private business and some people get borderline abusive with cast members.  As far as the new mask policy at the restaurants, we ate at the Brown Derby Friday and nothing was different.  There were no new signs, and once seated, we took our masks off. All of the tables in the restaurants are separated by plenty of distance and we are comfortable.  
 

I think you guys are "baiting me" to click on the link to watch and listen to this guy's hot air, all just to make my blood pressure increase!  And I am about the most laid back person around... but I just can't abide by outright lies and mis-truth!

My wife is retired from Disney, so as a result, her and I have passes.  We go in at least once a week and have enjoyed the parks.
That said, my wife frequently states that if she was a paying guest, she would be upset.  Even though we have the passes and only live a short distance away, we find the need for park reservations, the lack of restaurants and missing attractions frustrating, but at least we can come in for a few hours and enjoy ourselves.  Disney has done a great job dealing with the pandemic, and we do feel safe.  However, as they raised the capacity to 35%, they've obviously hit their limit in terms of social distancing.  The longer lines are getting really long.  For example, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train's line will stretch from the entrance, around the ride (in the direction of Dumbo) and ends across from the Little Mermaid ride.  Last Friday we were at Studios and the line for the Mickey and Minnie Railway was about an hour and weaved back in forth in front of the Chinese theater.  Remember, that 35% is a percentage of capacity; so the parks are not empty.  Add to that the fact there are fewer restaurants, and no character greetings, etc, and the crowd seems pretty normal.  Magic Kingdom a couple of weeks ago was similar to a typical day in August in terms of crowds; not packed but not what used to be off season.  
On the flip side, it is an opportunity to see things being run differently.  We do enjoy the Character Cavalcades instead of the parade.  It is much nicer to not wait for the parade.  The cavalcades are spontaneous and enjoyable.  I will also say that the cast members are excellent.  It is obvious that the ones who were retained were retained for a reason.  Most, but not all have seniority, and they all would have stood out for the quality of their service a year ago.  At the Fort, while I miss Trails End, I really enjoy having the dining area open for takeout from P&J's.  They've tried very hard there and it really shows.  
So, if you can come with limited expectations and want to take time to just relax at the Fort, then I think you won't be disappointed.  If you are looking for a full experience, then I agree with others; delay your trip for a year.  There is a LOT missing, and some frustrating polices as well.
As far as the masks go, I have a couple of things.  My biggest frustration are the guests.  You see several who do their best to get away with not wearing one, or at least pulling them down when they think nobody is looking.  When we were in line for Rise of the Resistance on Friday, we watched people walk up to cast members with the mask down at their chin and the cast members said nothing.  We watched other cast members try very hard to enforce the rules.  Watching it is very frustrating.  It is a private business and some people get borderline abusive with cast members.  As far as the new mask policy at the restaurants, we ate at the Brown Derby Friday and nothing was different.  There were no new signs, and once seated, we took our masks off. All of the tables in the restaurants are separated by plenty of distance and we are comfortable.  
 

1900 tends to flood the most. I was in there once and will avoid if at all possible in the future. 
 

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.

Yikes... that is off-the-charts wrong. By that logic, if I pull up with my tent gear strapped to the back of a motorcycle I should be able to get a Premium Meadows site for next to nothing! 
A good argument for not taking the word of a self-proclaimed "expert" on YouTube as gospel.

As much as we like Disney we were getting a bit annoyed on having to book almost everything well before we got there as by the time we got there things or just what we wanted to do could change We would prefer the old paper fast passes even if we had to hustle early to try to get what we wanted then add on as we could. I am even at the point where selling our DVC would not bother me at all.

We've thought about upgrading to a small diesel pusher in a couple of years after Rene retires. Normally we would buy new but are considering used. I expect to see fair number of 2 and 3 year old models with low mileage on the market for a decent discount after folks discover how much it costs in time and money to keep up an RV.

I am actually hoping to take advantage of the sell off that will inevitably happen when people get to go back to their normal vacations. 

Oh and even if you use a travel agent such as myself you still have control, we just do the tedious work of sitting on the phone with Disney for you. Yes any changes or payments have to go through us after we book for you but we work for you. At least I do. I try to respond to all of my clients in as quick of a timeframe as possible. 

I liked the real old way. 
When you drove into World Drive just before the parking ticket booth, there was a sign on the right that would say that the Fort had campsites available for that night.

Let me just add.. I do not see Disney banning anyone for life over just not having your mask on. I saw many times that cast members would remind people about the masks if not worn or worn properly. It is what you do AFTER the reminder that creates the ban. If you fight and argue about any rule you will get tossed.

I am not a big fan of masks..... But... It is Disney's property and Disney's right.. Anyone who does not want to follow Disney's rules should stay home. Your rights stop at the property line.
 

I know this issue has been resolved, but for future reference if someone comes looking for mobile techs..
 
I've heard good things about him.
I've also used Pat Monahan (352-536-0385) in the past while staying down the road at Thousand Trails Orlando.

They do not. I called last year and spoke to one of the managers there. Apparently he owned the phone number. He gave me the number to a mobile tech but said he wasn't doing any work.

Jim Shutt is another option.  941-479-0742

When IOS updates it sometimes requires that Supergeek update the app to be compatibility and until he does and it is verified it is removed from the store. 

Spiffy! 
Although a bit funny that the Fort will have it before my town does. 

We’re staying here now and the Settlement playground area is now open. Sign says there is a limit of 10 people. There is also a mask sign as well. 

We just came back from a Halloween stay.  Do to some issues we mostly stayed at our site, but on one of our wanderings, I did hear a CM on a golf cart tell a passing guest on a golf cart to put on his mask.  I saw maybe 95 to 99% compliance on adults and kids.