djsamuel

Poly?

I join the others in welcoming you.  My standard advice to first timers is to relax and go with the flow. All of the premium loops are nice, and you're going to have a great time.  Don't stress about loops and sites.  After your first visit, you'll figure out what you like and don't like, and you will be in a better position to know what you want to ask for.
 
TCD

Wow!  I would have loved to have heavy construction equipment to play on when I was a kid!

I do not see a simple carb. replacement/swap as being anywhere near the cost threshold it would take to compare to swapping in a diesel engine. I diesel is no where near as simple as swapping in a different gas engine. There are several items to consider that will significantly add to the cost of the swap.
 
I am attaching an article that discusses in greater detail some of the challenges you will encounter. Anyways, good luck on which ever route you choose.
 
Tim
 
http://www.dieselhub.com/tech/conversion-considerations.html

I've been thinking about this and think Disney is making a mistake. Yes, I know they could care less about my opinion. Rightly or wrongly I've always looked at Epcot as the adult park. Many of the rides are geared to older kids and adults. The World Showcase has always reminded of a global party the few times I've been there and not really something I would have wanted my kids around when they were little. It is also the place where I go when I want to get away from Disney so to speak. Adding a new non-existant country geared to a Disney movie ruins some of the best features of the park for me and depending upon how over the top it is, would be enough to stop me from visiting in the future (even if they build a Matterhorn).

You mean you have a car phone? 

This is my first post in a while due to personal happenings but have to chime in.
 
I don't consider a lot of these people campers by the traditional definition. Unfortunately the camping world has been infiltrated by partiers who aren't there for the overall experience but to be able to brag about how much they put away over the weekend. I even see the same behavior in our state parks but it is generally squashed quickly due to the rangers frequently patrolling the campground particularly around quiet time.   

The problem is they have a unique product (campground at an attraction) and they know it.
 
Now if Universal decided to build a campground, or if KOA built a large one in the area they may start to listen more to the complaints.
 
The general consensus seems to be that the Fort management won't do anything to make the Fort better.
 
So I say step it up a notch and start complaining to Iger and the CFO.  Tell them about the issues the Fort is having and how your overall experiences have slowly been going downhill.
 
Let them know what you loved about the Fort in the past and how it made you love all things Disney.
 
Invite them to visit you when you are there.
 
Ask them if they have ever set foot in the Fort as an average visitor and not with a 40 person entourage.
 
Let them know about the over crowded sites, bad behavior, lack of overflow parking, outsiders invading on weekends etc.
 
Ask them if they feel that these things make for a magical experience, and if they do, then why don't they tolerate the same things at the hotels.
 
If they allow 10 people on a site, why not 8 or 10 people in a room.
 
If they allow loud music and drunken parties on a site until 1 a.m. why not the same at the Grand Floridian?
 
The campsites used to be treated the same way as all of the other Disney properties.
 
Poor judgement and lack of good management has allowed it to slide downhill to an anything goes type of third world property.
 
But then again, when they do decide to start enforcing the rules about the lights being off at 10 (I know I know, they don't enforce evenly) people start raising their pitchforks and storm the castle !
 
Years ago you were told the rules and obeyed them, and if you didn't you were asked to comply or leave.
 
 Now management either lets things slide, or the rule breaker just ignores them because they know nothing is going to happen to them.
 
Start enforcing rules, drop back to 1 vehicle per site, clean up the overflow (it wouldn't be hard to give a dated, site numbered parking permit to place on the vehicle out there at check in).  If they park half-assed make them come out and move it.  If it's there after their check out date have it towed to an impound lot.  
 
Enforce the golf cart, skateboard, ripstick etc. rules.
 
Make quiet time quiet time.  You can still sit around your site visiting after 10, but I shouldn't have to hear every word and belch 3 sites away.
 
Crack down on the tweens and teens running wild around the loops
 
Eject outsiders from the pools.
 
Again, none of these things are tolerated at any of the other Disney hotels so why at the Fort?
 
Just my 2 cents....

I take the western beltway (hwy429) off the turnpike at exit 267a going south to exit 8 western way. Take western way to Buena Vista drive. Take a left on Buena Vista and then take a left on World Drive. This puts you in the main gate. Be sure to stay as far right as you can at the welcome booths so you can turn right on Vista Blvd to the Fort.

I remember on New Years Eve at the Fort two years ago.....after the fireworks on the beach, there were hundreds (it seems) of carts leaving the Settlement area honking their stupid horns.  It went on for 20 minutes or so.  Who cares that parents of little ones are trying to get some sleep and aren't drunk and finding this all funny? 
 
I think this year, I'm teaming up with all the parents and initiating a new Fort Wilderness tradition.....the New Year's Day Looping Horn Armada.  It begins at 6am. 

John is involved with everything creative at the Disney Company, movies, attractions, Imagineering, etc. In my mind, he's the new Walt.

From the beginning, the Frozen phenomenon has been driven by little girls and their moms. Do they think it's too much? Have they had enough? I'd like to know where on the popularity curve it is with them. Is it going up, has it peaked, or is it on the way down?

Do you want to melt a snowman?

As long as people are spending, spending, and spending money on Frozen merchandise, Disney is going to sell and promote it.

This is why I wanted a drivable too, but let me tell you what I've discovered.
1) It's dangerous to walk around. Jason had to slam on the breaks once to avoid an idiot and an accident. I was slung up to the front because I'd been standing to get something.
2) Z asks for things three times as much because he knows I can get them.
I still like our drivable, but just some food for thought.
We still pull over for Z to go to the bathroom. After what happened to me, it's too dangerous.

Remember, lock your doors, pull down the shades, and do NOT answer any knocks. :D

Leave me out of this, I don't want to know what she's doing.

I hear banjos ...

Fixed it.
 
 
Mickey head lights, I need to get those for my car. Are they street legal?
 
 
Could the reason for this have nothing to do with the lights annoying other campers or the cost of the electricity?
It might be that they just want to reduce the site seeing by Fort campers in GCs and by those walking around the loops after 10pm.
It can get noisy and 10pm is quiet time.

One of these days you're gonna think, gee, I wish I could get into that Illuminations VIP viewing area so that I don't have to find a spot an hour before they start.
And you'll also think, I shoulda been nice to ole Lou because he has the power to do that.

I would have to agree.

I guess I've been really lucky because every "old-timer" I've encountered has been pleasant, friendly, and attentive both during the daytime and in the evening.  I've had "old-timers" offer to go to the back to try to find a size for me, visit with me about Texas, ask me about Ft. Wilderness, and so on.  The only times - two, to be exact - I've been treated rudely came from young people.  One was reading an obviously riveting e-mail on his phone and couldn't be bothered to check out my bag of popcorn at the Confectionary.  The other one - in response to my question - rolled his eyes and pointed, never uttering a syllable.  (I wanted to ask him if he could see his brain when he did that.)  I'll deal with the jaded "old timers" anytime.

This is in the same vein as what many folks are complaining about outsiders coming to the Fort to Trick or Treat. I honestly don't care!!!  I love having lots of trick or treaters. It makes the evening fun!!! We live in a neighborhood with NO trick or treaters, and Rick LOVES handing out to the kids. So that's why we really make it a point to be here over Halloween!!

I for one find this appalling. Does it happen? Yes.....Is it OK? Not at all. You are knowingly "stealing" from a company. Its like saying Marvel made 1.3 million on a movie, so its OK to record the show on your smart phone and sell it on the net. Or one step further, Sears made $106million dollars, its OK to walk out with that pair of socks.
 
Stealing is stealing. Point your moral compass where you may, but its wrong no matter how you justify it. And for a news source to openly condone this practice? Even worse. I can see a lawsuit from Disney in the future for them.

Dropped my wife off at work this morning around 6:30AM at DU.  Driving past Magic Kingdom, you could see the castle all lit up for Christmas.  Looked great as usual.  I assume they were testing the lights.