lightbikes

6 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I heard a doozy of a rumor this weekend.

This came via the TCD twins, who have a lot of CM connections.

CM's love to gossip more than guests, I think, so take this with a large grain of salt.

Anyway, the rumor is that there are plans in the works for a complete and total overhaul of Epcot.  Like on the level of what they did at California Adventure when they added Cars Land, redid the entry area, and did so much work that they had a second dedication of the park.  Supposedly, this is the pet project of Bob Chapek, who was named Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts last year.  He wants to leave his mark on the company, and a totally new Epcot is what he wants to do.  Supposedly, he has the budget to do it.

That would sure be something to see!

TCD

A makeover of Future World would be a great idea as long as they don't lose the "feel" of Epcot with the spaciousness of the World Showcase and that lovely sense you get of just strolling along.  

Oh and NEVER NEVER NEVER get rid of either the Wine and Food Festival or the Garden Festival.   That would seriously upset ME  - after all the best part of the strolling is the eating and drinking !   

3 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/07/update-crocodile-jokes-return-to-jungle-cruise-living-with-the-land-removes-crocs/

Well that just show that Disney management can't get their act together doesn't it?

1 hour ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Thanks Marty, we know Carol misses the Adventurers club!  and remember the waiter!!

She's not the only one - everyone we know misses it too - it was the BEST part of going to Pleasure Island!  It was nice to see parts of it show up at Skipper's Canteen. 

Reading along - we've only done 1 Disney Cruise - in 1999 - looks like they've changed a lot!

On June 28, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Yes, the Disney Food Blog is great at posting wonderful photos of Disney food offerings.

I'll try to remember this thread and take some photos of the actual things that are served in the cardboard trays they use at the Food and Wine Festival.  I promise you that things won't look as wonderful (or the portions quite as large) then.  Of course, they will still get my money.

TCD

Thanks TCD - I'll watch for the pictures of the real thing -

I remember reading an article years ago that pictures of food got "doctored" using everything from painted styrofoam to shellac to add shine and sparkle.  Life is so full of disillusion !!!

Regarding watching fireworks from the beach, does anyone know about the beach back behind  300, 200 loops - you know the area close to where the canal comes out?  It's where TCD takes his morning coffee!!!  Have they closed that?

17 hours ago, Memphis said:

"No fishing signs have been erected at areas including Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, the Fort Wilderness campground and Old Key West Resort. Fishing is now forbidden at Disney World unless it is part of an excursion.

 

This will make a LOT of people unhappy - we have friends who spend 6-8 weeks in the 1500 loop just so he can through a line in every day. 

On June 25, 2016 at 11:00 PM, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

Ok true, but they name some outside the parks at the end. And Tutto Gusto deserves a spot, certainly over Gaston's.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree - we love that place - and I think of Gaston's as essentially a fast food spot.

Please ---------- excuse the drool!   Those dishes look wonderful.

3 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

And does yours come with the option to swap the battery when depleted at no charge?

Nope they're rechargeable - I've been using them for years - travel with them and everything.  They are one of the smartest purchases I ever made (patting myself on the back)

I bought 3 for $27 at Costco one day - they'll charge phone, laptop ext - as usually Disney is just making a tidy profit off their guests.

1 hour ago, djsamuel said:

One big myth is that Disney provides housing for all of its workers.  Before my wife started working back stage, several times guests asked her where Disney had her living and asked how nice the housing was.  They seemed surprised to find out there is no "town" of Disney workers.

I remember that one back when Celebration was being planned/built - people were convinced you had to be  Disney worker to live there.

Again - OUCH!

I think I'm ok with waiting four or five years until there is no line for this - I have let it go!!!!

2 hours ago, Travisma said:

These aren't gator protective fences, these are anti-liability barriers.

Disney is showing that they are protecting their guests by blocking access to the water and placing signs warning of dangerous wildlife and to stay out of the water.

Now if someone passes the barrier and gets injured for any reason Disney is protected.

Agree - this is to say that Disney has done their "due diligence" to protect their guests.

1 hour ago, AuburnJen said:

They are also the same type people who will go past the fences to feed the gators, but I digress.

I agree with this too - because there's that great expression - "you can't teach stupid nothing"!!!!

Great birthday weekend you and all your girls had - that will be one nobody forgets.

And don't those blasted squirrels just seize anything that isn't nailed down!!!!!!

5 hours ago, ftwildernessguy said:

  Anyone caught on property feeding these things should be arrested, fined, banned from Disney.  I don't care if they paid 2000 bucks a night for a freakin bungalow or not.

Agree completely!

36 minutes ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Thanks Jen, that is helpful.

 

The more I've thought about the last few posts, the more this continues to upset me.  I'll preface this by saying, that I believe that people in our country are much too quick to sue. Seems like everyone sues, for any little reason... and often they get something out of it, as it's easier and cheaper than fighting.  It's irritating. 

However... it's really starting to sound as though Disney knew that they were having a problem with gators getting close to the public.  My heart aches for this family and maybe I'm just trying to find blame so anger can be focused... but IF this could have been prevented, by Disney being more vigilant... mercy, I have no words.  If posting signs, handing out flyers at guests check in and/or hiring a CM to simply monitor each beach area for guests during not only the day, but night... if that could have prevented this, then...

 

 

I agree with you - Disney has likely known for awhile that the gators were getting too close for comfort but the question likely is one of image.  How does the "happiest place on earth" say "oh by the way we have a gator problem and you have to be paying attention to your surroundings".  The two images likely don't line up from a publicity/public image perspective.  Disney doesn't want anything to tar the image of WDW as a place of carefree fun.  Warning people that they can be attacked by a gator, particularly more so at breeding time conflicts with that message.  

My hubby reminded me yesterday evening when he was reading this tread about how many times he's been golfing, especially on the Palm course, and there are gators in the rough and even up on the greens.  It wouldn't be any much wonder that some guests might mistakenly think that because these things wander everywhere the ones at WDW are somehow "tamer" than the ones in the wild.  

2 hours ago, AuburnJen said:

This is not a usual occurrence I am sure if you are not from the southern states and not near a body of water.  But, if you come to the southern states, it is something you need to know.  If you are near the edge of a body of water during sunrise, sunset, or at night, you had better know your surroundings or if you don't, you don't need to be there.

I also agree with this - those of us who come from the North aren't familiar with gators and we need someone to give us a sharp rap upside our heads about them.  

However we are familiar with other wildlife (bears, wolves, snakes, all sorts of things) and we need to remember that just because we are at WDW we still need to pay attention and understand that there are hazards everywhere.  

Having said all that this still remains a tragedy for the family involved.

2 hours ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

They definitely relocate them but they have to reach a certain size. I believe it is 5ft

Actually I think they will move any gator they are advised about.  In 2003 we found one about 2ft behind our site in 1500 on the canal, while one of us watched it the other called the front desk and they came out immediately and took it away.

On another similar note this past winter in late January a gator took a deer right at the corner of 1500 where the creek from the Meadows comes into the canal.  When the remains of the deer were being removed one of the other campers in the loop mentioned they had also found the remains of an otter very near the same site.  

This is a sad cautionary tale that we all need to be paying very close attention to where we are.

I feel so badly for this family.

We play this quite a lot when we're down over Christmas - the crowds are so big that rides are difficult but it's a great way to pass the time between waiting for your FP time.

18 hours ago, WalkerFiend said:

The Bus driver reminded us that the comfort stations serve as storm shelters in the event of really nasty storms.

 

This is good to know for those of us who use 1500 - we've often wondered what we would need do if we were ever there during a really bad blow!!

21 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Weekdays an RCI advisor is be available to help Members navigate exchange options for upcoming vacations.

The Disney Vacation Club 25th Anniversary takes place throughout 2016.

Ok - this could work for us.  Using RCI to exchange via either their website or the telephone has been some of the MOST frustrating experiences in my entire life!!!!   So now I just have to get down to WDW before the opportunity ends.

On May 31, 2016 at 7:06 AM, Travisma said:

But Disney sees the global demographic trend. In 2006, Disney theme parks handled 57 percent of global attendance. As competition grew, that figure slipped to 55 percent last year. If much of the United States has sampled Disney parks multiple times, the Chinese population has not. Hence the push to open Disney Shanghai. Universal Beijing, now under construction, will not be far behind.

This is interesting because I phoned DVC last week with an inquiry about borrowing/lending etc and the CM suggested instead of my looking at Europe I should book a trip to Disney Shanghai.  I pointed out that I wasn't interested in going anywhere near Asia in the next five years all things considered geopolitically.  But perhaps it points to Disney's attempt to pump up interest.  If they can encourage regular WDW visitors and DVC members to go to Shanghai that will improve their numbers there.

What percentage is required for the financing in the U.S.?  In Canada on a commercial property it could be anywhere from 10% to 30% depending on the financial institution.  Everything else can be mortgaged right?

4 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

The girls took me to the one that I have marked here on this map, which is the one they visited back when they were doing their CP's and living in CP housing, which is nearby.  Is this the one that the rest of you go to?:

The other one I circled seems closer.

I was shocked by how busy that Wal-Mart was, as it was near midnight when we were there.

The twins said it's always like that- a combination of local theme park employees and off-site guests stocking up for their condos and timeshares.

We made our way back to the Fort, and that was the end of our first day.

Since I would be up first, I scored the new sleeper sofa, and the girls took the beds in the back.

I'll let you know how that went in the next update.

TCD

 

The one you circled is closer but our experience has been that the one up north sometimes has a better selection and the staff is a LOT more helpful.