lightbikes

Sadly, this photo says it all. Fort Wilderness just isn't a campground anymore. It's a poorly designed parking lot with an annoying smattering of trees. It's just a sad reflection of modern suburban America.

That literally made mo lol!
im the words of Forrest Gump
"Stupid is as stupid does,"

I want mine to travel through snow capped peaks.

Essentially we are nothing more then "pop up kleenex" use it and throw away because there's always another in the box !

I think this shows (again!!) that Disney no longer sees their market as the "average" family with an "average" income.  Just add this to the private cabanas, exclusive evening events, added dining and viewing events, and all the other things that the rest of us mere mortals do without.
The problem from my perspective is that with more and more seperately priced events going on that means there is more time (or viewing space) taken away from everyone else who can only manage the general admission.  Paying for some to play in more time and space means that fewer get to play.

That's my biggest gripe.
If people have that much disposable income to spend at Disney more power to them.  But with the amount of $$$ Disney makes, they should be building separate places for these high rollers, and not taking up time and space from the general population.
In every park they have some sort of special $$$ program that takes away prime viewing space, causing everyone else to get smashed together into the less desirable areas.

Wonderful to see this - BUT it makes me sad for all the things we've lost.  

Ok now I have heard everything. Just reading my DCL blog when someone made a post about the Dream removing the tables on all the Varandas. The reason, wait for it.....kids were using the tables for step stools to look over the balconies. Two things, will the chairs be next and were the hell are the parents???? 

We just saw it this afternoon and I agree it was well done.  The cgi was seemless and the performances weren't bad at all.  We weren't sure what to expect with Emma Watson but she was quite good.   
Only one scene seriously struck our funny bone and that was Belle on the top of the hill - looked at each other and said "Julie Andrews, Sound of Music"  - our daughter was not amused!!!

Hey, now.  This new fireworks show is supposed to distract us from that fact.  It has lasers and everything.
Also, not to be a Debbie Downer, but I would have to think if there are going to be a lot of projections in this show, that they probably will get rid of that new Mrs. Potts projection show (Once Upon a Time), and we can forget about Celebrate the Magic too.
So just one nighttime show.
Disney always wins. 
TCD

Whelp, there's two more idiotic moves to add to a very long list of idiotic decisions made by the idiots in charge. 
Have I ever mentioned that the Fort is run by a bunch of idiots?
TCD

I couldn't agree more !!!!!!  I guess it's a sign of my age but I really miss the old Fort Wilderness - it was genuine.  Everything that happens now, from the over crowding, to the kids on golf carts, to dogs in tent loops - it's just sad.

 

Couldn't agree more. Walt's idea of an affordable place to park the station wagon, pitch a tent, and take the family to the Parks has been slowly disappearing. And it seems like the trend is accelerating....  
I've said before that given the choice I would much rather stay at Fort Wilderness circa 1975-85 or so than the Fort Wilderness of today. 
I would gladly give up WIFI and one hundred cable channels for a return to the days when you could get a site whenever you wanted, you could take the kids to the pool without fear of drowning or having nowhere to sit, you could walk over to River Country whenever you liked, you could use the Nature Walk, the Trams, and even a Steam Train for a couple of years!  And you could actually swim at the beach. 
Was it perfect, no. Was it pricey for a family even then, yes. But dollar for dollar I think the average Fort Wilderness Guest got a lot more for their money back then.....
 

60 foot is a good sized camper!

Right.
Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.
Or something like that.
TCD

You are saying the rules are just suggestions?   

Do whatever you want.
Everyone else does.
That stuff on the website that says travel trailers and motorhomes can't be accommodated on the tent sites is just a typo apparently.
Pro tip- when you get to the Fort, go into the office to check-in instead of using the check-in lanes.  That way, the CM will have no idea what type of trailer you have, and you can sneak anything in. Bring your dog too!  You could also try on-line check-in.  If it works (which is rare), they will text you your site number, and you can proceed directly to your site without being questioned by the staff about all these silly rules they have.
TCD

Good gravy... yep!!  

Amen!  
Aint that the truth.

Nothing new to see here.
People with Class C's and A's intentionally reserve sites in the tent loops to save money. And Disney is happy to take their money.
That 10 person per site limit is also merely a suggestion.  If you want to put 20 screaming teenagers and a half dozen or more tents on one site, come on down.  Park as many cars as you can fit on the site, and set up your tents wherever you can find the space.
Feel free to soup up your golf cart so it can exceed the measly Fort speed limit.  That way you can pass the stopped buses faster.
And please don't feel obligated to actually rent a campsite.  You are more than welcome to unload your coolers, charcoal and other supplies at the 1500 loop bus stop and spend the entire day enjoying the pool for free. You are welcome to use the 1500 loop comfort station to take showers before heading to the free campfire and movie.
TCD

Maybe they are trying to over-compensate the lost revenue by coming up with all the high priced extras at the parks.
So they don't get $800 for renting a room (and I bet the profit margin isn't as high on those as a normal Disney room), but they get/got $700 for a tent, $50 for an ice cream riverboat ride, etc, etc.
I can only guess the upkeep at the 4 Seasons must be $$$$.  Those guests aren't sleeping a a 100 thread count sheet that has been laundered 200 times. And they dont have that weird looking Wilderness Cabin type furniture either.

Right.  Also, their payroll is probably much higher than Disney's.  They hire and train quality people, and they don't staff their front-line positions with college kids getting paid minimum wage, who are only in town to get away from their schools up north for a semester.
TCD

Gotta say I'm anti modern and if anything needs to be gutted it's the contemptorary (don't stone me!). 
 
I get that they have nothing to even remotely compare to The Four Seasons but gutting the grand doesn't seem like the right way to solve that. 

Doesn't really matter because the people that need to read them, wouldn't. 

That's the same rule stated here:

Like I said earlier in this thread- I didn't get a copy of the rules when I checked in to the Fort in May and November of 2016.  But you got a copy in July.
With them pushing on-line check-in and promising to text you your site number, it seems like most guests don't get a copy of these rules.
You make a good point about the other rules.  Like the one for Seasonal Decorations that you can see in my photo, above.  I remember there was a stink when that rule came out, and some guests complied with it.  But, the same year that rule came out, during the week of Thanksgiving,  I watched as the guy in the site across from mine covered every square inch of his site with inflatable decorations and lights that he kept on 24 hours a day.  He was friendly with Fort CM's and one even brought him some extra pine needles so he could cover up all the extension cords.  So much for that lights out at 10 pm rule.
TCD