jlf

following....

Based on other information I've seen from DVC owners, yes, there will be cash reservations available for the cabins.  The challenge to us non-DVC owners is that it will cost more than it is now and our choices for availability during the holidays may be slim.  

Thanks to Shalynn (Loretta's daughter) for going over to the Fort and getting this for me!  She is such a doll!  
 

Thanks Jen. There used to be so many post daily, I couldn’t read them all?  Started wondering if people weren’t posting anymore. Even though I like FaceBook I rather have blog site any day. I am hoping like you more people come back. Not sure what happened, but when I click on browsing the forums, there are posts from way back, few years ago. Is this correct? Or is there something wrong in settings?  Thank you again Jen 

I remember as a teenager camping at the Fort in the early 70’s. At night they turned the buffet stations into build your own personal pizza. It was so cool. You would go through and build your little pizza pay for it then find a seat and wait for it to cook. There was bear heads hanging on the wall and other decor around. That was over 50 years ago and those are the best memories. Along with the open trams that would go around the loops to drop you off at your site. We would ride them just to avoid the mosquitoes.  Ahh the memories. Miss them. 

I remember as a teenager camping at the Fort in the early 70’s. At night they turned the buffet stations into build your own personal pizza. It was so cool. You would go through and build your little pizza pay for it then find a seat and wait for it to cook. There was bear heads hanging on the wall and other decor around. That was over 50 years ago and those are the best memories. Along with the open trams that would go around the loops to drop you off at your site. We would ride them just to avoid the mosquitoes.  Ahh the memories. Miss them. 

What "improvement' is this suppose to make?
 

We're still not sure when we will be making our next trip to WDW but this eliminates our checkout day meal. We would always pack up, park in the overflow lot and take the bus to TE for brunch before hitting the road. It was also one of the places we would eat at on non-park days. As more things go away it is getting to the point that I am starting to wonder if staying at the Fort is worth the cost anymore. 

We used to say, "who goes to Disney for the food?".  However, the TE buffet was awesome in its own right.  I believe the family skillets were to purposely cause this to happen along with the removal of the resort boats so that the resort traffic would be reduced.  It sickens me quite frankly.
First our exercise trail to Wilderness Lodge, no boats and now this.  I'm hoping to go one last time to record the interior as I'm afraid all the charm will be lost in the reimagining.  I agree that the cost of staying at the Fort might not be worth it once they take away all that made it special.

We did the Mothers Day Brunch in 2022 at Trails End (we were not staying at the Fort).  We had a great time and the food was good.  But like others have said family style is not a buffet. I have a feeling they are going to turn it into a place like Wilderness Lodges Roaring Fork.  Definitely not a special place.  Getting tired of getting less for more $ everyplace we go, and tons of places are doing it besides Disney.

Right now, NOTHING behind the fence. They WERE going to put in a resort on the grounds of the old River Country. But that project is on indefinite hold, and they are too cheap to make the land safe enough for guests to remove the fencing, so the Fort is stuck with it.

I would say to anyone, if you are not local and a passholder a trip to DW now is a waste of time and $$$$$.
You are still paying a premium price for a less than stellar experience.
We are local (about an hour away) passholders. 
We don't really eat that much at the parks.
If we go now and there isn't a long wait we go on a ride since we've been on everything (except ROR and Smugglers Run) numerous times.
We try to go when it's not crowded.
But again we are local.
If this was a major, once in a couple year trip, I would save your $$$ and stay away.

We haven't been to the MK lately, but the other Parks were fine and not overly crowded. Our biggest complaint at MK was the stroller parking. Since the ques are much longer, all the strollers are parked in the middle just about every where you go.
The new mask rule is being emphasized, because as usual, it was being abused by people using the restaurants and seating areas for "MASK BREAKS", not eat or drinking just sitting. Thanks to a few IDIOTS the majority suffer.. 
It always did say "only while actively eating or drinking" so they are really just reinforcing it.
 

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'd be concerned about taking your grandson, unless you're prepared to stay at your site.  While they might not say anything, until they drop the mask mandate who knows what could happen.  No doubt it would be very upsetting if you get there and find that they have gone back to strictly enforcing this rule.   I've heard stories of CM stopping guests driving their own golf carts, riding their bike and even a guest walking his dog alone...all required to mask up.  Personally, I find it insane and we will not go back until the mandate is dropped.  I'm not going to put a mask over my children's face.   But, we're okay with not going back... this year we've traveled over 7k miles and spent time in 10 states (outside of the time we've spent camping in our home state of Georgia).  Not only did we not cover our faces, but we were looking at the other smiling faces around us.
Another thing to keep in mind, is I'm not sure if they've re-opened the playgrounds at the Fort??  If Disney has decided to keep those closed, and your grandson loves to play on them, he probably won't understand and it will be upsetting.   Not sure there, but just a thought.
They might not say anything... but if they do, it would be upsetting.    I hope whatever you choose, you're blessed with your time with your little guy.   
 

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.

Yes, you can still fax site requests. 
No, they have not let up on the mask rules. In fact, they are using new signage identical to the signs they are using in the parks that say you will be asked to leave if you are not wearing your mask properly. That said, we were there for a two night stay last weekend, and compliance and enforcement were practically nonexistent.  Guests were blatantly ignoring the mask rule. On a previous trip over Labor Day weekend, there were castmembers stationed at the four way stops of the major roads monitoring mask compliance. Last weekend, there were no castmembers stationed anywhere. So, it’s likely no one will say anything about a four year old not wearing a mask. 
TCD

Keep an eye out. My reservation is getting rescheduled tonight. I have the first 2 weeks of december in a premium. Hopefully you can grab it once it is release back to the pool.

We do have a travel agent that sponsor our forum, Jason...Katman. 
He can certainly help you with getting your reservations. And his services are free of charge. 
Yes people book reservations to get by the 30 rule for getting FPs for off site stays. And also for getting around the 60 day rule for onsite stays.   And then yes they cancel them once they get their FPs booked. 
And yes apparently Disney is closing this loophole. 
As long as Disney thinks of ways to control peoples vacation people will find ways around Disney’s systems.   I’m sorry to say I’ve used this trick and others to get FPs we want.  Try and get Flight of Passage FPs at the 60 day mark during a busy season.  It’s next to impossible.  
i personally would like to see them get rid of ALL FPs.   And all ADRs, and have a walk up, first come first served policy  for attractions and dining  
FPs and increased attendance have created stand day lines that are hours long.  
I was standing in the FP line for soarin and we got stopped after the CM let about 20 FP holders go. 
I asked the CM how many FPs they let go for every stand by person.  She said about 20 FPs holders to every 20 stand by people but half of the time it’s only 10 stand by people for 20 FP holders.   If this is true for all rides then it would cut the standby lines in more than half.   I’ve read on other forums that the ratio is much greater  favoring FP holders  I’ve read that it was 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1  depending on the ride.  That’s crazy  
 

Sigh.... breaks my heart. 
So many precious memories:  missed.

Because mom can't be bothered..

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???? 

Disney rules are meant to be broken, especially by Disney

Sent.  :)

We had a Fiend on the Scene report in another thread letting us know that the Electric Water Pageant is still being performed (minus the crocodile).
Also, the beach will be used for the 4th of July fireworks.
TCD