rm0530 5 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 It’s time for some summer fun during a dreary winter!Our annual passes expired over Memorial Day weekend and we had decided not to renew. We had a rough summer and started having Fort withdrawals. We made a last minute decision for a short weekend trip. I had one weekend left before I had to go back to work and I happily didn’t have to play around with the reservation system.July 22-24, here we go!DH took off on Friday and we started out with our traditional Chick-fil-a breakfast. We have a six hour drive straight down I-75 and the turnpike, it’s not too bad. It was uneventful until we merged onto 429 and the only patch of rain was exactly where we needed to be.I enjoy entering this way. There’s never any traffic and I can soak in the opening magic without disruption.This did not bode well for setting up camp…This building looks nice and peaceful. It was hiding slow lines and one grumpy woman.A management woman was walking the line, promising us our turn would come ASAP, and making small talk. The manager came to the woman behind me and asked how her visit was going.“This place should be renamed “Wait Disney World”. That’s all I’ve done here. Anything I want to do requires waiting. I can’t even get around this place without waiting for a bus. I’ve had enough!”Now I don’t know what she was waiting in line for but I’m sure she wasn’t going to be satisfied. These types of visitors baffle me. You’re on vacation at the Fort! Why would you want time to hurry by??The horseshoes resemble a hidden MickeyAnd a REAL hidden Mickey...We were placed in 2059 for the 3rd time. It’s always been quiet, close to the CS, plenty of room, and easy access to the road for our bikes.The nice vegetation behind us.I like this MickeyWe brought the barebones set up and it took an hour with the rain.For TCD! We forgot the bricks in the minimal packing.We went to DTD and tried a new place for dinner, Pollo Campero-Fresh A Peel. Our first experience was tainted due to the rain. Everyone was crowded in and taking their time at their tables while waiting for things to clear up. It was reasonably priced and I would try again later!We visited the Lego store, picked our traditional ornament, and headed back to relax in the tent and A/C! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 594 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Great start! I can't wait to read more about your trip. :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Great start! :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Looking forward to hearing more! I love the sunset pics! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blm2003 2 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 :suspense: I'm on board! Great start, can't wait to read some more. I agree, the sunset pics are fantastic! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Nothing like a summer TR to warm me up! Waiting for more. :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Great DTD sunset pictures! Waiting to hear more :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Very cool sunset pics!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm0530 5 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Thank you all for reading along :) Let's get started on SaturdayIt’s Saturday morning, we are on vacation at the Fort, and have no park tickets. What do we do? Set an 8am alarm! We had big plans for the day. We had bought new trail bikes that week and were anxious to explore the Fort and break them in.First thing was breakfast. Bacon and Mickey pancakes!Mickey comes with us for each tripFrom the road. It’s a cozy site!We started traveling this way towards the group camping area and then cut over to the middle of the Fort and headed towards the exercise trail.We found wildlife on the trailThe only picture of me taken on this trip so here you are!This is a relaxing way to reach the Wilderness LodgeHowever we didn’t finish the paved trail to the Lodge. We cut across the road and traveled down the dirt trail that hugs Bay LakeThis is where the trail endsWe turned around and headed back towards the Fort Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 You are a youngster! Love the pics and the breakfast, you can't go wrong with bacon and Mickey pancakes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Cool! I've never taken that dirt trail on my bike.Could be because I tend to crash A LOT, especially in dirt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Very nice!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm0530 5 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Cool! I've never taken that dirt trail on my bike.Could be because I tend to crash A LOT, especially in dirt. Haha! It was interesting to try out the new bike on the dirt. Learning the gear shifts took some practice and I only almost crashed once! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 The only picture of me taken on this trip so here you are!Sorry, but one picture is not acceptable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm0530 5 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 So we headed back down the trail and ended up in a cast area we weren’t supposed to beI like the new sign /hidesWe went to visit the horsesA CM got onto us about being back there so we leftWe went back to the Settlement Trading Post and headed down the path by the preferred loops and found thisThis IS a great spot. There’s thousands of people across the lake but we were surrounded by nature and peaceWe rode up to the Meadows. I keep saying I’m going to kayak or canoe. I really want to!and DH stood in the pool to cool off Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Wow!! Looks like fun!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Wait until TCD sees this report.1. CM area that you shouldn't have been in2. CM got onto you about being there3. The quiet peaceful spot is his favoriteHe will love this! I haven't canoed at the Fort since I was about 6, and keep saying I'm going to also. Time just slips away and I haven't had a chance.You will be happy to hear that I am a much better canoe-er than bike rider! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Great pictures looks like you had a good time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm0530 5 Posted December 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Wow!! Looks like fun!!!Great pictures looks like you had a good time.We've taken 2 short weekend trips and they've both been awesome!Wait until TCD sees this report.1. CM area that you shouldn't have been in2. CM got onto you about being there3. The quiet peaceful spot is his favoriteHe will love this! I haven't canoed at the Fort since I was about 6, and keep saying I'm going to also. Time just slips away and I haven't had a chance.You will be happy to hear that I am a much better canoe-er than bike rider!TCD has taught me well! I however am awful at canoeing. I can only hope to go straight and not fall out! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm0530 5 Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 After swimming, we rode back to #2059. It was noon on Saturday in WDW and we hadn't spent any money yet...Naturally we decided to visit an outlet mall!We had lunch at Panera on Vineland and went to the outletsBut we couldn't find parking. It was horrible! We kept on driving and went to the mall on I-Drive, mostly because they have this:Watermelon...perfect for a summer dayThis mall has the better Disney outlet and I picked up a few Christmas presents. We shopped for about 2 hours and then came back homeWe biked to Trails End and ordered 2 Lone RidersWe ate on the porch and had plenty to watch between the BBQ and HDDR starting soon.We needed dessert! We locked up the bikes and took a boat and monorail for a Dole Whip. It's vacation, you can have ice cream twice in a day!We walked around the grounds and found a quiet spot by the quiet pool.With our bellies full, we came back and went swimming at the cabins pool. I miss the deep end!We stayed in the pool for about an hour and then biked down to the beach for EWP and Wishes! We heated some coals on the grill and I made this beautyWe headed out around 10am the next morning. We haven't been back since Thank you for reading and for posting your own reports to ease my Fort withdrawals! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 This was a great trip report!!!! Ya'll did a lot in a short time!! I enjoyed reading it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AuburnJen 772 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I love summer sunsets. That is one of the things that keeps me down here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Thanks for sharing! I love reading trip reports, it keeps me going til I can go again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Great report! 2 ice creams AND smores? You are my kind of girl. I'll take sweets over real food any day.I agree with parking at that mall! We made the mistake of going there once on a Saturday evening, notice I said ONCE. I honestly thought we were going to die at any moment just trying to find a parking space. :whew:Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I like the new sign /hidesFirst off, let me tell you I loved your trip report! Looks like it was a great weekend! And secondly...let me just say that you are obviously one of the more intelligent Fiends around here. Ya see, I, too, like the new sign. But there are MANY who do not. So you are SMART! And they are....well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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