8/21 Parking Lot & Kennel Update

[Magicbus]

Me thinks these poles may be able to raise and lower on command.

They do have barriers that go up and down backstage, different design though. Those in the photo are not the typical red ones that they use everywhere else, I think you may be right.

I don't think that the new gate will be for CMs because the exisiting CM entrance leads directly to the CM area. Going thru the new gate is kinda round about.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Methinks these poles may be able to raise and lower on command. Maybe I am giving Disney too much credit, but I like to think that even Disney's barricades are somewhat special. LOL

I think you're right. At the EPA building here in NC, that's just like the ones they have there. (Except they're in the down position most of the time. I'm always accelerating over them b/c I have images of them shooting up, impaling my truck as I pass over.)

 

[LarryJ]

Carol-

I agree with you 100%.

A lot of "outsiders" visit the Fort for the HDDR and the Backyard BBQ. Once they get past the guard shack, there is nothing to stop them from driving into the Fort. I don't see any signs of a second gate, like there used to be.

This is a situation where the "cure" is possibly going to make the problem worse.

TCD

That is also my concern since unless it's a registered camper giving general access to others except for those those know need access to the actual CG sites like RV service vehicles, delivery vehicles or taxis with registered FW registered guests on board which the guards now control and allowing like folks not even staying on WDW property and have ressies for the HDDR or are registered at another FW resort are just visiting access to the CG sites will be a disaster. The slow buses, people crossing the roads and the GCs and bikes on the road already make this a dangerous place to drive if you are not "sensitive" to what is transportation wise inside the CG is short sighted on Disney's part.

Larry

 

[clkelley]

That is also my concern since unless it's a registered camper giving general access to others except for those those know need access to the actual CG sites like RV service vehicles, delivery vehicles or taxis with registered FW registered guests on board which the guards now control and allowing like folks not even staying on WDW property and have ressies for the HDDR or are registered at another FW resort are just visiting access to the CG sites will be a disaster. The slow buses, people crossing the roads and the GCs and bikes on the road already make this a dangerous place to drive if you are not "sensitive" to what is transportation wise inside the CG is short sighted on Disney's part.

Larry

Yep!! Also, somebody else on another thread stated that they had problems with folks just parking at their site on the 100 loop to go to places in the Settlement area. (Apparently folks staying in other parts of the campground (cabins) felt it was OK). I bet that gets worse!! Folks will just drive in and find any empty spot they can and park.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Methinks these poles may be able to raise and lower on command. Maybe I am giving Disney too much credit, but I like to think that even Disney's barricades are somewhat special. LOL

They do have barriers that go up and down backstage, different design though. Those in the photo are not the typical red ones that they use everywhere else, I think you may be right.

I don't think that the new gate will be for CMs because the exisiting CM entrance leads directly to the CM area. Going thru the new gate is kinda round about.

I think you're right. At the EPA building here in NC, that's just like the ones they have there. (Except they're in the down position most of the time. I'm always accelerating over them b/c I have images of them shooting up, impaling my truck as I pass over.)

You know, it never occurred to me that those posts could be lowered, but now I think that they can be. These silver metal posts are obviously different from the red static ones that they installed around the camera and the gates. Why would they use different posts? I wonder how you lower and raise them? That is something that it might be useful to know.

Magicbus- You are right about castmembers having access via the other drive- I didn't think about that. But, I still think it would be better to not have guests entering here and interfering with the bus traffic. Returning guests had to go through the lane by the guard shack before, and only buses could raise the gate when it was over by the kennel; I don't see a particularly good reason to change that.

TCD

 

[Donna]

I tend to agree with you; we already had someone pull their car up practically next to the settlement trading post when I was there a couple weeks ago. I saw another car later on that trip that was nowhere near where a car should be. I forget where it was now but I remember thinking how did that car get there.

 

[Magicbus]

Why would they use different posts? I wonder how you lower and raise them? That is something that it might be useful to know.TCD

If that is a retractable traffic bollard, that's what they're called, it could be retracted manually, with a pnuematic cylinder, electric actuator, or with a hydraulic cylinder. I can't imagine that they would spend the money on the automatic versions. That's mainly for places that require frequent operation. I dont think that's the case here.

 

[John VN]

If that is a retractable traffic bollard, that's what they're called, it could be retracted manually, with a pnuematic cylinder, electric actuator, or with a hydraulic cylinder. I can't imagine that they would spend the money on the automatic versions. That's mainly for places that require frequent operation. I dont think that's the case here.

Agree on the money being spent comment. As big as the posts appear to be, why not put a hook into each of the holes and lift them out. This would require a piece of equipment to do so but that would also eliminate a person from being able to lift it out.

 

[des1954]

What I'm wondering is, why did they go to the expense of putting the traffic bollards (thanks for the term Lou) in to begin with? It would have been easier & cheaper to pull out the asphalt, put up a fence, or plant some mature shrubs. They wouldn't have gone through all that work unless it was necessary.

My thoughts go back to 2004 and the three in a row hurricane season. The entire day lot was packed with tree removal trucks after the storms hit. Not one or two trucks, but a fleet. Is it possible they are planning ahead in case something like this happens again? These bollards look similar to ones used in other areas around Disney - and do appear as though they can be removed. I doubt lowering them into the ground is an option. This is a very wet, swampy area, and a whole lot more work would had to have gone into site preparation in order to put in an auto lowering system. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

We also drove back to the new gate & Rick pointed out the transponder to me. When I first viewed it earlier that day, I turned around a little further down the CM's road and was pointed towards the exit when I stopped to look. If you look closely, there is a speaker system by the card readers. They had this same set up on the original gate years ago. It was used by guests to speak to the guard if they had trouble with the card reader. I think this is going to be an alternate entrance for returning guests. Time will tell.

If the new gate is for returning guests, I feel for the bus drivers. When they had the old gate with the speaker system, it was constantly backing up with persons trying to get in who did not belong, guests who forgot their cards (or too stupid to know how to use them), or cards that did not work. They would push the button of course, but the CM monitoring the gate might be tied up with something else and take time to respond. Meanwhile traffic would stack up. At least the return gate by the guard shack would separate the guests from the bus traffic.

Also, I wonder how this is going to affect the offsite golf cart and mobility scooter rentals?

 

[BradyBz12]

...Also, I wonder how this is going to affect the offsite golf cart and mobility scooter rentals?

So far it hasn't impacted Kenny/Tee Time at all. A report just this week confirms that he's still delivering carts.

 

[clkelley]

Also, I wonder how this is going to affect the offsite golf cart and mobility scooter rentals?

Mobility scooter rentals always went through the front gate as they were dropped off with the Front Desk folks.

 

[Magicbus]

If the new gate is for returning guests, I feel for the bus drivers. When they had the old gate with the speaker system, it was constantly backing up with persons trying to get in who did not belong, guests who forgot their cards (or too stupid to know how to use them), or cards that did not work.

Not a problem. Have you been on a WDW bus when it's stuck in traffic or waiting at gate to get into a resort and noticed that the driver remained calm? It doesn't bother them because drivers get paid by the hour. We take whatever Disney throws at us in stride. They want us to stop at places we know 100% of the time that no one will be there, that's ok. They want us to come within 3 feet of the exit gates before it goes up instead of having it be up by the time we reach it, ok. They want us to come back empty from a run instead of stopping at an alternate resort to see if guests might be there, that's fine. Hmmm, I think that's called venting. Anyway, we're there for a shift and we'll do whatever it takes while trying to stay in good mood.

 

[des1954]

Anyway, we're there for a shift and we'll do whatever it takes while trying to stay in good mood.

 

[storyteller]

oh well, thanks for the update.

 

[Magicbus]

Drove by tonight. The sign is lit up and the lights are on. Still lots of activity going on. It's going to be close.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Not a problem. Have you been on a WDW bus when it's stuck in traffic or waiting at gate to get into a resort and noticed that the driver remained calm? It doesn't bother them because drivers get paid by the hour. We take whatever Disney throws at us in stride. They want us to stop at places we know 100% of the time that no one will be there, that's ok. They want us to come within 3 feet of the exit gates before it goes up instead of having it be up by the time we reach it, ok. They want us to come back empty from a run instead of stopping at an alternate resort to see if guests might be there, that's fine. Hmmm, I think that's called venting. Anyway, we're there for a shift and we'll do whatever it takes while trying to stay in good mood.

This is why we love bus drivers at Disney.

 

[Magicbus]

Drove by the new kennel a few times yesterday and it looks like it's ready to open. No contractor trucks outside, just U-Hauls.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Well?

It's September 1st.

Is the new kennel open?

TCD

 

[Magicbus]

Yes