A way to recognize FW Disboarders? (re: clkelley's site)

[CottontailCurl]

Has there ever been a discussion about using some sort of sign or something at your campsite to help Fort Wilderness Disboarders recognize each other? As we walked around the loops last week I really wished there was a way to know and wondered if we were seeing/talking about any Dis'ers along the way. Come to find out we had a discussion about clkelley's campsite and didn't know it was her! (We were on the 2000 loop and during our walk saw her awesome set-up and told my kids that that is the way to go camping at Fort Wilderness. I've always tried to get family to join us at the Fort and fill our campsite to capacity but they insist on such things as beds, maid service, and a toilet just 4 feet away - weird! To Carol - we were at 2035, right next to the comfort station (white conversion van).

So, it seems that the official Disboards color is lime green. I wonder, if there isn't a signal already in place, if lime green cling material can be bought at an arts and crafts store (is that available?) and cut into a Mickey shape to be placed in the windshield (for those who don't want to go hunting for the alien green paint samples). Or lime green construction paper or poster board that is cut into a Mickey shape and covered in clear shelf liner can be hung from the rear-view mirror. Is anyone interested in this?

 

[clkelley]

Has there ever been a discussion about using some sort of sign or something at your campsite to help Fort Wilderness Disboarders recognize each other? As we walked around the loops last week I really wished there was a way to know and wondered if we were seeing/talking about any Dis'ers along the way. Come to find out we had a discussion about clkelley's campsite and didn't know it was her! (We were on the 2000 loop and during our walk saw her awesome set-up and told my kids that that is the way to go camping at Fort Wilderness. I've always tried to get family to join us at the Fort and fill our campsite to capacity but they insist on such things as beds, maid service, and a toilet just 4 feet away - weird! To Carol - we were at 2035, right next to the comfort station (white conversion van).

So, it seems that the official Disboards color is lime green. I wonder, if there isn't a signal already in place, if lime green cling material can be bought at an arts and crafts store (is that available?) and cut into a Mickey shape to be placed in the windshield (for those who don't want to go hunting for the alien green paint samples). Or lime green construction paper or poster board that is cut into a Mickey shape and covered in clear shelf liner can be hung from the rear-view mirror. Is anyone interested in this?

Thanks for noticing!!!

I had several of the Lime Green Home Depot cards that I was going to hang on my site post, but work was so crazy that I just forgot them. (Let's put it this way, for my vacation from December 5th at 2pm till December 17th I only used 13 hours of annual leave) I had 4 days of deferred holidays accumulated and 35 hours worked before I left work at 2pm on the 5th Then when I returned home I went into work on the 18th and didn't come home till 4:30 pm yesterday!! However, it all paid off, we delivered the project and I don't have to go back to work till New Years

The camp setup did work really well! FYI I did have a toilet just 4 feet away from my bed (That might have been TMI )

Unfortunately, the rain on Thursday killed the shelter over my fridge and scooters. I'm hoping to run across another EZup on sale for $50. Today I finally got to start unpacking. Tomorrow I get to spread all those tents out in the driveway and rinse all of Ft. Wilderness off and let them dry!!

We still had a Great time, although the crowds on Saturday were insane!! I think I'll end my December trips no later than the 15th from now on.

Also today, I just booked for the 12th Annual RADP gathering in October!! 14 nights, October 6th - 20th at AAA rate. F&W festival here I come!!!

As far as making a larger sign, I'll have to think on that as I'll need something really weatherproof as I prefer to move my truck out to the extended lot.

 

[John VN]

DW made a windshield curtain for our MH. On her side is the DVC Logo made from colored fabric that I spray glued to the white backing and since it is layered it has a 3D effect. On my side, driver, is a large Mickey Head with our names around it and Lime Green little Mickey Heads around all of this. We also have LG bows hanging from our wipers.

In addition to the curtain, DW made extra large wiper covers with her name and Minnie for passenger side and my name and Mickey on my side. Will be putting lime green Mickey Heads on them before our next visit.

 

[Kanda]

clkelly, do you have a pic of your campsite?

 

[clkelley]

Here are two pictures of my site this year.

I used the big Coleman in the back. Inside I had a double high twin air mattress, a hanging clothes rack, a set of those plastic drawers, a small chair, a commode, and 2 footlockers, 1 I used as a nightstand, the other I used as a computer table (then locked the computer in it while I was out).

A friend used one of the smaller tents and my son used the other.

Out of the picture over the grill was another shelter that had a mini fridge and where we parked our electric scooters (3-wheel ECV type). That was the shelter that collapsed in the rain. The EZUps didn't sag at all and didn't have a single drop on them.

Neither my friend or either of my sons will be able to join me in October, so all I will bring is the big Coleman and two EZUps and plenty of chairs for RADP and DISBoard friends to drop by.

 

[Kanda]

Looks like a great campsite. Thanks for posting the pictures. I'm looking forward to our first trip to FW. I need some lights for our tent.

 

[Rhonda]

We usually tie a lime-green ribbon to our post (the post with the campsite number on it).

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Thanks for noticing!!!

I had several of the Lime Green Home Depot cards that I was going to hang on my site post, but work was so crazy that I just forgot them. (Let's put it this way, for my vacation from December 5th at 2pm till December 17th I only used 13 hours of annual leave) I had 4 days of deferred holidays accumulated and 35 hours worked before I left work at 2pm on the 5th Then when I returned home I went into work on the 18th and didn't come home till 4:30 pm yesterday!! However, it all paid off, we delivered the project and I don't have to go back to work till New Years

The camp setup did work really well! FYI I did have a toilet just 4 feet away from my bed (That might have been TMI )

Unfortunately, the rain on Thursday killed the shelter over my fridge and scooters. I'm hoping to run across another EZup on sale for $50. Today I finally got to start unpacking. Tomorrow I get to spread all those tents out in the driveway and rinse all of Ft. Wilderness off and let them dry!!

We still had a Great time, although the crowds on Saturday were insane!! I think I'll end my December trips no later than the 15th from now on.

Also today, I just booked for the 12th Annual RADP gathering in October!! 14 nights, October 6th - 20th at AAA rate. F&W festival here I come!!!

As far as making a larger sign, I'll have to think on that as I'll need something really weatherproof as I prefer to move my truck out to the extended lot.

We were thinking of going in October what is the RADP gathering? Is there a festival in the Fort then?

 

[clkelley]

RADP is a Usenet Group called rec.arts.disney.parks. We have had a December gathering for 11 years straight and many of the group wanted to try October, so for 2007, our gathering is in October.

It is what Mousefest sprang from.

You can read info about the meet at www.radp.org

It is not Ft. Wilderness specific, but about 1/2 dozen of us usually stay at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[bradisgoofy]

I'm sure you have seen the post of the Ears Lamp Post Lights, well, I just finished one that will go on the dashboard of our motorhome with a green party light bulb. I think that will tip off DIS members.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

What size EZu is that? And how do you keep it from blowing away? I bought a Quik Shade for $50 at Sports Authority this week so I can walk in and out of the tent without being rained on. Also can you get the EZ up up by yourself?

 

[clkelley]

What size EZu is that? And how do you keep it from blowing away? I bought a Quik Shade for $50 at Sports Authority this week so I can walk in and out of the tent without being rained on. Also can you get the EZ up up by yourself?

I have two 10x10 EZ ups. Yes, I can set it them up by myself. (I set up everything on the site by myself). I just start on one corner and pull a little, move to the next corner and pull some more and just keep working it till it's stretched and locked. I use the stakes and stake down the poles and attach the lines and stake them down.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

I am just shocked that you can fit all of this on your campsite. Are all of the tent sites the same size? I have shown my husband your tent pictures and just loved your site. Are EZups the same as sun shelters?

 

[clkelley]

No, they are not all the same size (and I did stretch the site a bit).

The large grey tent is 13x13 and it is in a L-shape. The back and right are over the edge of the site about 5 inches. There is a 10x10 EZ Up to the left of it.

The two tents in front are 8x10 and 9x10, with a 10x10 shelter in the middle.

The tent on the right goes just over the edge of the site, the tent on the left is about 1/2 off of the site. However, it is even with the little area that "juts" out for the grill, so no problems there.

The EZUps can be called by many names, Sun Shelter, Rain Shelter, Dining Fly. EZUp is actually a brand name. Most people refer to the shelters where the frame is one piece and just expands as an EZUp. I also have a couple of older (less expensive) shelters where you have to assemble all the poles.

 

[clkelley]

Not all tent sites at WDW are created equal. There are two loops of partial hookup sites at WDW. Loop 1500 and 2000. Loop 1500 is older and although very centrally located, the sites tend to be a bit narrow and not well suited for tent campers.

Loop 2000 sites are newer, larger and are better designed for tent campers to spread out multiple tents. I would guess my site was 25 feet wide by 30-35 feet deep of coquina pad with an extra little "L" section where the grill and picnic table was located. (The picnic table is movable, the grill is not). The driveway was about 12 feet long.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Thank you for all of your advice. I was thinking that loop 1500 would be my first choice as the location seems much better. We have two boys (4 and 7). We will be bringing bikes with us and will have two tents and some EZups (now that I have seen your pictures)! Would loop 2000 be better? Will we be able to bike to the main areas to avoid the internal busses or is it too far away? We have never camped at FW before and it seems so hard to read those little maps! Can we bike to the campfire and the pool? How is the safety at FW? Should we worry about people stealing coolers or such while we are at the parks for the day?

 

[disneynewbeemom]

One more question... you said that your tent was a little outside the campsite area. Is the campsite area enclosed by railroad ties or specific boudaries? Is it uncomfortable to have part of the tent overlapping?

 

[John VN]

We were at FW beginning of Jan. and 1500 was closed down with major work being done. Did not go past fences but looked and sounded intersesting.

You can walk to campfire from 1500.

 

[clkelley]

In answer to your first question. Loop 1500 is a great location, but as I said the sand pads are smaller, better suited for popups or small trailers.

Loop 2000 is better suited for tent campers with multiple tents and the need to spread out.

Since you have bicycles, getting around the campground will be easy and you won't feel far away from anything.

No, you really don't have to worry about coolers, etc. while you are at the parks.

Yes, the sand pand is surrounded by the large railroad ties. On many of the sites, these are level with the surrounding ground. Some of the sites, there is a dropoff from the sides of the railroad ties, so going over the edge a bit would not be possible. It was not uncomfortable at all on my particular site.