An Open Pre-Trip Report: Who Will Be At The Fort The Last Week of March 2014?

[tiggerdad]

Took a break from another boring research paper to check in on the boards.

Ed, looks like you are putting together quite the mob...I mean group of campers for March. Hope you guys have a blast. I'll try and keep up as much as I can between the studies.

Just an FYI Ed, I was digging through an old barn on my property last week and came across two metal milk cans. Brought them on to the house. Need some sanding and a fresh coat of paint, but otherwise in great shape. Plan to use one for my base when I finally get to start working on one. The other is yours if you would like one for a more permanent base later, but you'll have to ride over to Meridian to pick it up. It's not going anywhere, just a thought to stick in your head.

You guys have a blast and be careful on your trips.

 

[estherhead]

Esther, welcome to the party! If you don't mind (if you do that's okay) tell us what type of site you reserved and any requested loop. I briefly checked your blog and it seemed you stayed at the Fort in 2011 (tented) but were the other years in a hotel on property? If so I'm curious why you are choosing the Fort again (renting a trailer). Have you been bitten by the camping bug? I will be the first to say the Fort has a more relaxing vibe than hotels on property. I will add you to the list! Bama Ed

We have a preferred site and requested loop 100 or 200. We have some allergic to dogs people in our group and hopefully won't be put in a pet loop.

I am the big campground pusher of our group. I like having my own space outside and not a hotel room someone else stayed in last week. And my husband spent a month every year of his childhood at Ft Wilderness so he has fond memories.

However, tent camping isn't really an August kind of trip in Florida and we often must go in the heat of the summer as we have kids in school and college and my bil is a professor. Spring breaks don't match up and schedules get confusing.

Basically, when we can go to WDW in March, we stay at the fort. Which so far has only been twice. Other than that, we mix it up.

We have stayed at lots of places. Our last trip we stayed at the Boardwalk Villas. We've rented houses and condos in Windsor Hills. And pretty much all the resorts in between from All Stars to the Poly. Clearly we aren't loyal to one part of Disney.

We do all love Ft Wilderness and can't wait to go in under two weeks! I set up our tent yesterday and waterproofed it and swept it and inspected all our gear. Hopefully I can just do a few things each day now and it won't be too chaotic next Thursday as we truly pack.

 

[bama_ed]

Took a break from another boring research paper to check in on the boards.

Ed, looks like you are putting together quite the mob...I mean group of campers for March. Hope you guys have a blast. I'll try and keep up as much as I can between the studies.

Just an FYI Ed, I was digging through an old barn on my property last week and came across two metal milk cans. Brought them on to the house. Need some sanding and a fresh coat of paint, but otherwise in great shape. Plan to use one for my base when I finally get to start working on one. The other is yours if you would like one for a more permanent base later, but you'll have to ride over to Meridian to pick it up. It's not going anywhere, just a thought to stick in your head.

You guys have a blast and be careful on your trips.

I don't know what the right word is, tiggerdad. A gaggle, a mob, a throng, a rabble, a coterie, a herd, a confluence, or - my favorite - thesaurus.com's best suggestion: the great unwashed.

I will let you know re: the milk jug. I'm stubborn and want to see what I can come up with.

Like Jeepin Dad, it was beautiful here in the 'Ham on Sunday afternoon. I got the camper out of the garage after hibernating all winter and other than being a little dirty, it's in great shape. This year it's 10 years old. I had wondered if I would have to get rid of it in the future, though. My kids helped me push it in/out of the garage and with the slideout and the slight slant of the driveway away from the house, it's not controllable by one person. It's heavy (for a popup). My two boys are away at college - DD will be soon and she's not much help now. And it's really not conducive to cold weather camping.

But I love it. I've made my modifications and it feels like home. It's still in great shape. I know every creak and groan in its frame. (My frame creaks too). I flirted briefly with getting an Aliner but I've decided to stay with my Jayco popup. The weight and cold weather camping were the main drawbacks.

As far as weight is concerned, I got a helper. I got a Trailer Valet which bolts onto the tongue and is a hand crank geared to help control trailer movement. It's a cardio workout but it works. The one thing in a one-person operation is I have to stop and check frequently to make sure I'm lined up to roll it back into the garage. Here is a picture of it on my frame and then a youtube link. I bought it from etrailer.com.



The popup center wheel is not in contact with the ground. I still have to work out when to use which. The valet does disconnect so I will take it off when hauling and put it in the TV. I'm going to investigate the popup gizmos and bunk end warmers from the same company to help with cold weather camping (not going the Reflectix route). And when I say cold weather camping, I'm not referring to camping in the snow in the Rockies. I mean managing the warmth in the popup without running the furnace 24/7 if I were to go to Gulf Shores State Park between Christmas and New Years to eat out a few times, walk the beach on the sunny afternoons with DW, and watch a few bowl games on the satellite tv. Might try that this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVDxOMrgak&feature=player_embedded

This morning at Target I snagged a roll of Mickey duct tape and one of Minnie. Clearance marked down only $3 each. Tossed those in the camper.



Got the sheets on the beds ready to go. We're doing the hotel stay the first night on the road and hope to get to the Fort around noon the next day.





Here's my popup in the driveway. I didn't put the door down. And I wrote about the mods on my awning poles in my last trip report.



Here's the old spare tire cover.



I still need to get my wooden Musket Mickey sign down from its storage space, check my Mickey tacky lights, etc. I wiped down the counters and the fridge inside the popup, inventoried what I still need, and I have next Sunday to get everything ship shape and ready to roll.

Bama Ed

 

[Jeepin Dad]

I'm going to investigate the popup gizmos and bunk end warmers from the same company to help with cold weather camping (not going the Reflectix route).

The gizmos do help, when we had our popup we used them to reflect some of the summer heat away since we did not have A/C and they do help keep the heat in during cooler weather.

We actually made our own from Cabela's survival blankets (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sportsmans-Space-Blankets/713345.uts) and bungee cords. We had full size bunks so one per bunkend was big enough, for larger bunks it might take two per end. The also have an couple of added benefits, they keep a lot of the falling debris off the bunkends so they stay cleaner and they help keep them dry during wet weather.

Here is our old popup with the homemade gizmos

 

[libba]

Our fifth wheel is a Denali! DH had it out at the Hoover Met this weekend installing the second AC unit. Maybe we can plan a night to have a GTG that week? Would love to meet other dis folks in person.

 

[WECAMP2]

Bama_ED hope to se you at FW, which way will you be going? We always go to Dothan and stay the night. That lets us get there on Sat around noon. Can't wait

 

[bama_ed]

Bama_ED hope to se you at FW, which way will you be going? We always go to Dothan and stay the night. That lets us get there on Sat around noon. Can't wait

WeCamp2,

I've been WAITING for you to chime in. Thanks!

Like you we are leaving Friday afternoon (as soon as Hoover High School lets out) and headed down via the Dothan route. I would NEVER go via Atlanta again if someone laid a gun to my head. Or back that way for that matter.

We'll be coming in about the same time as you.

So please tell me:

- What type of site you reserved?
- Which (if any) loop you requested?
- What your trailer/rv/tent/camper/ is?

Our fifth wheel is a Denali! DH had it out at the Hoover Met this weekend installing the second AC unit. Maybe we can plan a night to have a GTG that week? Would love to meet other dis folks in person.

libba,

I have an idea. I don't know that the GTG will work given everyone's diverse schedules. It's been done before but the thing is, we're different. We may have to take this into the PM layer.

Bama ED

 

[WECAMP2]

Bama Ed, we have a 40ft RV towing the DW suv, she said we have a premium site and have asked for loop 400 or 700. All I do is drive and say yes mam.

 

[JETS70]

This is a pic of our camper during its maiden voyage to the Fort. The DW and I have had it out and cleaned and prepped it for our upcoming visit.

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[Tilyeea]

We are coming in on Saturday March 22 and leaving on Saturday March 29. We have a Jayco 23b and are staying in a full hookup site. Coming in from the Ft. Lauderdale area so only have about a 3 hour drive, Yay!!!!!

We just completed our Mickey Lamp and I am so excited to set it up and use it. I already have everyone's clothes packed and the camper ready to go. Now all I have to do is wait, 12 long days to go.

 

[bama_ed]

We are coming in on Saturday March 22 and leaving on Saturday March 29. We have a Jayco 23b and are staying in a full hookup site. Coming in from the Ft. Lauderdale area so only have about a 3 hour drive, Yay!!!!!

We just completed our Mickey Lamp and I am so excited to set it up and use it. I already have everyone's clothes packed and the camper ready to go. Now all I have to do is wait, 12 long days to go.

Tilyeea,

to the DIS Camping Board .

Long time ago me and DW used to live down your way. When you drive up past Jupiter, wave on the ocean side for me as you pass the Indiantown Road exit. My little condo is still there.

Okay now, you're adding pressure to me since your Mickey Lamp is done and mine is yet-to-get-started. I better get off my can and do something about it rather than talking about it, huh?

I will add you to the list. Stay tuned (hey, and put in a good word with a local weatherman for that week for ALL of us please).

Bama Ed

 

[cousineddie]

We arrive on the 22nd as well. We've upgraded this trip from our popup to a "vintage" airstream. We're coming with friends who "camp" in the cabins and have requested to be near them - so that bumped us from a full hookup to a premium site. I hope I don't embarrass myself in there with all the coaches and class A crowd.

 

[bama_ed]

We arrive on the 22nd as well. We've upgraded this trip from our popup to a "vintage" airstream. We're coming with friends who "camp" in the cabins and have requested to be near them - so that bumped us from a full hookup to a premium site. I hope I don't embarrass myself in there with all the coaches and class A crowd.

Welcome cousineddie.

I think your Airstream will be quite a talking point with your fellow campers. You'll fit in quite well.

I'll load your info.

Bama Ed

 

[cousineddie]

Just as long as they realize "vintage" means old and cheap enough for us to afford. Ha!

 

[bama_ed]

Another pre-trip update.

After rolling the camper back into the garage yesterday, I checked my Mickey globe-head light strings. We've had a thread on here from time to time about these being available on-line. I have two strings, one bought on-line and the first bought at the "Ye Old Christmas Shoppe" in the Magic Kingdom just off the circle headed into Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Of the two, one was not working but the second string lights were. Guess I'll just bring the one. As strings short circuit I just get a new tacky light string and swap the globes. I tried to move them to an LED string but that didn't work.

One thing, though, as I've used them the one thing I noticed was since I clip them to my awning, when it rained the water would fill the Mickey globes nearly full. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I know water and electricity don't mix. So over the winter I drilled small holes at the bottom of every globe to drain the water going forward.

So here is a pix looking down through the drilled hole in my Mickey globes. Just another thing to check off as we get closer to Departure Day.



Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Tuesday update.

Well I put the blue painters tape on the big Mickey head globe and got the two ear holes drilled out. One is drying right now with an ear globe; the other will go in tomorrow.

I got an idea on the base. Cheap Home Depot idea plus parts here at home. Tick tock time is running out.

Bama ED

 

[sippican]

So sorry to be missing the fun - we will be checking out of the Fort on the 22nd. The good thing is that our trip is really close. Looking forward to the food booths and concert in Epcot on the 21st.

 

[JETS70]

Since visiting this site prior to our first trip to the Fort, I have read so many posts concerning all the great things about the Fort and what it has to offer and in a techie kind of way have met a lot of good people. The DW and I were excited when Bama Ed started this thread and we were going to see who might be there and the opportunity to say "hey". It looks like the DW and I will be arriving when most have left, leaving, or soon will be. We hate it for this trip but we know there will be opportunities in the future. We hope that everyone has a "magical" time and look forward to reading the trip reports.
Safe travel to all!

 

[bama_ed]

So sorry to be missing the fun - we will be checking out of the Fort on the 22nd. The good thing is that our trip is really close. Looking forward to the food booths and concert in Epcot on the 21st.

Well okay sippican. Pave the way for us!

Since visiting this site prior to our first trip to the Fort, I have read so many posts concerning all the great things about the Fort and what it has to offer and in a techie kind of way have met a lot of good people. The DW and I were excited when Bama Ed started this thread and we were going to see who might be there and the opportunity to say "hey". It looks like the DW and I will be arriving when most have left, leaving, or soon will be. We hate it for this trip but we know there will be opportunities in the future. We hope that everyone has a "magical" time and look forward to reading the trip reports.
Safe travel to all!

Jets70, since I won't be there the full week I'll hand the baton to you to close out the week. Get around and meet folks ASAP because they may be leaving soon after you arrive.

In other updates, the Mickey globe is progressing. I glued the second ear on tonight. I may skip the lights in the ears in the interest of time. Going with 3" pvc disconnectable of a to-be-determined length.



Tick tock.

Bama ED

 

[tiggerdad]

Looking good Ed. What size globes did you end up going with?