Another TCD Trip Report-August 2009 @ The Fort!

I don't think you got an answer to this one yet:

I always thought the thing you see on the pole was a birdhouse. But, after taking a good look at it, maybe it is for bats? Anyone know?

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Yup, it's definitely a bat house.

Do I win anything?

Leslie
 
Loving the report as usual. Hope we get to meet in Oct. Keep'em coming. popcorn::
 
Would you like to try your hand at identifying the location of all the basketball goals available for guest use at the Fort?

TCD

The only one's I've paid attention to are (1) between 100 & 200 (2) entrance to 300 (3) entrance to 1200/1300 (4) between 1800 & 1900.

I'm sure there must be others...but those are the only sites I recall.

I think there's a tetherball at 1200/1300. I'll look tomorrow nite & we'll know for sure.

Andrew- My $69.75/nite rate I booked in March was with a passholder discount. I'm going to print the info off the website & take it with me tomorrow. I'll either be placed in a premium site, or get a discount. Actually, I'd rather be in the 1700 loop with a discounted rate of $47/nite. That's what I'm going to aim for. Ain't nuttin better than the 1700 loop!!:thumbsup2
 
thanks for a great report TCD!! I love looking at your vast QUANTITY of pics! :thumbsup2 Really gets us in the mood for our 1st trip to the Ft in December.

You want quantity, I got quantity! Thanks for reading along, I've got some more quantity coming up.

Yes, I was at late night EMH on Friday night!! Rick didn't make it, but that's OK.

Rick is still at Disney, I'm back at home till tomorrow. Had to come home for that nasty work thing. (But I won't complain too much, it's better than the alternative.)

Yeah, I know how the rain can do. It does it at home too. As a matter of fact, I have seen it rain in my back yard and be dry in my front yard before!!!!

So Deb, you're gonna be at the Fort this weekend??!!! We will definitely drop by then!!! We've got dining plans, but don't have any definite park plans, so have plenty of time!!

I meant to mention that it was raining so much Friday night that the campfire sing-a-long was conducted on the Meadow Swimming Pool porch. I had never seen it rain so much that the sing-a-long actually got moved. When we stopped by, there were about a half dozen folks in the audience, and Chuckwagon Bill (or is it Bob? I can never remember) was taking requests. You know that meant I had to request Freebird (because someone always has to request Freebird), but he didn't know it, so we had to go.

Deb, I called last week and had my rate for Labor Day reduced to $47 a night for full hookup. I think I got FL residence.
Carol when are you and Rick staying till, I think you had told me and I think we will miss each other, but just checking incase your plans have changed.
Have a great time all of you.

Thanks for sharing that rate. Good to know. I've got some upcoming reservations that I made a while back that I will need to see about reducing.

1) Between the 100-200 loops
2) 300 loop
3) 1400 loop
4) Between 1800-1900 loops
5) Between 1200-1300 loops
6) Next to the cabin pool
7) By the group camp area at the end of the road.

Good job, Jim! But, check your list again. I am looking for a list of every basketball goal available to campground guests. You are missing one. I thought everyone would forget the one by group camping. But you got that one. You missed an obvious one!

I don't think you got an answer to this one yet:



Yup, it's definitely a bat house.

Do I win anything?

Leslie

Why, of course! I have a Fastpass that is good for any ride in the Magic Kingdom. I found it on the ground in the MK last weekend. It expires on 8/31/09. I got one of these once when we got stuck on the Pirate ride. It is white, and can be used on the ride of your choice. The only hitch is that the prize must be claimed in person at the Fort. Let me know when you wish to claim it.

Loving the report as usual. Hope we get to meet in Oct. Keep'em coming. popcorn::

Thanks, and I've got some more coming.

The only one's I've paid attention to are (1) between 100 & 200 (2) entrance to 300 (3) entrance to 1200/1300 (4) between 1800 & 1900.

I'm sure there must be others...but those are the only sites I recall.

I think there's a tetherball at 1200/1300. I'll look tomorrow nite & we'll know for sure.

Andrew- My $69.75/nite rate I booked in March was with a passholder discount. I'm going to print the info off the website & take it with me tomorrow. I'll either be placed in a premium site, or get a discount. Actually, I'd rather be in the 1700 loop with a discounted rate of $47/nite. That's what I'm going to aim for. Ain't nuttin better than the 1700 loop!!:thumbsup2

Good luck with getting your rate reduced-and I hope you get the 1700 loop. It looked good this past weekend. And, have a great trip! I hope that you get to enjoy an uncrowded Fort. I suspect that you will. You are missing a few basketball goals, so, work on your list this weekend. And, let me know about the tetherball in 1200/1300, I say there isn't one. But, I've been wrong before.

TCD
 

Good job, Jim! But, check your list again. I am looking for a list of every basketball goal available to campground guests. You are missing one. I thought everyone would forget the one by group camping. But you got that one. You missed an obvious one!
TCD

After great thought, I forgot the one in the 900 loop. Did I win and if so what is my prize? Thanks again for the Trip report and the pics. Makes me wish I was there!
 
Great Trip report. I'm hoping Disny wises up on those premium spots. That has got to hurt seeing all them empty and it looks like the full hook ups are all full! Hello!
I'm enjoying your report!
 
Why, of course! I have a Fastpass that is good for any ride in the Magic Kingdom. I found it on the ground in the MK last weekend. It expires on 8/31/09. I got one of these once when we got stuck on the Pirate ride. It is white, and can be used on the ride of your choice. The only hitch is that the prize must be claimed in person at the Fort. Let me know when you wish to claim it.

Dang! We get to FW on 9-2 - just 2 days too late to take you up on your offer! Maybe next time...
 
After great thought, I forgot the one in the 900 loop. Did I win and if so what is my prize? Thanks again for the Trip report and the pics. Makes me wish I was there!

Jim- That is the one that you missed! So, you got them all. Good job. Since lklasing has declined her prize of a Fastpass for any ride in the MK (expires 8/31/09), you are now the winner of that fantastic prize!

Great Trip report. I'm hoping Disny wises up on those premium spots. That has got to hurt seeing all them empty and it looks like the full hook ups are all full! Hello!
I'm enjoying your report!

I'm not sure what the management can do now that they have already far exceeded the demand for premium spots. I guess they will have to lower the price?

Dang! We get to FW on 9-2 - just 2 days too late to take you up on your offer! Maybe next time...

Too bad! Are you still planning to do the triathlon? I forgot that was coming up! Have a great trip! The Fort will definitely be jammed for the triathlon weekend.

TCD
 
Time for some more pictures!

In my last installment, we were looking at the 1700 loop. It was about 80% full. Here are some more photos from 1600, which was also about 80% full:

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If you look in the very back of the photo above, you can see the TCD camper in the 1500 loop. This is the site on 1600 that backs up to site 1506.

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Moving on to the 1900 loop, it was about 90% empty:

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Here I am heading back to the 1500 loop:

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And, here we are in the good old 1500 loop:

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Here is the TCD set-up in 1506:

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This is the site directly across from 1506 (I believe that it is 1505):

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I mentioned earlier that my photos are out of order, but I think these photos are next because I must have stopped by Trail's End for some coffee. There have been a number of questions asked here recently about the status of take out breakfast or lunch from Trail's End. The answer to those questions is that there is none. Nothing. Period. The dinner menu is posted all day, and the second photo shows the sign that is posted at the cash register:

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You know what? I have a lot of pictures of empty loops. I guess I took a lot because I could not believe how empty it was all weekend. Here is a photo of a nearly empty 800 loop:

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And here are some photos of the 900 and 1000 loops:

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Here is the one and only camper on the 1000 loop. I suspect that he or she asked for this site, as it was the last one on the loop, and this camper must have wanted to be alone. I don't know why the Fort management would have stuck a single camper here otherwise:

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(note the AC in the tent)

This rig was set up on the 1200 loop. Check out the Smart car on the back of the truck! I don't know how the Smart car got up and down from there, but it is pretty cool, isn't it?:

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Coming up . . .

More photos of 1200/1300, and then some of 1100.

And, coming up a little later, lots of photos of the brave tent campers in 1500 and 2000.

And coming up even a little later, some TCD spy photos.

But, they are not from the Fort . . .

You know that new building that they have been building next to the Contemporary Resort? Bay Lake Towers? Haven't you wondered what it's like? Well, it's open. But you have to be a registered guest to enter. You know what I say about that. Pish-ah! Registered guest, registered schmest. I needed some spy photos. And, I got some!

TCD
 
TCD,
Which loop(s) seem to have the most shady campsites now that most of the renovations have been completed? :confused3

I know 1900 was particularly sparse after the deforestation took place. It was so thinned out that we could see clear across the entrance to our site 1918 which is about the furthest away on the south end of the loop. Also we could look across from east to west and see the comfort station and over into 1700. Never could do that before. :scared1:
 
TCD,
Which loop(s) seem to have the most shady campsites now that most of the renovations have been completed? :confused3

I know 1900 was particularly sparse after the deforestation took place. It was so thinned out that we could see clear across the entrance to our site 1918 which is about the furthest away on the south end of the loop. Also we could look across from east to west and see the comfort station and over into 1700. Never could do that before. :scared1:

It's hard to say what loops are the shadiest. The preferred and full loops are all pretty equal, although I think 300 has the most shade out of the three preferred loops. On the premiums, I would say 400, 500 and 900 have the most sites that are well shaded. All of the loops have some places with more shade then others. One place that definitely lacks shade is the new part of the 600 loop. Hardly any decent sized trees at all there.

I cant wait to see those tent camper photos!

They will be here before you know it!

TCD
 
So does that sign mean that take out for dinner from Trails End is considered QS on the DDP??

Did you happen to venture over and get any pics from the cabin loops??

BTW - thanks for the pic of the soy milk!! :thumbsup2
 
Since it sounds like you have been there at all different times of the year...What do you think we should we expect for the Columbus Day weekend in October. When does the campground fill up and empty out? It seems to me like that would be the busiest time of the month.

LOVE the pics!!!! I can't wait!
 
My last photos were from the 1200 loop, so we need a photo from the 1300 loop. Here you go:

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This is the only photo that I have from the 1300 loop. How many photos of an empty loop do you need?

From 1300, it was on to 1100. Same story, different loop:

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This little back-hoe was set up outside Cabin loop 2200. I think they were just digging up a drainage ditch:

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This is a photo from early Saturday. There were a lot of open sites on the 2000 loop, too:

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Interestingly enough, the 2000 loop was pretty full by Saturday night. But, it emptied out again on Sunday. I never realized how many people come to the Fort and tent camp for one night. There was a group right across from us that did that on Saturday. It looked like a couple of moms, a grandma, and a few teens. They just set up a tent on Saturday, lived it up at their site, they knew how to party- glow sticks and everything, and then on Sunday morning, they threw all their gear back in their minivan, and they were gone.

If you are still reading along, let me share a word of warning with you. If you show up at the Fort and looking like a hippie, I am going to take your picture, and post it on the Disboards. I mean, how could I not? Just look at this guy! He is screaming for attention:

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What in the world?

To each his own.

But, I am still going to take your picture and put it here so we can all take a good look. And, if you are a hippie, please understand that I have nothing against hippies. It's just I don't get why you are out rolling like that in 2009.

Last week, someone had set up a live webcam and was broadcasting from the Fort. I didn't hear whether or not this person was a Disboard member. But, in case you are ever camped near this guy, I thought you might want to know who it was that was doing the broadcasting. Here's their rig. I have some more photos of this site, too, and will post those in a bit:

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I should have posted this photo when I posted the photos of the other barricades that have been erected to block golf cart traffic. These are the barricades at the 1400 loop:

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On Saturday, the DD's and I visited Animal Kingdom in the late afternoon. The park was closing at 5, so the plan was to leave at closing, head back to the Fort, and then take the boat to the Contemporary, and then the monorail to the Polynesian for dinner. Despite what you have seen in the photos showing how empty the Fort was, the parks were busy. Luckily, a nice person handed us Fastpasses for Dinosaur as we entered AK. The wait for Dinosaur at 3 pm was 60 minutes. For Dinosaur! That is usually pretty close to a walk on attraction most of the time. Despite the crowds, we got to ride Dinosaur (thanks to those Fastpasses) and Expedition Everest at AK. We also waited on line for Kali River Rapids for 45+ minutes, but eventually gave up when the line basically stopped moving. A storm was moving in, and they were announcing that they might need to close the ride. We bailed.

We made it back to the Fort. The storm that was threatening moved on, and we headed down to the dock at about 6:30.

Was there a hippie convention at the Fort last weekend? Look who was sitting in front of me on the boat to the Contemporary:

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Really.

Some photos from our boat ride:

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If you have visited the Fort in the past couple of years, then you know that a new building has been constructed next to the Contemporary Resort. This is a new Disney Vacation Club property called Bay Lake Tower. It was just completed and opened to the public this month. Here it is, as seen from Bay Lake:

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As you can see, there is an elevated walkway (I think they call it a Sky Bridge) that connects the new building to the Contemporary Resort. I had already read complaints from people here on the Disboards that only registered guests of Bay Lake Towers are allowed to access the Sky Bridge from the Contemporary. Sure enough, when I checked it out, there was a locked door, and a key reader with a sign saying that the bridge was for guests of the BLT resort, and that the bridge was key access only.

But, when did a little detail like a sign ever stop TCD?

I mean there was just one sign.

And, it was very small.

So, here is the view from the Sky Bridge looking over Bay Lake:

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Here is something cool. In this next photo, look just above the tree line in the center of the photo. See that yellow dot? That is the new balloon at Downtown Disney:

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Another shot from the bridge:

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Cool view, no?

Too bad non-guests are not allowed in the building.

The view from there must be pretty cool.

But, I had already bent the rules by going on the Sky Bridge. There was no way that I would push the envelope and actually have the audacity to enter the building.

Would I?

TCD
 
So TCD do you know how to defeat electronic locks? :worship: How did you get past the locked door? :rolleyes1 Did your FtW key work? :woohoo: I know its probably a TCD trade secret but inquiring minds wanna know! :happytv:
 
So TCD do you know how to defeat electronic locks? :worship: How did you get past the locked door? :rolleyes1 Did your FtW key work? :woohoo: I know its probably a TCD trade secret but inquiring minds wanna know! :happytv:
My trick would be to hang around the locked door pretending to talk on my cell phone, and then when someone WITH a key card goes through the door to mosey on through like I was supposed to be there. Of course, that's me. TCD probably uses dynamite.
 
My trick would be to hang around the locked door pretending to talk on my cell phone, and then when someone WITH a key card goes through the door to mosey on through like I was supposed to be there. Of course, that's me. TCD probably uses dynamite.

very true, teh key to getting into places that you are not suppose to be in is acting like you belong there, and just go with the flow.

i would just walk slowly and ask for the person in front of me to hold the door please.

then return the favor and offer to hold the door for them when they unlock it in front of you.

:goodvibes
 
So does that sign mean that take out for dinner from Trails End is considered QS on the DDP??

Did you happen to venture over and get any pics from the cabin loops??

BTW - thanks for the pic of the soy milk!! :thumbsup2

No DDP for take out at Trail's End.

Sorry, but I don't have any photos of the cabin loops, but you can see a few cabins here and there in the background of my photos. The cabin loops are nice, but they all kind of look the same. Not that interesting to photograph.

Hey, no prob on the soy milk, I hope you enjoy it! I've never touched the stuff myself. I mean, why didn't someone think of a better name for this stuff. I am familiar with soy sauce. So what am I supposed to think about something called soy milk? And this particular brand is called Silk. So, who wants to drink Silk? Not me.

Since it sounds like you have been there at all different times of the year...What do you think we should we expect for the Columbus Day weekend in October. When does the campground fill up and empty out? It seems to me like that would be the busiest time of the month.

LOVE the pics!!!! I can't wait!

Yes, I have been at the Fort at all different times of the year, and October is one of my favorite times to go. My younger DD's attended private school up until last year, and they always had a couple of weekdays off in October for teacher conferences. A lot of times those dates would coincide with Columbus Day. Columbus Day is not that big of a holiday in Florida, and it is the Florida school holidays that seem to have a big impact on the Fort. For whatever reason, they don't close the public schools in Florida for Columbus Day. So, in my experience, Columbus Day weekend is not any busier than any other weekend in October at the Fort. I think that the parks and other resorts do get busier that weekend, because that is where more of the folks flying in for vacation stay. I also camped once during something called "Jersey Week." Apparently, there is a week in October or November where everyone in New Jersey who owns a trailer comes to the Fort. The Fort is busy during Jersey Week, but I don't know when that typically falls. It was late October in 2004 when I experienced that.

So TCD do you know how to defeat electronic locks? :worship: How did you get past the locked door? :rolleyes1 Did your FtW key work? :woohoo: I know its probably a TCD trade secret but inquiring minds wanna know! :happytv:

My trick would be to hang around the locked door pretending to talk on my cell phone, and then when someone WITH a key card goes through the door to mosey on through like I was supposed to be there. Of course, that's me. TCD probably uses dynamite.

very true, teh key to getting into places that you are not suppose to be in is acting like you belong there, and just go with the flow.

i would just walk slowly and ask for the person in front of me to hold the door please.

then return the favor and offer to hold the door for them when they unlock it in front of you.

:goodvibes

The old fake cell phone call trick, why didn't I think of that? Here I went and had my DD dress up like a room service deliverer, and I crammed into a ball under the tablecloth on the cart. My back still hurts! And I just could have done the fake cell phone call trick. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Or, maybe someone opened the door while I was standing there reading the sign, and held the door for me so I could come in. I was invited in by a registered guest. ;)

TCD
 
What do you think, did I go into the building or not?

What would you have done?

I went in the building for a look.

It looks like a pretty nice place.

This new building is 16 stories tall. And there is a lounge at the top. But, it is only open to guests who make reservations in the Lobby, and those guests must be DVC members staying on DVC points. I couldn't figure out a way around those requirements. Yet. But, fortunately for you, there are windows in the stairwell of the 16th floor, so we can get an approximation of what the view of Discovery Island and the Fort might look like from that exclusive lounge:

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Go back and look at the middle photo above. Look along the tree line toward the right of the photo. You can see Spaceship Earth in Epcot! How cool is that? I would like to watch Illuminations from here sometime.

Also, not sure if you can see it, but if you see the reflection of a backward "TB" in some of these photos, that is a reflection of the photographer's Tampa Bay Ray's t-shirt. Sorry, but remember, I do not promise quality photographs. Just quantity. And, there is no denying that I have delivered on the quantity promise.

And, Go Rays!

So, the Fort's pool has been spiffied up. What kind of pool do you think they gave these snobby DVC folks?

A nice one:

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I only examined the pool from this vantage point, but I also saw it from the boat later in the evening. The slide has neon lighting on it. It looks pretty cool. It looks like there is some type of facility built under the slide. I think it might be a snack bar.

Some more shots from the tower:

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That's all I have from Bay Lake Towers.

Stay away, unless you are a registered guest. And, if you are a registered guest, please invite me up to your lounge for a drink. I'll buy. I want to see the lounge.

Next, we headed to the Polynesian on the monorail.

But, we will return to the Contemporary.

And, we had a bit of a surprise that caused us an hour delay in returning to the Fort.

I will tell you all about it in my next post.

TCD
 












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