Another TCD Trip Report!! With Sanjaya, Tom Cruise, Valentine's Day, and More!

[Tri-circle-D]

TCD Love the Pop Up....We have the same one!! Don't you wish the screen room had flaps that came down to cover the screens in the rain!! Oh wait yours does....we suck

Great pics!!

My camper is a Coleman Utah CP (got to have the CP). Is that what you have? I know that a Niagara looks the same from the outside. The flaps make all the difference in the world. The screen room with the flaps down gives us additional space to hang out when the weather is bad.

I read this whole thread for the Tom Cruise part. Guess that will teach me not to get my hopes up.

I love your "cousins" early morning picture taking. But could you ask him a question about the pool, I thought they were making it a zero entry. Or maybe I was hoping for a zero entry. Doesn't look like they did anything put resurface it. Your cousin's excellent detective work appears to show the same exact steps. Is this true?

Sorry about the Tom Cruise tease.

Yes, those are the same old steps in the pool. I think that at one point there was consideration given to making the pool zero entry, but it looks like the pool "footprint" is not going to change. While I appreciate the addition of the slide and hot tub (and possibly a water play area), I am disappointed that the pool was not enlarged. In the summer, the pool gets packed. It will be even more packed now that it has the new improvements, and part of it will have to be closed off for the slide exit. Well, maybe the next time it gets an upgrade in thirty years or so, they will expand it.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Okay great- thank you so much! I look forward to hear what you say about the 1400 loop- it's a few months still until I need to put in the 5 day request- so no rush on helping me find that info either. Thanks about the photos you'll take too!
Wish I could go as often as you!

And continuing on the trip report... I was thinking you'd say you saw Tom Cruise or something! LOL You're sneaky! hehe

We really need to get a screen room..... I have no idea how to try to find the best deal on that and then KNOW it will fit. Do you just by it by measurement or do you have to buy like what fits "your" specific brand/size/etc. TT/RV/etc? It would really add some room to our TT and have more shade than our awning gives us- plus ofcourse keep out bugs! It doesn't appear there is really much shade around the sites at FW- atleast from the photos I've seen so far on many threads. If we spend evenings and 2 days of our trip in the TT- we might start feeling a bit crowded in the TT and usually when we go camping the fam spends a lot of time outside around our TT but there is more shade at the places we usually camp- than what appears to be there at FW. Are the bugs bad at FW at the end of May? Just curious.
Anyway since that's an expense that wouldn't ONLY be for this trip to FW but any camping trip we take.. we really need to get one of those.

I was wondering the other day if they make screen rooms off the back of your SUV? If they don't- I should invent that. Can't tell you how many times I'd use that. LOL (like for instance in our upcoming zoo trip we're eating out at our vehicles- me and my friends. I have the biggest vehicle so we're eating out of the back of my Expedition- I wish I could attach a smallish screen room. Does that sound silly? LOL

Anyway are the screen rooms off the TT awning cheaper or more expensive (or the same?) as just buying a seperate screen room? Just curious.

First, I noticed that Carol (clkelley) just posted her magical fax form on another thread. Here it is:

The fax# is:407-824-3508

Date

TO: Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground Site Assigner

FROM: Name
Address

SUBJECT: Site Request for Month xx - xx

RE: Reservation # xxxxxxxx

I am really looking forward to my stay at the Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground and am writing about cabin requests. I do understand that these are only requests and cannot be guaranteed.

If possible, I would like a site in Loop xxxx near (whatever you want to be near).


Thanks so much for your help, and once again I’m really looking forward to my visit to Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx or by email at xxx@xxx.xxx

Sincerely,



Your name here

I use a modified version of this fax when I want to request a loop. What I add is a specific reference to the loop designation that I have reserved, and a request to be placed in a certain area of the loop. In your case, I would say something like: "If possible, I would like a site on the outside of the 800 loop, backing up to the canal/pet walk area or the 900 loop campsites. If that is not possible, then I would like a site on the outside of the 1400 loop, near (but not right next to)the comfort station." Something like that- modify it to fit your situation. The strategy I use is to tell the assigner what is important to you, and give him or her the latitude to give you the best site available, rather than insisting on being on a certain loop or in a certain site.

As for screen rooms, I bought my "Deluxe Add A Room" when I bought the camper. They had one on the display unit, and I thought it would be nice to have. It has been nice to have, but if I recall correctly, it was rather expensive. It is also a pain to set up and take down. I do not see very many campers using these. I use mine because I paid good money for it, and I am stubborn that way. But, most campers seem to be happier with a free standing screen room. Most folks put this over their picnic tables. These typically do not have flaps, so they aren't much help in a rain storm, but they keep the bugs away. If you get a free standing one, you could take that with you and set it up over your SUV tailgate, or whatever. I would add, too, that the Fort management does a good job with the bug control. We have never really had an insect problem during any of our Fort visits, and I do not think that a screen room is necessary at the Fort. At other Florida campgrounds, you will be eaten alive by mosquitoes in the summer, but not at the Fort.

TCD

p.s. for those of you reading along, I still have a couple of more chapters of my trip report to post. So, stay tuned . . .

 

[clkelley]

That letter is actually one I posted and customized for a cabin requester.

The letter I actually use for my campsite requests is as follows:

The fax# is:407-824-3508

Date

TO: Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground Site Assigner

FROM: Name
Address

SUBJECT: Site Request for Month xx - xx

RE: Reservation # xxxxxxxx

I am really looking forward to my stay at the Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground and am writing about campsite requests. I do understand that these are only requests and cannot be guaranteed.

If possible, I would like a site in Loop xxxx or Loop xxxx with a site that will accomodate the following: (list your "stuff" here) and near (whatever you want to be near).

Thanks so much for your help, and once again I’m really looking forward to my visit to Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx or by email at xxx@xxx.xxx

Sincerely,



Your name here

 

[Tri-circle-D]

That letter is actually one I posted and customized for a cabin requester.

The letter I actually use for my campsite requests is as follows:

Thanks, Carol.

OK, BBB, now you have the time-tested fax form, so all you have to do is figure out what you want to ask for, and you are in business!

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

And now, back to our report . . .

Where we last left off, we had almost met Tom Cruise. OK, almost is stretching it. We had heard someone tell his friends that he had almost met Tom Cruise.

We made it back to the Fort and to our camper by 1 am, and called it a night.

On Sunday morning, I let the girls sleep in, and spent some time looking around.

You probably already heard that the bridge from the 1500 loop bus stop into the Meadows area is closed. Here are some photos of the situation:

As best I can figure, the bridge is closed off because construction vehicles are driving around this area to get to the other side of the pool construction. If you look in the first photo, you will see that a fence has been erected here. The trucks drive along the bank of the canal, turn right, drive past the tennis courts, and then back to the big gate in the temporary pool fence. The grass is getting torn up pretty good, and one of the sidewalks by the playground equipment is cracking. This should all be nothing but a memory when the pool re-opens next month.

I haven't mentioned that the campground was packed on President's Day weekend. I was surprised. The prices were jacked up, and I thought some folks would pass, but there were very few open sites all weekend.

Even the group camping area was jam-packed. Fuller than I ever remember seeing it. And these folks liked to party! We drove by on Friday night, and they were all up, drinking out of their ubiquitous red cups, the kids riding bikes all around- and we are talking after 11 pm. Sure enough, on Saturday and Sunday nights, they were more subdued, but there were a lot of folks here. Here are some shots of the group camping area:

This is the little dirt road that borders the group camping area- things look a little congested here:

The one exception to the full loops was the 2000 loop. For some reason, on Friday night, there were a bunch of open sites on this loop. Like about 20 sites, all about 3/4 of the way around the loop. I should have figured out why this was myself, but I got my answer on Saturday afternoon, when the cub scouts invaded! This group occupied all of those sites, and completely disregarded the one car per site rule:

Did I hear somewhere that Mean Gene is no longer working at the Fort? If so, I believe it, because his head would have exploded if he saw all of these sites with two and three cars parked on them!

Here are some more azalea shots for you:

Here are some general shots of around our site:

These are kind of representative of how things look back on the 1500 and 1600 loops.

Every now and then, someone asks a question about how much bikes, canoes, kayaks, etc. are to rent at the Fort. Here is the Bike Barn price list as of 2/15/09:

The bike rental price kills me. A family of four would pay $72 a day to rent bikes. And, you can't even keep them overnight!

Notice on here that you can borrow basketballs, volleyballs, horseshoes, and shuffle board equipment for free. I don't recall there being a designated horseshoe area around the Bike Barn. The shuffle board courts are there. Has anyone borrowed the horseshoes?

We are getting close to the end here folks. Looks like I will finish my report by tomorrow.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Let's try this version of the Bike Barn price list. That other one is a bit hard to read:

I hope that's better.

TCD

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

First, I noticed that Carol (clkelley) just posted her magical fax form on another thread. Here it is:



I use a modified version of this fax when I want to request a loop. What I add is a specific reference to the loop designation that I have reserved, and a request to be placed in a certain area of the loop. In your case, I would say something like: "If possible, I would like a site on the outside of the 800 loop, backing up to the canal/pet walk area or the 900 loop campsites. If that is not possible, then I would like a site on the outside of the 1400 loop, near (but not right next to)the comfort station." Something like that- modify it to fit your situation. The strategy I use is to tell the assigner what is important to you, and give him or her the latitude to give you the best site available, rather than insisting on being on a certain loop or in a certain site.

As for screen rooms, I bought my "Deluxe Add A Room" when I bought the camper. They had one on the display unit, and I thought it would be nice to have. It has been nice to have, but if I recall correctly, it was rather expensive. It is also a pain to set up and take down. I do not see very many campers using these. I use mine because I paid good money for it, and I am stubborn that way. But, most campers seem to be happier with a free standing screen room. Most folks put this over their picnic tables. These typically do not have flaps, so they aren't much help in a rain storm, but they keep the bugs away. If you get a free standing one, you could take that with you and set it up over your SUV tailgate, or whatever. I would add, too, that the Fort management does a good job with the bug control. We have never really had an insect problem during any of our Fort visits, and I do not think that a screen room is necessary at the Fort. At other Florida campgrounds, you will be eaten alive by mosquitoes in the summer, but not at the Fort.

TCD

p.s. for those of you reading along, I still have a couple of more chapters of my trip report to post. So, stay tuned . . .

Thanks again for all the info!!

And continuing your report too- and for the photos! I had meant to ask you last night if you noticed them making a slide. Because I haven't seen it (maybe I'm blind? LOL) in the photos yet someone on another thread mentioned they were making a slide. So they are making a slide?
That's great but you mentioned the pool there is usually crowded and will be even more with the slide... it looks like a pretty big pool IMO (even though you said it's not being made bigger I mean). Is there certain times of the day that you found the pool to be crowded- or just in general all the time? We've stayed at all the values (except for Pop) and GF and their pools seem smaller and especialy with the values you'd think there'd be tons in the pool but we've never found them to be too crowded- even in the summer.. even at GF. So is it just that those at the fort tend to avoid the parks more and spend a lot of time in the pool?
I'm so glad there will be a slide and a hot tub- they should have had those a long time ago huh? LOL

I really love all your photos and info- and really appreciate all your help too. Thanks so much!

 

[mdoc]

TCD (er, I mean his cousin Yuri) is my most favorite scoff-law!!! Thanks for the great report and pictures.

So, now that more loops have been converted, and 1400 and 600 are moving along, which do you think are the most desirable premium loops? We're heading down again the last week of March, so inquiring minds want to know.

 

[2goofycampers]

The bike rental price kills me. A family of four would pay $72 a day to rent bikes. And, you can't even keep them overnight!TCD

Makes the GC rental sound like a bargain.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thanks again for all the info!!

And continuing your report too- and for the photos! I had meant to ask you last night if you noticed them making a slide. Because I haven't seen it (maybe I'm blind? LOL) in the photos yet someone on another thread mentioned they were making a slide. So they are making a slide?
That's great but you mentioned the pool there is usually crowded and will be even more with the slide... it looks like a pretty big pool IMO (even though you said it's not being made bigger I mean). Is there certain times of the day that you found the pool to be crowded- or just in general all the time? We've stayed at all the values (except for Pop) and GF and their pools seem smaller and especialy with the values you'd think there'd be tons in the pool but we've never found them to be too crowded- even in the summer.. even at GF. So is it just that those at the fort tend to avoid the parks more and spend a lot of time in the pool?
I'm so glad there will be a slide and a hot tub- they should have had those a long time ago huh? LOL

I really love all your photos and info- and really appreciate all your help too. Thanks so much!

Yes, there is going to be a slide! That is what the tower in my photos is for, and I have some photos that I will be posting tomorrow that show the slide parts being delivered. Up at the top of the first page of the camping board, there is a thread where people have been posting photos of the pool progress. Take a look at that.

In my opinion, the Fort pool is much smaller than the pools at the value resorts. But, we are now getting a slide, which they don't have. You are going Memorial Day weekend, right? You will see what I mean about the pool being crowded! If you really want to see somthing, go at midnight one night.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

TCD (er, I mean his cousin Yuri) is my most favorite scoff-law!!! Thanks for the great report and pictures.

So, now that more loops have been converted, and 1400 and 600 are moving along, which do you think are the most desirable premium loops? We're heading down again the last week of March, so inquiring minds want to know.

Wow, funny you should mention my cousin. Something really weird happened here in my hometown yesterday involving another guy with a cousin named Yuri.

Right under my avatar, you will see that I live in Dunedin, Florida. Dunedin is where the Toronto Blue Jays come for spring training each year, and where they play their spring training games. Well, yesterday, the Blue Jays hosted another of the weaker American League East teams for a spring training game. This team has a player on it named a-roid, or something like that, and there was a story in today's paper about him. Here is the link: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/ml/article979287.ece

If that doesn't work, here's an excerpt of the article:

A-Rod rocks HR, rolls with cousin?By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, February 25, 2009
________________________________________
DUNEDIN — Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said he wasn't bothered by getting booed and heckled at times Wednesday during his first game since admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs, calling the mixed fan reaction "very mild."
And it was Rodriguez who ended up with the last laugh, walking twice and hitting a two-run homer in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays in the teams' spring training opener before 5,014 at Dunedin Stadium.
Though some fans yelled "cheater," "Hey, A-Roid" or "How's Madonna?" and another wore an "A-Fraud" shirt, it appeared that Rodriguez received a more favorable response as the game wore on — including a large ovation after the homer in the fourth inning.
But just when it seemed Rodriguez would complete a day without further controversy, he boarded a burgandy sport utility vehicle that, according to the New York Post and ESPN.com, was driven by Rodriguez's cousin Yuri Sucart, the same relative who, according to Rodriguez, bought steroids and injected Rodriguez from 2001-03. . . .

Isn't that weird that this baseball player has a cousin that gets him in trouble, just like me?

And, I think I heard this guy is from the D.R., just like my cousin.

Have any of you ever heard of this guy?

Now, about your question about my favorite premium loops, here is my current list (favorite to least favorite):

1. 800
2. 500
3. 400
4. 1300
5. 1200
6. 1400
7. 600

I haven't seen the finished 1400 loop yet, so numbers 4-6 are subject to change. When the rest of the loops get done, this could change again. And, even though I have some preferences, I would not hesitate to stay in any of the loops.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

The end is near.

The end of this trip report that is.

But, not to worry, I plan on being back at the Fort in late March/early April. And, I am seriously considering a quick day trip to get some more pool photos.

But, until then, let's finish this report.

Remember the Cub Scouts on 2000?

They basically took over the loop on Sunday.

Here is one of their assemblies:

I am pro Cub Scout, but I don't think I would like to be camping on the same loop with such a big group. I see this a lot on the 2000 loop, on holiday weekends. It is something to think about when you are making your reservations.

This Santa was being re-purposed as a birthday decoration at another site on the 2000 loop:

We saw this lady purposefully walking toward the Settlement on Sunday afternoon:

What is she? A nun? Mennonite? Fairy God Mother? Anybody know?

There has been some confusion lately about what loops in the 1600-1900 loop area are pet loops. It appears to me that they all are. Here are photos of the poop bag dispensers in those loops:

1600:

The photo above is at the loop entrance. The photo below is at the walkway to the comfort station between 1600 and 1500:

1700:

1800:

1900:

So, at the time, it appears that all four of these loops are pet loops.

As for the new premium loops, I have previously mentioned that there are poop bag dispensers on the 400, 500, 600 and 800 loops. What about the 1200 and 1300 loops? I checked this out on Monday, February 16. These loops have been finished for several weeks. There are no poop bag dispensers. But, there were people with dogs on both of these loops.

While I was checking out the 1300 loop, I noticed some activity over at the pool. I pulled into an empty site, and took the following photos. I posted some of these on the pool construction thread, but I am posting some more here, as BBB asked a question about whether or not a slide was going to be part of the pool makeover. Here you go:

The pool photos were taken on Monday morning, February 16. I skipped over what we did on Saturday night. I will cover that in my next and final chapter of this report, and show you one last photo from this trip.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

OK, you made it!

These are my last photos from this trip, and my last trip report installment. Of course, I will be around to answer any questions that you may have.

Monday on this trip was Presidents' Day. This weekend is typically a lot busier than other weekends in February, because lots of folks head to WDW on holiday weekends.

While it is a busy time, this weekend is not anywhere near as busy as other holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks for example.

On Sunday, AK was open until 8. That wasn't EMH, but the closing time for everyone. The evening EMH's were scheduled for 12-3 am at the MK. Yes, that's A.M.!

So, we headed over to AK at a little before 6, and ate our dinner at the Yak and Yeti take out. We like the Yak and Yeti. We have dined inside once, and have used the counter service outside many times. As expected, when we headed in to AK, there were crowds of people leaving. We then headed over to EE, and got on with a less than 20 minute wait. We then did Dinosaur, and headed back to EE. Now there was no wait, just walk through the line, and get on. The Fastpass line was still open for Fastpass holders, so we did have a slight wait for the first couple of rides, but then as 8 approached, they let everyone use the Fastpass line, and we rode EE about 10 times!

We closed down AK at 8, and headed back to the Fort.

At a little before midnight, we headed to the MK.

The weather on Sunday was a little sketchy. It was warm, but it was overcast for most of the day, and we had a few periods of rain. It rained pretty hard around 9, and then let up. It rained again sometime between midnight and 1, and then let up. The result of the rain was that people left the MK. In droves. This was probably the lightest attended EMH that we have been to.

So, we enjoyed no lines at all of the MK attractions all night- I mean early morning long. No line at Space Mountain, no line a Buzz Lightyear, no line at the Haunted Mansion, or at Pooh, or Peter Pan (have you ever seen the line during a normal MK day?- Oy!). What I am trying to say is that there were no lines. At all.

We ended up our evening at BTMRR. As the end of EMH approached, we were able to ride the train continuously (didn't have to get out and walk through the line) more times than I can count. Like maybe 12 times. Finally, the castmembers congratulated us on having made it. It was 3:00 am!

We headed out through an empty MK. We were the last ones to leave.

Here are my DD's (and oldest DD's friend) at the clock on Main Street at almost 3:30! :

From here, we headed out to catch the boat.

We were the only ones at the dock, for the Fort or WL. It was a little after 3:30. There was no boat there, and no sign of one coming. After a few minutes, we saw a boat approach. But, it docked on the WL side. The castmembers came out and said this was the last boat for the night. We rode back on the boat by ourselves.

We got back to the Fort, and there were only two golf carts at the marina. Ours, and somebody's who was going to have to get back via some means other than a boat.

We got to bed at 4 am.

I am still tired. But, I would do it again, and probably will. Having the MK all to yourself is fun!

The End.

TCD

 

[TheFlame]

Thanks TCD for an awesome trip report. You make it easy for those of us that can't go as often to really keep up with all that is happening in "The World".

Sure beats the heck out of the other news reports of what is happening in the "Real World."

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Yes, there is going to be a slide! That is what the tower in my photos is for, and I have some photos that I will be posting tomorrow that show the slide parts being delivered. Up at the top of the first page of the camping board, there is a thread where people have been posting photos of the pool progress. Take a look at that.

In my opinion, the Fort pool is much smaller than the pools at the value resorts. But, we are now getting a slide, which they don't have. You are going Memorial Day weekend, right? You will see what I mean about the pool being crowded! If you really want to see somthing, go at midnight one night.

TCD

Okay first off WOOHOO on the slide! The only time we've ever stayed at WDW and the kids had a slide was when we stayed at GF and that technically was only one day (well one and a half days- one day spent at MK but not as long -not allllllll day- because it was pouring the entire time) before we went on our 2006 cruise. they will be thrilled with the slide!

I'm confused by your midnight comment though- are you talking about it full even at midnight? What time does the pool close? LOL

thanks also for posting your favorites in order. And for the fax info- you're the best!

You also mentioned Yak and Yeti- I'm so glad to hear the CS is good. That's one place we haven't ever eaten and was trying to "plan out" where we might eat CS and what we might like to eat at various places and how much we'd spend if we ate there instead of going back to FW to eat- and Yak & Yeti is what I chose for our AK day. So it's good to hear it's as good as it sounds by the menu. LOL

Man, I wish the parks were open that late when we're there! Think the hours might change? I thought getting that close to summer PLUS a holiday weekend that the hours might be later- but they aren't. My DH doesn't like to stay up that late- we did close down MK at midnight once though. *rolling my eyes* as if that's late? Not for me! LOL I thought on this trip we may take it easy for the entire family... not get up at the crack of dawn (no morning EMH's for us), have breakfast in the TT, parks during the day (CS at parks so as to not lose time going back to FW to eat), then back to TT early-ish and have dinner there. But I thought some nights that my eldest and myself (my fellow insomniac LOL) might head back to some parks for evening EMH's- but they aren't really that late. The only one we'll probably make is MK until midnight or something... too bad it's not until 3am! LOL

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I'm confused by your midnight comment though- are you talking about it full even at midnight? What time does the pool close? LOL

thanks also for posting your favorites in order. And for the fax info- you're the best!

You also mentioned Yak and Yeti- I'm so glad to hear the CS is good. That's one place we haven't ever eaten and was trying to "plan out" where we might eat CS and what we might like to eat at various places and how much we'd spend if we ate there instead of going back to FW to eat- and Yak & Yeti is what I chose for our AK day. So it's good to hear it's as good as it sounds by the menu. LOL

Man, I wish the parks were open that late when we're there! Think the hours might change?

1. The pool does not close! The lifeguards are off duty after a certain time, but the pool is open 24/7. I believe that they will close the slide, like they do at other resorts, when the lifeguards leave. My comment about midnight relates to one time when we went to the Fort in August. It was hot out. We went to the pool one night at midnight, thinking we would have it to ourselves. I couldn't believe what I saw. Kids were doing flips off of the lifeguard stand! The pool was packed, and lots of people were drinking beer from bottles, right in the pool. Crazy! And, an accident waiting to happen.

2. Yes, I recommend Yak and Yeti. The food portions are big, and the prices are reasonable (by WDW theme park standards).

3. It is possible that the park hours will change before your visit. These are adjusted, depending on how things are going. If things stay busy at the parks, I would expect some adjustments.

TCD

 

[lklasing]

Awesome report, as always, TCD. Thanks!

Leslie

 

[LONE-STAR]

Waiting for your next trip Good work

 

[Donna]

great report as always! i am already having TCD withdrawal,lol. so when do we go again?

 

[Donna]

Now, about your question about my favorite premium loops, here is my current list (favorite to least favorite):

1. 800
2. 500
3. 400
4. 1300
5. 1200
6. 1400
7. 600

I haven't seen the finished 1400 loop yet, so numbers 4-6 are subject to change. When the rest of the loops get done, this could change again. And, even though I have some preferences, I would not hesitate to stay in any of the loops.

TCD

TCD

i value your opinion,why do you like 800 more than 500? we are thinking of venturing away from 300 this year. a cm friend got me 50% off a premium loop, so i was thinking of trying 500.