*April PreTrip & Trip Reports*

[Napria]

Hey, y'all... A shoutout to Josephine at Trails End. What a sweetheart!

As many of you know my 19 year old son is autistic, epileptic and mildly physically and mentally challenged. We don't make a big deal out of it and only ask for accommodations when truly necessary.

Chris wanted pepperoni pizza when he finally fully woke. He & I walked to Trails End. I had seen people leaving with pizza boxes earlier in the week and thought we could get one there. Josephine told me they only have it to go, but seemed to assess the situation and told me we were welcome to sit on the porch and eat. When I got the pizza and was walking to the porch she asked if we wanted to eat it inside (it was kind of hot for him to be outside, but nearly 3:00 and Crockett's was closed). Chris said yes. She sat us at a table in Crockett's Tavern, and got us plates and silverware so I could cut up my sons pizza (it's an autistic thing for him).

What a lovely person she is! I wanted to thank her again before we left, but she was gone. I'm going to write something nice about her to someone but to whom and how?

 

[peg110]

Hey, y'all... A shoutout to Josephine at Trails End. What a sweetheart!

As many of you know my 19 year old son is autistic, epileptic and mildly physically and mentally challenged. We don't make a big deal out of it and only ask for accommodations when truly necessary.

Chris wanted pepperoni pizza when he finally fully woke. He & I walked to Trails End. I had seen people leaving with pizza boxes earlier in the week and thought we could get one there. Josephine told me they only have it to go, but seemed to assess the situation and told me we were welcome to sit on the porch and eat. When I got the pizza and was walking to the porch she asked if we wanted to eat it inside (it was kind of hot for him to be outside, but nearly 3:00 and Crockett's was closed). Chris said yes. She sat us at a table in Crockett's Tavern, and got us plates and silverware so I could cut up my sons pizza (it's an autistic thing for him).

What a lovely person she is! I wanted to thank her again before we left, but she was gone. I'm going to write something nice about her to someone but to whom and how?

That's just truly awesome. It gives me a nice feeling when I hear about such things to know that there really are wonderful people out in the world.

I have to say, that my experience with the CMs at the Fort have by far been much better then at other locations. That's not to say that they have all been bad but that at the Fort they are all (well mostly) good. I guess the fresh air and space helps them out too.

I am glad that Josephine went that extra mile for your son.

 

[Teamubr]

One more thing to love about the Fort and WDW. It's great that a CM recognized a need and went above and beyond...

j

 

[tigger92662]

I saw a similar situation (from a woman CM) with a family with a young girl in a wheelchair when we were there in August. Wonder if it was Josephine also. Things that make you go HMMM!

 

[dkoerner27]

Moved to different thread

 

[Napria]

So sad, but all good things come to an end. We're doing all the cleaning up/packing up to get ready to leave. I love this site. Best we ever had! (For enquiring minds it's site 707).

Can anyone tell me where the list of sites by category is? I know I saw it somewhere. We're wondering which sites are pet and premium, and also pet and preferred (although I'm not sure we'd fit in a preferred site.)

 

[Flametamr]

We have arrived. The Fort is full. No sites available so everyone is going to overflow. We got lucky and got reassigned to 0700. When it gets ready. Off to HS to convert our passes and then BB soon. More to follow.

 

[bama_ed]

So sad, but all good things come to an end. We're doing all the cleaning up/packing up to get ready to leave. I love this site. Best we ever had! (For enquiring minds it's site 707).

Can anyone tell me where the list of sites by category is? I know I saw it somewhere. We're wondering which sites are pet and premium, and also pet and preferred (although I'm not sure we'd fit in a preferred site.)

Napria,

Our poster KristenU put a nice map together which shows the loops, whether Premium/Preferred/etc., or pet-friendly. It's the last post in the FAQ thread pinned at the top of the Camping Forum.

Bama Ed

 

[Chickp]

It's a gorgeous morning in the fort! I will have to upload some pics when I get home, but it has been gorgeous weather this week with only one rainy morning.

We rode through the back of the 700 loop and it looked amazing! I need to get a new job, and then we are going to take the RV plunge, hopefully before our next fort trip. We would love to bring our dog too.

I don't have any pics because it was at night, but we have had an armadillo guest to our site every night! He is elusive, every time we try to shine the flashlight on him except for once he hides. But it's a very distinctive sound.

 

[Napria]

We have arrived. The Fort is full. No sites available so everyone is going to overflow. We got lucky and got reassigned to 0700. When it gets ready. Off to HS to convert our passes and then BB soon. More to follow.

Maybe you'll be assigned to the site we just left: 707. Ahhhh.... I'm already dreaming about getting that site again one day!

 

[JETS70]

We have arrived. The Fort is full. No sites available so everyone is going to overflow. We got lucky and got reassigned to 0700. When it gets ready. Off to HS to convert our passes and then BB soon. More to follow.

Hey Joe, glad you made it in safe. Have a great time!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We just stayed at Creekside Meadow. Our first visit back to the fort in at least 6 years. (I don't recall our last visit.)

We are more experienced tent campers now and looking to book on a loop on the fall during the week.

Weather was beautiful. A tad chilly on Friday night for me, but I had on a thin long sleeved shirt.

For the meadow, having the fire pits were very convenient. Loved the beer boxes and critter proof trash cans.

I have so missed the fort.
I also must usually not camp when it was warm as I have never see the Meadow Pool so crowded. But still fine. Kids enjoyed Mickey bars for a snack.

Our only cooked meal was walking tacos with the taco meat prepped at home and just reheated on the camp stove. Tacos in some form or other was a popular choice. One family had these delicious Chicken and veggie kabobs they grilled.

Our group breakfast was pancakes, eggs, and bacon and dinner was typical cookout burgers and dogs.

Our equipment: we upgraded in size and function but selected a "cheap" model: 10 person pop up tent where the poles just pop into place and the legs telescope up. It set up in a minute as promised. Then another few minutes staking it down and getting the rain fly on. I liked the doors on our old tent better as well as our old tent having pockets and loops to store/hang things. Missed those in this new tent.

Our new tent accommodated 4 cots easily and left space on the floor for 2 mats. But, I have a girl content with just a bag on the floor and one child shared a cot with a small child and I shared a cot with the baby.

First time heading out with gear in our extended length SUV. All the gear fit for 7 people .BUT, we didn't have to worry about all of our meals for the weekend. We have a platform for the tailgate if needed. And we had the extra tent just in case (our old one) and the unused sleeping mats.

Anyway--great weekend and look forward to a fall trip.

What is this about sites being full and folks being asked to go to the overflow area? Is this just overflow parking and you still got your site that day? That concerns me a little if it means something different. We noted some open sites on 2000. But that could be just folks "renting" for magic bands and EMH.

 

[bama_ed]

Lisa loves Pooh,

It sounds like you were well prepared and had a great trip. So good for you.

The reports of folks going to the overflow lot is not an issue. It happened to me a few weeks ago. It has to do with the check-in times, check-out times, and prep times. For example, if someone has a reserved a Premium loop, they might have requested loop 700 which has 8 people checking out that day. That means they can take 8 new arrivals. But people have until 11am to check out of the campsite and can check-in legitimately at 1pm (although if your empty site is ready it can be earlier). So the current occupant has until 11am to leave and then there must be time for the Fort Cast Member to clean and prep the site for the next guest. It may take them a while to get around to all the sites that need to be prepped. We got to the Fort at 7am and checked in then went to overflow to wait for our site to come open (someone had to leave it that morning).

So usually people who arrive at the Fort after 1pm can usually go to their site or only have a short wait. But if you arrive earlier, the wait is a little longer. But there is an option in MDE that says, "I am willing to wait a little longer in order to get the loop I am requesting". Of course, if there is a site in a different Premium loop that is available, you can ask to be switched to it in order to get in right away. But me, personally, I have my favorite loops at each level and would be willing to wait in order to get them in most cases.

Flametamr's post about having arrived and waiting in the overflow was posted at 755am so it sounds like he got there early and was willing to wait to get into 700 loop.

Bama Ed

PS - Going OT, where are the May people? Surely we must have some...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not us. Lol. No tent camping May-Aug and maybe even Sept/Oct in FL for us.

Thanks for the clarification on the overflow. I didn't want to assume but glad it is just a matter of early check in.

 

[tigger92662]

We have arrived. The Fort is full. No sites available so everyone is going to overflow. We got lucky and got reassigned to 0700. When it gets ready. Off to HS to convert our passes and then BB soon. More to follow.

Flametamr, glad to hear you arrived safe and sound. 700 is a great loop. Hope the weather is good for you guys. Anxiously awaiting the "more to Follow".

 

[Flametamr]

Okay so after spending a miserable day in site 727 due to it's very small size. We asked to be moved and got changed to 712 today. Much happier with a much larger site now. Had a busy day and finished with our first dinner at trails end. More to follow soon.

 

[tiggerdad]

Hate you had to move but glad you could update and improve your space.

Glad you made it in safe.

 

[friendofeeyore]

We stayed @ the KOA in Wildwood, never again. We were so close to the campers on both sides of us - we needed 50 amps & they gave us 30 - we went to the office to move to a 50 amp site - sorry we don't have any 50 amps left. Thank goodness we were not unhooking. We had trouble pulling out the next morning - I hope if Flametamr decides Wildwood it has improved. Hope everyone is having a BLAST!!

 

[mich1073]

Garneska - where do you stay in Ocala? We are thinking of trying to make it that far the night before our Ft Wilderness arrival. We aren't sure where to stay. We are thinking we'd like a campground.....but I read somewhere that there is a rest area in Ocala with security 24/7?

There is the great Ocala National Forest too for camping. Its the Green Swamp and beautiful.

 

[hsmytwins]

There is the great Ocala National Forest too for camping. Its the Green Swamp and beautiful.

We ended up booking at the Clermont RV park. lady on the phone was super nice. reviews look good. (Reviews from Ocala sun looked bad & sites are on grass, not concrete.)