At The Fort NOW Till Sunday April 10

[Lyndria]

Thanks Bama_Ed. We PUP owners too and I have only really thought of the 1500 loop having stayed in 1400 our only trip. I just wondered what others thought about the 2000 loop. Most don't seem to like it as much.

Hope you continue to get great weather.

Pop-up owner here. We like the 2000 loop. We have never stayed in 1500.
We were booked in 1500 a few years ago, but our site had a tree in the middle of it and we couldn't get the camper in! So, we ended up in 2000.

We always get a golf cart from Kenny. The 2000 loop is a bit of a walk from the Meadows pool and the beach so we prefer a cart.

We have never had a problem with loud people or things being stolen or anything else. It's always been a smooth trip.

Well, except for the armadillo blocking entrance to my camper one year...but he moved eventually.

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks Bama_Ed. We PUP owners too and I have only really thought of the 1500 loop having stayed in 1400 our only trip. I just wondered what others thought about the 2000 loop. Most don't seem to like it as much.

Hope you continue to get great weather.

Yensid,

Yes what I've beard about 2000 lately was about the people in it and not about the loop itself. It has two comfort stations so there have been no waits for showers. our fellow campers so far have been quiet, friendly, and respectful. Who could ask for more?

If you go out the backside of the loop to the right of the Creekside Meadow comfort station you can take the little footbridge trail to loop 900 and it's a short walk to the Meadow TP. Whole walk is only 5 minutes much shorter than following the sidewalks there. I'll get some pix of that.

I gots to go now but will post some pix of this morning's walk and today. Another fabulous morning with birds singing. Well okay one pic it was my best one. Taken in the 1500 loop just after sunrise.

Bama ed

 

[bama_ed]

Ed, Thanks for the pics from the Fort. Hope you are having a great time. How are the crowds at the park?

I dunno, rapriebe. I havent been to a park yet. A few empty sites at the fort today. Bet they will fill up tomorrow tbough.

Bama ed

 

[bama_ed]

Please, If you have a chance- keep the pictures comming- I would love to see anything people have setup with Tarps hung over their sites or tents? And especially Tent pictures, I would buy you a Beer / Cold drink if you are around in June
Take care!!!!

Dude,

Not a single tent site in 1500 & 2000 has a tarp tied up over the tents so there is nothing to show you. I think main reason is the weather is so fine now there is no chance of rain for several days. I have seen them before here of course but in the times more prone to rain like summer and its shoulder periods. But plenty of tent pix but i've not uploaded them yet. Will do shortly.

Bama ed

 

[bama_ed]

There is a shortcut from loop 2000 to the Meadow Trading Post.

On the part of the loop that backs up to the creekside meadow comfort station (cs) there is room to walk between sites and not infringe on someone's site space. Here is an example.

Walk to the creekside meadow cs and look to the right.

Right between those trees past the sandy rise behind is a small footbridge.

Walk across and into the 900 loop. Bear to the right and head for the Meadow TP.

About a five minute saunter is all it takes.

Bama ed

 

[YensidCamper]

Thanks Bama_Ed. I won't be so worried about loop selection when we come in the fall. Love all the pixs. I hope you continue to have a relaxing vacation.

 

[blessedwithfour]

Love following yor posts...we are coming for ten days on the 16th with the four kiddos. Always do Spring Break which is crazy but we love it! Keep the updates coming. Gets me thru the few days before we get there! Thanks Ed!

 

[bama_ed]

Wow lots to tell about tbe last 24 hours.

Last night after supper we went to the campfire singalong. The crowd was smaller but Cowboy Anthony did his best to engage us. We didnt stay for Hercules but slid down to Crockett's Tavern for a cold one before the fireworks.

I went in the Settlement TP to nose around and complain about no FW merchandise. One CM said she was working the day word got out among campers about the merchandise phase out. She said a man walked in that day and bought every piece of FW stuff they had on the shelves. I bet it ended up on ebay. But NEW RUMOR ALERT she said FW merchandise is making a comeback later this year. I did not confirm tbis with any bus drivers btw.

The fireworks over the MK from the Fort beach were ok. The sound quit about 60 seconds after the show started. Then lights out.

This morning I set off at sunrise for an exploration of the FW railroad. Just past loop 1500 there are still abandoned track and rails to see in the underbrush. I followed it as far as Osceola Creek but it was hard going. I made the curve where the canals intersect by the back corner of 1500. Of course there are pix.

The mist was coming off the water at sunrise.

The ground has sunk beneath this pair of rails and the creek is in the back.

A good shot of tracks in the brush.

As I said loop 1500 was not far away in that direction.

Get to know your railroad up close and personal.

Later this morning I did the FW Segway tour. It was neat only me and one other rider. I used my camera so no pix here but it was neat and worth it. Juzt signed up on a walkup basis this morning. It was 2 hrs and over by 130pm.

I'll do a second sborter post after this in wbich I have a confession to make.

Bama ed

 

[brat]

Love the pics

 

[bama_ed]

Later today after the Segway tour and a late lunch a nap was in order. How wonderful to let the breeze blow thru the popup. About 315pm we headed over to the main Fort pool. A good sized crowd but not bad. I just soaked up to my shoulders and did the slide three times. Here was the view when I left.

The view from the Meadow TP porch on the way back from the pool was worth sharing.

After cleaning up I had to go to the Camping World in Kissimmee for some locking pins on my bike rack that I lost on the drive down. Then supper, the famous GAG (Giddyup And Go) 10 piece chicken dinner for $24 from Trails End takeout. Fried chicken, fries, slaw, and cornbread. Leftovers are in the pup fridge. Ive been watching the Masters replay while doing these replies. Life is good

But as I said earlier I have a confession to make.

I have not been completely honest with you in this live trip report.

Something has been troubling me.

I found something that may bother me down the road.

Only the future will tell.

Because at an undisclosed location when I come back year after year I will encounter this.

I have no idea how this happened.

Bama ed

 

[Mama Steph]

I found something that may bother me down the road.

Only the future will tell.

Because at an undisclosed location when I come back year after year I will encounter this.

I have no idea how this happened.

Bama ed

love it! I'm also loving your updates! Can't wait to get to the fort. Looking forward to checking it out when we're in the World next month.

 

[bama_ed]

Buddy,

I saw my first blue tarp of the trip and tbought of you. We also had two large groups rolling in last night and filling in single sites around us. Multi- vehicles, tents, canopies, families setups. It's interesting. Our end of the loop is nearly full of campers (sites 2036 to 2068) while the front sites (2001 to 2035) are nearly empty so that must be where they will put the folks coming in today for the weekend.

So here are some more tent pix.

Bama ed

 

[ynottony99]

bama_ed,

We just got back from FW this afternoon. I saw your site on Wednesday, when we were looping with some friends, but never made it back by. We were in 1511. I only briefly browsed your TR, but great job! I am especially impressed that you made it back to the remaining rail. I tried some time back but gave up with the thick overgrowth.

 

[bama_ed]

bama_ed,

We just got back from FW this afternoon. I saw your site on Wednesday, when we were looping with some friends, but never made it back by. We were in 1511. I only briefly browsed your TR, but great job! I am especially impressed that you made it back to the remaining rail. I tried some time back but gave up with the thick overgrowth.

Tony,

Sorry I missed you. But I think I got a picture of your site 1511 because it is my all-time fave in the 1500 loop. And i've stayed in the one next door 1513. Was this it?

Bama ed

 

[ynottony99]

Tony,

Sorry I missed you. But I think I got a picture of your site 1511 because it is my all-time fave in the 1500 loop. And i've stayed in the one next door 1513. Was this it?

Bama ed

Yup that was us!!! This is a great site! In fact I think it was the very first FW camp site that I ever stayed on. Back in the mid 90's we shared a site with friends of friends, and I think this was it.

Has it filled back up there this evening? We planned our trip thinking we would be in a nearly empty Fort since we were staying on weekdays. However, what with Spring Break, 1500 was full or nearly full every day this week.....until this morning when there was a mass exodus, as we packed to come home!

 

[bama_ed]

Ok here is the Friday April 8 update.

It was not as cool last night so it was easy to roll out of bed and jog a 5k/3.1m route around the fort. It felt good.

I found some workers planting seedling pine trees between loop 1300 and the main road. There are freshly planted seedlings also between the 2100 cabin loop and the main road.

This morning's activity was a very competitive round of putt-putt golf at Disney's Fantasia Gardens. I was lucky to win by a stroke but that meant I had to buy the beer at the nearby Hess as my prize. We played the Fairways course which I would describe as "putt putt for grown ups". It was a lot of fun for $12. The course is longer, more undulated, and has shallow carpeted bunkers and no stupid windmills It's been recently recarpeted so it is in great shape. I would recommend it for adults. For the kiddos the adjacent Gardens course is the one to play.

After alate lunch there was another visit to the pool and then a bike ride. The checkin area was active.

The fort has filled up today. Creekside Meadow group site behind us is filled with active Cub Scouts. As a former Den Leader and Cubmaster I am glad to see this. In loop 2000 here where I am several site have been filled by a second Cub pack. We also have some Girl Scout Brownies in our loop. Yet a third Cub pack has seven sites in 1500. Wowza. I bet they all show up at the Meadow pool tomorrow afternoon.

Tonight is the Masters on tv and getting ready to conquer the Magic Kingdom tomorrow. It is open from 8 am to midnight and I will be there as long as I can. My two boys are in their high school marching band which will parade down Main Street tomorrow and I wanted to see it.

Plus maybe an update from the MK too?

Bama ed

 

[rapriebe]

Ed,
It's awesome to have an "ED" etched in the concrete. I bet very few people can claim that fame. Wish I could.

 

[bama_ed]

Yup that was us!!! This is a great site! In fact I think it was the very first FW camp site that I ever stayed on. Back in the mid 90's we shared a site with friends of friends, and I think this was it.

Has it filled back up there this evening? We planned our trip thinking we would be in a nearly empty Fort since we were staying on weekdays. However, what with Spring Break, 1500 was full or nearly full every day this week.....until this morning when there was a mass exodus, as we packed to come home!

Tony, as I said it's full.

I had requested 1500 and was disappointed to not get in there. I asked the CM checking us in onTuesday to see if ANYTHING was available there and he tried and said no. To double check I drove through 1500 before going to 2000 and sure nuff ya'll were full.

But in a late breaking news flash yours truly went on an after dark bike ride and I went through 1500 because the po-po flashing yellow lights were blinking. I asked one of tbe guys what was up and he said one of your amigos there in 1500 (outside site around 1520) hadnt checked out as expected and they needed the space. Two cars were parked and a tent was setup but nobody was home. They left a nast gram under the windshield wiper. Wonder what it said?

Maybe i'll catch you next time.

Bama ed

 

[bama_ed]

Ed,
It's awesome to have an "ED" etched in the concrete. I bet very few people can claim that fame. Wish I could.

Rapriebe,

History tries to repeat itself.

On a trip several years ago a couple stretches of concrete sidewalk had been left to cure along the main rode by 600 loop. I found a ED then too (funny thing, that, it happening a second time) but a worker left behind to watch for hooligans smoothed it out and an opportunity was lost.

You never know I guess.

Bama ed

 

[4mickey2]

thanks for the tr. i would stop by but i am not there. but, if i was i would stop by...

more, plz...