Back from the Ft. (Not a trip report, but a damaged Guard Shack)

[surferrat]

Back from the Ft. Trip report coming later, but did anyone see the camper that hit the guard shack yesterday?

It was sad to see a trip start out the way this family did. Getting to the Ft. and hitting the guard shack. The corner of the guardshack appeared to have run the front side of the capper to their first window which was apparently shattered from the shack. Not sure how they got the camper off, because pulling it forward would have ripped through the camper side, and backing up would have reversed the damage the other way towards the front..

 

[stacktester]

Surfer we live in the same town and missed each other at the fort. We have to meet up some time. We're here til Saturday. I didn't see the camper hit the guard shack but I've seen it happen on other trips. This was my first time with the 5'er and I was very careful when we came thru the shack. My Cougar has the wheels about right in the middle so when you turn the back end seems to kinda pivot instead of following the front. I've pulled gooseneck horse trailers for years and never had a problem but most of them had the axles positioned further back. It's too bad with all the $ Disney pulls in they won't change that shack situation. I put a small ding already in the back right corner of mine on our first trip 2 weeks ago coming thru a gate. Just barely nicked it but it's enough to ruin your day. I can just imagine the poor guy who wrecked his here. I'd think after seeing this happen time after time a light bulb would flash and the cg manager would say hey, let's fix this.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

You gotta ALWAYS keep an eye in those mirrors in tight situations. Just because the tow vehicle clears something doesn't mean the trailer is gonna make it. Even then, a lapse in attention can be painful. Last summer on a country road I clipped a farmer's mailbox with my mirror extension - the mailbox rotated on it's mount and put a good sized gouge in the side of my trailer along with breaking a running light. Man, was I mad. Still hurts when I see the residual damage today.

 

[Elliott]

Maybe that shack is some kind of secret Disney initiation test...if you can make it past it you deserve to camp in the luxury that is FW. Why else would it be situated like it is?
If somebody hit my building you can believe I would do something to correct the situation after the first or second time....and you know that thing has been whacked dozens of times over the years, maybe hundreds.

 

[surferrat]

Surfer we live in the same town and missed each other at the fort. We have to meet up some time. We're here til Saturday. .

Bah...and I had some beers and scotch ready!!!!

Guess we will have to do this in Jax!!!

 

[Swimnoid]

Didn't they used to have the Campers go to the left of the shack and then straight ahead to the check in lanes? why did they change it? Seems pretty stupid since that shack gets hit probably every week!

 

[Disney Campers]

Even then, a lapse in attention can be painful. Last summer on a country road I clipped a farmer's mailbox with my mirror extension - the mailbox rotated on it's mount and put a good sized gouge in the side of my trailer along with breaking a running light. Man, was I mad. Still hurts when I see the residual damage today.

I had this lapse last year, backing down the cul de sac then pulled forward turning and underestimated the tail swing and took out the neighbors mail box, it left a nice little gouge about 12" in the side of the camper.

I have to admit I came close to that guard shack

 

[kc5grw]

My first time to the Fort was in Dec 2003. I arrived at 4:30am after 21 hours on the road and I just don't remember this turn being that tight.

 

[stacktester]

When we came thru today there was 3 yellow poles on the lane line. I'm not sure if they were there when we checked in or not. I have seen a couple people hit the shack and one day saw a bus hit it. That was when the buses entered the FW entrance and not pioneer hall. Hmmmmmmmm wonder why that changed lol. Oh well I feel bad for the people who hit it.

 

[bradisgoofy]

I think the whole check in area should be updated. When we pulled in in our motorhome it was a very tight fit at the check booths. None of these areas have been updated since the introduction of bigger rigs. Of course I've been to private CG that aren't much better.

 

[JPG]

My first time to the Fort was in Dec 2003. I arrived at 4:30am after 21 hours on the road and I just don't remember this turn being that tight.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[tellnotails]

My first time to the Fort was in Dec 2003. I arrived at 4:30am after 21 hours on the road and I just don't remember this turn being that tight.

Can you say " glasses "

 

[surferrat]

Maybe they need to pass out 3D Glasses from the Muppets show.

Can you say " glasses "

 

[mamaloya]

Well, we are about to move up to a newer rig. Our current one is a 21 foot hybrid that is only about 7' wide. The new one is an expandable that is 26' long and 8' wide. dh has cut it close many times with this one. I hope we can manage this one.

Our next trip to the fort, dh will be deployed and I will be pulling it alone. I will have ds16 with me. Not sure if I am ready to let him tow yet though. I am OK at backing in though. Although we have found that there is always someone willing to help with the backing in.

I will let you know if I hit the guard shack or not.

 

[surferrat]

I will let you know if I hit the guard shack or not.

Trust us...We at the DisBoards seem to hear about everything within hours of it happening.....lol......

 

[Shannone1]

I think the whole check in area should be updated. When we pulled in in our motorhome it was a very tight fit at the check booths. None of these areas have been updated since the introduction of bigger rigs. Of course I've been to private CG that aren't much better.

I don't remember the check in area as being that tight and we were in a 36 ft motorhome towing our minivan. What area is it that people have trouble with....the shack by the place you use your keys cards to come in, or the places where the CM's actually check you in ??

 

[campingcorgi]

The one 'wedgie' I saw this week was stuck on the guard shack where you go on the left to return and on the right to get permission to approach the check-in gates. They were fixing the roof the next day when we went by--but with just the same long low overhang.

It is just designed wrong--all the vehicles have to cross paths and a tight left turn for campers.

 

[becky1960]

We did see the wreck as we were going out to eat, it looked as if they pulled too close an hung up on the shack. We felt real sorry for them. They had security writing a report when we left and it was still there when we returned
after dinner with Disney Tie and Shirts Execs. watching.

 

[auntie]

Seems I've read about this before...exactly how many times does the shack have to be hit..before it might be considered an issue? People in "ties" come to the campground and figure it out? Hmm..could be part of the problem. Maybe they could just ask the poor guy whose job it is to be IN the shack what they think the problem is. I bet he/she has a pretty good handle on it. Let's hope one of the exec's tows a camper or has an RV..that would likely give them some insight as to how to address the situation. In any case..I feel awful for the person who started their trip out this way. Must just be awful, to travel for what might be a long way...arrive at your destination and then have this happen. Too bad. I hope that no one was injured.