Bama Ed's 2015 WDW Marathon Weekend Trip Report. ADDED-FT DESOTO UPDATE

[bama_ed]

Here is my setup.





Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

We swung by Trails End porch and Tiggerdad's highboy tables are still there.

Let's have a party...I'll bring the hatchet, chainsaw, and lighter fluid...

 

[John VN]

Glad the trip as non-eventful and you got to pick your site.

Pretty nippy is not the description I was thinking would accurately call today's starting weather for Marathon Weekend.

More like down and dirty freezing.

 

[garneska]

Tell her love will thaw a frozen heart, but not the weather.

Will swing by with the dogs but too cold to work outside today.

Nice setup Ed.

 

[North of Mouse]

NoM, are you serious? We have a fair division of labor in our house. I like to cook and DW likes to wash dishes. Seriously. We both can cross over to the other if pressed.
Bama Ed

Yes, absolutely serious!! Have always been a SAHM so dh is 'soooo' spoiled!!
Really, though, no complaints - he keeps my vehicle in tip top shape, washed, waxed, as well as his own, plus our mh. Also does all outside chores - mowing, trimming, etc. (except my flowers - love my flower garden). I love to cook, and we 'both' love to eat, so we make a pretty good team - no complaints!!
When both work outside the home, can understand a very different 'division of labor'!!

Here is my setup.Bama Ed

A very nice site - your new Aliner looks right at home!! Know you are enjoying the 'ease' of it - less work makes more time for fun! Have a 'chilly' run tomorrow (sorry, mean Sat.) - sure beats being hot!

 

[bama_ed]

Glad the trip as non-eventful and you got to pick your site.

Pretty nippy is not the description I was thinking would accurately call today's starting weather for Marathon Weekend.

More like down and dirty freezing.

I was thinking about you this morning John. Although it was cold it was the darn wind that made it tough. In the camping loops at the Fort we're a little more protected but out in the Epcot parking lot it is WIDE OPEN. I'm hoping it warms up a lot and the breeze is less.

This afternoon I went on a walk-about. Had a nice chat with jbrostek and the blue/white golf cart he did the work on in his pre-trip is here too and I got to see it firsthand. Just down a couple spaces from him, the Disney techs were digging up the cable tv distribution node in front of one site. J, you might lose your Home & Garden Channel for a couple hours.


One thing I like to do on my walkabouts is find interesting rigs or setups of the tent/popup/small camper variety (my line of rv'ing). This looks like a converted horse trailer in 1600.


This looks like a converted cargo trailer with a door and window added.


Turkeys crossing a site in 1500. Will someone pass me the mashed potatoes and the gravy?


Why have rules unless people follow them, right? Two tents and one car per site max - that's a Fort rule.


To John's point, even the lifeguards at the Fort pool were bundled up. But hey - note the guy back left by the hot tub catching some rays.


I tested the water and it felt pretty warm. I think (as an ex-lifeguard) the issue is getting out of the water without turning blue. Only 1 kid in the pool.


The Meadow Snack Bar is under refurbishment. Minimal food service is through the game room next door.




Next was down to the marina/dock. There is a new sign for a running trail out - the sign is between the Fort porch and the playground towards the beach. 2.5 miles it says from Wilderness Lodge boat dock, back on the exercise trail, around Pioneer Hall, and loop around the big circle from 100/900/1200 then 1500/300 back to 100.


Boat coming into the marina. I felt sorry for the folks on the small boat to the Contemporary. The wind was still cold and blowing pretty well. Not much boat rental activity today.


Somewhere down by Pioneer Hall is a piece of concrete I just stumbled across a long time ago. I put a picture in every trip report.


For 4077 here is a closeup of the Aliner in the dutch door configuration.


Almost time to start grilling supper.

Bama Ed

 

[Anneliese 1959]

Hi Ed,
Just wanted to say I've enjoyed reading your pre trip report. Also wanted to wish you good luck on the race. Enjoy your time there.

 

[tina.tina]

I'm so glad you arrived safely and that you were able to pick which site you wanted. Sorry there were problems when you checked in. Thank you so much for all the pictures. The sunrise/sunset ones were beautiful!

* Was at a small store last month and their computerized cash register didn't work.
I gave the clerk the bills, and some coinage to make the change easier. She had to count
the change three times to figure if she was giving me back the right amount. Some day,
maybe, we will teach people how to add and subtract - and who knows, even multiply and
divide - without a computer or calculator on their phone.

I went to a chain retail store a couple of summers ago and the (probably high school aged) girl said she accidentally cleared off the amount of change I was owed and the receipt didn't print. I didn't need the receipt. My total was $8 and some change. I gave her $20.

She had to call a supervisor (only a couple of years older than her) to ask how much change she owed me. He told her $10 and change. I told him no- $11 and change- the change would make $9, a dollar would make $10, and a $10 would make $20. They looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.

He went to the service desk and got out his calculator. Then, he yelled across the store, "Just give her the extra dollar anyhow." From his tone, I figured that he didn't want the cashier to think he was wrong and that he would tell her that he just gave me the extra dollar so I would just leave.

Now, I'm impressed if I run across someone younger who can count back change.

 

[bama_ed]

Tina, anneleise, and Alice (a few posts back), thanks for checking in.

Just to catch up, here's a little bit of this morning going over to Wide World Of Sports (between Pop and Hwy 192). Lots of cars over there - the whole experience was a little like being treated as cattle, honestly.

The approach up to the complex.




In the basketball arena was the number pickup and official Marathon weekend merchandise for sale.


To get the free race t-shirt you had to out of that building and into the second building where all the vendors were shopping their wares. We were funneled down a single stairway where a CastMember was discretely clicking a counter (counting foot traffic to justify display/rental rates for the vendors). Naturally the t-shirts were on the far side of the building so you had to run the gauntlet of samples, offers, surveys, freebies, interactive exhibits, and video hosts trying to get spectators on camera both there and back. On the single stairway we had to use to leave, yep, another CM with yet another clicker (guess they wanted to see how many of us made a break for freedom if the two clickers weren't equal).

While cooking dinner, Kris and Mallory stopped by. Kris is one of us DISsers in the Palindrome thread - she's doing the Half Saturday and Whole Sunday. Good luck Kris!

For supper we grilled some chicken breasts and got some hot fresh french fries from Trails End take-out (TE had LOTS of people all night even down by the Crockett's Tavern corner on the lower floor). It was starting to get dark and my lights were starting to glow.




I stopped briefly by the campfire singalong which was sparsely attended (still a little nippy but not bad). Roasting marshmallows can be a great memory for a kid.


Cowboy Anthony came out with Chip & Dale for the live entertainment portion.


Not as cold tonight. Tomorrow the goal is to get over to the Premium Outlets Mall on the other side of I4 off Hwy 535 and check the Disney store there.

Bama Ed

 

[JETS70]

Here is my setup.





Bama Ed

Hey Bama Ed,
I really like your setup. My sister and brother in law ended up getting a Rockwood High Wall. Its a lot like yours. They love theirs and the ease of setup. Now we are just trying to figure out a way that we can both get to the Fort at the same time. I keep telling them that once they camp at the Fort they'll never want to stay anywhere else. I also enjoyed your walkabout photos. The DW and I just purchased a Diamond Cargo trailer and are converting it into a toy hauler. It was neat to see someone at the Fort with the same idea. I have enjoyed your trip report and pics. The DW and I are excited about planning our next trip to the Fort. Best of luck in your run this weekend.

 

[4077]

For 4077 here is a closeup of the Aliner in the dutch door configuration.


Almost time to start grilling supper.

Bama Ed

Thanks for ALL the great pics.... You 're set up at Fort is great! Looks like it would be a fun place to hang out for a visit

Keep warm!

 

[4077]

For 4077 here is a closeup of the Aliner in the dutch door configuration.


Almost time to start grilling supper.

Bama Ed

Thanks for ALL the great pics.... You 're set up at Fort is great! Looks like it would be a fun place to hang out for a visit

Keep warm!

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Thanks for sharing.

Your Aliner is really cool! I have never seen one before our last trip to the Fort.

I'm loving all your photos and even tempted on the $6 beer!

The horse trailer just looks like a normal horse trailer with living area. My SIL has one and is big on showing around the fairs in the summer time.

Good Luck on your race! Enjoy your trip and I hope the weather warms up and fast too. I'll be there a week from today!

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks for sharing.

Your Aliner is really cool! I have never seen one before our last trip to the Fort.

I'm loving all your photos and even tempted on the $6 beer!

The horse trailer just looks like a normal horse trailer with living area. My SIL has one and is big on showing around the fairs in the summer time.

Good Luck on your race! Enjoy your trip and I hope the weather warms up and fast too. I'll be there a week from today!

A combo trailer - makes sense when i think about it, mm. I learn something new every day.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

The horse trailer just looks like a normal horse trailer with living area. My SIL has one and is big on showing around the fairs in the summer time

I was going to say the same thing. I live in rural Illinois. You see as many horse trailers with living quarters as you do 5th wheels.
The utility trailers are also very common on the racing circuit too. The little ones like in your pics are perfect for karting or motocross. Our race team had a 48 ft 2 car trailer that we had custom built because when we were looking for a trailer, all the 48 ft used trailers we could find had living quarters in the nose and only enough room for 1 car.

Racing is expensive enough. Most people try to save all their money for gas, tires and parts. Sleeping in your trailer keeps you at the track and saves big on hotel rooms. When we added a 3rd car to our team, we decided to get a big toy hauler. We had been staying in hotels. Typically 3 rooms per race weekend for the team. We had to use a 2nd trailer any way and the toy hauler almost paid for itself.

Even though I've retired, the team added a 4th car for next season. They have sold the 48 ft goose neck and the toy hauler and use this now.

Hope your race/run goes well. The weather in the midwest is supposed to get slightly better for the weekend.

j

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Small hometown rural Illinois here.

I'm impressed, nice "little" rig My dad was very big into racing in the 80s and early 90s. He passed just after I graduated high school but I sure have a lot of good memories of growing up in the "garage" while he worked.

The new house is being built this summer and hubby is already planning on making a track for them. Hopefully they will stay on the track and not in the wheat/corn/bean field.

I was going to say the same thing. I live in rural Illinois. You see as many horse trailers with living quarters as you do 5th wheels.
The utility trailers are also very common on the racing circuit too. The little ones like in your pics are perfect for karting or motocross. Our race team had a 48 ft 2 car trailer that we had custom built because when we were looking for a trailer, all the 48 ft used trailers we could find had living quarters in the nose and only enough room for 1 car.

Racing is expensive enough. Most people try to save all their money for gas, tires and parts. Sleeping in your trailer keeps you at the track and saves big on hotel rooms. When we added a 3rd car to our team, we decided to get a big toy hauler. We had been staying in hotels. Typically 3 rooms per race weekend for the team. We had to use a 2nd trailer any way and the toy hauler almost paid for itself.

Even though I've retired, the team added a 4th car for next season. They have sold the 48 ft goose neck and the toy hauler and use this now.

Hope your race/run goes well. The weather in the midwest is supposed to get slightly better for the weekend.

j

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Bama you think that snack bar is going to up and running in a few days or few months? You see, I'm really looking forward to my six dollar beer and my two dollar mickey crazy straw next week while sitting pool side.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama you think that snack bar is going to up and running in a few days or few months? You see, I'm really looking forward to my six dollar beer and my two dollar mickey crazy straw next week while sitting pool side.

I got the scoop on the Meadow Snack Bar this morning. Will share after lunch. Went to the Outlet Store and disappointing selection right now. Went to Downtown Disney to get a few things for the folks at home. Thumbtyping on my phone now but will check in after lunch.

Btw i am not a shopper but i like the World of Disney store. Cloudy, breezy, cool and we've flirted with some sprinkles so far today.

Bama Ed

 

[jbrostek]

Ed - I think I lost cable modem. But I am mostly running on Satalite and using park cable for the locals since I am outside my spot beam for home.

As for the intersting things I have seen here, the tenters are one, We had a horse trailer here when I got here, nice family but due to the tac room setup they basically faced my patio.

This morning is laundry day and some cleaning up before I go pick up Caren from the airport this evening. But I did make it to MK last night to enjoy. I hope your run went well (think you said you ran today.)

 

[bama_ed]

Jets, thanks for dropping by. Tell BIL good luck with his new trailer - I hope he's enjoying it as much as I am mine.

Past readers of my TR's will know that there are some things that nearly always end up in a Bama Ed TR. The picture of the letters in the sidewalk is one. But another is a pilgrimage to the Fort Wilderness Railroad.

I never rode the FWRR. By the time of my first Fort trip as a kid, it had already been shut down. But all the track still ran around the campground. My memory is of walking between the rails whenever I could. I love steam trains (operational only) and have seen and/or ridden most of them east of the Mississippi and south of Lake Erie. The closest to home is the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN. Steam trains are living, breathing behemoths with personalities all their own. Most of the FWRR parts are gone but when you see white gravel along a sidewalk where it doesn't belong, a raised ridge of earth flat on top with a gentle curve to the left, a wooden shed at the Outpost bus stop (the latest casualty), or a water pipe sticking out of the ground, those are all signs of the FWRR.

All that to say, I went this morning to visit some of the FWRR that remains in the ground (or I should say, in the bushes, brambles, trees, and weeds). It's obvious I am not the only person who knows it's back there but nevertheless, I said hello to an old friend.







(I can hear the MK steam train whistle from my campsite along with the boat horns as I type this).

mm, here's the scoop on the Meadow Snack Bar. The construction door was open and I snapped a picture then chatted with a worker.



This was taken from the covered pavilion looking back toward where the kid's pool would be past the corner. The very unexciting story is that all they are doing is changing out the Coke machine behind the counter. That's it. That's all. My comments to the worker guy was, "That's a lot of wall and block work just to change out a Coke machine. Isn't that something you can do in one night?" First, the guy said, they have to work according to Disney rules. Second, they can't work at night because that might disturb guests. Third, they have to use 20 cinder blocks per wall panel to hold it in place. He said they used to just fill empty barrels with water to weight down the wall panels and hold them in place but Disney made them change. So hopefully it will be back in action by the time of your arrival.

At the Meadow TP, this blanket is available for sale at $75 each.



Out towards the 1000 loop side, some fresh sod was headed somewhere to be put down.



As I said earlier the Outlet store was a letdown and Downtown Disney (now underway as Disney Springs) had what I was looking for. As others have said across the DIS, the traffic situation at DTD is terrible. There is no parking from the hotel row down past Planet Hollywood. There they have built a new parking deck structure. All the old parking is behind a construction fence. I'm afraid it's going to be valet/concierge parking and all us peons have to use the deck and then we are required (like cattle again), to walk past all the additional Westside shops to get to the stores we want.

The store I wanted was World of Disney. Like I said, it's a fave. Note in the picture under the sign some Christmas garland and decoration is still visible.



When I checked in yesterday the Fort lobby was still playing Christmas music. A CM said the last of their Christmas decorations had come down the night before.

Gonna boat over and ride the monorail ring. Tonight I'll be turning in early and preparing for tomorrow's run. Temp keeps dropping on the early Saturday forecast (now showing 43F). Portalets line Epcot Drive. I headed to the Comfort Station early this morning and could hear the announcements through the trees from the 10k at Epcot. If I could hear it at my end, it must have been pretty loud up by the checkin.

Sun's trying to peek out and there's a hint of blue sky. We shall see.

Bama Ed