Changes to Overflow parking lot????

[FlaFortCampster]

Just read on one of the threads that there were some changes happening at the overflow parking lot. But, I can't find that thread. So I need some detective...(TCD)...to fill me in on what's happening.

I have company coming on my next visit and I don't want them running into any unpleasant experiences.

This could have something to do with that creep that hit on the young girl several weeks ago. WDW might be tightening up who comes and goes from the Fort which isn't such a bad thing.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[rapriebe]

They are also closing off some of the entrances in the large overflow lot. They are putting up posts so you cannot get in. So far they have closed off the first one on the left as soon as you pull off the main road. They have also closed the first one on the left after you make the left turn that leads to the kennel area (the route that buses take). I was in the lobby picking up a UPS delivery and I asked one of the "suits" what they were doing. It was a very young guy and he didn't have a clue but mentioned that possibly they were trying to control all of the traffic so that everyone would have to enter through the guard shack. The only thing I could think of was they are trying to eliminate outsiders from parking in the lot and then catching a bus to the parks inorder to avoid the parking fee. I would think this would cause a problem for people parking there for the HDDR or the campfire. It will be interesting to see if they are going to close all exits and re-open the entrance between the two parking lots. Only time will tell what they are doing.

This is what I posted on another thread.

So far only the 2 entrances that I mentioned have been closed off. There are still at least 3 more entrances that are open. Nobody was working on them today but I will post if anything more happens.

 

[SandrA9810]

I noticed it too. I'll stop by and ask about it. I like the fact that there's no guard house there. But I understand the safety concerns/abuse of the fort programs by non guests.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Just read on one of the threads that there were some changes happening at the overflow parking lot. But, I can't find that thread. So I need some detective...(TCD)...to fill me in on what's happening.

The good Lord willing, I will be camping at the Fort some time this month, and I will be happy to file a full report. Until then, rapriebe is our eyes and ears. He (or she?) broke this story, and has kept us updated on it.

TCD

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Maybe it will stop the free parking abuses and the locals/non-guests from trick-or-treating at the Fort.

 

[des1954]

There used to be a guard station outside of FtW on Vista Blvd just east of the entrance to the overflow lot. It was taken down in 2003. It sounds like they're once again going to monitor all traffic in and out of FtW. I wondered how long this would take.

The only problem with one guarded entrance is that traffic will back up like it used to before they put the carded gate in. Remember when ALL traffic into FtW proper had to go thru the guard? Some days traffic would be lined up from the guard shack to the entrance on Vista Blvd. It peeved me big time when I was coming back from grocery shopping & was sitting there with my frozen items slowly defrosting while the guard was conversing with a guest & holding up the line (busses too).

 

[rapriebe]

There used to be a guard station outside of FtW on Vista Blvd just east of the entrance to the overflow lot. It was taken down in 2003. It sounds like they're once again going to monitor all traffic in and out of FtW. I wondered how long this would take.

The only problem with one guarded entrance is that traffic will back up like it used to before they put the carded gate in. Remember when ALL traffic into FtW proper had to go thru the guard? Some days traffic would be lined up from the guard shack to the entrance on Vista Blvd. It peeved me big time when I was coming back from grocery shopping & was sitting there with my frozen items slowly defrosting while the guard was conversing with a guest & holding up the line (busses too).

Yeah, I remember that guard shack; what a pain. I was wondering if they would be putting up another guard shack or key card entry at the road which enters by the kennels - the entrance the buses use. Remember when they had the key card entry over by the bus stop, that large intersection by golf cart parking. Guess they will just keep moving it around till they get it right. Whose knows what's coming.

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

Maybe it will stop the free parking abuses and the locals/non-guests from trick-or-treating at the Fort.

HEY! I resemble that remark!! Locals come for more that just trick or treating, and I know we spent some $$ at 4th of July this year to see the fireworks. Plus we come to go walking on the trails, and there are OTHER ways to get to the fort w/o parking there. It's more of a pain, but it can be done.

Besides, you can get into ANY of the reports just by telling the guard that you're coming for dinner, etc. They just look at your ID and let you through.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Besides, you can get into ANY of the reports just by telling the guard that you're coming for dinner, etc. They just look at your ID and let you through.

Maybe not for long.

TCD

 

[rapriebe]

HEY! I resemble that remark!! Locals come for more that just trick or treating, and I know we spent some $$ at 4th of July this year to see the fireworks. Plus we come to go walking on the trails, and there are OTHER ways to get to the fort w/o parking there. It's more of a pain, but it can be done.

Besides, you can get into ANY of the reports just by telling the guard that you're coming for dinner, etc. They just look at your ID and let you through.

I'm alittle confused here. When you say that locals come for trick or treating are you saying you are staying at the FW to trick or treat or do they just park in the overflow lot, hop on the bus and come in for some free candy.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I'm alittle confused here. When you say that locals come for trick or treating are you saying you are staying at the FW to trick or treat or do they just park in the overflow lot, hop on the bus and come in for some free candy.

That would be door #2, Monty.

I had a lot of them (non-camping locals) visit me at my site last year.

And they were proud of themselves, too.

TCD

 

[BradyBz12]

When I was a kid we lived in a development with lots of houses pretty close together. It was not at all unusual for station wagons FULL of kids from "somewhere else" to get dropped off in our neighborhood on Halloween.

No wonder my parents went through cases of candy!

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

Our neighborhood doesn't do trick or treating, at least we had no kids last year. And we normally just do the NSSHP anyway. This year we are planning on coming to the fort, at least we WERE.... We came last year to do the hayride, only to find out that they stopped doing that in Oct. which is the perfect time of the year to do it.

I've tried to get a spot for Halloween weekend, and there's nothing right now. Tried to do it last year too, nothing.

There's a lot of locals who go to DTD for the trick or treating there too.

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

Maybe not for long.

TCD

Well, as a passholder AND a shareholder, I'd still better get in.... Or I'll stop giving Disney my money.

 

[TheFlame]

I can't even imagine how many people come for trick or treating that are not staying at The Fort.
I also have a problem with the people that crowd the campfire sing-a-long and movie that are not staying at The Fort and that INCLUDES the ones that are coming from other Disney resorts. We saw an outdoor theater at the Contemp. on the beach and one at the Lodge next to Bay lake. I don't think that other resort guests and off-site people should be able to use and crowd the campfire. BUT, that is JMHO!

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

I can't even imagine how many people come for trick or treating that are not staying at The Fort.
I also have a problem with the people that crowd the campfire sing-a-long and movie that are not staying at The Fort and that INCLUDES the ones that are coming from other Disney resorts. We saw an outdoor theater at the Contemp. on the beach and one at the Lodge next to Bay lake. I don't think that other resort guests and off-site people should be able to use and crowd the campfire. BUT, that is JMHO!

They do it the Yacht & Beach club too... And when we did the movie in 2007 the movie wasn't crowded at all (and we were staying there), before that was really crowded. We just went late. I'm not impressed with their "campfires" anyway.

 

[SandrA9810]

The deluxe resort movie program is just a rip off of the Forts.
We won't be camping the the 31st, but we're checking in on Nov 2. But going Halloween night has been something we've done for years now (and we were resort guests, even if it was the one night). My sister is going to be here this year and I really don't want to deal with her kids at the Fort, so we'll be going to DTD.

If they do put up a guard house, it's gonna be a pain because that lot fills up really fast in the afternoon before the Hoop-De-Doo starts, and in the morning it fills up fast with campers waiting to get thier site.

Maybe they'll put the Orange bus back to the TTC after the Lodge stop. I wouldn't mind parking at the TTC and riding the bus in that way. But I don't think there's anything to really prevent people from abusing the Fort.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

I just talked to George a CM friend. I don't know how accurate his info is but it sounded about right.

Fort Wilderness will be like every other resort now. New Tighter Security from several "issues" over the past year.

Meaning you must go through the key card readers with a Fort Wilderness key card or through the guard to get in to the parking lot or resort. Those with HDDR or Trails End reservations you must be on the guards list to park for free. Then you will be limited to 3 hrs, over 3 hrs will be charged a parking fee. If you state you are eating at Trails End or HDDR without a reservation or without any other WDW resort car pass you will be charged for parking and issued a refund if you have a current HDDR or Trails End receipt unless you are over the 3 hr limit and you will be charged. If you have a car pass from any other WDW resort you can park free for 3 hrs after the 3 hrs you will be charged.

He was really into this 3 hr time limit.
Is 3 hrs enough time for the campfire and movie ?

I asked how much $ for parking.

His answer: No charge for FW Guests. as far as non-guests he was not sure yet but they are thinking the same price as at any of the theme parks.


He also said look for more security coming to DTD.

Seams that DTD has had some issues too. He wouldn't go into what any of the "ISSUES" were but He said they made the local news paper. He did say that several days this summer that the overflow lot was full of vehicles without a pass and that FW quests had no where to park.
There must be a lot of people parking in the lot to avoid the "parking charge" and going to the parks.

 

[BradyBz12]

Meaning you must go through the key card readers with a Fort Wilderness key card or through the guard to get in to the parking lot or resort.

That's been the case at all the other resorts we've visited, so it seems to make sense as long as they don't create a massive traffic jam for the Fort folks.

Those with HDDR or Trails End reservations you must be on the guards list to park for free. Then you will be limited to 3 hrs, over 3 hrs will be charged a parking fee.

Veeeery interesting! We've always been given a parking pass for 3 hours when we go to Poly/Contemp for dinner. I've heard that most/all MK/EP resorts already do this to cut down on the people trying to skirt the parking fee at the parks. So that seems to make sense too.

If you state you are eating at Trails End or HDDR without a reservation or without any other WDW resort car pass you will be charged for parking and issued a refund if you have a current HDDR or Trails End receipt unless you are over the 3 hr limit and you will be charged. If you have a car pass from any other WDW resort you can park free for 3 hrs after the 3 hrs you will be charged.

Now that last bit ought to be particularly interesting to see shake out. If Disney is going to continue to allow non-FW guests to participate in FW activities, that 3 hour pass may not quite cut it and they may end up with a lot of p-o'ed people. Hmm... wonder how they're going to charge people to park who've overstayed their pass on the way OUT?

And I wonder how will that work if you're a FW guest and you have someone coming to visit you for the day??

No charge for FW Guests. as far as non-guests he was not sure yet but they are thinking the same price as at any of the theme parks.

Well if they're trying to nab the people skirting parking at the parks, that would make sense.

There must be a lot of people parking in the lot to avoid the "parking charge" and going to the parks.

Judging by how often it comes up on the theme park board, I'd say there definitely are. And now that parking went up to $14/day, it's likely to get even worse.

 

[des1954]

HEY! I resemble that remark!! Locals come for more that just trick or treating, and I know we spent some $$ at 4th of July this year to see the fireworks. Plus we come to go walking on the trails, and there are OTHER ways to get to the fort w/o parking there. It's more of a pain, but it can be done.

Besides, you can get into ANY of the reports just by telling the guard that you're coming for dinner, etc. They just look at your ID and let you through.

I'm a local, and I enjoy going to FtW to ride bikes, walk, take the bus to the marina to watch the fireworks...the usual things day visitors go to FtW to do. That being said, before 2003, you could not do this without going through a guard - so we didn't do it. We never really gave much thought to doing this.

There was a time you could park at the CR or PR and take the monorail into the MK and avoid the parking charge and the hassle of the parking lot. Then it was abused by both local people and people staying off property. Now, you have to show the guard ID's at those two resorts, and they give you a parking pass good for 2 hours. How well do they patrol and enforce those passes? I don't know. I don't want to know. Perhaps they will start doing this at FtW.

It is, after all, their property and that means they can do whatever they wish. An AP only gets you free parking at the parks & use of Disney transportation. It entitles us pass-holders to nothing else.

In the FtW day lot I often see an old "bread truck" style Winnebago parked in front of the kennels when we go to ride bikes on any given Friday. They have their generator running. Why do you think that is? My guess is that they are using the parking lot as "home base" and use the facilities at the fort as if they were a guest of FtW. We have seen it enough times to know this is a regular occurance and not just a once in awhile thing. Now, does that make me any better because I bring a car with my bike carrier? No - not really. I'm just not as obvious. I also try to meet up with Disboard members who are staying at FtW when on my biking excursions. I guess that makes me a visitor of a paying guest. We also usually end up spending $$$ at either of the trading posts.

Anyhow, it is the blatant, obvious abuses that causes the "suits" at Disney to make the decisions they make. I have to admit that I too, have taken some liberties I probably should not have assumed I could take. It was nice while it lasted. When we go at the end of this month I will talk with Jason & ask if there is any way we can continue to come in as day visitors & continue riding our bikes. If he says no, then we will abide by the rules.