December pre-trip and trip reports!!

[tltay2005]

For anyone heading to the Fort this week, pack your shorts! (Ok, and maybe some jeans and a light jacket for the evenings). Got to love December in Central Florida. Here is the 7 day forecast for Disney area this week.

 

[bjschil]

Thank you. Arriving Tuesday, the 29th. I am hoping you have the time to copy and paste another report similar to this next week. See you soon. Thank you again.

 

[tltay2005]

Thank you. Arriving Tuesday, the 29th. I am hoping you have the time to copy and paste another report similar to this next week. See you soon. Thank you again.

We check in on the 27th, so I will try to remember to post one before we leave that day for the week.

 

[tltay2005]

Merry Christmas Eve! Not much going on here till later this evening, so I am going to pull out my packing list to see what I can get together today. Will have to make some adjustments, like taking off the jackets and adding swim suits. Have to admit I am a little disappointed that we will be using the A/C in the TT this trip, was really hoping for some cooler, more Christmas like weather. Also going to change the trip plan a little. We have to make two trips, one with the TT and one with the cart. Last month we took the TT first and then DH went back for the cart.we only live about 40 minutes away, but due to traffic problems, it took him almost three hours to get back. That left me to do camp set up solo. Now that I type and read that, wonder if there was really traffic issues, or DH's plan all along was to give me plenty of time to have camp set up before he got back.....hmmmm? Definitely will take cart first this year, then go back for TT, lol. Hope every one has a Very Merry Christmas.

 

[PaHunter]

Merry Christmas Eve! Not much going on here till later this evening, so I am going to pull out my packing list to see what I can get together today. Will have to make some adjustments, like taking off the jackets and adding swim suits. Have to admit I am a little disappointed that we will be using the A/C in the TT this trip, was really hoping for some cooler, more Christmas like weather. Also going to change the trip plan a little. We have to make two trips, one with the TT and one with the cart. Last month we took the TT first and then DH went back for the cart.we only live about 40 minutes away, but due to traffic problems, it took him almost three hours to get back. That left me to do camp set up solo. Now that I type and read that, wonder if there was really traffic issues, or DH's plan all along was to give me plenty of time to have camp set up before he got back.....hmmmm? Definitely will take cart first this year, then go back for TT, lol. Hope every one has a Very Merry Christmas.

Oh I see, so take the cart first this time, so you can go looping while DH goes for the TT. Smart.

 

[tltay2005]

It's a start.....now will it be done by Sunday?

 

[bama_ed]

Well it looks like the hard part is done now....

 

[tltay2005]

Here is the 7 day forecast for Orlando for this week.

Not even sure if we will pack out fire pit (Fort approved, of course) but it will be weird to camp without a fire. Just not sure I want to sit around a fire when it will still be 75 at dark.

 

[tltay2005]

DH is off to Lowes to get a piece of PVC and paint to finish my Mickey Lamp. Searched photos online and a Christmas tree stand seems the quickest, lightest and easiest for a base, especially since we already have a few. Will post some photos when done.

I'm off to make beds in the TT. Also need to do inventory on the essentials we keep in there. Will also load some Christmas decorations and special treats for the squirrels (yes, I know we are not suppose to feed them, but it keeps them happy, and happy squirrels are less destructive squirrels, lol).

Later we will hit the grocery and get food ready to pack. We are going to mix cooking at camp with some QS meals while touring the resorts to look at the Christmas decorations. Only made two resides, one for Whispering Canyon and one for Trails End.

We hope to make out first trip to drop off cart around 9am and then back with the TT by noon. We don't mess with wifi while camping, it's nice to "unplug" from electronics for a while. Will post photos and report when we return.

 

[bjschil]

Thank you so much for the beautiful weather report. Left Wisconsin this morning at 5:12 am, but are taking a one day layover in southern Illinois for a Christmas visit with sister visiting family. Will get back on road Sunday evening. The winds in Illinois today are challenging pulling the fifth-wheel. Slow and steady. See you Tuesday, Fort Wilderness.

 

[Teamubr]

bjschil,

Have a safe trip down. Hopefully you brought pontoons for your 5er. We are supposed tp get 7-8 inches of rain by Monday here in S. IL.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Here is the 7 day forecast for Orlando for this week.

That's such a shame that a cold front is coming in Friday. How will you handle the chill of... 78 degrees!

j

 

[bjschil]

And the good new is that we left a Winter Storm Watch today in Southern Wisconsin!! But, torrential flooding here in southern Illinois. Hoping to leave niece's house tomorrow afternoon and swim into Tennessee. Be safe all you travelers. Weird wacky weather to end 2015.

 

[tltay2005]

Thank you so much for the beautiful weather report. Left Wisconsin this morning at 5:12 am, but are taking a one day layover in southern Illinois for a Christmas visit with sister visiting family. Will get back on road Sunday evening. The winds in Illinois today are challenging pulling the fifth-wheel. Slow and steady. See you Tuesday, Fort Wilderness.

You are welcome. Safe travels.

 

[tltay2005]

DH got it done! Can't wait to use it this week. All packed and ready to go! We will be in 1600 loop. We have a small Hideout TT, blue cart (will be decorated) and a white Nissan Titan. Stop and say hello if you are out looping.

 

[amcc]

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]We arrived yesterday and are in 2000. The weather Is pure summery. We've been here in the summer, spring break, and now Christmas and have never seen the campground less busy although online reservations shows no availability. No line at all to check in, seats at the movie 15 min after it started and now at the pool there are still tables with umbrellas empty. I guess everyone is at the parks? We just hang out here and are loving it.

Despite the no vacancy online, I was able to extend my reservation one day until Jan 2 on the same site by going to the front desk this morning. Now we don't have to worry about staying up too late on New Year's!

The Christmas decorations are amazing. There's a special place in heaven for all those who put up these amazing displays on their sites just to bring people joy. Site 1602 is pure magic. Last night, although the schedule didn't show it, we heard the magic kingdom fireworks twice - once around 8pm and the other at 12:30. They sounded like quite an event so we will be going to the beach tonight for sure.

 

[amcc]

The Fort has been a pleasure these past few days. Since we aren't doing the parks, we've spent a lot of time at the pool which has been pleasantly uncrowded. My 3yo discovered the big slide and did it 20 times in a row today - we counted- as there was NO line.

Yesterday we did a resort Christmas decoration tour and have to say that the Wilderness Lodge was the clear winner. Spent some time at Sams grog grotto (?) where we had the pick of the outdoor tables and were the only ones there. We didn't make the mistake of blithely asking for souvenir cups and freaking out at the $50+ price of the Nautilus. I do love it in my kitchen. We sat on the beach for a while and looked up the cost of the overwater bungalows just for giggles - yeah, no giggles - over $3k/nt this season. For comparison, I've been pricing a trip for a friend to the four seasons Maldives in peak time and the overwater bungalows were less than that and you can actually see underwater.

A couple of nights ago, someone stole a 15' tall Rudolph blow up from our loop which left a bad taste in our mouth. This weathe couldn't be better nor could we ask for better neighbors b

They have orange cones all over the place by the beach so they seem to be expecting quite a crowd.

 

[4077]

The Fort has been a pleasure these past few days. Since we aren't doing the parks, we've spent a lot of time at the pool which has been pleasantly uncrowded. My 3yo discovered the big slide and did it 20 times in a row today - we counted- as there was NO line.

Yesterday we did a resort Christmas decoration tour and have to say that the Wilderness Lodge was the clear winner. Spent some time at Sams grog grotto (?) where we had the pick of the outdoor tables and were the only ones there. We didn't make the mistake of blithely asking for souvenir cups and freaking out at the $50+ price of the Nautilus. I do love it in my kitchen. We sat on the beach for a while and looked up the cost of the overwater bungalows just for giggles - yeah, no giggles - over $3k/nt this season. For comparison, I've been pricing a trip for a friend to the four seasons Maldives in peak time and the overwater bungalows were less than that and you can actually see underwater.

A couple of nights ago, someone stole a 15' tall Rudolph blow up from our loop which left a bad taste in our mouth. This weathe couldn't be better nor could we ask for better neighbors b

They have orange cones all over the place by the beach so they seem to be expecting quite a crowd.

Don't hear about Christmas decoration stealing at the Fort much (thank goodness). What a lousy thing....

 

[ilovedisneymm]

@amcc glad to hear you are enjoying your down time and your young one discovered the slide. Our kids made lap after lap after lap down that slide and look forward to it each trip.

What a bummer about the stolen Rudolph. Karma will be coming around soon...

I imagine all the cones are for the party tomorrow night? Would love to hear about it if you go.

 

[2goofycampers]

Stealing Rudolph. Now that' a new low!