December pre-trip and trip reports!!

[tltay2005]

Well we arrived on Sunday the 27th and have to say this was the worst check in ever, and we have been here many times. Did online check in, arrived at 12:30, site not ready, "but it shouldn't be long". Park in overflow to wait. Hour later after a cart ride through our loop and noticing five sites empty, called to check the status. Still not ready, but "should only be a few more minutes". Back to overflow, decorated the cart, ate some lunch, second polite inquiry, this one in person, now that it has been two hours and our site still is not ready. Asked very nicely if we could have one of the other four that were empty, at this point I would wash down my own site. We had a fridge full of food and needed to get plugged in. She made a phone call and we were given another site, 1630. She said just to give them a "few more minutes" to finish up. Waited another 20 minutes, still no text, so went back up to front and the nice CM outside helped us so we wouldn't have to go back inside to and through the line. Our site was ready 15 minutes ago, but somehow we never got the text, oh well, at least we were on our way to the site. No fun sitting in overflow for two hours, but we made the best of it.

 

[tltay2005]

First day and evening we just hung around camp and went "looping". Saw some really nice decorations. One site in our loop went all out.
Great second day. Saw deer, turkeys, rabbits and an armadillo. Lots of squirrels at our site, they are fun to watch. Went fishing, swimming and then to the resorts to look around and have dinner. Monorail lost power twice, sort of scary, think they are ready for an update.

 

[tltay2005]

Some photos from our second day. Grand Floridian, Contemporary & Poly.

 

[amcc]

Well we arrived on Sunday the 27th and have to say this was the worst check in ever, and we have been here many times. Did online check in, arrived at 12:30, site not ready, "but it shouldn't be long". Park in overflow to wait. Hour later after a cart ride through our loop and noticing five sites empty, called to check the status. Still not ready, but "should only be a few more minutes". Back to overflow, decorated the cart, ate some lunch, second polite inquiry, this one in person, now that it has been two hours and our site still is not ready. Asked very nicely if we could have one of the other four that were empty, at this point I would wash down my own site. We had a fridge full of food and needed to get plugged in. She made a phone call and we were given another site, 1630. She said just to give them a "few more minutes" to finish up. Waited another 20 minutes, still no text, so went back up to front and the nice CM outside helped us so we wouldn't have to go back inside to and through the line. Our site was ready 15 minutes ago, but somehow we never got the text, oh well, at least we were on our way to the site. No fun sitting in overflow for two hours, but we made the best of it.

I know there are different reasons for doing online check in but regular check in had always worked so well for us, I don't want to mess with it. On the 27, when we got here, they offered us 2001 but when I explained to the lovely lady why I wanted it away from a canal, she looked and immediately offered us our pick of three sites. I understand that if you do online check in and don't like your site, it's a lot harder to change. I do have to say that 1600 and 1700 are still my favorite loops.

THere have been multiple empty sites in 2000 each night - maybe throwaway campsites?

How are you posting pictures? The ones from my phone are too big and it won't take them.

 

[tltay2005]

Nice third day. Breakfast at camp, then for a bike ride down the nature trail behind loop 300 that goes down to Bay Lake. The squirrels really like the peanuts, infact they tended to help themselves. Lunch at Whispering Canyon, that was a lot of fun, and then over to AKL for a visit.
Apparently the Fort squirrels don't like it when you are not there to feed them, came back to a hissing sound and the smell of propane. One chewed a hole in our hose!
Went to DS in the evening, that was a mistake, so crowded you could not move. Did not stay long. Glad we were not doing the parks, MK closed everyday early due to being at capacity.

 

[tltay2005]

Last full day. Breakfast at Trails End, great as always, then just hanging out around the Fort. Went swimming again, have to admit it feels strange to swim at the end of December. Played Disney trivia and made a Mickey tie dye shirt. Went fishing again, this time down the nature trail. DH caught (and released) a couple nice speckled perch. Me and DS, nothing. Rode bikes and then relaxed at camp. Cooked dinner then headed to the early fireworks show and some more looping. Got a lot of compliments on our decorated cart. Saw a lot of really neat ones there. DS and I went to the campfire and movie. Did not want to go to bed, knowing we would be leaving tomorrow.

 

[tltay2005]

Last morning. DH & I got up early (as we did each day) and went for one last ride. Its so nice early in the morning, the Fort is so quiet. Saw more turkeys, this time a big Tom was with the flock. Loaded up and cleaned up and pulled out about 10am. DH had to go back to pick up cart. He left the house around 12 and said the traffic was a nightmare. Took forever to get through the main parking gate at MK, even in the far right lane to go to the Fort. He said even with sign posted that the MK was full, people were still trying to get in. He just got home at 3pm. Said he doesn't want to do that again. Guess that means we have to trade in the TT for a toy hauler or trade in his truck for one with a long bed before our next trip in March. Guess we better get to looking.
Had an amazing time and can't wait till our next trip.

 

[garneska]

Great pics tltay2005. So over flow for a couple hours. That is my fear checking in Sunday that things won't be ready. We are heading all the way to Ocala on Saturday, so Sunday won't be a long drive. Plus weather is not looking so great for Sunday. Never fun to setup in the rain, only thing worse is breaking camp in the rain.

 

[PaHunter]

Never fun to setup in the rain, only thing worse is breaking camp in the rain.

Yes, while not much of a worry at the fort, it is worse to break camp in an ice or snow storm. Yuck.

 

[amcc]

The beach is covered in chair groupings but not too many people yet. The 630 holiday wishes fireworks were the biggest I've seen with fireworks extending t seemed all the way from the contemporary to the magic kingdom. They have a ton of staff to direct people and traffic.

 

[bama_ed]

tltay2005,

thanks for the update and the pictures. And I bet that toyhauler solution is the way to go to solve your 2-trip problem you have.

Kinda wanted to experience the Fort and WDW between Christmas and New Years but now I am not so sure.

Bama Ed

 

[4077]

Said he doesn't want to do that again. Guess that means we have to trade in the TT for a toy hauler or trade in his truck for one with a long bed before our next trip in March. Guess we better get to looking

Toy hauler, toy hauler, toy hauler......

 

[tltay2005]

I know there are different reasons for doing online check in but regular check in had always worked so well for us, I don't want to mess with it. On the 27, when we got here, they offered us 2001 but when I explained to the lovely lady why I wanted it away from a canal, she looked and immediately offered us our pick of three sites. I understand that if you do online check in and don't like your site, it's a lot harder to change. I do have to say that 1600 and 1700 are still my favorite loops.

THere have been multiple empty sites in 2000 each night - maybe throwaway campsites?

How are you posting pictures? The ones from my phone are too big and it won't take them.

I could not post from my phone either. Had to wait till I got home and save to my computer, then change the size.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

@tltay2005 why not build something behind the trailer that would hold the golf cart? I've seen similar going down the interstate before. Not sure if it is something you can buy or handmade. Sure would be cheaper than buying a new truck or trailer.

 

[PaHunter]

@tltay2005 why not build something behind the trailer that would hold the golf cart? I've seen similar going down the interstate before. Not sure if it is something you can buy or handmade. Sure would be cheaper than buying a new truck or trailer.

Well it would need to be engineered, most likely welded to the frame, frame beefed up, it would change the GVWR of the trailer, may exceed the axle capacity.
Overall would not be cheap, oh yea and if it failed could end up killing someone for which they would solely be liable.

I would spend the extra money on either a truck or toy hauler.

 

[tltay2005]

@tltay2005 why not build something behind the trailer that would hold the golf cart? I've seen similar going down the interstate before. Not sure if it is something you can buy or handmade. Sure would be cheaper than buying a new truck or trailer.

My husband looked into this. Not the best solution. But thanks for the idea.

 

[tltay2005]

Well it would need to be engineered, most likely welded to the frame, frame beefed up, it would change the GVWR of the trailer, may exceed the axle capacity.
Overall would not be cheap, oh yea and if it failed could end up killing someone for which they would solely be liable.

I would spend the extra money on either a truck or toy hauler.

We did look at this, but totally agree with you, not feasible with our trailer. I can't find any toy haulers I like, none in our size and price point have any counter space. Hubby is waiting for the new Nissan Titan XD long bed to come out. Our local dealer said it should be around June when that option is available. We only have one more Fort trip planned between now and then, so two trips will have to do. We don't take the car to the State parks

 

[PaHunter]

We did look at this, but totally agree with you, not feasible with our trailer. I can't find any toy haulers I like, none in our size and price point have any counter space. Hubby is waiting for the new Nissan Titan XD long bed to come out. Our local dealer said it should be around June when that option is available. We only have one more Fort trip planned between now and then, so two trips will have to do. We don't take the car to the State parks

Agreed, we looked at toy haulers, so I could take the motorcycle with. And the kitchens are small, no counter space and most don't have a dinette. Which some people say doesn't matter, but up north in the cold, you don't always want to eat outside, or with the bugs. We don't have a screen house yet.

 

[tltay2005]

We had such an amazing time, that I just booked December for this year. I think the week after Christmas at the Fort has just become an annual tradition!