Decorated sites ... where are the "old timers"?

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

I tried posting this earlier from the mobile app but I don't see it now. I apologize if this posts twice.

We arrived on the Friday after Thanksgiving and were shocked at how dark everything was! Looping was a big disappointment that whole weekend.

Where are all the regulars like site 114, the end of the 700 loop, etc?

It's gotten a little better ... more decorated ... since then - we were just wondering what happened to the good old days?

I hope it's not the end of an era!! We've been coming for almost 10 years and it seems like not as many people are going all out with decorating their campsites (the highlight of our trips!!) on this trip.

:-(

 

[PJ]

Interesting - we were on the 500 loop last year and 800 loop the year before - both arriving the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and on both loops there were a lot of heavily decorated sites. I posted a question about an hour ago asking what loops were well decorated now because we'll be visiting the Fort tomorrow -based on your comment it will be interesting to see what the response is!

 

[chartle]

It's gotten a little better ... more decorated ... since then - we were just wondering what happened to the good old days?

Well I few years ago they did post new guidelines/rules on how you could decorate your site like your stuff can only be on your site and can't spill over into public areas and don't take apart the electrical panel so you can bypass the breaker to get more power.

But I had not heard that it impacted the decorations that much.

 

[PJ]

Well I few years ago they did post new guidelines/rules on how you could decorate your site like your stuff can only be on your site and can't spill over into public areas and don't take apart the electrical panel so you can bypass the breaker to get more power.

But I had not heard that it impacted the decorations that much.

Didn't seem to put a damper on last year - but maybe they've become even more strict.

 

[wiigirl]

Didn't seem to put a damper on last year - but maybe they've become even more strict.

 

[retired and happy]

We'll be there next week with a bunch of stuff....but not like Hilda and Feisty.

 

[JAN HUGHES]

We also were there all last week and noticed the same thing. I know Fiesty is no longer there but usually the two sites on corner across from settlement are covered in decorations. Not sure what's going on???

 

[tiggerdad]

Are there actually campers there and just not decorated, or are the sites empty?

 

[bigblock396]

We were there during Halloween and noticed some of the regulars missing. I asked around and was told somebody in the 100 loop was "escorted" off Disney property earlier this year by Orange County police and would not be coming back for a long time. Guess they did a major no-no.

One of the ladies at the end of 700 had her decorations out and the people in 1600 were putting their stuff out also. They have the large display that backs up to the main road.

Can't wait to go back in two weeks to see all the Christmas decorations. I'm sure there will be a lot of them.

 

[John VN]

For us, the good old days were when the decorations were not an ostentatious display of who has more $$$$$ to spend on decorations that are store bought.

DW and I remember displays that were humble yet beautiful. Seemed to bring a feeling of the season to the heart and mind more so than recent years.

 

[bama_ed]

We were there during Halloween and noticed some of the regulars missing. I asked around and was told somebody in the 100 loop was "escorted" off Disney property earlier this year by Orange County police and would not be coming back for a long time. Guess they did a major no-no.

I heard this too and believe it to be true. I also heard who/why but it's not really relevant. But if so they won't be at the Fort for a while.

Moving on......

The decorations at the Fort are always worth seeing, aren't they?

Bama Ed

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Just a notion that I'm throw'n out there, but, is it possible that Disney has finally hit the ceiling for that almighty dollar ?
Maybe some folk are just done pay'n the exorbitant prices,,


just a thought.

 

[tiggerdad]

It's a possibility. I mean, prices are way up, money still tight. People can't afford it like they used to be able to.

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[lodge]

A woman was brought by stretcher off the boat dock tonight, sitting up and talking though. We hope she's ok and gets well soon.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

A woman was brought by stretcher off the boat dock tonight, sitting up and talking though. We hope she's ok and gets well soon.

See, right there, she proves my theory, closer she got to the Fort, the prices just started to over whelm her.

Or maybe she was just overwhelmed with Fort gitty,

But I gotta say as much as I love ,(and I do LOVE the Fort), I just can't hack paying $140. bucks for my site one day and then the next day it drops to $72. bucks

 

[John VN]

See, right there, she proves my theory, closer she got to the Fort, the prices just started to over whelm her.

Or maybe she was just overwhelmed with Fort gitty,

But I gotta say as much as I love ,(and I do LOVE the Fort), I just can't hack paying $140. bucks for my site one day and then the next day it drops to $72. bucks

Depending on the type of one's accommodations, $140 could be in-line or less than a Resort room so there will always be takers.

$140 for a site in a tent.....??????

$140 for a site in a loaded A, less than a 1 bedroom DVC.

 

[nwcaninecenter]

Decorations going up everyday!
We are in the 800 loop. Our site is heavily decorated. Just talked to Castle Dave and he's setting up. His show should be going tonight. I do believe he is in 707.

 

[chartle]

One other issue is OP you used the term "Old Timers". Well old timers get well old and slowly disappear.

Its seems like there was a community that kind of started this tradition years ago. If the next generation doesn't keep it up it may fade away.

Also less and less people are camping so the pool of people camping is less and less.

Oh and $140 a night for a campsite.

 

[Mmketeer]

See, right there, she proves my theory, closer she got to the Fort, the prices just started to over whelm her.

Or maybe she was just overwhelmed with Fort gitty,

But I gotta say as much as I love ,(and I do LOVE the Fort), I just can't hack paying $140. bucks for my site one day and then the next day it drops to $72. bucks

YOU ARE SO RIGHT! And I am getting sick of hearing from reservations that Fort Wilderness is the number one rv resort in the United States when you ask why their is no availability and why their are no discounts. That's why I had to go the week before Thanksgiving this year vs the week of or after like I normally do. I had to play the old book 7 nights and cancel them off trick too and you know what? Wed. Thursday the resort was really empty! Like I had literally one neighbor next to me on my loop and the loop had not even a third in it of what it could hold. The whole place had tons of empty sites. It wasn't until maybe Friday afternoon that some people started to arrive and by Saturday night it finally started to like a holiday week. But, why have so many sites sit empty all week long? I just don't get it, they had CM's there working anyway, so it's not like they were trying to save payroll. No discounts and booking was a hassle. Then you check in and get this great notice that says thanks for staying with us, rebook now and ask for code Joy and get a discount to stay again. But, that discount doesn't work for the fort. What a disappointment, would have rather not seen that.

I use to stay at last 3-4 times a year, so they made their money back off me. But, now....I am lucky if I go once, maybe twice a year even as a local. It doesn't even pay to be a passholder, no discounts that I have ever seen for the Fort with that either.

Their are just too many other nice resorts in Florida that offer things like the Passport America 50% off rates and you can stay for like $15 a night with free cable and Internet. Which by the way the Internet was a joke at the Fort at my site even with the site upgrades, no WiFi. I had tons of cords and that stupid box that I had to get from the Meadow Trading Post. Really? Even these tiny little RV parks can pull that one off... free of charge by the way. So much for being able to book dining reservations online once there or grab a fast pass with the My Disney Experience. The new bands were fun to use though.

Very sad.....where's my cane, I know I am always talking about the good ol' days back when....LOL!

 

[nwcaninecenter]

Dogwood Drive site # 1206 is a must see! Check out the window shadow box in the sleeper of his truck!