DISmeet at the Fort 2024?

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed yes, 100% for those of us fully self containted. No bathhouse though, just on site hookups, trash, and security monitoring. Guess we will see how that goes.

 

[Disneypeach]

Update on the damaged box.
Yes, the campers knew they hit it. They backed up and got out to see the damage to their rig.
The box was an old cable rv box. Maintenance told me they don’t use the boxes like this one anymore. The cable tv is going thru wifi now thru the cable connection in our sites. Not sure how that works but it does explain why tv service is lousy. I’m streaming off my iPad to my tv now.

 

[Boomer1]

Turned on the fridge and freezer in the motorhome yesterday and started putting a few things in today. Tom did a little rearranging in the basement compartments and we hope to start out on Tuesday morning. We will probably boondock the first two nights at Cracker Barrel. We have a reservation for Friday night at Tropical Palms but Thursday night we will see where we end up. Three nights is all it usually takes us to get to the Fort but we like to build in an extra night in case we are late getting away or run into any delays. Safe travels to all and for those who arrive before us, leave the porch light on!

 

[bama_ed]

The cable tv is going thru wifi now thru the cable connection in our sites. Not sure how that works but it does explain why tv service is lousy. I’m streaming off my iPad to my tv now.

Disney's contractors plowed all that fiber all over the Fort to support wifi (which by its nature can support tv service) the last few years. When I was at the Fort for Thanksgiving 2022 I had extensive pics and updates on same. Of course, though, the wifi works wirelessly from us campers back to the antennas in the loops which gets on the fiber with the backing electronics (which must be the current weak point).

No one who reads this would be surprised about (the lack of) Disney IT's ability or speed of change. Disney has a well-earned track record over decades of PITIFUL IT which I don't want to deny them of since they worked so hard to EARN it.

Year after year after year after ..... (well, you get the idea). Like Peach, guests will abandon the junk service they offer "free". Because the guests are not captives to the hosts.

ED

 

[jbrostek]

@bama_ed You are not far off. As someone that has made a career out of this for large facilities, Disney really does need a better IT management team that can properly leverage large scale wifi deployments. Yet not sure how the wifi is involved in the TV since its not wifi to your site (wasn't in 2023 at least). Though, it was clear they are doing fiber/coax hybrid for TV signal as it digitized often (meaning the feed was having capacity or other issues.) The WiFi was a little better then pre 2022, though its clearly a mesh system that backhauls to a specific AP in the loop. I am still convinced the lack of robust backhaul plus I am sure there is not enough capacity leaving the fort to support the usage. So I pretty much rely on my personal Tmobile 5g internet to take care of that for me.


@Teamubr I so want a microair. I just cannot justify the cost to buy two if I want both zones covered. Really wish Grand Design went with a muti zone single control system. I might just bite the bullet and at least get one so I can control the main heat and AC. Though really want to control and monitor both systems.

The day has been fruitful, I found somewhere to store the work rig for the trip and when not in use. Put away all of the racing season stuff, and in the process found the remanence of a mouse house under the bed that formed since last fall. Nothing major, and I guess they gave up in the early stages, yet enough to make a mess. I cleaned it up up, wiped down the compartment and added 2 peppermint moth balls to the area. I already put new ones ever other month in the storage areas front and rear to deter them.

After that was all done, DW and I went off to our winery to enjoy a glass and some downtime. And then I picked up a case of various wines to bring and share while I am down there. I think I am down to the final shopping trip and loading clothes at this point. Feeling good that will be all set and ready to roll by the 31st.

 

[Sjm9911]

They dont want better IT, they want worse. If you are entertained in your camper or room, they dont make $$$.

 

[jbrostek]

Spencer contrary, since they moved everything to more and more digital, the less I can do the less I will return or do/spend at WDW as a whole. Plus it's not just FW, its the hotels, the parks, etc. The system as a whole is sub par and for them pushing us so hard to their apps they need ot make sure we have rock solid connectivity.

 

[JETS70]

Made it into the Fort about 2:30 yesterday. Site 4:30. Archer has been visiting sites and signing in.

 

[bama_ed]

@bama_ed You are not far off. As someone that has made a career out of this for large facilities, Disney really does need a better IT management team that can properly leverage large scale wifi deployments. Yet not sure how the wifi is involved in the TV since its not wifi to your site (wasn't in 2023 at least). Though, it was clear they are doing fiber/coax hybrid for TV signal as it digitized often (meaning the feed was having capacity or other issues.)

Sorry, James, I was thinking about how when I camp now I am used to having YouTubeTV and use either the campground WIFI or my phone as a hotspot to watch tv. Unrolling a coax cable to connect to Disney's linear tv system seems so very '1980s' now. Plus the folks used to using Hulu, Netflix, Sling, and other streamers are "up in the air" as well. But I'm sure there's still a good portion of guests who need the coax connection if they want to watch tv at the Fort.

Alabama football has an off-day on the only Saturday I'll be at the Fort so I'm not going to even bring a tv this trip.

@JETS70 , man oh man Archer is growing UP! He's a cutie. (and I'm getting old).

ED

 

[jbrostek]

Ed I hear you. I use DirecTV Stream right now for live TV. DW wants her channels and YTTV doesnt carry them. I also hook up to the Disney cable for their in house channels, though would be cool if I could pull them up on Hulu or D+.

 

[4077]

Trying it out...got me one of them thar golfer cart thingies for Nov 2-4....

My son coming on 2nd from school in Melbourne to visit and stay the night.... figured could be fun...

 

[Teamubr]

I'm in! I pick up my Kenny Cart on Sunday the 2nd.

I raced an old Fox body Mustang that was tail happy. Lots of fun and very fast, so these carts should be a piece of cake.


(This was a left corner, but notice which way the front wheels are pointing. You drove this thing as much with the gas pedal as the steering wheel.)

j

 

[jbrostek]

I don't know how it happened, but I picked up a couple of hitch hikers. I guess they want to follow me home....




yeeee hawwww!!! @4077 @Teamubr We can run the loop a few laps

 

[Sjm9911]

Ok I am setting up in 2138. All of are reservations are linked! Cast member was excited we had such a large group and told me before I asked. Will update in a few. We got in and had a site about 130pm, its crowded. Cars parked all on the grass on the way in.

 

[Teamubr]

Great news Spencer. And WELCOME HOME!

2138 is on the other side of the loop from the walkway to 1100, but you are still in the right place.

For everyone else, here is a 2100 loop map. The walkway to 1100 is between 2109 and 2110



j

 

[bama_ed]

Prepping the camper, hosed, it off, repairs are made, and started loading the Yukon XL (EZ Up, signs, lights, chairs, tables, electrical cords, green DIS light). Went and got some food to eat for the first few days. Tonight set out clothes, tomorrow finish packing, and get the food into the car/cooler and stuff from home as well (condiments, etc.) And put on the front bike hitch and load the 2 bikes.

Found an old pair of DW's shoes tucked WAY under our camper bed .

Depending on when we can shove off will determine the route. If I can drive overnight on Tuesday (preferred), it will be all interstate to Atlanta then south on I75 and the Turnpike. Little traffic on a Tuesday evening going thru the city (Hotlanta) and although a little out of the way (adds 20 minutes to estimated drive time), I would expect to keep rolling with few stops during the night.

If we leave early Wednesday morning (maybe REALLY early), by the time I get to Atlanta the roads may have the morning drive so then that means I head down to Montgomery, Dothan (all 2- and 4- lane with some red lights) and down to I10 in Florida coming from Pensacola to Tallahassee. It's more direct (shorter drive) but has red lights going through towns and on the 2-lane you could get stuck behind a slow logging truck. And then on to Lake City, pick up I75 to the Turnpike.

Although not much rain in the Orlando forecast (some sprinkles on some days) it is showing wind gusts in the 20s and 30s mph a few days. So I will throw the tie-downs in the car as well.

Looking forward to seeing old and new DIS friends (well, not old OLD, Jim, I mean DIS folks we've met in the past).

ED

 

[JETS70]

Safe travels to all making their way to the Fort over the next few days.

 

[BenitaN]

Prayers have been answered. Damien got his truck back, so we are a go. WooHoo!

Tonight, I will map out our trip. We will probably stay over someplace in North Carolina.

See you all on Saturday!

 

[Sjm9911]

Good day so far, met jets a few times back and forth. Got mostly set up, park day in the am. Just an FYI disney servers went down during the storm and some credit cards were erased from the system. They will ask you again for your card at check in. Just an FYI.

 

[jbrostek]

Good to know Spencer, I usually double check the online check-in to see what card is on file. Should be the same card as its been for years, but you know how that can be.

Now starts the fun packing!!! I went through my plethora of Disney shirts. I packed most, though leaving a few behind. Picked out the first travel day shirt...very important. Got our MB+ and charge cables packed, located my fuel rod and other battery pack. Cleaned the camera body from some dust I got on the california trip that started to show up on images. It was dark by the time I was ready to take the next load out to the RV and decided ill just wait for daylight.