First trip report

[Minnie&Mickey]

Loving the trip report and pictures! Keep it coming!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Beautiful pictures! Dave is going to be so jealous of the one with Ms. White!

 

[sshudson99]

MK is by far our favorite park. There is more to do, especially if it rains. There is a variety for all ages, the shows are awesome, etc. I chose not to do park hoppers this time because I knew we would stay in the park we start in. Like I said earlier, we were staying 8 nights, I did not want to be in a park everyday, I wanted time at the campground and time to do other things. So, Thursday we head to HS for the day. HS was my least favorite park growing up. However, my DS wanted to ride Tower of Terror and the rollercoaster. So, we arrive again about 30 minutes early. I didn't really see the opening show to this, I don't think there was much to it. I again had a touring plan. First up was Toy Story, I almost changed my mind and went to the rollercoaster, but followed the plan. We all go to Toy Story first, along with many, many other people. We had about a 30 minute wait by the time we got there. Now I know why it is recommened first. We get FP to the rollercoaster, and continue on touring. Touring this park is not easy if it rains. Mainly all shows are outside, so if severe rain or lightening comes through, it will get cancelled. It started raining by 2pm and rained until about 6pm. What a miserable day. DH and DD left to go back to the campground by 2pm, there just wasn't a lot for her to do. She liked High School Musical but that was about it. The rest of us stayed back and enjoyed the rain, ha, ha. We really wanted to see Fantasmic, so we made the best of it. I would recommend not doing this park if it rains a lot. MK can be done in the rain, but not HS. The stunt show was cancelled, Indiana Jones was cancelled, etc. We worried about Fantasmic, but the weather cleared and the show was on. People bagan lining up before 7:30 for this show and we were right there with them. Do not miss this show. It is by far the best. We got to ride and do most everything at HS, if it wasn't for the rain, we could have done it all and left by 5pm and returned for Fantasmic.

Here are a few pics:

Well, this was the end of the parks for us. I never really like Epcot either, so we skipped it all together. When we return, I will have a different plan. I will get hoppers and do alittle here and there. We got back to the camper by 10:30 pm. We turned in and got some rest. Up next, Friday, our final full day. I wanted to go to Clearwater Beach because I have never seen the gulf beaches. So, we got up Friday and did just that. We left by 9am and it was about an hour and 45 minutes away. We stayed a little over 3 hours and returned to the Fort. I thought the gulf was beautiful. I pray that the oil spill doesn't get to it. Here are some pics:

Well, we head back to the Fort to enjoy our last day. We ride around a bit, but mainly stay at the pool. I never got to look for River Country, or do any investigative reporting. I never did find any railroad tracks. We were there 8 nights and I feel as if I didn't get to do a lot at the campground. When I return, there will not be any traveling out of the campground. We stayed up late Friday night, I had planned on going to see the movie playing but the yellow flies were terrible. The week flew by.

Saturday morning rolled around and it is now time to turn the super fast golf cart in to Kenny

Here we are on our way to the overflow parking lot to meet Kenny:

Here is Kenny loading it up:

DH tried to give Kenny a tip, but he would not take it. Super great guy. Even with the little mix up, he is the best, that shows you, he stands behind his service.

Well, Saturday is return home day. We pulled out at 9am and were home by 10pm. We had a great time. Like I said, I wish I had more time at the Fort to do things, but it had been such a long time since I had been to Florida that we wanted to do so much. The next time will be different. I do not know when we will get back there. We like to take our kids somewhere different every year, but I feel as if we will return within 3 years when DD turns 10. DH loved the Fort and would love to return there just to camp, me too.

Now, let me recap and stress what I did learn as a first timer to Fort Wilderness and well, to Disney for the most part.

Get or bring a golf cart--Kenny rocks
Buy the mugs and take them to the pool and use them, and throughout the resort.
Have a plan when touring the parks, but remember, rain, ride breakdowns, child meltdowns, etc. can interrupt your plans, be ready for that.
Do not do HS if it is calling for storms unless you have park hoppers.

Best time to visit?? Well, we chose to go when school got out. We left the very last day of school. With the end of grade testing, I did not want to take the kids out. Next time, I might go in the fall and take them out, less crowded, less heat. Did we pick the right day to tour each park, I have no idea. I think the parks are crowded period. MK was the easiest to me. The longest wait was for Winnie the Pooh, go figure. I bet we waited 50 minutes for that ride. Most waits were 30 minutes or less. But remember, we were able to get FP easier. It was also the easiest to tour around.

Resort transportation---use it. The most we waited ever for anything was 15 minutes. I loved being able to walk to the bus stop or get on the ferry and relax.

And most importantly, have fun, enjoy the time with your kids or the ones you love. I will cherish every second I had there, even through the sickness and the truck incident, I would not trade a minute. I told DH, I thought a lot about the little boy that was killed while riding his bike. I could not imagine coming home without one of mine. So please, watch your children, they cannot be replaced. The Fort is a very big place, I would not feel comfortable letting mine ride bikes or go off without me, but that is me. Get the golf cart or bring bikes for everyone.

Well, that is all I have. Feel free to ask any questions, etc. I will answer the best I can. Here are few random pics that I came accross.

The end.

I will continue lurking on this forum because I like you all, I feel a bond, call me mushy

 

[sshudson99]

Beautiful pictures! Dave is going to be so jealous of the one with Ms. White!

I know, we missed her one time and could not believe it when we came up to her again. The guy said she was getting ready to go, but Sara got to see her. I probably would have chased her down I thought of Dave when we came up to her.

 

[dande54]

We were staying in site 1617 while you were there saw your site but no didn't see anyone out when we were around.

Don

 

[sshudson99]

We were staying in site 1617 while you were there saw your site but no didn't see anyone out when we were around.

Don

Sorry, we were gone a lot. I wanted to enjoy every second. Not much time hanging around the camper. I wish we could have met.

 

[LONE-STAR]

Now time to plan your next trip.

 

[lledman]

Thanks for sharing your trip. I loved all the pictures.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Thanks for a wonderful report. With all of these trip reports, I am getting so psyched for our trip this fall. It has been so long since I have been to the fort that all I have are vague memories, but the pictures definitely stir something in the back of my mind.

I hope that you don't "continue to lurk", but instead stay an active participant on the forum as you are liked here by us as well. There really is a bond here as we all share our love for the greatest place on earth to camp!

Thanks again!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

BRAVO!!!!

You done good!!

I love the Snow White photo.

She is such a nice princess.

Always willing to spend some extra time with a guest.

Right, Dave?

I didn't know you were going to visit Clearwater Beach!

That is like 15 minutes from where I live!

You did a really good job with your park strategy for a semi-rookie. The use of the grandparents for extra Fastpasses was brilliant. When my sister visited with her kids last year, we did the same thing- we pooled our Fastpasses, and let her and the cousins use ours- it really made for an enjoyable day.

Your idea to come back next time in the Fall is a good one. We typically stay away in the Summer because of the heat and crowds.

Don't be a stranger.

TCD

 

[kampfirekim]

The use of the grandparents for extra Fastpasses was brilliant. When my sister visited with her kids last year, we did the same thing- we pooled our Fastpasses, and let her and the cousins use ours- it really made for an enjoyable day.
TCD

I guess that means that we are brilliant too. We also use the non-action riders to gain extra FP's. KFM and I once rode EE 3 times back to back and were done in less than 30 min.

SSHudson99: Superb TR! Well done! Don't be a lurker, just because your TR is over doesn't mean we don't want to keep hearing from you! We all like to stay in the loop around here. (pun not initially intended, but a good one nonetheless.)

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Great report -- thanks so much for posting!

 

[YodaGirl]

Great TR! Glad that you enjoyed your stay!

 

[sshudson99]

Now time to plan your next trip.

I agree, it will be here before you know it

 

[sshudson99]

Thanks for a wonderful report. With all of these trip reports, I am getting so psyched for our trip this fall. It has been so long since I have been to the fort that all I have are vague memories, but the pictures definitely stir something in the back of my mind.

I hope that you don't "continue to lurk", but instead stay an active participant on the forum as you are liked here by us as well. There really is a bond here as we all share our love for the greatest place on earth to camp!

Thanks again!

Thanks, I will be active, may not be helpful but I will try.

 

[sshudson99]

BRAVO!!!!

You done good!!

I love the Snow White photo.

She is such a nice princess.

Always willing to spend some extra time with a guest.

Right, Dave?

I didn't know you were going to visit Clearwater Beach!

That is like 15 minutes from where I live!

You did a really good job with your park strategy for a semi-rookie. The use of the grandparents for extra Fastpasses was brilliant. When my sister visited with her kids last year, we did the same thing- we pooled our Fastpasses, and let her and the cousins use ours- it really made for an enjoyable day.

Your idea to come back next time in the Fall is a good one. We typically stay away in the Summer because of the heat and crowds.

Don't be a stranger.

TCD

Thanks, maybe next time I can help your cousin do some investigating. I am jealous that you are that close to Clearwater. We live 1 and a half hour away from the Atlantic Ocean, not too bad.

 

[sshudson99]

I guess that means that we are brilliant too. We also use the non-action riders to gain extra FP's. KFM and I once rode EE 3 times back to back and were done in less than 30 min.

SSHudson99: Superb TR! Well done! Don't be a lurker, just because your TR is over doesn't mean we don't want to keep hearing from you! We all like to stay in the loop around here. (pun not initially intended, but a good one nonetheless.)

Aww, thanks I will be around for sure keeping in touch.