Halloween 2009 at the Fort - A Few Pictures

[clkelley]

We had weird camera problems all week, (two cameras, 4 rechargeable batteries, and we can't get more than 10 or so pictures before the batteries are caput) so don't have many pictures, but I thought I'd post a few of what I do have. This was, I think the most laid back trip we've ever taken. We generally didn't get out of bed till 9:30 most mornings, went to another resort for breakfast then came back to the camper where Rick proceeded to take a nap. Then we usually found ourselves sitting at somebody's site running our mouths and drinking.

I drove the camper down and set up camp and Rick flew in on, then he flew home and I broke camp, then drove home. Sounds hard on me, but it actually turned out great for both of us. (As most married couples know, there are certain things you shouldn't do together, for most folks it's wallpapering, for us, it's setting up my camper!!)

Rick snapped a couple of pictures at Nashville airport

Here are some BATWit Pictures and other Epcot pictures throughout the day.

Here's me and Rick at Garden Grille

Here is some of the "hangin out" on Friday night at Jen's site

Some site pictures

Coming next - Halloween Party

 

[clkelley]

To continue on......

And finally, the Halloween Party

Towards the end of the party, me, Jen, Rick, and the Gator family went loopin. After cruisin all the loops, we called it a night and went back to our sight. Everybody was gone and no mess!!!!!!! Miss Deb, the one and only Otter Spotter had cleaned up for me!!! (If anybody else helped her, THANKS!!!!) I said woohoo!!!!!! There were some dishes, so I just shoved them in a garbage bag to discourage the ants to wash in the morning.

On Sunday, after the party, we didn't get up till the crack of noon, so missed our breakfast and went booth crawling at F&W festival, then we made it over to Studios for late EMH and had dinner at 50's Prime Time

Then Monday we had breakfast at the Poly, then went to MK for a bit.

Rick then had to be on the Magical Express bus by 3:50, so we came back to the campsite and did some payment on the bill with a bunch of VISA gift cards we had that were in Rick's name, loaded the scooter in the back of the truck, and I dumped him at the bus stop. Then I looped for a little bit, then started takin stuff down, dropped the cart with Kenny and got things down to just electric and cable and hitching up.

I went back to MK EMH for a little bit, had a so so burger at Sonny Eclipses place and watched a bit of his shtick and then rode Buzz Lightyear a couple of times, had a wickedly sinful Ice Cream Sunday and called it a night.

The next morning, I wanted to do one more thing, so decided to make one last stop at Toy Story Mania, so hooked up and asked Cheryle to drop my Owner's Locker up front since they still had their cart and headed over to the Studios. I got there about 8 and was waiting to be admitted and on a whim asked about breakfast at Hollywood & Vine. They could seat me, so in I went!! Although I could care less about Playhouse Disney, I just wanted to eat and kill the time before rope drop without being parked at the front entrance.

The place really surprised me!!! The food was excellent!! It was what Trails End used to be and more!! Hot scramble eggs, egg pizza, build your own breakfast burrito with ALL the fixins. Good potatoes, Mickey Waffles, CORN BEEF HASH!!!, Lots of fruit, oatmeal, fresh pastries, regular grits, cheese grits..... I could go on and on!!!! I had no clue who the characters were, but had fun giving them a high 5 as they passed by.

I got done with breakfast about 10 till 9, walked right up to the front of the inside rope, and then at the appropriate time, power walked to TSM, then was out of the park by 9:20 and on the road.

The ride home was uneventful, but long. As it turns out, I did have a loss of one of my endcaps to the sewer hose storage tube, and lost a length of hose. So somewhere on the Turnpike or I-75, there is a PVC screw cap and some "stinky slinky"

I hope we can do this again next year!!!

I can say right now, that if I ever get reservations, my dates will be October 29th - November 7th, 2010!!! Gonna take a full week and make Halloween at the beginning of the trip. (Really would like somebody else to volunteer to herd the cats for the Group Reservation though!!!) (Yes, this bunch is like herding cats!!)

This was an amazing accomplishment getting so many of us together at one time. Although, I wish I could have spent more time with everyone, and not just a quick hello!!!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Carol- Great report and photos. And even though I wasn't officially part of the GG, I want to give you a great big THANK YOU for putting it together. I have personally never been at the Fort with so many Disboarders, and it was such a treat to get a chance to meet up with so many. I have no doubt that this took a lot more time and effort on your part then you are letting on- so THANKS!!!

TCD

 

[big kahuna1]

THANKS! I know the work involved and you did a great job.

 

[stacktester]

I did the 4th GG and there was a lot of work involved. The best thing to do is get a list of people and send them all the GG #. The problem I had at 1st was lurkers got the # and then booked sites we had reserved for ourselves.

 

[clkelley]

Actually, if I did do it over again, I would just say I have the booking information and if and when you are ready to book, contact me for the number.

I had so many folks I had sent the info to that didn't book, and was holding spots for "maybes" that it drove me nuts.

Also, grab way more sites initially then you think you will need. (I should have grabbed 50 sites. We probably could have filled them.)

 

[LORNADUCK]

Thanks again Carol. It was so nice to see so many of us there at one time, I wish I could have spent more time with everyone, but there is always next year.
I would be willing to do the group reservation for next Oct. I am probalby going to stay Oct 27th thru Nov 2nd have to be in work to do payroll. But I know if we come up with group dates I can add some for before or after. Anyone who is interested let me know. I would like to call group reservations and get it secured, if they will do it this soon.
Also who is interested in a group reservation for July 4th?

 

[liv luvs disney]

I enjoyed your TR and pictures. Even though I did not attend the GG, I want to thank you too. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the attendees TR and seeing their pics. It has been my entertainment for the last few days.

I also want to tell you that a couple of months ago when my family and I started "seriously" looking to purchase a camper, the kids saw a Tab and I said, "Oh Ms. Carol from the Dis Boards has one of those." Now EVERY time we see one, they say, "Oh Ms. Carol from the Dis Boards has one of those." It absolutley cracks me up. They don't have a clue who you are (and neither do I for that matter) but it must have really impressed them.

 

[devores]

Thanks again Carol. It was so nice to see so many of us there at one time, I wish I could have spent more time with everyone, but there is always next year.
I would be willing to do the group reservation for next Oct. I am probalby going to stay Oct 27th thru Nov 2nd have to be in work to do payroll. But I know if we come up with group dates I can add some for before or after. Anyone who is interested let me know. I would like to call group reservations and get it secured, if they will do it this soon.
Also who is interested in a group reservation for July 4th?

We would be very interested in attending a 4th of July GG and the 2010 Halloween one. If Im around of course (darn military may have other plans for me).

We were at the fort for this one, but not a member of the GG. We had allready had reservations before I knew of the GG. Next year Ill wait for the GG to make our ressies.

 

[RNmomnFL]

We're up for another GG (even though for both the '09 Memorial Day & Halloween GGs we were placed outside of the group's loop...starting to get a complex here LOL).

 

[4mickey2]

thanks again carol... it was such a great time..

 

[disney4dan]

Thanks for the photos and for setting up the event! Even though we could not go, I have been enjoying the reports and day dreaming about attending "some day". Just not in the cards while our kids are in school at this age. When they were younger we would take them out, but it's a long trip and way too much time out of school for a middle school kid.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Love the pics,,great stuff Carol

 

[RvUsa]

Carol, thank you so much for all you hard work! I wish we could have spent some more time getting to know you guys. Darn family and park time just kept getting in the way! LOL I really enjoyed the GG, but I am just a little uncomfortable in situations like that, so I didn't stay too long, I hope no one took it as I was being antisocial, just self conscious.

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

Carol....thanks for hosting the GG. You did a great job and we appreciate your hardwork.