Head's Up for Labor Day campers

[Tri-circle-D]

If you are camping at the Fort on Labor Day weekend this year, I have a bit of bad news for you.

Not devastating.

But bad.

There is a big triathlon which will be conducted at the Fort on Sunday September 5.

You can read more about it here: 2010 Trek Women's Triathlon

What this means is that there will be hundreds of extra folks visiting the Fort on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, they use the Fort Wilderness pavilion behind Pioneer Hall as an expo area. All of the race participants are supposed to bring their bikes there and check in for their race packets. They are told to park in the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and ride their bikes over. They are told not to drive to the Fort, and not to park at the Fort. But, in years past, many race participants do drive to the Fort, and they do park there. So, Saturday will be a bit of a mess in the Fort parking lot, and all around the Settlement.

On Sunday morning, the triathletes will all be at the Settlement before sunrise to begin the swim portion. There will be no boat transportation from the Fort marina until some time in the afternoon. Also, traffic in and out of some of the loops will be blocked for portions of the morning as may be needed. Bus routes will be adjusted. In the past, the 2000 loop bus stop was closed all morning. Since there will be no boat transportation, there will be buses to the MK.

This all can be a bit of a pain.

But it isn't that bad.

And, now that you know ahead of time, you can plan around it.

Or, if you want, go and watch it.

It is a cool sight to see hundreds of folks swimming in Bay Lake.

Go with the flow.

Have fun!

TCD

 

[ElementCamper]

Wonder if they also give out hundreds of tetanus, plague and typhoid shots to those swimming in Bay Lake?

 

[NedsTJ]

On Sunday morning, the triathletes will all be at the Settlement before sunrise to begin the swim portion. (snipped)

I'm guessing they havn't seen this thread yet...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2530139

 

[5Days]

Dang it! We are going that weekend, will probably be in the 2000 loop and Sunday is going to be our MK day! Yikes...might just have to drive to the parks and not deal with the buses! We will have a golf cart but...
We are going to get season passes (and 1 annual...just for parking) so I won't feel I have to do and see everything. I, personally, was hoping for a relaxing time at the fort...but the kids and DH are "doers" so "do" we shall...this time!!

Thanks for the heads up TCD!!

 

[devores]

Thanks for the heads up. We will be there that weekend but had no plans for Sunday, so shouldnt affect us too much. May have to just kick back with a cold one and cheer on some participants. May put a damper on looping some. I do have a bike though, think they would notice an extra rider??????

 

[Magicbus]

If you have a bunch of lemons, you make lemonade. Just more folks to say hi to.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Cool! I think I will go down to the lake and watch all the swimmers come out and see all the crap crawl out of their ears.

It will be like watching "The Wrath of Khan" all over again!

 

[Fort Fanatics]

Too bad we are checking in on Monday the 6th!! Although my DH wanted to extend our stay and was able to do so last night! Im so excited and can't wait to get to the Fort!!!! And to have our brand new golf cart! Hopefully no one will steal the charger! How awful!! Always a bad apple in the bunch.

 

[phnguyk]

We were there last year during one of the triathalons. Itwasn't too badto deal with but there were a few inconvienences. First don't expect to sleep in if your site is along the route. We were woken by the cheering and clapping! We had to take the buses and they had to be rerouted because of the bicycle route. It wasn't a nusiance but just keep it in mind if you have reservations for something. The other option is to get up super early before the race and get going before they start.

 

[retired and happy]

I hope this does not impact the planned occasion of "Brian's Song" on the beach.

 

[rm0530]

If the 2000 bus loop is closed due to the route, do you know how the car transportation will work in/out of the loop? What exactly is the bike route?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

If the 2000 bus loop is closed due to the route, do you know how the car transportation will work in/out of the loop? What exactly is the bike route?

If you click on the link in my first post above, you can see the maps for each leg of the triathlon.

They look to be the same as the May 2009 triathlon that went on while I was at the Fort.

Here are some photos from around the 2000 loop from May, 2009:

Here are some more porta-pottys and water set up in the middle of the jug-handle across from the 2000 loop bus stop:

There is another sign at the 2000 loop bus stop:

TCD

The maps in these photos are very close to the maps on-line:

There were large maps posted here showing the routes of the three legs of the race:

TCD

So, the Bike route will not go past the 2000 loop. The running route turns around the jug handle across from the 2000 loop bus stop. This means that you should be able to drive in and out of the 2000 loop, and head out via Peacock Pass. I am not sure if you will be allowed to turn left on to Vista when exiting the Fort, as the bike course heads out that way.

As already stated, if you are going to try to go anywhere in or out of the Fort on Sunday morning, be prepared for some delays and detours. Also, the 2000 loop bus stop is probably going to be closed until 4 pm. But, by the time Sunday evening rolls around, you wouldn't even know there had been a triathlon at the Fort that morning.

Have fun!

TCD

 

[Disneylitch]

We just got back from The Fort and we were told that The Fort has a 99.1% occupancy rate over Labor Day. I guess this is the reason why.

 

[des1954]

We just got back from The Fort and we were told that The Fort has a 99.1% occupancy rate over Labor Day. I guess this is the reason why.

Nah... it's just the last of the summer 3 day weekend opportunities. Labor Day weekend is always busy.

The triathlon held in May was a real PITA. It limited road traffic from about 7am to about 12pm. Traffic was one lane, one way, only. It interfered with my looping in the morning.

 

[jriae2000]

We just got back from The Fort and we were told that The Fort has a 99.1% occupancy rate over Labor Day. I guess this is the reason why.

They always claim its full. Even when other disers are there and report many empty/closed loops.

 

[ChristusG]

Just curious.....why do they swim through the lake when there is no lake swimming allowed?

 

[DisCamper]

TCD they had the same thing last year we never saw them. They start so early I wascoming back from Wal-mart about 3am and they were already lining up to start the race. All we saw was a lot and lots of bikes in the grass by Pioneer Hall

 

[lklasing]

I was in the race last Labor Day weekend and it was a ball. I think it started around 6:30 and should have been done by 10:00 or so, if I'm remembering correctly. Everyone starts in waves, so it takes a while to get everyone going. If anyone is planning to race this weekend, good luck and have fun! It was by far the most fun I've had in a race.

 

[des1954]

Just curious.....why do they swim through the lake when there is no lake swimming allowed?

In the south, freshwater lakes that can get to 80 degrees or more can be infested with a deadly amoeba. These enter the body through the nasal passages and causes an encephalitis-like disease in the brain. The result is death. The amoeba actually resides in the mud on the lake bottom in the shallow water. The swimmers in the triathlon are in theory too far from the lake edge by the time they actually start swimming. And...they are in motion at the top of the water. The lake is closed to swimmers because mostly children play in the shallow water, try to do hand stands, and other "tricks" that puts them closer to the mud on the bottom of the lake, and are at greater risk for the amoeba getting into them.

Here's one of many articles on the subject:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/04/amoeba.lake/index.html

 

[BradyBz12]

Cool! I think I will go down to the lake and watch all the swimmers come out and see all the crap crawl out of their ears.

It will be like watching "The Wrath of Khan" all over again!

OMG I think of that every time someone mentions brain eating amoeba!

Maybe the triathalon mascot should be this guy...