Here Comes the Sun! Trip Report

[jsmla]

Friday/Saturday (10/3-4)

We took our time driving down and arrived at Ft Wilderness 3:00 PM(ish). I'd been reading about all of the rain and it wasn't looking very promising as we pulled in to check in and the clouds and rumbles reflected my mood. I was primed for battle. We always reserve a preferred pet site because we like to be near the boat to the MK. We often have guests over and it's just easier for them if we're in a preferred spot. Last trip they tried to fob me off with something far, far from the 300 loop. I think it was somewhere near Ocala. Unpleasantness ensued, In the end it took almost an hour (I felt kinda bad for the folks in the queue behind us) and several supervisors but we did finally get a spot in the 200 loop. 200 is not a pet loop bur, oh we'll. I am sorry if anyone was upset by the sight of our Shih Tzu but we were having a dozen people over and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. This time we got Cypress Knee Circle right away which was a relief. I hate starting out a vacation arguing. When I ask Scott why it's always me who has to fight with clerks, the cable company and our deadbeat tenants his reply is always the same:

"But you're so good at it."

We were able to get parked and plugged in before the rain came which was nice. I should really have said Scott got parked, I've never even driven the truck, forget about backing 27 feet of trailer into a space only marginally larger than our rig. Very fortunately for me, Scott's a true redneck and has been pulling horse and flatbed trailers since he was 15 years old. He's a pro

Like most of the campsites around us our's was surrounded by water. Miss Beth looks like she's perched on an island in the middle of a lake. I felt really sorry for the few tent campers in our loop.

Quite a few folks have their Halloween decorations up and some are pretty impressive.

I'm afraid our Mickey lamp is our only nod to the holiday.

It rained for most of the evening. I'm afraid we spent our first night stuffing ourselves silly at Trail's End before hitting the hay at the crazy wild hour of 9:30 PM. We're edgy like that.

 

[2goofycampers]

It has rained just about everyday for weeks. Looks like it's gonna clear up. Enjoying your TR.

 

[bama_ed]

Last trip they tried to fob me off with something far, far from the 300 loop. I think it was somewhere near Ocala. Unpleasantness ensued...

jsmla, I need to have your number on speed dial next time I approach the Fort check-in building. Just in case - do you work on retainer?

Great start and loving the pictures.

Bama Ed

 

[jsmla]

Thanks for the replies It's a glorious day here at the Fort!

We're in site 310 and I'm pleased-just far enough away from the road for quiet but not so far that it's a long walk. Now if only our neighbor with the two devil hounds (very aggressive acting Shar Peis) would leave it would be perfect.

 

[jsmla]

I've been using my phone to post because we left some cord that was needed for the router. We looked for a new one but they were $50 so we decided we could manage without WiFi. After all $50=7 Disney beers. My phone is slooooow at WDW so posting was a time consuming job. Well, just now, while I was at the bath house my genius hubby managed to get the WiFi going without whatever it was we thought we needed. He's a keeper, that man of mine.

Anywho, back to yesterday.

It rained in the night and was still drizzly when we woke. When you have a long haired dog rain is not your friend. Molly came back from her morning walk soaking and covered in nature. Cypress fronds (leaves, needles?) will stick to a Shih Tzu like Velcro.

No parks on the schedule so we headed out to Best Buy where we decided against the $50 power cord and Home Depot where we bought a new base for the Mickey lamp. Our old one seems to have blown out of the back of the pickup somewhere along the way, oops. I'm trying not to think about the startled motorist who looked up to see a large red plastic flower pot come flying at them. Scott decided to go with an umbrella stand this time-much less of a chance of that taking wing.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and getting ready for our friends. I cooked while Scott set up the TV outside so that we could watch the game. (He need not have bothered, it was a terrible, awful very bad evening for LSU fans although it was nice to have company to take the edge off.)

Scott picked up Bob and Gill from their swanky digs at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and we had a lovely evening in spite of LSU's best efforts to spoil it. I didn't take pictures-we were so happy to see them again and so busy catching up that I forgot all about it. Dinner was smoked brisket, BBQ chicken, salads, grilled veggies and a baked potato bar. I also made little individual apple crisps in Mason jars for the first time. They worked really well and will definitely be added to my "camping recipes" repertoire.

After dinner we all walked down to the beach, taking in the Halloween decorations along the way. Bob and Gill were surprised at how elaborate they were. In England it seems that Halloween is more of a teen-aged hooligan kind of holiday. We watched the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes before we saw our friends onto the boat to the MK. The rain had finally ended and it was a great evening spent in excellent company, even if I did forget that Guinness has a much higher alcohol content than I'm used to and got a bit
In addition to the Guinness we were gifted with a bag full of lovely goodies from the UK. Scott can have the Irish whiskey but the shortbread is mine, mine and all mine!

We gave them a Mason jar full of homemade apple pie moonshine, we're classy like that.

 

[jsmla]

Off to Mickey's Not Sp Scary Halloween Party!

 

[articfox676]

Love your TR keep it coming. I'm feeling right at home like I'm at the Fort.

 

[Disneypeach]

really enjoying your TR!

 

[jsmla]

Morning puppy kisses are just another thing to love at Ft Wilderness!

Somebody is sporting a serious bed head

 

[jsmla]

Late night last night so we're poolside today. It's gorgeous out!

MNSSHP was a lot of fun-I'll try to write a report later. Right now a nap is next on my to-do list

 

[2travelers]

.

 

[Homeschoolmomof2]

Love the trip report!

 

[Homeschoolmomof2]

Friday/Saturday (10/3-4)

We took our time driving down and arrived at Ft Wilderness 3:00 PM(ish). I'd been reading about all of the rain and it wasn't looking very promising as we pulled in to check in and the clouds and rumbles reflected my mood. I was primed for battle. We always reserve a preferred pet site because we like to be near the boat to the MK. We often have guests over and it's just easier for them if we're in a preferred spot. Last trip they tried to fob me off with something far, far from the 300 loop. I think it was somewhere near Ocala. Unpleasantness ensued, In the end it took almost an hour (I felt kinda bad for the folks in the queue behind us) and several supervisors but we did finally get a spot in the 200 loop. 200 is not a pet loop bur, oh we'll. I am sorry if anyone was upset by the sight of our Shih Tzu but we were having a dozen people over and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. This time we got Cypress Knee Circle right away which was a relief. I hate starting out a vacation arguing. When I ask Scott why it's always me who has to fight with clerks, the cable company and our deadbeat tenants his reply is always the same:

"But you're so good at it."

We were able to get parked and plugged in before the rain came which was nice. I should really have said Scott got parked, I've never even driven the truck, forget about backing 27 feet of trailer into a space only marginally larger than our rig. Very fortunately for me, Scott's a true redneck and has been pulling horse and flatbed trailers since he was 15 years old. He's a pro

Like most of the campsites around us our's was surrounded by water. Miss Beth looks like she's perched on an island in the middle of a lake. I felt really sorry for the few tent campers in our loop.

Quite a few folks have their Halloween decorations up and some are pretty impressive.

I'm afraid our Mickey lamp is our only nod to the holiday.

It rained for most of the evening. I'm afraid we spent our first night stuffing ourselves silly at Trail's End before hitting the hay at the crazy wild hour of 9:30 PM. We're edgy like that.

Great Mickey Lamp! Saw your spot while looping just now. I think it's a perfect Halloween decoration!

 

[ruthies12]

LOVING the trip report and looking forward to your report on the Halloween party. PLEASE post the recipe for the individual apple crisps when you get time? We are heading out camping this weekend to a place that has an apple orchard right next to it and I would love to try to make these if I can get the ingredients in time.

 

[jsmla]

LOVING the trip report and looking forward to your report on the Halloween party. PLEASE post the recipe for the individual apple crisps when you get time? We are heading out camping this weekend to a place that has an apple orchard right next to it and I would love to try to make these if I can get the ingredients in time.

I used this one but substituted apple pie moonshine for the bourbon.

http://bakingthegoods.com/2012/11/13/good-to-go/

 

[2travelers]

.

 

[Kanda]

Thanks for sharing your TR. Looking forward to the rest!

 

[tiggerdad]

Enjoying so far. Thanks for taking time to make the posts.

 

[New2dfw]

Thanks for the great photos! Hope the weather is holding up!
Jamie

 

[jsmla]

Sorry so late, I would have updated earlier but my post got eaten by the Disney internet TWICE. I am not so hot with stuff like this as it is and it's a tad disheartening to see two hours of my efforts just poof! Like that.

Oh well, back to Sunday, October 5

We picked up our friends for a bit of off-site breakfast and shopping. Gill is a country music fan so we went to Cracker Barrel where she was able to find a few CDs for her collection and I was able to stuff my face with grits and bacon. After breakfast we hit up Dick's Sporting Goods for baseball mitts for their nephews. It's funny to think of country music and baseball as exotic but, apparently both are hard to come by in the UK. Who knew?

We dropped Bob and Gill off at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and headed back to the Miss Beth for naps and football. The Saints won so we left for the Magic Kingdom in a great mood.

Dinner was at Be Our Guest. Bob and I had each been trying to get a reservation since our 180 day window opened up with no success. We were just going to go with our backup ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern when, only a day or so before Scott and I arrived, Bob was able to get a 5:00 PM spot for Be Our Guest by asking at Guest Services

I was really very pleasantly surprised with our meal. I had been for lunch several times and expected more of the same, just at inflated prices. I mean French food in the Magic Kingdom? Well, my salmon was lovely and Scott enjoyed his steak very much. Beauty and the Beast is hands down, without question, my favorite Disney film and I loved the whole experience. My dining companions were very tolerant and refrained from eye-rolling when I got a tad too excited to hold Lumiere or wanted a picture with the Beast. It was a lovely meal and very, very gracious of Bob and Gill to treat us. I felt deliciously naughty having a Kronenbourg in the Magic Kingdom

(I didn't plan on dressing up for the party but apparently opted to go as a pregnant Drew Brees.)

We spent part of the party together and occasionally split up. Bob and Gill had Memory Maker and wanted to get a few Magic Shots. Scott and I hit the rides. We met up for Hallowishes followed by ice creams and my very favorite Disney parade-Boo to You!

(Sorry about the cruddy, over-edited pictures. I was using my phone and have a poor eye anyway. The headless horseman shot is Scott. My only pix was of the horse's backside.)

After the parade we said goodnight to Bob and Gill. They were off for more photos and a bit of trick or treating. Scott and I rode Pirates, realized we were beyond sleepy (I blame the Kronenbourg) and headed back to Ft. Wilderness, Molly and bed.