Just back, few thoughts then I have to clean up

[Disneycamper14]

Well we just returned from FW and as usual it was great. We went with my son and his wife and three boys, and my daughter and her husband and their daughter. I apologize this will be brief and choppy.

We have camped at FW so many times over the past 30 years it is sad some times to see the changes. Here is what we noticed this weekend.

The road was blocked in front of Meadows Trading post, and the loops opposite it were closed. This is probably why it took so many calls to get a reservation, much less capacity. They had the road fenced off and were digging deep as if to repair a sewer line. Don't know what they were doing, didn't bother to ask, had to chase my grandson who just learned to ride with out training wheels and was a hazard to all other bike traffic. We had to keep slowing him down, he had a blast.

New golf cart parking where they used to drop off for River Country busses, and gate where you could enter campground with your pass key is gone. All entry and exit is now done through original entrance, and guard gate.

New playground by the main swimming pool.

Trails End buffet has changed again. You can't order food at the tavern, only drinks. We used to like to get pizza the first night after setting up. It was not the best in the world but relative to the cost of other Disney food, it was good, fast, easy, and very cheesy. We ordered the usual this time and were very disappointed. I don't believe this was a poorly made pizza. I think they changed the style and amount of ingredients for a much better profit margin. The old pizza had more cheese than you would find on most pizza's, and it weighed a ton. This new style was tasteless, and had about a fifth as much cheese. The next morning a nice family we had met across the street from us asked how we liked the pizza last night, they had seen us, and decided to get some too. She said they took one bite and chucked it in the can, and went out. They were also familiar with the old style pizza. My guess is it will change again after the summer crowd gets a taste. Big difference, bad move, I will probably write a comment to them on this one. No compensation requested or accepted, just request they reconsider the decision.

Everyone was very friendly, no exceptions, bathrooms were clean as ever, campfire/movie was great. I never noticed before how much noise the rocks make as people come and go during the movie.

We love going to FW, we live less than two hours away and have stayed at about every Disney property, and still love FW. It rained this morning as we packed up so we have a lot of cleaning ahead. I have lurked here for a long time just though I would give a few observations from this trip.
We all took bikes this trip, no golf carts. Both have their advantages to us.

We took one old Colman camper in great shape, AC still works, and two tents, on two sites. The camper has such great memories we can't seem to part with it, but may have to soon because it is getting to be a lot of work to set up and break down. I worry If we go bigger we might miss some of the ambiance. Its amazing the things you hear in a campground. I want the AC, but I want to see and feel the campground through canvas. I'm not into TV, while camping and I did try it with my dish once. Its Ok but its amazing how we go back to cards, talking, and playing. I'm not knocking it, and if it makes you happy please go ahead. I would like my own bathroom though. Well each to his own.

Well back to reality, hope you all have a great trip.

 

[rwenzel2]

gate where you could enter campground with your pass key is gone. All entry and exit is now done through original entrance, and guard gate.

Does this mean that when you leave the campground and then re-enter, you have to wait in line behind all of the people who are checking in to pass through the guard gate?

Thanks for the report! I, too, loved the smell and feel of the canvas in a popup, but eventually traded it for more space, less work, and a/c for the Texas summers (brutal!).

 

[ORLCampers]

The traffic through the guard gate moves pretty quick. If you are checking in you can stay to the left and go through the main entrance or you can go to the right through the parking lot where the old key card entry used to be.

 

[Whosemom]

What movie did you see? Must have had the kids enthralled if it was so quiet that foot steps in the rocks were loud! LOL

 

[Disneycamper14]

As you pull in through the main entrance to the camp ground and it zig zags, there was an old guard shack which was rarely used. You now stop at that shack and speak to the guard. If your checking in you may go forward to the old fort style drive thru to check in or turn right and proceed to the lot for lobby check in. If your returning to your site you continue through the lot heading towards the horse barn. Turn left at the stop sign and go through where there used to be a key activated gate. When you leave the campground you used to be able to go through that key activated gate and go straight to the end of the lot and turn right, then go to the road near the old guard gate in the center of the road( also gone). That exit is now blocked, and you have to leave via the small guard shack by the entrance. This might be a problem in the busiest of times as I have seen the check in backed up to this shack a few rare times. Now to exit you have to cross the traffic from the guard shack, to the drive thru check in to exit. Not a big problem, and I'm sure they would divert the check in traffic to the lot and ask them to walk into the lobby to check in.

 

[Disneycamper14]

Lilo and Stich. I don't know, I have never noticed it before. Stars, campfire, great weather, about 68*, I'll live with it. I'm not complaining, just never noticed it before.

 

[lawnspecialties]

Hey guys, we just got back last night. Our first trip to DW and it was the best vacation of our life. We're already talking about when next year.

I have to admit though, we stayed through the fireworks Thursday night. You know that meant we didn't catch the first boat while in line so we got back after 9:00. We were hungry as all get out so I said,"Hey, I saw someone earlier this week with a takeout pizza. Let's go in and get one here."
Can't ever remember my two sons (11 & 5), my wife, and I not able to eat a whole pizza. We took almost half of the thing in a box back to the camper. By Sunday morning, it was in the trash can waiting for the raccoons. I admit, our waitress was really nice.