Kind of sad, no more peacocks

[always quiet]

We spent 2 whole weeks in a FW cabin from 12/4 to 12/18. I loved seeing all the peacocks when we stayed there the past 2 times. The sound of them calling from the trees always made me smile. We never saw or heard a one this time. The only place I even saw any peacocks were in AK. We did see a whole lot more deer though! One evening, there was an entire herd of them INSIDE the petting zoo! Guess the reputation of there being 'good eats' down at Pioneer Hall has spread into the hoofed population!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Those peacocks you saw at AK were the relocated peacocks from FW. They were trapped and relocated to AK after some complaints from campers that they were a "nuisance." I posted my last picture of the white peacock on another thread on the board. It's sad, but I guess all things must change.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=972160

 

[stillh2o]

I blame 911 for the lost of the peacocks and other thing they took from FW. I have a party to go to but I will come back an tell you later why I say that.

 

[MrKTI]

Oh man .... !!!!

No more "Stop the camper ... there's a peacock in the road !!!", and just sitting there waiting for them to move on.

Bummer.

This was part of our planning ...

Pack up
Unhook sewer and power.
Final check.
Pull out
Wait for Peacocks (optional, but allow 5 minutes)
Return to the boring outside world.

John

 

[stillh2o]

after 9-11: there were a lot of people that are used to staying in hotels and not seeing willdlife. These people, now have RV's and do not understand that wildife is part of the experience. It is not only at Ft Wilderness but also at other RV parks as well. Use FW as example, remember when there were chickens running wild along with the roosters?
The wildlife running around gives you a better feel of camping. If you don't like wildlife, than stay in a hotel. You won't have to see anything but the four all the neighbor That will not even say hello to you.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

While this may be going a little off topic, I have to agree that there seems to be a change in general in the type of campers we see today. The respect for wildlife, the outdoors and fellow campers seems to be eroding away as camping is looked at more as a way for a "cheap" vacation, rather than more of a lifestyle. I see more and more people losing respect for campground rules in the interest of bending rules so that they can do what they want to do, regardless of how it affects fellow campers, and looking for justification for it from others who do the same thing. It's a shame, but until some of these people tire of camping and decide it's easier and cheaper in the long run to go to the hotel, it's something we all have to tolerate. Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

 

[Gillian]

With all the bargains and discount websites these days, I'd say it is both cheaper and easier to stay in a hotel!

I've been telling my kids that they have to get used to bugs and lizards and stuff because they'll be around when we camp. I have to get my 2 year old to stop squishing ants.

As I've said a zillion times, we recently accquired a pop up and we can't wait to take the kids camping! I don't know if they will like it, but I sure hope they do. DH & I camped with our families when we were little and we want our kids to enjoy it like we did.

So far it has taken a lot more planning to camp than to stay in a hotel. And we still don't have a tow vehicle, so that is taking a lot of work as well. Jeep Libery diesel anyone?

 

[John VN]

I think some of the reasoning behind the FW flavor that has been lost is due to the litigious society we currently live in. If a person can sue for being served hot coffee than why not for a roaming peacock damaging a million dollar Prevost, Newell or Bluebird MH or a much less expensive but just as much loved pop-up or a child becoming deathly ill after visiting a petting zoo. I think we might continue to see changes made to cover the bases so dollars are not taken from Disney which would result in even higher camping fees.

Times change and so do the people entering a segment of recreation not taken advantage of in past years. My FIL has been involved with boating for 80+ years and will attest to the difference in the attitude of todays boaters compared to boaters of years past.

Just have to go with the flow and stick to your ways and pass them on to the young ones.

 

[stillh2o]

I have a brand new Newell, if some kind of wildlife damaged it, I would not have a problem with that. If parents let their unruly children run around and something happens to it, then of course I would be angry. You cannot train wildlife, you can train children. But also, Disney is not at fault, and I would not sue Disney for unruly children.

 

[always quiet]

From what the bus driver told us, they had to remove the peacocks because they were becoming a "bother" to some guests. They were very people friendly and weren't above looking for a hand-out. I always loved it when the peacocks would visit our campsite when we were eating outside. They were very pleasant and had rather decent table manners.

Better watch it...someone will say that a deer passing through their site tramatized their child....they'll be sending them to AK next.

 

[stillh2o]

A bird pooped on my new Newell! Time to get rid of all the birds. Last trip, a rabbit looked at me funny. Time to get rid them too.

 

[always quiet]

Better watch out for those armidillos too! Two of them were getting rather frisky behind the outpost bus stop at the 2600 loop! Left quite an impression on my poor little kids! (FYI, they're 15, 14 and 11 ) If one of my kids "turns bad", I'll be able to pin point this moment on our vacation...........

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I personally saw two giant chipmunks last time I went to the singalong. I still have nightmares. Anyone know a good attorney?

 

[RocklandRVers]

I think the most offensive animals are those HUMANS who cannot seem to get into the true spirit of camping. They think going to FtW should be exactly like staying at the Grand Floridian. Sure RVing keeps the cost of a Disney stay down, but we camp to enjoy the outdoors and what Mother Nature has given us. I mean really folks when you go to Disney you are on VACATION! So a bird chirps and wakes you up early or king snake passes through your site. Is that a reason to kill or relocate all wildlife? We need to learn to SHARE this earth with the other inhabitants not sue if a bird plops on your fancy rig.

 

[LadyJanel]

They were by pioneer hall. One had even gotten up on the roof and was looking down and fussing at people from his high perch. It was great!

 

[Buzzcut]

I hope that they are back! My middle son Jake,5, looks forward to seeing them each trip and always talks about them.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

They were by pioneer hall. One had even gotten up on the roof and was looking down and fussing at people from his high perch. It was great!

Hmmmm....there weren't any there in October. Must be they released them in September, recaptured them for October, then re released them in November. Sure this wasn't 2004?

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

this coming week, I'll post a date-stamped photo. We were sad to hear they were gone too.

 

[ghcoughlin]

We were at The Fort in December and not a one.We didn't realized there absence until the last day.I guess we were too exhausted from our days at the parks.That is too darn bad that they have been evacuated.We though maybe the hurricanes caused there absence.
The change in clientel is obvious.It's like the best kept secret Fort Wilderness is out.It was once overlooked by "hotel people".Now they see the benefits of the cabins and camping.All that said I just booked a cabin with AP rates for March YEAH !!!!!!!!
Heidi

 

[michelle9343]

I really miss seeing the beautiful peacocks. One year the white one thought that our van was it Mother. It would not let us drive past it. It was really funny. As soon has we moved an inch it would run around the van to make us stop. Finally another camper came over and we got it to come over to the side walk. Anyway it made us crack-up notmake us angry. I also agree that the campground has changed . When we started camping at FW back in 95 it was mostly pop-ups , tents and Winnebegos(sp?). Now its is filled with all high end stuff. Also I agree that some people that are camping now just dont get camping. We were in the 1900 lopp for Christmas and had a multy- site group on our loop that really felt they were above all rules. The noise was crazy, they were letting little childern (like 6 yr olds) drive golf carts and worst of all they always drove the wrong way in the loop. They all had more then 1 car parked at thier loops for many days and Disney did nothing about. Many families in our loop were annoyed and complained but really never saw any changes in the group.It is really sad to see.