Labor day trip report

[rm0530]

We are back from another trip and that means another trip report! I hope you all aren’t tired of me yet!

We had a party of 7 this time. We stayed in a partial site for 3 nights. I requested site #2059 after having it two weeks earlier. I send in my request Tuesday during our departure week and the Fort staff sure came through for us. It was a perfect site for our needs. We had a 10 x 14 tent, 9 x 7 tent, and 10 x 10 canopy and used the full length of site.

4 of our party members drove down around 8am on 9/3. DH, myself, and 1 other person left after work around 4pm. MK closed at 9 that evening and we were close enough to see Wishes from the turnpike. It was our first magical moment. My singing along in the car was not so magical. We arrived around 10pm and our site was all set-up and ready. All we had to do was inflate the mattresses and crash into bed.

Day 2-September 4:

Our plan for the day was HS for morning EMH. 6am wake-up, quick cereal breakfast, and we parked at 8am. Me and DH took everyone’s tickets and hurried to TSM for fastpasses. At 8:30, the return time was already at 12:20pm.

We headed to Sunset Blvd for half of the party to do RnRC and the other half for ToT. Both groups rode each twice.

Next was The Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, and then went to 11:30 Indy show.

We had packed sandwiches in a cooler and went out to the car for a lunch break. We headed back in for the 2:00 Beauty and Beast show and then used our TSM FPs. It was now 3pm and DH and I were finished. We left the rest of the group and headed back to the Fort.

 

[rm0530]

We wanted to go swimming but didn’t want to face the Meadows crowd or the two buses needed to get there. We decided to walk to the cabin pool and it was a great idea. We were able to see the cabins area for the first time. I also didn’t know that pool had a deep end. That was a nice surprise!

This site was next to the comfort station. Light travelers!

The opposite of light travelers!

Anyone have any knowledge on what the netting was for? The entire 2600 loop was empty, from what we saw.

We stayed for maybe an hour and headed back to shower and get ready for dinner. The rest of the group came back from HS at 6pm. We had pulled pork sandwiches, Velveeta shells and cheese, and baked beans.

The plan for the evening was mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens. 3 of us did the Fairways course and the others did the Gardens. The Fairways was more difficult than expected but it was a fun challenge. I was worried about golfing at night but everything was bright and much nicer without the sun. We finished at 10:30 and headed home to sleep.

 

[DisCamper]

We had 2 cabin in 2600 loop plus our site in Dec. The people in the cabins hear thing in the night around the roof area. So we had the Duty Manager come over and we start talking. The Fort's cabin are having a big big big problem with BATS. The netting is there to keep them out. It looks like the 2600 loop is closed now just like the 2500 loop was closed then

 

[devores]

I like the pool near the cabins. Ive never been over that way as I always thought it was just for the cabin guests. Did it ever get crowded there?

 

[Memph1s]

I really liked your set up at camp. We used to do a similar set up with only one tent, a large tarp and A dinning fly added to the end. Gave us 12 x 34 area under cover. Can't wait for the rest of the report.

 

[anolefan]

The plan for the evening was mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens. 3 of us did the Fairways course and the others did the Gardens. The Fairways was more difficult than expected but it was a fun challenge. I was worried about golfing at night but everything was bright and much nicer without the sun. We finished at 10:30 and headed home to sleep.

Great start to this report!

I love Fantasia Gardens mini golf! I enjoy seeing all the "weekend warriors" play the Fairways with their own putters

 

[rm0530]

We had 2 cabin in 2600 loop plus our site in Dec. The people in the cabins hear thing in the night around the roof area. So we had the Duty Manager come over and we start talking. The Fort's cabin are having a big big big problem with BATS. The netting is there to keep them out. It looks like the 2600 loop is closed now just like the 2500 loop was closed then

Thanks for the reply! I remember a TCD report talking about bats at a bus stop but multiple cabins is pretty intense.

I like the pool near the cabins. Ive never been over that way as I always thought it was just for the cabin guests. Did it ever get crowded there?

That's the first time we went to that pool. The 'crowd level' in the pictures stayed the same for the hour we were there. I don't know if it's specifically for cabin guests but I would think not. I think it's like some deluxe resorts. They have one large pool with a slide and then a smaller quiet pool.

I really liked your set up at camp. We used to do a similar set up with only one tent, a large tarp and A dinning fly added to the end. Gave us 12 x 34 area under cover. Can't wait for the rest of the report.

I'm happy you're on board!

We've had rain on every camping trip and got annoyed with everything getting wet. DH ordered the huge tarp online and we've used it for two trips. It's also works well for keeping our A/C dry. It got waterlogged during our July 4th visit and we spent the last 3 days without!

Great start to this report!

I love Fantasia Gardens mini golf! I enjoy seeing all the "weekend warriors" play the Fairways with their own putters

Thanks for reading along! I'll be back with more soon.

 

[kampfirekim]

Looks like you guys were having a great time. We've never tried the mini-golf. Think I'll put it in the itinerary for next time. BTW, nice pics.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

We were just discussing the mini golf as well. Great report so far! Keep it coming.

 

[medic9016]

Nice camp set-up. Very smart idea.

 

[Judy in Texas]

Looks like you guys were having a great time. We've never tried the mini-golf. Think I'll put it in the itinerary for next time. BTW, nice pics.

We played the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course last trip and it very fun. The office where you pay to play is shaped like an Airstream camper and there are other smaller decorated Airstream-type campers on the course. There are a few pictures at this link.

http://allears.net/btp/golf2.htm

 

[rm0530]

Looks like you guys were having a great time. We've never tried the mini-golf. Think I'll put it in the itinerary for next time. BTW, nice pics.

We were just discussing the mini golf as well. Great report so far! Keep it coming.

We played the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course last trip and it very fun. The office where you pay to play is shaped like an Airstream camper and there are other smaller decorated Airstream-type campers on the course. There are a few pictures at this link.

http://allears.net/btp/golf2.htm

The mini-golf is very fun! It's a nice thing to do that still has the Disney touch but not the crowd level of the parks. Regular price is $12 though for adults. We get 50% discount with our passes. I don't know we'd do it very often without the passes.

We've done both courses and prefer Fantasia Gardens. Winter SummerLand was themed very well but it felt cramped to us.

Nice camp set-up. Very smart idea.

It's all DH I stand around and wait for directions.

 

[rm0530]

Day 3- September 5:

We slept in a little later (7:30ish) and cooked breakfast; Eggs, Bacon, and Pancakes. We were able to see the Triathlon runners from our site. We cheered them on while sitting and eating our fattening food. There was a man playing bagpipes at the 2000 bus stop that played a variety of patriotic songs. Great Fort atmosphere to start off the day! No pictures though, I didn’t want syrup on my camera

DH and I went to Typhoon Lagoon while the others went to Epcot. We went to Blizzard Beach during our May visit and were looking forward to comparing. For us, there is no comparison…TL wins hands down! We felt crowded and trapped in a sea of people during our BB trip. TL was spread out and we liked the tropical atmosphere (we honeymooned in the Caribbean). We did 5 slides and spent the rest of our time in the lazy river, wave pool (we loved surfing the huge waves), or relaxing in a shaded sand chair. I think we are planning on going back during our October visit.

We left TL at 3pm and went back to the site to clean up. We headed to MK for evening EMH with some detours. We took the boat to the Contemporary and had supper at Café Contempo and then boarded the monorail for the Grand Floridian. I stopped at Basin for a cat sitting present for my mom and we sat up on the 2nd floor and enjoyed a few songs from the band.

You never would have known there was a triathlon running course here this morning. It's awesome how efficient things can be done when you're working with the Mouse.

It was around 7pm by the time we got into MK. All the fall decorations signaled summer is over at WDW.

Check out my bandages from Typhoon Lagoon. I banged my knee after falling off tube at the end of Crush 'n Gusher.

For the first time, we took things slowly and browsed Main Street and then headed over to Liberty Square for our ornament. We decided on Rex (with a Mickey bar and Mickey ears). We saw Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates, and Splash. We were falling down Splash exactly at 10pm. We unloaded and hurried over to the entrance of BTMRR to catch some of Wishes. We couldn’t see the castle fireworks but the large display was right over our heads. It was so nice, I always get choked up on Wishes. We rode BTMRR after Wishes and then took the boat back and slept.

 

[lklasing]

Great report!

Funny about the bagpipes guy in the 2000 bus stop - he was in the exact same bus stop last year on the triathlon day!

 

[DisCamper]

It is funny how fast Disney can change their Decorations. Last year we saw Disney go from fall decorations (Thanksgiving) to Christmas decorations over night for all WDW. I was out running around in my golf cart until 3:00am all of the Thanksgiving decorations were still up at the fort when I got up at 7:30am and went to TE for coffee all the thanksgiving decorations were change to Christmas decorations.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Sweet -- I was craving another TR! Thanks for posting. Good stuff!

 

[*Michele*]

Love all the 'Fall' photos! Thanks for sharing!

 

[kampfirekim]

I've been during the Christmas festivities, but never when the MK is decked out in its Halloween finery. Love it!!! Especially the Jack-O-Lanterns that spell "See Ya Real Soon". Great TR!

 

[PrincessNP]

Great TR! Pics are wonderful!

We just got back today and had never been this time of the year before. The Fall decorations are great. You did a good job showing them!

But boy was it hot and humid! I didnt expect it to be quite that bad! Sure dont know how ya'll tent campers do it!

 

[VACAMPER]

Great report, im getting the itch for a fort trip.