Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat adrift and other misc. events during our stay

[ynottony99]

I will not attempt to write a full fledged TR. But I did want to share a couple of things from our trip.

Until this trip, virtually every single FW vac has been a Thursday-Sunday event. This was largely due to my business, which I no longer have. It was also because it fit the schedule of our 3 teens. Each time we would roll in on Thursday to a very sparsely occupied campground, only to have it fill up by Friday afternoon. Then on Sunday as we broke camp, everyone else also left.

So, we decided to plan a trip arriving on Sunday, and then leaving Friday morning. The idea being, we would enjoy a very quiet Fort, and most likely low attendance in the parks. One thing we didn't consider was SPRING BREAK. We are not FW or WDW novices by any stretch, and we should have known better. Nevertheless, we had a great trip.

Since returning to tent camping, I have always requested 1500 loop. We got 2000 each time, until this trip. Site 1511 is perhaps the best tent site at FW, (IMHO). We spent a lot of time at the site and the Meadows Pool this time.

We did got to all the parks except AK. Very crowded each time. MK was so packed on Monday evening that we ended up just getting a sundae at the ice cream shop and then back to FW. We got out just before the parade and headed down to the dock to get the FW boat.

It was dark when we got down to the dock, so we didn't notice the commotion at first. One ferry boat was running between MK and T&TC. The engine was dead on the ferry, and it was totally dark and adrift, with passengers on board. When we got in line for our FW boat, the ferry was drifting along straight out from us, and moving in the direction of the GF. Other guests in line told us that our FW boat had been taken to out and assist. The FW boat, one of the larger yellow ones, was having difficulty coming along side since the ferry was drifting.

One of the water craft CMs was there on the dock and said that this scenario was practiced in there training, but she wasn't aware of ever having an actual emergency like this before. No doubt, in the 40 years of operation, something like this has surely happened before, and that is why they practice and train for it.

I had my camera, but it was dark, and with no lights on the ferry, photos were not possible. In time another boat, possibly the one for WL came and was also trying to assist.

We watched for a while, and as they were moving away from us there wasn't much to see. It was obvious we would be waiting for some time before a boat would be making the trip to FW, so we opted for a bus to WL. We were the only ones on the WL bus, and he kindly took us to the Outpost since that was our destination.

I never heard what went wrong with the ferry, or how long it took to get things under control. It did underscore one thing for me. If you need to go to the bathroom as you leave MK , but think you can make it to the T&TC, just go before you leave.

That's all for now. I will post a few more tidbits and photos shortly.

 

[2goofycampers]

I'm glad you finally got to stay in 1500. I hope you got plenty of pictures to hold us over until your next trip.

 

[ynottony99]

Well, there is nothing to add that is more exciting than the dead in the water ferry boat. However there were a couple of things going on, some of which bama-ed all ready commented on, but I suppose a little repetition won't hurt.

New trees are being planted around FW.

They were planting in the front of 1500.

I also noticed them near 1400.

The Settlement Trading Post was getting a new roof. The old wooden shingles are being replaced with a what appears to be rubber or some composite.

Does this picture look strange to you, something not right?

That's right, the 'Trails End' sign is missing. I asked one of the maintenance staff, and he said that it is being refurbished. If 'refurbished' means what it has for for the old tanker, and a couple of other items, we may not see it for a while.

A couple of more things later.

 

[rock_doctor]

I am so glad to see them planting trees. The last time we were there it looked horrible. Everything was dead. I guess last summers drought had taken its toll.

 

[ynottony99]

As I said earlier, we had a great site at the back of the 1500 loop.

We spent a lot of time sitting out back enjoying our water view.
To our North, not a lot to see.

To our South 1600, and 1800 back up to the water too.

But I wondered what was 'just around the river bend'......
I walked down to the end of the 1800 loop, and took this photo looking back toward 1600 and 1500.

Turning to look east.....

The Golf Course.

Between FW and the course.

What?!?!? Only 3 padlocks?!?!?!?

I'm in!

Another perspective shot before I cross back over to the Fort.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Can't wait to read more! Did you do Hoop Dee Do this trip? Looks like you were all having fun!

 

[ynottony99]

I don't really have a lot to add. As I said at the start, I just wanted to share a couple of tidbits from this trip.

One item that may be of value, is something we were told while waiting inside to check in.

Since we no longer are towing a TT, the guard at the shack has usually sent us inside to register. As we waited in a very long and slow moving line to register, a manager who was not at one of the windows came out and asked if he could help anyone who was not checking in. My wife told him we had done Online Check in. He told us to step right up. When he found out that we were tent camping and had done online check in, our info would be outside in one of the booths. He went outside and trotted back in with our packet all ready

It seems the guards will direct anyone not in a class A, or pulling a rig to the inside check in, assuming that they are in a cabin. He said if you are camping in a site, let the guard know, and they should direct you to one of the booths for check in.