March 2016 Pre Trip and Trip reports
- Thread starter tltay2005
- Start date
SouthAlabama5er
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,098
Ahhh the sound of sweet sweet music.
I'm catching up, I've been offshore for a week with no Internet or phone.
Glad everyone made it down there safely, I see that snowmedic received the guided "Ed" tour, lucky dude!
tiggerdad
I don't always get distracted but whe...SQUIRREL!
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2009
- Messages
- 8,397
Cheating is what it is! I call foul!
PaHunter
Reasonably Knowledgable Individual.
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2014
- Messages
- 4,296
103 was a nice site to stay in.
PaHunter
Reasonably Knowledgable Individual.
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2014
- Messages
- 4,296
Then you went whizzing by a bunch of us on 81. It is not a bad route, I like it.
garneska
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,658
Ugh, I am bummed too about no more wired modem. My wireless will be much faster than Disney. As most know we are usually working some of our days so not great for us. We need reliable internet, looks like hotspot from cellular will be the way to go.
snowmedic
1500 MIles From the Fort.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 2,283
No rest for the weary. We originally planned on leaving Saturday so that I would have a full day to rest before returning to work, but I wanted the extra Fort day so that I would not miss out on meeting Ed.
Ed and I where just out for a walk when we stumbled upon his initials. Even if I was to try and keep looking for them I would have just walked past them.
It is a nice route. We hit traffic south of Columbia, but other that, it is a nice ride. Except that 300 and some odd mile drive through Virginia. NY I can handle, but that seems to take for ever.
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,733
Where was I?
First, CrusingCamper and Nan P, those are some good looking Jeep vehicles. DD17 is trying to talk me into getting one for her and I am resisting. I am in favor of a nice Ford sedan as long as I am paying...
Yesterday I got moved into 104 which is a nice site (interior). PaHunter and TeamUbr have used the one across from us, 103, apparently, and this is nice. It's about halfway to the walkway by the Settlement TP and halfway to the 100/200 Comfort Station. I got my Aliner set up and also my BSA 10x12 canvas wall tent for my folks who are here in and out (they are going to spend a few days at a Disney resort to lead the good life though). So here is the setup.
It took longer than I wanted to get set up but we had to get over to the MK in the afternoon for a few activities, dinner, and my daughter's high school band parade. We walked on Pirates and enjoyed the atmosphere. Then we headed over to the Haunted Mansion where I was the Wait Time was 30 minutes on the app, 45 minutes on the sign out front, and 25 minutes for real. We were the guinea pigs for the latest time check.
Under the category of "not something you see every day", we were over in Tomorrowland when the PeopleMover stopped and Cast Members had to walk out on the track and escort guests off the cars down to ground level. I guess Disney is trying to save a buck on maintenance too. It was working again later that night.
We ate dinner at Be Out Guest which was our first time there. It was very nice and the Braised Pork I had was delicious. I splurged on The Gray Stuff for dessert. It is unusual for us to do as many Table Service meals as we have planned but as I said this is a blow-out trip.
We got out of dinner just in time to see the fireworks show from the bridge going into BoG. The high fireworks were still behind us over our heads. I have some good shots of them I just have to go through them and pick out the best photos to post.
Next we got into position where the bridge off the hub leads into Liberty Square to watch our daughter's high school band. Two others went off first and pictures were impossible in the low light and fast pace they were walking. But she went by right in front of us smiling and she heard us yelling her name as she waved her flag. I hope she remembers it for a long time.
We made our way toward the exit then not stopping to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade. It had been a long day and we were tired. Also under the category of "you don't see this every day", we got onto the boat at the MK dock to ride back to the Fort along with other folks, and sadly one of the teenagers ralphed right there on the floor of the big boat. After making the initial deposit, his mom got him to the rear rail where he continued to make additional deposits into the Seven Seas Lagoon. But hey, it's happened to all of us, right? Uh, right? Anybody else besides me? No? Okay then.
We were all escorted back off the boat and onto the MK dock while the lucky boat CM dropped a bucket into the water to wash the deposit off the metal floor and out the open side door. A couple of buckets was all it took. We backed away from the dock and then paused before going through the narrow channel by the Contemporary because the Electrical Light Parade was headed through and put on the show in front of the MK.
The Contemporary was all lit up on the ride back home (to the Fort that is).
My string of Mickey lights on my EZ up met us and we slept well that night.
More about today later.
Bama Ed
PS - snowmedic, glad you made it home safe.
First, CrusingCamper and Nan P, those are some good looking Jeep vehicles. DD17 is trying to talk me into getting one for her and I am resisting. I am in favor of a nice Ford sedan as long as I am paying...
Yesterday I got moved into 104 which is a nice site (interior). PaHunter and TeamUbr have used the one across from us, 103, apparently, and this is nice. It's about halfway to the walkway by the Settlement TP and halfway to the 100/200 Comfort Station. I got my Aliner set up and also my BSA 10x12 canvas wall tent for my folks who are here in and out (they are going to spend a few days at a Disney resort to lead the good life though). So here is the setup.
It took longer than I wanted to get set up but we had to get over to the MK in the afternoon for a few activities, dinner, and my daughter's high school band parade. We walked on Pirates and enjoyed the atmosphere. Then we headed over to the Haunted Mansion where I was the Wait Time was 30 minutes on the app, 45 minutes on the sign out front, and 25 minutes for real. We were the guinea pigs for the latest time check.
Under the category of "not something you see every day", we were over in Tomorrowland when the PeopleMover stopped and Cast Members had to walk out on the track and escort guests off the cars down to ground level. I guess Disney is trying to save a buck on maintenance too. It was working again later that night.
We ate dinner at Be Out Guest which was our first time there. It was very nice and the Braised Pork I had was delicious. I splurged on The Gray Stuff for dessert. It is unusual for us to do as many Table Service meals as we have planned but as I said this is a blow-out trip.
We got out of dinner just in time to see the fireworks show from the bridge going into BoG. The high fireworks were still behind us over our heads. I have some good shots of them I just have to go through them and pick out the best photos to post.
Next we got into position where the bridge off the hub leads into Liberty Square to watch our daughter's high school band. Two others went off first and pictures were impossible in the low light and fast pace they were walking. But she went by right in front of us smiling and she heard us yelling her name as she waved her flag. I hope she remembers it for a long time.
We made our way toward the exit then not stopping to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade. It had been a long day and we were tired. Also under the category of "you don't see this every day", we got onto the boat at the MK dock to ride back to the Fort along with other folks, and sadly one of the teenagers ralphed right there on the floor of the big boat. After making the initial deposit, his mom got him to the rear rail where he continued to make additional deposits into the Seven Seas Lagoon. But hey, it's happened to all of us, right? Uh, right? Anybody else besides me? No? Okay then.
We were all escorted back off the boat and onto the MK dock while the lucky boat CM dropped a bucket into the water to wash the deposit off the metal floor and out the open side door. A couple of buckets was all it took. We backed away from the dock and then paused before going through the narrow channel by the Contemporary because the Electrical Light Parade was headed through and put on the show in front of the MK.
The Contemporary was all lit up on the ride back home (to the Fort that is).
My string of Mickey lights on my EZ up met us and we slept well that night.
More about today later.
Bama Ed
PS - snowmedic, glad you made it home safe.
Last edited:
Boomer1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 789
Sorry we missed you Ed. Saw your site and set up and were very impressed. Walked by this morning before we left at about 7:30am; however, it appeared that not a creature was stirring. It seems that we are busying trying to cram all the Disney in that we can on those last days of our vacation. Hopefully, our paths will cross again and we will meet in person. Enjoy your holiday!
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,733
Today we slept in. DW went till 930am and we all needed it.
I headed over to WalMart on Hwy 535 this morning to get a few items and groceries and got back to the camper about 1130. That's when I found the wifi cut over and reported thusly. But about 130pm we boated back to the MK to just mosey and it was crazy crowded.
SouthAlabama5er on his trip last month got a haircut on Main Street and I followed his example. While I don't often post pix of myself, this merits an exception. The little boy next to me was getting his first REAL haircut sitting in a booster seat and he was scared stiff. So Randy, no beard trim for me like you got but it was fun and I am glad I did it.
After the haircut, I watched the Dapper Dans perform on Main Street. I love the live performers in the parks (but not all of them). The DD are talented, relaxed, and offer a good product. I see the DD on every visit.
As I said the MK was crazy crowded. Let me illustrate with one example.
We watched the 3pm parade which was cool in Liberty Square then the crowd dispersed. Everyone headed for a ride. As the parade ended and people filled in the street behind as it headed toward the flagpole, it was a sea of people.
The Haunted Mansion had a 70 minute wait listed but that may have been understated.
The line went down by the old Mike Finn Keelboats landing...
and then up to the Haunted Mansion. Where was the back of the line? Right in front of the Mark Twain Riverboat entrance.
I can't imagine the wait for 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. 2.5 hours? Really?
We rode the Riverboat, munched a bag of popcorn, and headed back to the Fort, this time riding the monorail to the Contemporary and boating home with people headed to the 2nd HDDR of the night who kept referring to the "Fort Wilderness Lodge" off to our right. Oy boy.
We grilled some steaks we had bought at WalMart this morning and had a delicious dinner. Lucky for me a DIS poster came by in his golf cart having seen my green DIS sign and it was FSU_ED. Ed is too good to post with us little folks and I told him I would shame him again into posting but he has been a frequent visitor on my trips (okay so he only came on my 2014 visit). But he had the family in tow and it was nice to catch up with him. We talked for a long time. Ed, don't be a stranger.
While we were chatting, two very creative golf carts came around and immediately drew attention. Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen.
They were very faithful replicas.
I'm listening to a little Bela Fleck bluegrass (the Drive album) while I type and the MK fireworks just went off a few minutes ago and the EWP will perform shortly. It will be a little cooler tonight but the sky is stone clear and the moon is full and bright. Tomorrow morning I go get DD from her band group to keep her with us and we will hang here and rest up.
Life is good right now.
Bama Ed
I headed over to WalMart on Hwy 535 this morning to get a few items and groceries and got back to the camper about 1130. That's when I found the wifi cut over and reported thusly. But about 130pm we boated back to the MK to just mosey and it was crazy crowded.
SouthAlabama5er on his trip last month got a haircut on Main Street and I followed his example. While I don't often post pix of myself, this merits an exception. The little boy next to me was getting his first REAL haircut sitting in a booster seat and he was scared stiff. So Randy, no beard trim for me like you got but it was fun and I am glad I did it.
After the haircut, I watched the Dapper Dans perform on Main Street. I love the live performers in the parks (but not all of them). The DD are talented, relaxed, and offer a good product. I see the DD on every visit.
As I said the MK was crazy crowded. Let me illustrate with one example.
We watched the 3pm parade which was cool in Liberty Square then the crowd dispersed. Everyone headed for a ride. As the parade ended and people filled in the street behind as it headed toward the flagpole, it was a sea of people.
The Haunted Mansion had a 70 minute wait listed but that may have been understated.
The line went down by the old Mike Finn Keelboats landing...
and then up to the Haunted Mansion. Where was the back of the line? Right in front of the Mark Twain Riverboat entrance.
I can't imagine the wait for 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. 2.5 hours? Really?
We rode the Riverboat, munched a bag of popcorn, and headed back to the Fort, this time riding the monorail to the Contemporary and boating home with people headed to the 2nd HDDR of the night who kept referring to the "Fort Wilderness Lodge" off to our right. Oy boy.
We grilled some steaks we had bought at WalMart this morning and had a delicious dinner. Lucky for me a DIS poster came by in his golf cart having seen my green DIS sign and it was FSU_ED. Ed is too good to post with us little folks and I told him I would shame him again into posting but he has been a frequent visitor on my trips (okay so he only came on my 2014 visit). But he had the family in tow and it was nice to catch up with him. We talked for a long time. Ed, don't be a stranger.
While we were chatting, two very creative golf carts came around and immediately drew attention. Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen.
They were very faithful replicas.
I'm listening to a little Bela Fleck bluegrass (the Drive album) while I type and the MK fireworks just went off a few minutes ago and the EWP will perform shortly. It will be a little cooler tonight but the sky is stone clear and the moon is full and bright. Tomorrow morning I go get DD from her band group to keep her with us and we will hang here and rest up.
Life is good right now.
Bama Ed
Last edited:
tltay2005
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 11,489
DS threw a wrench into our departure plans. He had his work schedule mixed up, thought he had off Wed, but he actually has to work til 10pm. Sorry, son, love you, but not waiting on you to get home to depart. DH will take me and the camper up shortly after noon and then he will make the trek back to get the golf cart and DS. We usually take the golf cart up early in the am, then back for the trailer to check in after noon. We will just shift the trips and DH & DS will just be a lot later than originally planned. I will try not to enjoy myself too much till they get there 
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,733
Boomer1,
We should be around tomorrow (Tuesday) and Thursday. Wednesday we'll be at MK. If I don't see you soon I'll be back by your site too. If you are leaving soon, I might drop something on your windshield.
Bama Ed
Last edited:
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,733
tltay2005,
tell him it's a surplus Philmont staff tent used to house 2 staff members each summer and it's 10x12. I also bought a second surplus Philmont canvas wall tent that's smaller, 7x9, used by us campers for our one night before they hit the trail and the night after they come off before going home. Lots of memories and nostalgia associated with them. Glad I got them and the interior frame that supports them.
Hope DH can stop by and we can chat BSA.
Bama Ed
bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,733
Kris,
She is in colorguard waving a flag (and has also done sabers and rifles in the past but not this year). She appears to have had the time of her life but I will probably hear the stories tomorrow after I pick her up. Last year they marched in New York City for the St. Patricks Day Parade.
As her father, I tell here college is all work, no fun. I expect you to back me on that one.
Bama Ed
Boomer1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 789
Unfortunately, on our way home to the Great White North. Stopped for the night in North Carolina. Hope to be home by Wednesday.
Teamubr
From somewhere outside StL
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2010
- Messages
- 7,274
Wow Ed. A haircut selfie. Thanks. For some reason I had you pictured as one of my fatherly former scout leaders. I'm pretty sure you are actually younger than I am. That's not right. And I appreciate the walk down memory lane with the Philmont wall tents. I turned 16 somewhere between Urraca Mesa and Mt Phillips. 7-17a-77! I'm starting to think you may be my brother from another mother. 
j
Are these always the same guys? I sang barbershop in high school and love the really good groups. Maybe I can practice up and work something out after I retire.
Your pics have induced traumatic flashbacks. We have been twice over Spring Break and this is pretty much what it looked like all week. After the second time, I said never again. I know you are there for DD's trip, which is really cool and exciting. You've been enough times to know how to play the crowds. Enjoy and keep the pics coming.
j
4077
I'll fly for this Mickey Mouse outfit!
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2013
- Messages
- 1,904
Once again the Bama_Ed report leaves me in awe and mouth agape....great report...love the pictures and the site set up. That BSA tent looks awesome! Glad you having a great time and thanks for taking the time for such a nice/thorough report (not that I would expect anything less from you). Thanks for everything you bring to this part of the DIS! Enjoy the fruits of your labor 
tiggerdad
I don't always get distracted but whe...SQUIRREL!
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2009
- Messages
- 8,397
I like how everyone who is pictured on Ed's site was reading the newspaper in his pictures. Hey Ed, how did you get your dad to sit still long enough to get a pic? As I remember correctly he was constantly on the move kinda guy when I met him in Tuscaloosa.
Also, in your picture of the folks being walked off the People Mover, if you notice, the first guy behind the CM was pointing you out. I bet he was saying "Oh hey! Wow! Ed is getting my picture! I'll be famous!"
Seriously, I always enjoy your TR. I usually just post a lot of pics and few words, you manage to get a lot of pics and a good story to go with each. I'm with Jimmy, when I grow up I wanna be like Ed...or Scupper.
Speaking of Scupper, will there possibly be a grand meeting of the two super powers while you are there?
Also, in your picture of the folks being walked off the People Mover, if you notice, the first guy behind the CM was pointing you out. I bet he was saying "Oh hey! Wow! Ed is getting my picture! I'll be famous!"
Seriously, I always enjoy your TR. I usually just post a lot of pics and few words, you manage to get a lot of pics and a good story to go with each. I'm with Jimmy, when I grow up I wanna be like Ed...or Scupper.
Speaking of Scupper, will there possibly be a grand meeting of the two super powers while you are there?
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