March Trip reports

[rideswithchrist]

Thanks Ed! It is my first time there, but he camped as a kid. He said the same- he would rather be in 1500 closer to everything, so that will be our first choice and we will try to get there by 9AM.

 

[rideswithchrist]

We are headed back to the Fort for only our second visit to WDW and FW ever! The first visit was in 2005 with 2 kids in tow. This time will be just the DW and I!! We'll be coming in on Friday March 8 through the 16th.

I have made some FP reservations and have a daily park plan set up. It's pretty loose based on FP rides and EMH days. Pretty much winging the rest. We're in our 50's so running around too much will not be happening! We're looking for a stress free time.

Golf cart is reserved. MB's are ordered.

We also don't care about dining and will be eating when/where we can in the park if we get lucky but most meals will be at the campsite.

We have a 10 hour ride so we'll be stopping midway @ a KOA somewhere in between.

Ready to get on the road!

Our first FW vacation too!

 

[rideswithchrist]

LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!
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[wdw_dine_junkie]

In the reservation, it asks for optional information like if you have a slide or an awning. And in the online check-in , there is a checkbox if you request Early Check-in, you prioritize that above the optional requests? So if i check that box and get an early site, it might not accommodate a slide and awning? We don't have a huge rig, but of course would love to have the awning out when we are at the site.

 

[Teamubr]

You will likely be fine with the slide and awning.

If it just doesn't work, you can find an empty site that will and call up to the Outpost. They generally can switch you on the phone.

The choices are better than they use to be. We could choose "close to the elevator" in the past.

j

 

[2rad4u]

 

[2rad4u]

So, should we click on "start check-in"?

I'm still confused about this

 

[rideswithchrist]

So, should we click on "start check-in"?

I'm still confused about this

I am waiting until next week when we purchase our tickets so we can just link it all together and pay the campsite. I don't know if it would matter so much if we arrive early though- this seems to be for those that want to skip the front desk?

 

[2rad4u]

I have paid for everything so I went ahead and did it. All it did was ask for a phone number for text messages. I guess I'll find out.

And, our magic bands shipped! Getting a little excited!

 

[bama_ed]

Well I made our FastPass times at the 30-day mark this morning for our spring break trip.

This is the first time in DECADES that we are staying off-site but doing a day in a theme park (MK). Again, I've got tix for three spring training baseball games across central Florida that week (including the Braves in their last season over at WWoS). This time we're staying over at Jetty Park campground at Port Canaveral (get to try out a new place). It's less than $50 a night for my site and Disney wants nearly $200 a night for a Preferred site that week. It also looks like there might be a rocket launch that week at the Cape but those things are always subject to change. I hope we get to see one live and up close from Jetty Park.

We have ADR's at The Edison over at Disney Springs the evening of the Braves game and Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch and The Plaza for dinner at MK. Feeling a little trapped for non-quick service at MK these days. The Castle and BOG are too expensive to consider now (did the old menu/pricing at BoG for dinner several times and enjoyed it). Won't do a buffet which takes Crystal Palace out of consideration. Tony's supposedly has a new head chef who has made quality improvements but I am scarred by years of bad meals there. And the toned down exotic menu at Jungle Skippers Canteen is still too wild for DW and DD. But we enjoy LTT and Plaza and they have refreshed their menu since our last visit. So it's okay.

This trip will include more windshield time getting to all these ballgames and back but we aren't hyper-scheduled. I do want to eat at the snowmedic-approved FishLips restaurant at the Port which is very near the campground (could walk if we really wanted to). I'll just keep my fingers crossed and sacrifice a bucket of KFC and hope for good weather so the games don't get rained out like I encountered three years ago.

Time to get a few new items for the Aliner before the trip so I will be hitting the etrailer website this afternoon.

Tick tock.

Bama Ed

PS - I suppose technically the Jan 2018 trip in my sig is off-site and even though we were in an off-site hotel, the whole trip was wrapped up in getting DD moved into her Disney apartment as part of the College Program. That whole trip was Disney-Disney-Disney interrupted only on move-in morning by several requests like "Dad, you need to go to Target and get .... ". This is the first time in a long time that WDW isn't dominating my spring break.

 

[Teamubr]

Sounds like a great trip, Ed.

I'm in Dominican Republic right now, but this 80 degrees in February is fantastic. Especially considering it was 14 when we left and STL had bad ice this morning.

It got me thinking about next year and the winter. We are going to the Fort DIS meet in October, but a week in Febuary or March in Jupiter to see the Cardinals Spring Training would be fun and warm. I`'ll follow along on your TR next month to see how it is done.

j

 

[2rad4u]

 

[Selliott82]

March 1st - 9th here. Leaving Louisiana around midnight Thursday night . Should have me getting there around 10 am . Second time with the camper. Was just there in May 2018. First trip we were in Loop 800 jack rabbit run and loved it. Hoping to get lucky and get the same. This time my father in also towing his 5ver .I know its a long shot but how many people have gotten sites close to the people they traveled in with?

 

[rajak73]

rideswithchrist, isn't it great when the MB arrive! You know your getting close!

bama ed; sounds like a great trip, enjoy!

Teamubr: 80 huh, windchill here was -20 and today freezing drizzle and snow! Our next trip is probably the Oct Dis Meet too. Looking forward to that one, we will probably also take in a Halloween party too while we are there.

Selliott: Welcome back to the fort, we've been in 800, 700, 1100, all good loops, going to try a different one the next trip, we were there in July with DS and family, we requested side by side sites and got just what we wanted, we request loops in order of what we wanted and got our first choice. Just link your reservations and your fathers reservations together.

 

[bama_ed]

March 1st - 9th here. Leaving Louisiana around midnight Thursday night . Should have me getting there around 10 am . Second time with the camper. Was just there in May 2018. First trip we were in Loop 800 jack rabbit run and loved it. Hoping to get lucky and get the same. This time my father in also towing his 5ver .I know its a long shot but how many people have gotten sites close to the people they traveled in with?

Yes, when rajak73 says to "link" your two reservations, you and father exchange reservation numbers and then each of you call and put a request on your reservation to be assigned near ("T"ravelling "W"ith in Disney-speak) the other. You would give the CM your dad's reservation number and he would call and give them yours.

Then like rajak73 says you'll find yourselves either next door or across the road when you check-in and arrive. This method has worked well in the past for folks.

Bama Ed

 

[tltay2005]

Well I made our FastPass times at the 30-day mark this morning for our spring break trip.

This is the first time in DECADES that we are staying off-site but doing a day in a theme park (MK). Again, I've got tix for three spring training baseball games across central Florida that week (including the Braves in their last season over at WWoS). This time we're staying over at Jetty Park campground at Port Canaveral (get to try out a new place). It's less than $50 a night for my site and Disney wants nearly $200 a night for a Preferred site that week. It also looks like there might be a rocket launch that week at the Cape but those things are always subject to change. I hope we get to see one live and up close from Jetty Park.

We have ADR's at The Edison over at Disney Springs the evening of the Braves game and Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch and The Plaza for dinner at MK. Feeling a little trapped for non-quick service at MK these days. The Castle and BOG are too expensive to consider now (did the old menu/pricing at BoG for dinner several times and enjoyed it). Won't do a buffet which takes Crystal Palace out of consideration. Tony's supposedly has a new head chef who has made quality improvements but I am scarred by years of bad meals there. And the toned down exotic menu at Jungle Skippers Canteen is still too wild for DW and DD. But we enjoy LTT and Plaza and they have refreshed their menu since our last visit. So it's okay.

This trip will include more windshield time getting to all these ballgames and back but we aren't hyper-scheduled. I do want to eat at the snowmedic-approved FishLips restaurant at the Port which is very near the campground (could walk if we really wanted to). I'll just keep my fingers crossed and sacrifice a bucket of KFC and hope for good weather so the games don't get rained out like I encountered three years ago.

Time to get a few new items for the Aliner before the trip so I will be hitting the etrailer website this afternoon.

Tick tock.

Bama Ed

PS - I suppose technically the Jan 2018 trip in my sig is off-site and even though we were in an off-site hotel, the whole trip was wrapped up in getting DD moved into her Disney apartment as part of the College Program. That whole trip was Disney-Disney-Disney interrupted only on move-in morning by several requests like "Dad, you need to go to Target and get .... ". This is the first time in a long time that WDW isn't dominating my spring break.

Just can stay away, can you . What day are you going to the MK? Edison was really good, service and food.

 

[tltay2005]

Made my park days according to the crowd control calendars that you can find online, we will see how accurate those really are . With it being Spring Break week here in Fl ( and I'm sure many other places too), I am sure the parks will be crazy, so we most likely will do our FPs then head back to the Fort for some fishing, looping, swimming and relaxing.

Just realized our wedding anniversary falls during our stay, wasn't planned, but nice surprise (shows you that Disney planning take priory over everything else). Will be heading over to Ruth Chris Steakhouse for our anniversary dinner.

We have one more state park camping trip at the end of this month, then it is full on planning for our March trip.

 

[bama_ed]

Just can stay away, can you . What day are you going to the MK? Edison was really good, service and food.

Very funny.

That was DD's doing. As a former CM, she couldn't believe I wasn't planning to hit a Mickey park (I wasn't). I would have rather kept that $350 worth of tickets in my pocket to buy beer and hot dogs at the baseball games. We have five full days at Jetty Park (not counting departure and arrival days) and three days have ballgames with some drive time involved. I was okay with that. Then she said we HAD to go to at least 1 park so I gave up one of my rest/recovery/lazy days for the hustle and bustle of the MK on spring break (very familiar with that touring model).

We are at the Braves and The Edison on Monday March 11 then at the MK on Tuesday March 12. MK just got its hours extended recently now 9a-11p. We don't have to ride everything anymore but we still haven't agreed on what we should rope drop ride (Peter Pan, 7DMT, Space Mtn). I'm holding out for PP so we can follow that up with Haunted and PoC to follow.

Bama Ed

PS - looking forward to The Edison as a change of pace. I personally love Ragland Road and we had done it the last 2-3 times we ate at Disney Springs so it was time for a change. I won't do T-rex, etc. nor the super expensive.

PPS - DD reacted the same way when we camped in December at Blue Spring just above Orlando. I wasn't planning to visit WDW at all but she at least agreed NOT to do a park day (at Christmas week, ugh) but we did visit the Fort (saw you and Greg) and visited Disney Springs. DD knew by then that we were doing MK in March. I defer to her on these because she won't be living under my roof forever.

 

[tltay2005]

Very funny.

That was DD's doing. As a former CM, she couldn't believe I wasn't planning to hit a Mickey park (I wasn't). I would have rather kept that $350 worth of tickets in my pocket to buy beer and hot dogs at the baseball games. We have five full days at Jetty Park (not counting departure and arrival days) and three days have ballgames with some drive time involved. I was okay with that. Then she said we HAD to go to at least 1 park so I gave up one of my rest/recovery/lazy days for the hustle and bustle of the MK on spring break (very familiar with that touring model).

We are at the Braves and The Edison on Monday March 11 then at the MK on Tuesday March 12. MK just got its hours extended recently now 9a-11p. We don't have to ride everything anymore but we still haven't agreed on what we should rope drop ride (Peter Pan, 7DMT, Space Mtn). I'm holding out for PP so we can follow that up with Haunted and PoC to follow.

Bama Ed

PS - looking forward to The Edison as a change of pace. I personally love Ragland Road and we had done it the last 2-3 times we ate at Disney Springs so it was time for a change. I won't do T-rex, etc. nor the super expensive.

PPS - DD reacted the same way when we camped in December at Blue Spring just above Orlando. I wasn't planning to visit WDW at all but she at least agreed NOT to do a park day (at Christmas week, ugh) but we did visit the Fort (saw you and Greg) and visited Disney Springs. DD knew by then that we were doing MK in March. I defer to her on these because she won't be living under my roof forever.

Sounds like a great plan. Tuesdays are usually pretty slow days, so hopefully you will have low crowds. Spring Break here in Fl ins't till the end of the month, so you wont have to worry about too many of us damn locals crowding the parks, lol. Never been to Jetty park, but Greg and our son have with the boy scouts. Not much shade, but nice beach and good fishing from the pier. Getting to see the cruise ships set sail is pretty neat too. We don't do the spring training games, but go to the Ray's games, they are a lot of fun.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Made my park days according to the crowd control calendars that you can find online, we will see how accurate those really are . With it being Spring Break week here in Fl ( and I'm sure many other places too), I am sure the parks will be crazy, so we most likely will do our FPs then head back to the Fort for some fishing, looping, swimming and relaxing.

Just realized our wedding anniversary falls during our stay, wasn't planned, but nice surprise

I am trying to do the same thing. Sheesh- they are all over the place! one has our week at a 8/10 crowd level and another has our week at 4/10. That is quite a discrepancy and I am not sure who is more accurate! We also will be getting our FP this weekend so I know there may be things that we will just have to rope drop if we want to make it. Or ride at night. I like night, we are not morning folks (I'm sure I have mentioned that before haha)

We head out ON our 15th anniversary Each of us are celebrating something on this trip, so we each get a day to wear our pins.