Pictures from Bike Trip 090412 - Easter

[des1954]

We arrived at FtW around 1pm. It was still pretty full at FtW except for the 1800 & 1900 loops. There were only about 3 campers at the check-in, and not a lot pulled in while we were riding around. We left around 6pm. Here are some pictures for you....

The 2009 beverage mugs (as seen from Burl's Porch)...

(As seen from Meadow Side Porch)

The new pool has been well received...

Progress on the splash zone...

The water level in the lake behind the 600 loop is very low - we need rain!!

Looking at the back side of the new section of the 600 loop...

No other loops have been closed to start reno's. Either they are finished, or they are waiting for the spring break crowds to be over.

Til next trip!!!

 

[CampingBandit]

Now we know where they got the water for the pool....

 

[Mickey Mobile]

Thanks for the photos! Makes me wish we were there. Just have to wait till Memorial Day weekend trip. We were just there from March 28th through April 5th and the water level of the lake was not that low then. I agree we need the rain. Thanks again for the photos.

 

[stacktester]

Thanks for the photos! Makes me wish we were there. Just have to wait till Memorial Day weekend trip. We were just there from March 28th through April 5th and the water level of the lake was not that low then. I agree we need the rain. Thanks again for the photos.

I don't think it's the rain shortage. If you go out behind 300 loop they have 2 huge diesel water pumps running 24/7. They're putting the water in Bay Lake and 7 Seas Lagoon. If you go to MK, sometimes the boats are in holding pattern because the water is low where the small boats drop off and they're using the big dock FW and WL usually use. Which yes, we need rain but they are also draining out a lot of the forts water system.

Just empty all the water from your grey tank into the ditches lol.

 

[auntie]

ooooh....I LIKE the new mug! Very cute. Gonna have to get one!

Love the pictures Deb. Boy, what a nice way to spend the day. It looks beautiful...weather in Florida must have been nice today. I'm jealous...was clear..but cold here.

I especially enjoy those photos of the new part of the 600 loop. Those are terrific sites. We liked the 600 loop before the renovations...I'd love to be able to stay in one of the new sites with the water out the back. I'm just picturing Bob and I hanging out in our camping chairs sharing a bottle of wine as we watch unsuspecting campers paddle by in their canoes..while the aligator we saw in October lurks just underneath them...)

 

[vick]

ooooh....I LIKE the new mug! Very cute. Gonna have to get one!

Love the pictures Deb. Boy, what a nice way to spend the day. It looks beautiful...weather in Florida must have been nice today. I'm jealous...was clear..but cold here.

I especially enjoy those photos of the new part of the 600 loop. Those are terrific sites. We liked the 600 loop before the renovations...I'd love to be able to stay in one of the new sites with the water out the back. I'm just picturing Bob and I hanging out in our camping chairs sharing a bottle of wine as we watch unsuspecting campers paddle by in their canoes..while the aligator we saw in October lurks just underneath them...)

Are the sites close enough to the water to pose a danger from alligators to dogs on the sites?

 

[2goofycampers]

Are the sites close enough to the water to pose a danger from alligators to dogs on the sites?

I'm pretty sure 600 is not a pet loop.

 

[vick]

I'm pretty sure 600 is not a pet loop.

Unless it's true about all the loops going to be pet loops.

 

[des1954]

I'm pretty sure 600 is not a pet loop.

That's what I thought too, Denise. But several sites had dogs on them. The 1st site to the right of the entrance had 6 Jack Russell Terriers. 4 caged, 2 tied. They were adorable.

Now, in answer to the question about the waterfront sites being close enough for a gator to snatch a dog....it is very possible when the water level returns to normal. While I have never seen it happen at FtW, it happens quite a bit whenever people walk their dogs near water. You hear about it in the news from time to time.

The last time I actually knew about a gator attack at FtW was back in the 80's when a swimmer was attacked in Bay Lake at the FtW beach.

Hmmmmm.....maybe they closed River Country & swimming in the lake due to the liability posed by gators?!? They've been protected for so long, they've bred themselves back into the nuisance category. Part of our neighborhood borders a lake and in spring of 2007 one couple had a 5 ft gator under his motorhome. He had to call the wildlife commission to come and get it. The darned thing wouldn't move for any reason.

 

[2goofycampers]

Part of our neighborhood borders a lake and in spring of 2007 one couple had a 5 ft gator under his motorhome. He had to call the wildlife commission to come and get it. The darned thing wouldn't move for any reason.

I wouldn't leave if I lived in a gated MH community in Fl with a lake either.

 

[des1954]

I don't think it's the rain shortage. If you go out behind 300 loop they have 2 huge diesel water pumps running 24/7. They're putting the water in Bay Lake and 7 Seas Lagoon. If you go to MK, sometimes the boats are in holding pattern because the water is low where the small boats drop off and they're using the big dock FW and WL usually use. Which yes, we need rain but they are also draining out a lot of the forts water system.

Just empty all the water from your grey tank into the ditches lol.

You know Donnie,,, you are very likely correct on that one. When we were leaving there was a huge pump forcing water in the canal that runs along Bonnet Creek Pkwy. It was by the bridge you take to get to Epcot. If I'm not mistaken, that's part of the canal system that feeds the canals behind POFQ & PORS - directly to DTD.

I've seen the lake by the bike barn lower than it is right now - but not much lower.

 

[des1954]

I wouldn't leave if I lived in a gated MH community in Fl with a lake either.

Yeah....and especially when the dumb winter visitors think it's fun to feed them!

Martha: "Oh look George! A cute gator!!! Go get some marshmallows to feed him."

George: "That's a cool idea! I've never fed a gator before!"

Gator: "Hmmmm....nice food feeding me... nice food! Yippie!!"

People just don't understand that gators cannot discern the food they are receiving from the extended hand giving them the food. It's all food to them, and when that happens, gators lose their instinctive fear of people. THAT'S why it's against the law to feed gators.

At one time feeding the gators was so popular at Myakka State Park in Sarasota, the park rangers were given the authority to not only ask the visitor to leave at once, but to also give them a fine.

It's a stupid and dangerous thing to do.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Deb-

Nice job on the photos. I appreciate the splash zone update.

I took this photo of the lake behind the Meadow trading post on Sat. April 4:

So in the 8 days between my photo and yours, the lake has gone down significantly. Donnie's theory about the water being pumped out seems to be correct. There is no way that the water evaporated that fast!

TCD

 

[auntie]

That's what I thought too, Denise. But several sites had dogs on them. The 1st site to the right of the entrance had 6 Jack Russell Terriers. 4 caged, 2 tied. They were adorable.

Now, in answer to the question about the waterfront sites being close enough for a gator to snatch a dog....it is very possible when the water level returns to normal. While I have never seen it happen at FtW, it happens quite a bit whenever people walk their dogs near water. You hear about it in the news from time to time.

The last time I actually knew about a gator attack at FtW was back in the 80's when a swimmer was attacked in Bay Lake at the FtW beach.

Hmmmmm.....maybe they closed River Country & swimming in the lake due to the liability posed by gators?!? They've been protected for so long, they've bred themselves back into the nuisance category. Part of our neighborhood borders a lake and in spring of 2007 one couple had a 5 ft gator under his motorhome. He had to call the wildlife commission to come and get it. The darned thing wouldn't move for any reason.

When we were in the 600 loop back the first week of October there were a couple of sites that had dogs. We originally chose the loop because it was a NON pet loop. We own a dog..just weren't bringing him, so didn't want to be in a pet loop. While the owners cleaned up after their pets, and we didn't find them to be any trouble..it does make you wonder, why they even bother to have pet and non pet loops. We did see an aligator submerge himself just under the water, as campers unknowingly paddled right over him right in front of the Meadow Trading Post . There was a woman next to us yelling to them to be careful not to hurt the little fellow. She figured him to be about 4 feet.
I was thinking more like..I hope that canoe full of kids doesn't tip over with her yelling and screaming about the poor aligator.

 

[AuburnJen92]

There was a woman next to us yelling to them to be careful not to hurt the little fellow. She figured him to be about 4 feet.
I was thinking more like..I hope that canoe full of kids doesn't tip over with her yelling and screaming about the poor aligator.

My first thought reading this was: Yeah, let's make a bunch of racket and MAKE the alligator want to come and see what is going on...Thanks lady!

The gators down here have become more like a pest in developments as of late. One of my father's clients has lost his third dog and has put his house up for sale. My parent's development has many ponds in it, but doesn't seem to have the gator population anymore. She DOES have otters. I tried my darnedest Friday to get a picture of the pair, but they evaded me. Most of the developments that are having issues are parked up next to the preserves. We are also having a problem with crocs, they have come back in numbers and they are much more aggressive than gators. I am not trying to scare the masses. Just letting you know what is going on in the south with us crackers.

 

[des1954]

Just letting you know what is going on in the south with us crackers.

I like crackers with wine & cheese!!

 

[AuburnJen92]

I like crackers with wine & cheese!!

Are they stored in something you bought on tv at 4am?