RENDEZVOUS AT THE FORT - The Fort Wilderness DISMeet Trip Report October 2020

[Bishoparc]

Dinner was grilled chicken and leftover veggies and pasta salad. After brunch we went to Amorette’s and got dessert. It is Halloween themed and was delicious.

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Love that place!!

 

[Teamubr]

Great setup Arc.

I'm not sure about teriyaki spam. I'm ok with each individually. Not sure about combined.

I'm not sure about this new neighbor. He told me Missouri beat LSU today, so I think he may be a little off. Welcome Home, Ed.

Michael has a nice setup. Pretty central for the group.

And I briefly met Swim, Swam, Swum. I was getting gready to go out walking and see everyone, but it started pouring rain while I was eating. It shouldn't last long. It is Florida afterall.

j

 

[garneska]

I had Mallory’s wagon all setup to go walk around get some pets and watch the game and it’s raining. Hopefully it ends soon so we can go out.

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

Great pics. Maximum envy.

 

[PaHunter]

So now that I am caught up from last night and today, wow that was like reading War and Peace.

We are set up in Mims for the night. We will shoot across 528 in the morning. Who is going to have breakfast ready when we get there ?
Today was a heck of a day. We got the AC fixed, only 2 hours to do so. Then we hit rain coming in to FL. Not too bad, well some of it was really bad, but the worst part is these people can not drive. Right lane is doing 50, middle lane is doing 70 and left lane is doing 110.
Rain caused some incidents, someone jammed the brakes on coming out of one storm, and we got a bit sideways, but ok. Then there was a wreck that happened just ahead of us, during a blinding downpour. After that is was pretty smooth, and when I4 broke off, we lost almost all the traffic. Was beautiful from there to the campground. Campground is nice, we are on a hill, it is Florida, how the ??? do I end up on a hill in a campground. UGH. We will be rollin in tomorrow morning. Maybe Disney Springs later in the afternoon, or Monday after breakfast. Have to figure out how to get to Swan and Dolphin for 8am breakfast. Well see you real soon, we will be home in the morning. No pictures tonight as I am hotspotting.

 

[amcc]

So fun to follow along from home - would be so nice to be there. Have a great time all of you!!

We left at 3 am and made our fuel stop in Raphine,, VA as the sun came up.
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We arrived in South Carolina today at 3pm. Settled in for the night. Hit a bump so hard today, fan broke.
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Bigger issue is AC not blowing cold, so have to make a pitstop tomorrow and get it fixed. Hopefully will not set us back too long, only 5 hours of travel time tomorrow.
Campsite tonight. View attachment 531148


What do you mean I can't copilot ????

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That camping rig is the kind that we ooh and aah while we bike the loops!

We too are here site 1124 (and so happy to be here). Got to the Fort around 9:30 this morning. Site was ready. (We also made a stop at Walmart, DW had done a grocery pickup order.)

I have to brag on my wife, she hand cut and drew the tombstones and singing busts. The only things she didn’t make herself is the caretaker and the hitchhiking ghosts. I am so incredibly proud of the work she did!!
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And of course representing the boards!
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After we got set up, chatted with @bama_ed and @tiggerdad a bit then headed to Publix to pickup a few things we missed from our Walmart order. Got Arby’s to go and then came back and took a shower.

Working on getting the satellite up and running. Going to enjoy the air conditioning for a bit then sit outside and enjoy. So so so happy to be here.

She’s talented - Those decorations are awesome! We’ve only ever seen Christmas at the Fort but we are going to have to change that.

 

[Bishoparc]

Y’all I’m going to end up crying, the amount of people stopping at our site to look at our decorations gives me so much joy. Even had a little boy just come up, tell me he loved our decorations and gave me a little treat bag.

 

[bama_ed]

Okay here is my update for today.

Today was arrival day. At Lake Louisa SP this morning tiggerdad wandered over about 7am as we were starting to head out. We got caught up on travel and news. Hwy 27 in front of LLSP entrance has been under from construction for YEARS to widen it from 1 lane each way to 3 lanes and it is finished and a smooth sail.

We stopped at the WalMart Supercenter to get a few items we had forgotten at home and rolled into the Fort at 830am.

Our site wasn't ready so we parked in the overflow lot and bussed over to 1100 where are group is assigned to see if we could mooch some bacon off anybody. While waiting at the Outpost bus depot, we saw a sign that confirms an MK bus is leaving regularly from the Settlement bus depot.

On the dynamic bus sign board showing arriving buses and schedules, note on far left side bottom of sign that the bus to MK (from Settlement) was running 830am-830pm.

For a 9am rope drop at MK, 30 minutes beforehand sounds standard looking at the schedules for the other parks. And on weekend nights lately the MK has been open till 8pm so they run till 30 min after close. Probably limited capacity per bus for social distancing.

In 1100 talked to garneska and hubs but they were the only one around then. Moseyed over to the Meadow Trading Post next.

The rocking chairs have been moved over to the side porch overlooking the pond and Bike Barn and there was a fair amount of action on a Saturday morning.

The Meadow Trading Post looks great with all the spanish moss in front.

The street sweeper truck was out doin' work.

No word yet this morning about my site. We headed back up to the lobby to inquire and saw that all the carts were rented this weekend.

The Fort feels very busy/full this weekend. Lots of people circling in carts this afternoon and tonight looking at decorations.

More in the next post.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

We ate lunch at the camper in the overflow lot then took off to cruise around property. I knew if we set off on a boat ride to MK the text would come as soon as we pushed back from the Fort. The weather is warm and humid.

Around 1230pm I got my site text for 1122 and rolled down and backed in. Here is a pic partway through setting up.

Got the Aliner in the back corner, two EZups on that side, and the Suburban all in a line (with a few feet to spare to the street). Lots of space.

It took a while for us to get everything set up, scan the tv system for channels, and get the lights and things hung up.

As I posted earlier, I am lucky to be next to Teamubr's site. He in turn was lucky to secure one of those very rare animals, a 6-seat Kenny Kart (outside vendor rental). So this is proof that they do in fact exist.

It is a tradition of mine to set up my green DIS sign, the wooden MM sign, and a Bama sign near the site number (to help me remember where I stayed each trip too).

Tiggerdad posted a picture of him watching tv football so I took a picture of his picture while I was watching tv football.

After dinner when the sun went down (and a rain shower came and went), our lights looked nice on our site. I didn't get a lot of Halloween style decorations but did get a few knick knacks (which I haven't set out yet) but did twist together and hang a purple and orange string of lights on the Aliner.

I traditionally bring my Disney mickey globe Christmas string lights and hang them on my EZ up (do this at Gulf SP too).

My Mickey Globe Lamp looks good with its orange bulb a mask to hide the identity of the Lamp.

Here's a final picture tonight from the back corner of the campsite looking toward the street with all the various lights (and a string of LED whites also on the EZup).

Okay Bama and Ole Miss is tied at half-time on a Saturday that has been full of upsets. Time to log off and watch the second half.

Bama Ed

PS - I did get to meet Dave/himandhere818 this afternoon and want to get around to the rest of the folks here. Thanks for joining us.

We are going to be around tomorrow other than a lunch ADR at Disney Springs. In the morning it will be time to break out a brand new puzzle and DIS folks who want to help are free to join in for a while.

 

[bama_ed]

So fun to follow along from home - would be so nice to be there. Have a great time all of you!!

That camping rig is the kind that we ooh and aah while we bike the loops!

She’s talented - Those decorations are awesome! We’ve only ever seen Christmas at the Fort but we are going to have to change that.

Wish you and the family were here, amcc/Allie.

Ed

 

[FtW Mike]

Following along and very happy to see everyone has arrived safely with only a few minor incidents along the way.
Wondering when and were will the Alligator wrestling take place? Asking for a friend.

 

[tiggerdad]

Nighttime shots of site.

 

[tiggerdad]

Wondering when and were will the Alligator wrestling take place? Asking for a friend.

Been watching the canals but so far no luck.

 

[bama_ed]

Dinner was grilled chicken and leftover veggies and pasta salad. After brunch we went to Amorette’s and got dessert. It is Halloween themed and was delicious.

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Isn't that the place where ya'll have done the cake decorating classes too, Kris, on past trips or am I mis-remembering?

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

We will be rollin in tomorrow morning. Maybe Disney Springs later in the afternoon, or Monday after breakfast. Have to figure out how to get to Swan and Dolphin for 8am breakfast. Well see you real soon, we will be home in the morning. No pictures tonight as I am hotspotting.

I had to wait today until 1230pm to get my site today, Chris, because the person on it this morning took their sweet time leaving.

You might have better luck on a Sunday arrival with weekend folks clearing out.

We'll get you to breakfast one way or another on Monday.

Have a safe drive over in the morning.

ED

 

[tiggerdad]

My apologies to those in 1100 who had to listen to yelling and screaming during the game.

Headed to Universal in the morning and see what that's all about. At least I'll have it out of my system.

Chris, be safe and we'll see tomorrow evening.

 

[tigger92662]

Who is going to have breakfast ready when we get there ?

We've got Froot Loops and Lucky Charms, your choice

 

[PaHunter]

Well it is pitch black outside and I have been up for over 2 hours already. See everyone in a couple hours. Hope to leave this morning no later than 8, if I can get DW moving. Wanted to leave earlier, but see how it goes. Sun doesn't come up for a bit. Only about a 90 min drive over, more or less.

 

[garneska]

Isn't that the place where ya'll have done the cake decorating classes too, Kris, on past trips or am I mis-remembering?

Ed

Yes it is. I have done the cake decorating twice. So much fun and seriously love the cakes. They are expensive and so was that tiny one, but it is vacation. I have tried other bakeries in atlanta but have not found anything that compares to Amorette’s.

I am so bummed I missed watching you guys watch football. The rain was just yuck, so we showered and went to bed early. It was good because I keep getting up early.

@PaHunter hoping we might be out making breakfast when you get in. Do we have his site number? Is it empty already?

today should be another lazy day for us (after I run). We are having dinner with @tigger92662 at Jaleo tonight.

 

[tiggerdad]

Well it is pitch black outside and I have been up for over 2 hours already. See everyone in a couple hours. Hope to leave this morning no later than 8, if I can get DW moving. Wanted to leave earlier, but see how it goes. Sun doesn't come up for a bit. Only about a 90 min drive over, more or less.

Folks on 1119 are hooking up and pulling out.