Roundup at the Fort - 2024 Fort Dismeet

[bama_ed]

Spence, you need to share pictures of the character photo boards and tell their story. They've been a hit tonight.

ED

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

On the road. Got away an hour late at 9.

Only thing we've noticed we forgot so far was the magic bands, .

We plan to make Land Between the Lakes in Western KY today. Might go longer if we make good time, but we aren't in a big rush.. though we keeping calling WDW trying to get Sunday added to our ressie instead of Lake Louisa on Sunday.

Either way, see everyone soon.

 

[Disneypeach]

Anyone missing graham crackers?

 

[4077]

I’m here! Site 2144… I was first to be last! (Last site in the loop, that is). Mostly just me and a dog (son for a night) so minimal set up complete….

 

[bama_ed]

I'm going to catch up on yesterday which was Halloween here at the Fort. A light drizzle has cropped up here after lunch.

First in 2100 loop there are your expected inflatables in abundance but I like to look for the original, clever designs whether holiday themed or not. And one campsite had landscape lights that were home made from WDW .... popcorn buckets.





Guy said he had a stack of buckets and wanted to do something with them. He purchased landscaping light kits to build into the base of each bucket. And used a wiring kit that came with in-ground stakes.



He must have been inspired by the people who put a light kit into a 5 gallon white paint bucket that hangs from a branch.

After a run in the morning yesterday for groceries, we stopped by Wide World of Sports to pick up my two bibs for the Wine & Dine 5K/10K. And it was crowded.







Here were the event shirts (both long sleeve and about the same color).



After lunch we bussed down to the Settlement to catch the boat to MK (then monorail to the Poly for a DoleWhip). The scrim along the walkway from the Bus Depot to HDDR is down and moved further back. Back in January I shared pictures of the parking lot being paved across the street from the new TCD Barn and it was full of cars. R* workers?







Let's get down to the dock. The boat is headed our way.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

There are several cranes at the worksite behind Pioneer Hall.



I bet we're still going to lose these beautiful trees and the lake view to DVC lakeside cabins.



Plastic rockers on the TE porch still takes getting used to for me.



Another crane out past the game room.



We will likely lose these relatively new benches pointed toward the fireworks where the old Lawnmower Tree used to be.



I contemplated the upcoming changes at the Beach Bash pumpkin.



Mr. Scarecrow was down at the beach too.



While waiting in the line for the next boat, we had a bird land on the pier between us and the beach. It was an American Bald Eagle - and a big one at that.





He stood there long enough for me to get my phone up and camera app activated. Then he flew off to the left into the trees between loop 200 and the beach.



I hear the approaching boat horn.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

There is also a crane on the far end of the Contemporary Tower (BLT side).



Steady as she goes.



We make our approach.



Halloween is a busy day at the Magic Kingdom.



Quick photo out front of MK then over to the resort monorail line.





The Poly lobby looked splendid.



We were headed out those double doors on the ground floor to the Pineapple Lanaii.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

There was a seasonal offering along with regular DoleWhips and floats so I tried the new flavor.



It was okay. DW got a pineapple DoleWhip cup.



The MK party folks were lining up to wait to get in at 4pm as we made it back to the FW boat dock.



Getting back to our loop, the turkeys were out and about.





I've already posted my little bit about Halloween (not busy overall in our loop). But I sat up with Spencer and watched kids get his treats then turned in. Our loop was quiet (except for all the inflatable fan motors whirring away).



Let's move to this morning and the Wine & Dine 5K race at Epcot.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

DW wanted a 2am wake up alarm for this morning. So we did it.

Based on past race experiences while at the Fort, I drove to the Outpost parking lot and we got on the charter bus at 3am with other runners and swung down to Wilderness Lodge to pick up runners and spectators there too. Our bus driver went through the Epcot Parking booth but missed the turn for the bus drop off so it took 20 minutes to get out and make our second approach.

Everyone had to walk to the metal detectors under the monorail lines at the entrance to get scanned.





Then it was a solid walk of people to the race area in the parking lot.



I dropped off DW at the finish line immediately behind Guardians of the Galaxy in the parking lot area and I proceeded to the starting corrals and entered D.









The Muppet Swedish Chef was the logo (Food/Wine) and although we had the high energy (at 4am) He/She hosts giving us updates and heartwarming stories, there were brief video clips from several of the Muppets about the run and us runners which were entertaining.



It took 20 minutes for the first few waves of people to get started (each with a countdown and a couple fireworks) and then it was our turn. You hold position, BOOM goes the gun, and then you wait for the people in front to start and give you room to begin a shuffle (but I walked as did many folks since this 5K was was not individually timed).







We'll check out the course around Epcot next.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

We went down the outside of Epcot and came into the park next to Test Track.



The clock time is from the official start time of the race, not our wave.











People in the waves after us who were running overtook me but as I said we had MANY walkers like me.









Epcot is beautiful with the building lights at night.

Let's keep going.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

A live band just before Italy.



















Almost done.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

Let's finish this race, shall we?

















.

Not bad at all. Just a walk in the Park. bad pun. 10K is tomorrow similar but longer (6 miles).

Back to the Fort and got cleaned up. Then I felt very tired and laid down for a 2 hr nap before lunch. Gotta wake up DW from her nap AFTER lunch to run an errand. @4077/Jimmy is in the house a few doors down. Waiting not-so-patiently for others to arrive tomorrow.



ED

 

[garneska]

We are here at the Waldorf. Got to Disney around 3:30 with our first stop at the expo. Picked up our number and shirt. Heading to dinner and just chilling tonight. Tomorrow we plan to rope drop DHS. This assumes I get some sleep tonight.

 

[4077]

Great report/recap of those few days, Ed... I know you're sleeping now (well, maybe....I hear golf carts driving by with thump thumping music...are you actually sleeping?) Have a good 10k tomorrow! Look forward to the update!

edit: I like the Swedish Chef medal ... I hope your wrong about the trees

 

[Teamubr]

How many sites are open in 2100 tonight?.

I'm debating how early to arrive tomorrow.

j

 

[4077]

How many sites are open in 2100 tonight?.

I'm debating how early to arrive tomorrow.

j

Good question...I'll take a walk........give me a few minutes,,,,

 

[Stratman50th]

@Bishoparc
I'll be there midday Monday. I'm bringing baked beans with boneless pork rib chunks.

 

[4077]

Sorry, Spencer and I got to talking ... 2102 and 2105 look to be the empty sites tonight.....

 

[Teamubr]

Sorry, Spencer and I got to talking ... 2102 and 2105 look to be the empty sites tonight.....

Thanks Jimmy. I was thinking the loop was a lot bigger than I remembered.

Neither of those are near the rest of you. Looks like I'll be parking in overflow for a while. Gives me time to unhook the car and come down to see everybody.

j

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

On the road. Got away an hour late at 9.

Only thing we've noticed we forgot so far was the magic bands, .

We plan to make Land Between the Lakes in Western KY today. Might go longer if we make good time, but we aren't in a big rush.. though we keeping calling WDW trying to get Sunday added to our ressie instead of Lake Louisa on Sunday.

Either way, see everyone soon.

Made it to LBL, well after dark. A little worse for wear. Truck threw a fuel filter error after a fuel up. I've reset the sensor and hoping it was a hard acceleration with my tune, but I plan on picking one up tomorrow and preparing to slug through the replacement on Monday at FW. YouTube is saying either remove the fender liner or the air intake...neither sounds "pleasant"

Then when we finally got to LBL, we intended to stay at a campground that is first come and reviews say it's always totally dead. Well...the reviews didn't cover opening day of deer season. Every campground in LBL, which are numerous are full. We found a site that was down a real tight road scouting on foot. A camp host recommended we just park out by the CG's pavilion.

After a 30 min fight with auto level we cozied up in the parking lot. The pavilion has 15A plugs so we'll at least get some charged batteries and run the furnace real low tonight. Bust out all the blankets.

Macon is our goal for tomorrow. Going to give the mouse another ring to see if anyone cancelled to stay at FW on Sunday too.

Goodnight. Safe travels, kids