Roundup at the Fort - 2024 Fort Dismeet

[bama_ed]

Let's go on a bike ride around the Fort today, shall we? It was warm, humid, cloudy but it was a great day to get out and about. With minimal commentary, let's head from 2100 loop up to the Outpost/Check-in area.

Golf cart parking at Outpost Bus Depot by the road:



On a Tuesday afternoon, very few people checking in.



Few cars coming in.



Lots of open lanes but few arriving guests.



The Check-in Lanes/Building is a welcoming Icon.



This is a pic of my trusty steed that is taking me around the Fort. A wonderful 1-SPEED for us old guys.



The Check-in Building has porches on both sides each with 2 rockers and a pole fence. I put my rump in a rocker and my feet on the pole rail to "Kick It".



This is not the official "Kickin' It" location (Trails End porch) but it has all the makings. Can I get a ruling?

Heading down to the Meadows TP from the Outpost, I'm pedaling over the old Fort Wilderness Railroad bed. It's a piece of history and much of the sidewalk structure in the Fort follows the FWRR.



One way to know if you are on the old FWRR bed is to look for black/white rocks to the sides of the sidewalk. That rock is NOT native to Florida and was used as the ballast between the FWRR cross-ties. It's been paved over but it is a tell-tale.



DW says I take too many pics of signs.



Another iconic sidewalk sign.



Let's keep pedaling.

ED

PS - the Kickin' It thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/kickin-it-at-the-fort.3395574/page-23#post-65818257

 

[bama_ed]

Going down along 1100 loop, the buzzards were gliding overhead.



Some impressive palmetto bushes in this area.



I went looking for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas decorations and I found few notable ones. Some had a few inflatables (big whoopty) but I was looking for new, original, or creative decorating. There were few but some.

Chalk art gets a thumbs-up from me.



This site, although day time, had a Christmas RoR theme. I like it.



The 1200/1300 playground.



The Meadow TP. Spanish Moss looks very gray.



Only 4 parking spots for cars here (15 minutes). Tons of golf cart parking here though.



Can you imagine the FWRR ran right where this sidewalk is? That close to the building?



The front door of the Meadow TP.



Looking out the front towards 900 loop.



Still a ways to go.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

Lots of green pollen on the pond behind the Meadow TP but there is a new looking fishing dock back there.



Landscaping looks nice back there.



The bike racks near the Meadow Pool held my steed.



The Kids Splash pad was not busy.



Main pool not busy.



The Meadow Pool clock has not been turned back yet.



Although tempting, this table gets more action at the Meadow pool because it's so close nearby.



Let's get behind the Bike Barn.



The kayaks and canoes are not only behind the rope fence but also a PADLOCK gate.



The iconic Bike Barn building (the Meadow TP, BB, pool area was part of the FW expansion around 1976. The original [temporary] BB was behind the pond behind what today is the dog park).



Not done yet.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

Let's ride behind the movie screen. The CM's were getting the magic ready for the campfires this night.



Next I turned left over the bridge to 600 loop and look to the left. Is this a heron?



and to the right on the bridge more *r*eflections. <sorry>



Getting into 600 loop and turning left towards the loop entrance, there were turkeys acting like they own the place.





Nice flowers and landscaping at the 600 loop entrance.



At the entrance across from 600 loop along the main road (Fort Wilderness Trail) there is limited parking for additional cars destined for the Meadow TP.



Biking down through 700 loop, the last site on the left still has a huge Halloween display that spans two pictures.





I love the big oak trees in the Fort with the Spanish Moss - including the one at the end of 700 loop near the Settlement Bus Depot.



Electric Water Parade music coming up from the Bay Lake area now. @Teamubr was here and distracted me from my posting. He's a good talker so I have to be a good listener.

More coming.

ED

 

[bama_ed]

I spun 180-degrees to spot the big oak between 100/400 loops.



Another DW sign (100/400/700 nexus).



The two legacy (VIP) cabins in 100 loop have been converted to DVC cabins where we got a brief tour on Saturday (10 minutes in the cabin, 20 minutes in Crockett's Tavern talking DVC with the Rep).



Let's look around the Pioneer Hall area.



The Settlement playground.



A convenient Trading Post at Settlement.



Looking along the railing in front of the Trails End porch where the carriage rides depart from.



The close-up of the sign is instructional.



Note the differentiation between "Advance", "Same Day", and "Walk-up" reservations here.

More beautiful landscaping near the TE porch.



The Crockett's Tavern window was empty but ready for business.



This is the ORIGINAL "Kickin' It" location and I put my feet up (a few years ago they built a shelf on the upper pole fence but I still got my feet to that level)l



I can see the end in sight.

ED

PS - the Kickin' It thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/kickin-it-at-the-fort.3395574/page-23#post-65818257

 

[bama_ed]

I emotionally refuse to spend money at the new Trails End restaurant but I did take pics.







Plenty of available seating.



Hoop Dee Doo Review does not run on Monday nor Tuesday so no show today.





@Disneypeach was gone AGAIN from her site as I went by so I headed up towards the Dog Park. As a reminder, much of the Fort is in WETLANDS which could not be built today (most likely) and the cypress trees still try to grow in the low water areas 50 years later behind 400 loop.



There is another playground near the 300/500 loop entrances next to the dog park.



The dog park has many fenced off smaller areas which helps dogs of all sizes socialize properly.



The dog park has room for 2 cars to park and about 3-4 golf carts.



BTW, random observation - did you know the Disney PoPo will monitor parking at the Dog Park (AUTOMOBILE parking) and if you park there too long after dark (no dog in the fence), the PoPo will find you and message you to move your vehicle. Did you know that, @4077? @4077 Hello? Is this thing on?

May need a technical check here, @4077.

ED

PS - BTW, that's a COMpletely random observation about parking and users. It MUST have come to me in a DREAM.

 

[bama_ed]

We are in the home stretch.

Carts passing my bike near 1400 loop as I near my home site.


A new roofed bus stop at the Full Loop bus station for 1600-1900 has FINALLY been built (a tree during a past storm fell on the old awning) and the concrete pad had been there for a while and they have gotten around to building the bus depot spot. (new wood roof)



Good night from the Fort.

ED

 

[4077]

BTW, random observation - did you know the Disney PoPo will monitor parking at the Dog Park (AUTOMOBILE parking) and if you park there too long after dark (no dog in the fence), the PoPo will find you and message you to move your vehicle. Did you know that, @4077? @4077 Hello? Is this thing on?

May need a technical check here, @4077.

@4077 may or may not have had to "bug out"... denial, it ain't just a river in Egypt

 

[jbrostek]

Thanks to @Bishoparc And Josie for pulling together a great pot luck. Monday was a whole lot of fun with Putt Putt, and thanks to @bama_ed for pulling that together.

After the pot luck stayed up a wee bit later then expected hanging out with some of the folks. Sadly today I needed to work. I had several meetings and planning work to deal with. Once that was all done I headed off to EPCOT for some food and drink. I picked up some Poutine, a terrriaki bun, and a couple of tasty drinks.

And of course when in Mexico I had to go visit good old Donald....and get a margarita.



After all that I was debating going back to FW or stay for the fireworks. I decided to stay and went down to Soarin as the wait was 15 minutes. After that I checked out Journey of Water it was pretty neat at night.




Afterwards it was off to the night show and got a great spot to watch.






Tomorrow is another work day. Though expect to be free a little earlier then today.

 

[Sjm9911]

Ed, the clock got me at the pool on the dis meet day. We were relaxing and I looked at the clock feom the pool and said " we got to go now". After drying off and putting on my shoes did I realize the clock was an hour fast.

 

[bama_ed]

Ed, the clock got me at the pool on the dis meet day. We were relaxing and I looked at the clock feom the pool and said " we got to go now". After drying off and putting on my shoes did I realize the clock was an hour fast.

Spence, I hope you didn't get sunburn from that extra hour in the sun.

DW is not a pool person so I obviously <DUH> follow her lead. Although put me in a hot tub with a cold 24 ounce liquid beverage and I could stay there for a while.

The Meadow Pool is a cool place to hang. Not the MAX resort pool but pretty sweet.

Ed

 

[Sjm9911]

We had a good day today. Hit up HS. Rope dropped rise, and M&M RR. Used the lighting lanes for toy story land, then did RNRC, Star tours ( way underrated. I remember when it came out and like it much better then smugglers run. Did the stunt spectacular. Ate lunch and home at 130ish. Went to MK for the fireworks, rode Pirates, jingle cruise and buzz. We were going to leave before buzz but my daughter insisted. She also said I was going to get the coveted 999999 score. I always get 600000 to 700000. We'll it was 7 years coming and I finally got the galactic hero badge. Go figure, the kid is smart! So, I defeated the evil Zurg and saved the universe. With the help from my daughter.

 

[Sjm9911]

It's not as cool as the dismeet pins and magnates , but its a close 2nd. They ran out of stickers, I think this is a way better prize

 

[bama_ed]

We had a good day today. Hit up HS. Rope dropped rise, and M&M RR. Used the lighting lanes for toy story land, then did RNRC, Star tours ( way underrated. I remember when it came out and like it much better then smugglers run. Did the stunt spectacular. Ate lunch and home at 130ish. Went to MK for the fireworks, rode Pirates, jingle cruise and buzz. We were going to leave before buzz but my daughter insisted. She also said I was going to get the coveted 999999 score. I always get 600000 to 700000. We'll it was 7 years coming and I finally got the galactic hero badge. Go figure, the kid is smart! So, I defeated the evil Zurg and saved the universe. With the help from my daughter.

@Sjm9911 ,

We are all here to help us old dads be "cool" for our kids. You did that ALL of your own initiative.

I had a friend who worked in MK (no longer with us) who told me the max point TARGET on the Buzz Light Year ride. His advice has still held true directionally even now. You must have found that target because you're a Super Dad!

You're an awesome dad. The kid is smart, yes, but you are still smarter.

ED

PS - I don't know if Disney re-scored the targets on Buzz it's best to be a hero in your DD's eyes.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Anyone else here the squabble (or mating ritual) in the canal between 2100 & 2000 loops about 2am???

First I thought an owl, but not sure what it/they were!

(Yes 2 30am now….not only am I not acclimated to eastern time versus Nl time (ET is 1.5 hrs behind us), but daylight savings just kicked in!

 

[4077]

Well, this….

….is not a good luck for puzzling…

I’m pulling out of the safety of our circled wagons of the Fort for the wilds of the southwest Gulf Coast of FL to visit my folks on the frontier in a few hours… thank you again to everyone coming together to make this event a great lifetime memory!! I appreciate everyone making the effort and the efforts of those who organized, planned, made calls, and took time to make the great mementoes of the occasion. I know with HDDR and other activities there is still a lot of fun to be had… I’ll be watching from an illegal parking zone somewhere…

If the rain don’t let up ‘nuff for lots of “see ya real soons”, safe travels to all on the other side!!!!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE COME FROM ABOVE:

I woke this morning to a few drops on the tent… and then she opened up!
There are fine things in life, and lying in a tent listening to the rain is definitely in my list!

Hope you all enjoyed the bit of thunder/lightning!

All dry here, last night I clipped a clear plastic sheet over the tent. (and no condensation, which is always a good thing not to have!)


(edited to change LUFE to LIFE… Nothing good ever came from LUFE…)

 

[Boomer1]

Received a call today from the repair shop in New Hampshire. As we feared the engine is seized on our RV, they will be preparing a quote for us. Our next trip is planned for January so here’s hoping they come back with a fair price and a reasonable time line.

 

[Sjm9911]

Hoping for good numbers and a fast turn around.

 

[Disneypeach]

Sorry I missed you @bama_ed I was eating my way around EPCOT.
Food and Wine is a fun time.