Security & had a thought.....

[BradyBz12]

And the nice thing about fellow campers is that they ARE helpful and keep an eye out for each other.

A few years ago the smoke alarm battery got low in our TT and it started randomly beeping. We were at EP waiting about to eat dinner when my cell rang.

We have a "pets inside" sticker on the TT door with my cell number on it. A camper across from us heard the beeping and called to let us know.

He snooped around the camper and said it didn't seem like anything was wrong (we didn't know it was the smoke alarm at the time). We told him we'd head right back and he said not to worry, I'll keep an eye out, finish your dinner.

We mentioned there were 3 dogs inside (who never once barked at a stranger snooping around their camper - love them!) and if anything was up to just rip open the velcro on the tent ends (this was our hybrid TT) and get them out - we didn't care about the TT.

All was well, but this man didn't know us from Adam (I believe he was from MN) and thought nothing of looking out for fellow campers.

Moral of the story....
Campers are awesome

...and make friends with your neighbors!

 

[DisCamper]

I still think a KTTW card reader gate right after the parking lot and just before you enter the campground would work fine

 

[Magicbus]

Hey Deb, they're tearing down the old guard shack at AKL. They could just reassemble it at the new loaction at the Fort. It kinda looks like a Tiki hut though.
Security, as most of us know, is a joke property wide. When they first installed the gates, especially the exit gates, I asked my self, what's the point of having a gate in order to get out. I still don't know why they have them.
You might be thinking if there isn't an exit gate, what's to keep people from coming in that way, one way spikes.

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

I still think a KTTW card reader gate right after the parking lot and just before you inter the campground would work fine

Hadn't thought about that. You don't even need a security guard, just a key reader machine.

 

[clkelley]

I still think a KTTW card reader gate right after the parking lot and just before you inter the campground would work fine

I agree, and what I meant was wristbands for the pool, not necessarily for the campground itself.

 

[DisCamper]

As I posted earlier that’s the way it was for years and it worked fine. If you didn't stay at the resort or was a guest of one you had to take the bus. Let me add my 4th July trip I saw many of times people drive to the stop sign by TE and the Marina or go into the 100 loop to drop large groups of people off with Chairs and cooler so they could head to the beach. Then the driver would go to the front park the van and take the bus to the beach.

 

[John VN]

First, I think the internal buses and the park buses should be separated. The internal buses make a left into the bus station loop and stop to let guests off and on. Then proceed to make the loop left turn and out of loop by making a right. The park buses enter through the current gate and pull up to the oposite side of the bus station to let guests off and on. Since the internal and park buses are approaching each other head on the destinations are easy to read by those getting off the buses. No more running to the first bus in line to check the destination sign. The park buses then exit with a left loop turn that has posts blocking any other traffic from entering FW Proper.

Check-in guests, returning guests and visitors enter at guard shack. RVs are directed to plaza as now, cabin check-in go to big lot, returning guests use KTTW to go past gate like now and then another KTTW reader to enter FW Proper like before. Visitors are met by guard and allowed in to park or directed to exit. They cannot enter FW Proper because they do not have a valid KTTW.

Exiting FW Proper guests would merge with park buses like WL and then out via gate.

$$$$$, so probably NOT. Just my thoughts.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

And the nice thing about fellow campers is that they ARE helpful and keep an eye out for each other.

A few years ago the smoke alarm battery got low in our TT and it started randomly beeping. We were at EP waiting about to eat dinner when my cell rang.

We have a "pets inside" sticker on the TT door with my cell number on it. A camper across from us heard the beeping and called to let us know.

He snooped around the camper and said it didn't seem like anything was wrong (we didn't know it was the smoke alarm at the time). We told him we'd head right back and he said not to worry, I'll keep an eye out, finish your dinner.

We mentioned there were 3 dogs inside (who never once barked at a stranger snooping around their camper - love them!) and if anything was up to just rip open the velcro on the tent ends (this was our hybrid TT) and get them out - we didn't care about the TT.

All was well, but this man didn't know us from Adam (I believe he was from MN) and thought nothing of looking out for fellow campers.

Moral of the story....
Campers are awesome

...and make friends with your neighbors!

It sounds like you were a victim of what we call "Minnesota nice". It is a local affliction, not curable, but definitely wonderful.

 

[Magicbus]

First, I think the internal buses and the park buses should be separated.

I couldn't agree with you more. I get so annoyed when I pull in and a idiot internal Fort driver is just sitting there and preventing the external buses from moving on through. Get out of there Bozo. There is no one there to pick up. I feel like jumping out and going up to them and yelling, hey *******, move it. Can't you see there are three buses with real passengers behind you. In fact, it happened today. Drivers that put in for Fort positions are those that can't deal with the stress of going to high volume resorts and having to drive over 25MPH. I'm glad I'm not able to put in for it. Boy that felt good.

 

[We4mickey]

I would have no problem with key cards or wrist bands. After the fiasco of Halloween last year I am all for keeping the freeloaders out. I have no problem with handing out candy to people staying in the campground, but when you come by the carload, that is ridiculous!

 

[PrincessNP]

There is also alot of traffic coming into the Fort via the boating system. There is no guard system in place to police those folks either. They should consider putting a guard there too.

I want to believe that MOST people who come over to visit the Fort do so in peace.....

But that obviously is not always the case......

We just got back today from a stay at the Wilderness Lodge. I have to admit it was nice but when we went over to visit the Fort (our usual home away from home) to see Hoop Dee Doo we were so Homesick!! Over all the campgrounds were thin. VERY hot.

 

[starbuc71]

I agree with everyone here. Everytime we visit the fort I see more and more non-guest using the pools, beach and sometimes even the boat service. The new gate is a disaster for us guest staying at the campsites. Traffic is heavier on the loops since curiosity gets the better of everyone who shouldn't be there. I'm scared to let my daughter ride her bike with more traffic even though I'm right beside her. The pool is a story of it's own. IMHO the pool should be fenced with a card reader on the gate. The wristbands would come into play for the one guest that lets his 30 non-paying guest into the card reader gate. I refuse to pool hop at other resorts because I think that is rude to the guest actually staying at that resort. Maybe they should have thought harder before installing the slide since I hear from everyone that this actually got outsiders attention to come visit. As far as the guard shack, I totally agree it should be moved by the horse crossing. this would be perfect to allow campers only with thier vehicles past the over flow lot. With all this being said and all us fiends agreeing, what do we do from here? Is there a disney survey online that we can all download and email our concerns? Should we all stop at the reception outpost after checking in and demand to speak to the GM about our concerns. Like stated earlier, all it's going to take is something real bad to happen for Disney to open thier eyes. I thought after the tragic bus accident involving the young child disney would have been quick to put some guard rails or something to at least show they were concerned about the whole situation or at least where the accident took place. I think we all need to make some kind of impact about this together or things will start to get even worse. I know we are not a private club or have any ownership in the fort but like most of us, it's one of our favorite places or the favorite place to be besides home. Any ideas?

 

[DisCamper]

They don’t need to add a guard shack at the horse crossing. You talk about a huge backup now. As I been saying just move the card reader up so the only way people can drive into the Fort is by KTTW or check in outpost. They still would have to go thought the Main guard shack to get into the parking lot but just can’t drive into the campground without a card

 

[des1954]

There are two reasons that I can think of where the card reader wouldn't be as effective as an actual guard. No....three.

1) People will wait for someone to open the gate & then sneak in behind them.

2) When the gate was in front of the kennel (correction - former kennel), it was often knocked off and left open for anyone to pass through.

3) The card reader they used to have at the main parking lot (not the one at the kennel, but the one that was posted between the main lot and where you pick up golf carts now) often times did not work. I can't tell you how many times it did not work and I'd have to press the speaker button to talk with a guard who would manually open it from a remote location just taking my word that I was a guest.

If they had a "greeter" at the main entrance directing people to either check in or where to park for HDDR or Trail's End, and then had an actual guard by the horse trail or before Peacock pass, that would stop unauthorized auto traffic from coming into the Fort. Or at least it would slow it down. On the big holidays such as the 4th, and Halloween, it would be very easy for them to stop access for anyone other than Fort guests. My first Halloween at the Ft was in 2002, and every year since. The first time I saw trick-or-treater's out of control was in 2008. Last year was so bad that we have no desire to come back this year. Bottom line is, Disney could control it if they wanted to, but they don't want to because somebody might want a snack from Meadows or they might want to buy a coffee cup or t-shirt. Disney will never miss an opportunity to sell something.

 

[stacktester]

What this is all telling me is that the fort is going to hell in a hand basket and they don't really care anymore because if the truth be known they want a bigger money maker put there.

I think it's a shame because there's a lot of people who tent camp or pop up camp instead of getting a big RV so they can afford more Disney. I wonder sometimes how much longer the beloved fort will be like it is today.

When I was at the fort a few weeks ago I went to the pool around 9 p.m. When the slide closed at 10 droves of people got out and left. I decided to follow on my bike just to see what was up. I watched 3 large groups of people go to 900 bus stop and depart for the overflow. Mind you the entrance where the new gate is was completely blocked so they got in somehow. I saw one guy loading a golf cart and tell another guy now that we know about this place we'll have to come over more. The only way to stop this is to use wristbands that are different colors for everyday. More trouble yes. Will they do this? No!. It's too much trouble for them and costs money and they won't spend it. When you go to EMH's how many times have you seen the CM check the dates on your card? All I ever get is just flash it and they wave you on. The pool seems to be the biggest problem with outsiders unless now theft is going to be a new trend. I suggest start locking bikes up and put your chargers and other valuables inside. In all actuality you would do it at other campgrounds anyway.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

It seems to me like people are going thru a lot of trouble just to use a themed slide. It doesn't seem spectacular enough to me to warrant sneaking in and taking a bus just for a pool with a slide, not to mention the drive over to the resort in the first place, but then I am amazed that some morans will pay for a campsite just to get EMH.

 

[2goofycampers]

I would have no problem with key cards or wrist bands. After the fiasco of Halloween last year I am all for keeping the freeloaders out. I have no problem with handing out candy to people staying in the campground, but when you come by the carload, that is ridiculous!

I can think of 2 ways to fix this problem.

1. Pass out the candy that Lars gives out.
2. Ask to see their KTTW cards before handing out candy.

 

[starbuc71]

What this is all telling me is that the fort is going to hell in a hand basket and they don't really care anymore because if the truth be known they want a bigger money maker put there.

I think it's a shame because there's a lot of people who tent camp or pop up camp instead of getting a big RV so they can afford more Disney. I wonder sometimes how much longer the beloved fort will be like it is today.

When I was at the fort a few weeks ago I went to the pool around 9 p.m. When the slide closed at 10 droves of people got out and left. I decided to follow on my bike just to see what was up. I watched 3 large groups of people go to 900 bus stop and depart for the overflow. Mind you the entrance where the new gate is was completely blocked so they got in somehow. I saw one guy loading a golf cart and tell another guy now that we know about this place we'll have to come over more. The only way to stop this is to use wristbands that are different colors for everyday. More trouble yes. Will they do this? No!. It's too much trouble for them and costs money and they won't spend it. When you go to EMH's how many times have you seen the CM check the dates on your card? All I ever get is just flash it and they wave you on. The pool seems to be the biggest problem with outsiders unless now theft is going to be a new trend. I suggest start locking bikes up and put your chargers and other valuables inside. In all actuality you would do it at other campgrounds anyway.

Donnie,
I couldn't have said it better myself. I guess Disney thinks that the more people that visit the pool, the more money they will spend on Hot dogs and what not. I agree, how much longer will the Fort be the way it is. As stated in other threads, I would see the use of personal carts disappearing soon for more revenue to be made on the newly higher priced rentals. It's just like the kennel situation. I'm sure there are alot of people like myself who fell over to hear $75 a night to board your pet with storytime and flat screens of all things, but as we all see, they are totally booked and there are people who will pay that outrageous amount. Hence why Disney and other companies just don't care anymore. There will always be people to pay the prices they want. I don't think we will ever win.

 

[Tnbob]

I don't believe I am saying this but for the most part I agree with Donnie to a point.
I usually hate to have more regulation added to anything but wrist bands would be a great thing to have at the pool but alas they won't do that, too many nickels out of the bottom line.
More gates would help but alas too many nickels again and in my opinion would start to border on the ridiculous.
Disney spends money on putting in gates and paying someone to man it for what? It's so easy to bypass the system it's pathetic.
I understand where Debbie is coming from but another gate that is easy to bypass might deter some but the hard core will still get through.
I don't think the biggest problem is theft, that happens anywhere at any resort and at any campground but the problem seems to be (for me anyway) the crowd of people who sneak in to use the facilities that I am paying a boat load of money to use. When I see the campground with only a few campers in each loop but the pool packed I get the feeling I am paying for something that I'm not getting, that being security and exclusive use of facilities. If I wanted to go to a public pool it would certainly cost me a lot less so don't let the word exclusive throw ya, we all pay for things to get "exclusive use" out of them i.e.:golf carts, campsites. The pool should be no different although we know it's a shared "exclusive" with other PAYING guests.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Bobby says they want to increase patrolling at the borders, but they don't want to be accused of profiling.