Today at the fort

[stacktester]

Went to Trails End for lunch and spent a couple hours hanging around. I thought Orlando had some rain. It was dry dry dry. 1200 and 1300 loops are closed down. There were a few dumpsters and bobcats seeming to be mostly cleaning underbrush.

I took bikes for DD and I to travel from the overflow to TE. Stopped by the bike barn to get some air and a sign was out saying no canoes due to low water levels. Duhhhhhhhhhhhh. The pond and streams are almost dry. They drained it I was told when we were there in March because the boats were bottoming out at the dock. How the FW water helped that you got me. I personally would have dredged the boat area. Oh well.

Lot's of empty sites. I was surprised. I know it's during the week but still surprising. We were mainly looking at the 1400 and 800 loop to see what sites were shady for our trip in 2 weeks from today. I just couldn't wait to visit today lol.

I have another bad news line and I will stop on bad news. The pine tree with the reel mower at the base, well sorry to say it's dying and some men were looking at it deciding if it should be cut down. The top is pretty much all brown so I doubt it's going to be there much longer.

I will say the food was really good and the salad was fresh. We arrived about11:50 and got seated first so we got first bites. Got to see the guy with the triangle come out and yell "COME AND GET IT"

We also talked to a family from St. Pete who were 1st timers. They have a toy hauler and were put in my personal favorite 900 loop. They were only staying a few days but told them I bet they extend their stay or will be back soon lol. They said they were basically coming over to check it out. I heard the mom say so far she was very happy. I gave them the firework and water parade times and a couple other tips before we said goodbye. Hope everybody has a good week.

Donnie

 

[Shannone1]

Went to Trails End for lunch and spent a couple hours hanging around. I thought Orlando had some rain. It was dry dry dry. 1200 and 1300 loops are closed down. There were a few dumpsters and bobcats seeming to be mostly cleaning underbrush.

I took bikes for DD and I to travel from the overflow to TE. Stopped by the bike barn to get some air and a sign was out saying no canoes due to low water levels. Duhhhhhhhhhhhh. The pond and streams are almost dry. They drained it I was told when we were there in March because the boats were bottoming out at the dock. How the FW water helped that you got me. I personally would have dredged the boat area. Oh well.

Lot's of empty sites. I was surprised. I know it's during the week but still surprising. We were mainly looking at the 1400 and 800 loop to see what sites were shady for our trip in 2 weeks from today. I just couldn't wait to visit today lol.

I have another bad news line and I will stop on bad news. The pine tree with the reel mower at the base, well sorry to say it's dying and some men were looking at it deciding if it should be cut down. The top is pretty much all brown so I doubt it's going to be there much longer.

I will say the food was really good and the salad was fresh. We arrived about11:50 and got seated first so we got first bites. Got to see the guy with the triangle come out and yell "COME AND GET IT"

We also talked to a family from St. Pete who were 1st timers. They have a toy hauler and were put in my personal favorite 900 loop. They were only staying a few days but told them I bet they extend their stay or will be back soon lol. They said they were basically coming over to check it out. I heard the mom say so far she was very happy. I gave them the firework and water parade times and a couple other tips before we said goodbye. Hope everybody has a good week.

Donnie

When we were there in April is was tough to get through some sections of the canal with the kayaks. I was surprised they didn't just dredge it. It could really use it.

Are they rehabbing 1200 and 1300 ??

I'm glad you enjoyed your afternoon.

 

[VAN]

We were there in late April/early May in the 1700 loop. The loop across the road was being rehabbed ... I think besides sprucing up the sites, they were also updating the electrical.

Our loop was without electricity one day for them to hook up some new connections in an effort to "improve" the loop. I got the impression they were upgrading the electric to accomodate the larger RVs.

As far as the canal... by day 2 of our visit the water under the bridge by the Trading Post had evaporated and it was down to the mud. We have been at FW many years and the canal was the lowest I've ever seen and it just got visually lower during the two weeks we were there. I believe it would take more than dredging to fix the problem -- they need RAIN!!

Also saw some guy standing in the middle of the dry pine needles smoking!!! HELLO!!!! There is a drought!!!!

The campground was pretty empty during the week - which was GREAT!!! - but then was sold out during the weekends (Friday and Saturday nights).

 

[Colson39]

have another bad news line and I will stop on bad news. The pine tree with the reel mower at the base, well sorry to say it's dying and some men were looking at it deciding if it should be cut down. The top is pretty much all brown so I doubt it's going to be there much longer.

Oh no, please don't even tell me that. That is such an icon in our families history with the Fort, if that was to go, man, that would just be really bad news. Just the mower in itself is such a part of Fort Wilderness history, I would hate for something like that to have to be removed. Ugh.

 

[CottontailCurl]

I believe it would take more than dredging to fix the problem -- they need RAIN!!

Also saw some guy standing in the middle of the dry pine needles smoking!!! HELLO!!!! There is a drought!!!!

We're in bad need of rain here, too. We were on the way home yesterday and stopped at a red light when we saw a just-tossed cigarette start to smolder and then turn into flames in a bed of pine straw. We freaked and started yelling at people who were closer "Fire!!" Luckily they didn't ignore us as being weirdos and one of them looked where we were pointing, jumped out and started stomping on the fire.

We need a rain dance for the southeast:

 

[tellnotails]

Heh Stack.......

Give us an update on the smoking ban at the fort.....



Are there still ashtrays on the porch & marina area?????????

Seems like a good time to get rid of them with the fire hazard problems

 

[Gatordad]

no one cares about your stupid trip because we are all jealous that we are slaving away at work, and you are there.

Oh, by the way, have a great time, and thanks for the updates!!!

 

[stacktester]

Oh we were just down for the day. Had to take something to Orlando so decided to eat at TE since we arrived around luch time. Man the fort was so dry I'd almost be afraid to cook in the grill. I mean all the grounds and grass are CRUNCHY. It's way to dry for a campfire no matter where you are. I will be there for a week beginning June 1 so I'll keep you all informed.

 

[lucy_love]

ummmm

how come I have never seen this mower tree?

 

[Gatordad]

Only for the day? well then I am not as jealous

 

[Rhonda]

ummmm

how come I have never seen this mower tree?

As the years have passed, the tree grows around the mower thicker and thicker, so now you can hardly see the mower, unless you already know it's there and look for it.

Colson: Maybe they'll chop the tree down to just above the mower, and leave it as the "Lawnmower Stump" instead!

 

[DisCamper]

I always found it amazing that Disney designed WDW around that one tree.

 

[Rhonda]

"My only hope is that we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a tree."

 

[loveDmouse]

I haven't seen it either. I will have to look harder. That is if they don't cut it down. Where is it?

 

[stacktester]

If they cut it down I would bet they leave a few feet of the stump there and the mower will never be swallowed up.

For those who don't know the mower tree is by the golf cart parking lot near the boat dock. Pretty much a "V" where the road from Trails End is and across from the Settlement Trading Post.

 

[bama_ed]

Stacktester,

I enjoyed hearing about your day trip! Like Gatordad said, I'm just a little jealous too but I can't slide down from Bama like you can slide over.

This early-mid May time is nice. It's after the spring break crowds and before the school's out crowd (we are done this Thursday). Now we're trapped in the school schedule routine but we still have the week before Christmas in sight .

Keep the updates coming and enjoy your week next month!

Bama ED

 

[tungpo1]

Only for the day? well then I am not as jealous

Nice Club Car Gatordad 48 volt or 36 Resistor?

Here is one of mine 2000 ez-go TXT 24hp 40+mph

 

[ldubberly]

you know Disney is always planning ahead sometimes years in advance. Any bets that they already have a tree growing through another lawnmower in the backstage horticulture nursery just waiting for the day when they had to replace the existing one?



For all those Ron White fans, has anyone scratched the bark of the tree to see if it has a "vibrant core"