Trip report 1/3-20/2014

[nabi]

Glad to see things are improving! Eager to see the pictures you snapped!

 

[bama_ed]

jbro may have become one with his outside recliner at the Fort. Hope he's still having fun.

Bama Ed

 

[jbrostek]

The last 6 days have flown by for sure. I finally saw fantasmic for the first time, in all the years I been here either we had dinner reservations or the weather was not great. Well it was cute but unlike wishes or illuminations, its not something I will have to see every trip.

We have finally figured out fastpass+. It's not a perfect but once you get it figured out its not all that bad. Tonight is our last full day here, breakfast tomorrow and then hit the road. So today went out and got a few items I was low on and bought enough fuel to get me to a cheaper state.

Saturday we went to Ohana after spending part of the day in MK. The food was great and we had and awesome time. I would recommend it to anyone as its worth trying to get a reservation.

The only park we did not spend a lot of time in was Animal Kingdom, the day we had thought would be best for our schedule it was too cold, but not too cold yesterday. So we finally make the stunt show at Hollywood.

The trip has turned out mostly relaxing, though some of us have gotten a bit sick and that put a damper on a few things. Everyone is feeling better today, and tonight we plan to finish off the trip with dinner in provided by me for the group and catch illuminations at Epcot to finish out the trip.

I have a bunch of pictures snapped but not as many as usual, we really did take it easier then we normally do when we only spend a week here rather then two.

 

[jbrostek]

Today should be my first day back in the office. But due to the pending snow in DC, the office is closed and I am teleworking. The great news for here is I had no more issues on the drive home.

We left Ft. Wilderness around 12pm, though I was out of our site by 11am. The hour was spent hitching a friends RV to the trailer to take the two golf carts back home. Once that was done and they where properly secured for the trip, we hit the road. Traffic around Orlando was heavier then anticipated but no major slow downs other then dealing with way too many accidents in a very short section of I4. After that we where making decent time and before I knew it we where in GA stopping for a road break and I took on a full load of fuel.

The drive though GA remained no issue and we chose rather then push for Florance, SC and be worn out the next day that we would only head for Point South KOA. Personally I was hoping we would get a little further north before we stopped but with me starting to get a cough, another member of the group (not a driver) developed bronchitis while on the trip, and the 3rd family I was with wasn't feeling so hot either we chose an early shutdown and good nights rest.

Sunday we all woke up and got on the road by around 10am. The trip was pretty much non issue the rest of the way home for me. Thought we did have fun playing tag with one of the members of our little caravan. They stopped for fuel (gas RV) and told us to keep going they would catch up. By the time we stopped about an hour and a half later, the TXT we sent did not get to the other party till they passed the exit. So we got back on the road and before we knew it, we where passing them as the where stopped at a rest stop (again, txt got there after we could plan to pull off.) The 3 campers rolling down the road never got more then 15 miles apart from each other, and until we had to navigate the VA back roads the one party knew where they where going.

I got back near home on Sunday night around 8:30 two of us pulled into my friends shop which happens to be my storage lot (again thankful I have storage with power and room for my slides.) The other family and owner of the shop peeled off to head home where they keep their trailer at the house. The two families stayed the night me parked into my spot and able to work with the 15A power I had and the other family chose to run on their generator as needed.

Monday was spent unloading and cleaning out the trailer and winterizing it before the big freeze got here last night. After dumping on Sunday morning noone used the toilet and what little grey water we did create I used a little transfer tank to dispose of properly.

I have a bunch of pictures to load onto the PC and sort through, but as soon as I can get that done I will update with some pictures.

Yesterday we started planning next years trip (yes we start that soon.) We hope to lock in the dates and grand gathering with disney by end of the week. Looking forward to a less adventurous trip next time.

 

[bama_ed]

Glad you are home jbro.

Somebody said something about pictures?



Bama Ed

 

[jbrostek]

Yeah, I have a bunch on 3 cameras (pocket point and shoot, small DSLR and big DSLR.) So it takes some time to sort them and upload them somewhere to post.

 

[jbrostek]

Wow time flies!!! So I finally sorted through all the pictures I took, removed the horrible, cleaned up the meh, and kept all the good ones. It's been a busy few weeks since I got home and work has been full speed ahead. Add in the weather I thought I moved south enough to avoid on a regular basis, and its just washed the vacation right out of me already. I want a Disney do over, but I figure I need to pay the fuel bill first before I start talking that kind of crazy.

For some reason using my icloud public photo stream prefers massive images, but you can see it all Here But I will post my favorites on the forum.


So here are some random pictures from the trip.

My Site day and night.

The FurKids

Lily Bug (bug)

Brandy Bear (woof)

 

[jbrostek]

After sorting through sites and stuff I finally found a way to post the pictures till I can fix my normal picture gallery.

The group waiting for the bus, we use golf carts to get to and from the top and bottom of the campground but the bus system works fine for us.

We actually spent a lot of time at Hollywood Studios for once using our hoppers. This was the first evening we went before our Dinner reservations. I got some great dusk pictures.

Another night I got this great picture during magic hours after seeing Fantasmic for the first time ever.

And of course, no trip or ours is completed without a trip around world showcase trying all the drinks. We had every slushy/iced drink availible, but this one is our favorite and saw 2 rounds.

And while many friends where amazed due to our ability to pace ourselves we made the full lap and even had a cronut before we started heading back to camp.

It was not the warmest this year, and we know we where spoiled last year. But on the last night we had to say goodbye and this was my last parting shot of the park visits.

I am still collecting photos from others and add to my stream and will post more of my favorites here.

 

[bama_ed]

Very nice jbro. I like the Spaceship Earth picture.

Bama Ed

 

[bjschil]

Double post, sorry!

 

[bjschil]

After sorting through sites and stuff I finally found a way to post the pictures till I can fix my normal picture gallery. The group waiting for the bus, we use golf carts to get to and from the top and bottom of the campground but the bus system works fine for us. We actually spent a lot of time at Hollywood Studios for once using our hoppers. This was the first evening we went before our Dinner reservations. I got some great dusk pictures. Another night I got this great picture during magic hours after seeing Fantasmic for the first time ever. And of course, no trip or ours is completed without a trip around world showcase trying all the drinks. We had every slushy/iced drink availible, but this one is our favorite and saw 2 rounds. And while many friends where amazed due to our ability to pace ourselves we made the full lap and even had a cronut before we started heading back to camp. It was not the warmest this year, and we know we where spoiled last year. But on the last night we had to say goodbye and this was my last parting shot of the park visits. I am still collecting photos from others and add to my stream and will post more of my favorites here.

As a Sanibel owner, we noticed another one like ours. We were at the Fort from Jan 1 through the 17th. We hope your rv gives you satisfaction like our new one does. We were in site 1450, with the cows and cheeseheads! Yep, like you, we are very anxious for Spring! This has been one long winter. Loved your pictures.

 

[jbrostek]

I arrived late after a truck breakdown, but was there by Jan 8th (around 1am) and stayed through the 18th to head for home. I love the RV, and the floor plan was enough to pull me out of a diesel pusher. Quality wise my warrentee fix list is minor with the biggest issue is one of my grey valves leaks. The rest of the issues are minor in issue or just intermitent problems I would like addressed. It is likely going up this weekend to the dealer so they have ample time to address the issues before my season starts in the end of March.

When I was stuck in NC, it was getting down the single digits and it stayed toasty warm inside. Propane use was managable with the fireplace and another heater in the bedroom. Overall it tows like a dream.

I did not get a chance to loop around the 1400 area, so sorry I missed you.

 

[Firefighter25]

I fix Fords for a living. (35 Plus years). 6.0Ls usually need at least 1 bank of injectors when 1 fails. I recommend all injectors if in customer's budget. Work extra hard and hours when fellow camper involved. Glad you had a great time at the Fort. Anxious for our first trip in August.

 

[jbrostek]

Pretty much the case. I did not do both banks due mainly due to cost. And I am glad I limited that dealers access to my truck. By the time I got to florida I was half a gallon low on oil because the vavle cover was barely finger tight. I could smell some oil burn off but figured it was due to the work done and the tech being slopy. It wasnt until I parked overnight at Disney to find the puddle that I opened the hood to check it out.


There is more to the frustration of this breakdown as well, but I am still dealing with Ford since that bank was replaced in Early November and failed less then 60 days later. So another reason I was not willing to bear the cost of the other bank right away. Ford is making right on the parts, so worse case ill have a set of injectors and pay my normal shop to do the work since I trust their 6.0 abilities more then the dealer.

 

[Firefighter25]

jbrostek
Ford should reimburse you for parts and labor. Looked at some of your pictures of your trip and looks like you had a great time. Wife and I are planning trip to the Fort early August for our Anniversary. Your pictures really have us looking forward to the adventure.
1990 Ford F150 2x2
2007 25 ft Sunline
From SW PA

 

[jbrostek]

Even with my breakdown delaying my arrival and a member of another family contracting acute broncitis, we still had a great time. We always enjoy our trips to Disney and have already started to plan next year. We are discussing leaving on New Years Day, spending 2-3 days near St. Augastine, and then arriving at Disney for the rest of our stay in FL. I think its a great deal, even if we just did Disney the entire time and just avoid the parks on New Years Day.