Trip Report - Reader's Digest version

[2goofycampers]

 

[kampfirekim]

One drink from that green hose and you'll be running to stall #2 for a kungaWHOOSH!

ICE TEA SPRAY ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN NOW!


FWG....

YOU ARE NOW OFFICIALLY A TR ROCKSTAR!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

My wife made me go back to work. I am hoping I can wrap this up tonight. Still have 2 more parks, DTD and some relatively unimportant info re. the trip home.

 

[BradyBz12]

Keep it coming!

Awesome pics, even better commentary.

 

[auntie]

Gonna have to try the Morrocan coffee sometime for a mid-day jolt! Sounds just about right.

Reading the TR with interest, we just cancelled our reservations for a 4 day parents only escape weekend planned for November - could not count on someone watching the little ones while we were away. Traded up for a planned 10 day trip with the kids next August though, so we can start day dreaming again.

Like the pictures of the new trailer - did you get it powerwashed while at the site?

There is no escape for parents. Oh sure,... You can try...but they always find ya.
Or..as my husband is so fond of saying..."We can't shake this kid"...

 

[auntie]

My wife made me go back to work. I am hoping I can wrap this up tonight. Still have 2 more parks, DTD and some relatively unimportant info re. the trip home.

Now really...I have to question her priorities. Work?..Food on the table...or a trip report.

 

[hotmamac]

Now really...I have to question her priorities. Work?..Food on the table...or a trip report.

I'll take the trip report everytime!!!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Jim where are you??? We need more!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Between the hospital and my joint I have been crazy busy. I hope to wrap this up in the next couple of days if possible.

 

[kampfirekim]

I'm confused.

Do you work at the hospital and your joint hurts

Or are you in the hospital because you smoked too many joints?

J/K Looking forward to the rest when you're able to get to it.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

I'm confused.

Do you work at the hospital and your joint hurts

Or are you in the hospital because you smoked too many joints?

J/K Looking forward to the rest when you're able to get to it.

 

[liv luvs disney]

I'm enjoying your Reader's Digest version TR. I just wish you would continue on with it already!

I want you to know that I went through a deep depression when Lisa announced you would be leaving the Fort the day before I got there. I thought I scheduled our visit to coincide with the latter part of your visit in hopes to meet you. I don't know what happened. Regardless, I was very disappointed. However, when I saw the "Fort Wilderness" sign on my arrival, I snapped out of that depression pretty darn quick.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Two weeks ago today was MK day. I don't have any good pics of MK. That's because I don't think MK has been this ripped up since 1971. Half the buildings on Main Street are covered with a dirty sheet with buildings painted on it, Toon Town is walled off and is a big pile of dirt. There are cranes by the castle. Pooh is walled off while they move the big pooh tree. Small World is closed for rehab (didn't they just do that?). Okay, maybe small world closed for rehab isn't all bad. Anyway, if you are a big MK fan and planning a trip to WDW to see MK, I would postpone the trip for a year or two. The mansion needs some attention - footprints on the upside down stairs didn't work and the old dude in the coffin was trying to get out but not saying anything. Big Thunder is cool. Ate at Cosmic Rays - excellent rotissiere chicken dinner for 9 bucks, the rest of the counter service restaurants could take a lesson from them in efficiency, and you get a dinner show with the infamous Sonny Eclipse. The People Mover is back - thanks, Disney. But it's still TTA, not WEDWAY. I'm working on that one.

Hey, here's a good lesson - don't take your wife on Space Mountain right after lunch with Sonny. Not a pretty sight. Well, she did keep it down, I'll give her credit for that - way to go, hon.

Space Mtn. changes were good - finally some cool intergalactic music during the ride instead of sounds of wimps screaming and lightweights with dry heaves.

Had a Dole Whip float. Gotta have one of those every trip.

Went back to the trailer, threw something on the grill, ate it, drank a Kungaloosh and went to bed.

Next up - studios and some interesting sights at DTD.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Yippee!! He's baaaack! Keep it coming!

 

[DaveInTN]

Bout time! Keep it coming Jim. Throw something on the grill, drink a kungaloosh and go to bed.

 

[ambertides]

Great pictures!

I love those nachos in Mexico. I have to get them with fresh cheese instead of the nacho cheese, but they're still awesome.

Next time I'm trying an empanada, though.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Guess I lied about no pics of MK.

Proof of the name change:

Me on a scary ride:

Fire chief - I love this guy. He's been around forever:

The Big Cheese:

The Goof:

The Wood Man:

Some mouse plants:

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Okay, kids, let's wrap this thing up, shall we?

Thursday was Studios day. Started off with coffee and a carrot cake cookie at the Writer's Stop. Don't tell anybody about this place, though, it is my secret. If you do find it, the carrot cake cookie is amazing but should be shared with a friend. I think it may not be too good for you despite the inclusion of carrots.

Went on the backlot tour. Not the same since you can't see the Golden Girl's house. Here is a pic of the ball of bones from one of the Pirates movies, but the guide went past it twice and never said anything about it. He just kept talking about the stunt show.

Water tower with big ears:

Muppets - one of the best shows at the studios, and much better now since the rehab:

Where else can you be on both coasts at the same time?

Had my second bad experience with Disney counter service at the Studios. I think they were trained by the folks at Flame Tree. Went to Backlot Express, ordered a Southwest Chicken salad, waited 20 minutes and got ignored, complained to a manager, got my salad and was comped a desert. Salad was tasteless. If you have ever had a Southwest Chicken Salad at McDonald's and liked it, I would advise you to go off property and get one.

Saw American Idol twice. I like that show. Some were good, some not so much.

Went back to the trailer, threw some meat on the grill, ate it, and two Kungaloosh (Kungalooshes? Kungaleesh? Kungalie?), went to bed.

Final day - DTD day. We buy our Disney crap on the last day. Met up with my buddy Andy, bought our stuff, had lunch at Capn Jacks, the waitress messed up the order and brought me somebody else's Chicken Parm sandwich, I ate it anyway, she later brought my Pot Roast sandwich, which I gave to Andy for his dinner later.

I am going to write my DTD experience in a separate post. Please read.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Okay, so FWGirl sent me back to the truck with a bunch of bags (which is why she takes me to DTD, I have discovered - I am the fetch and carry boy). I was walking back from the lot passing that store where all the kids play with those interlocking blocks and saw a rather large crowd (maybe 10-15) of guys all standing there, not saying anything, just looking over at that giant green sea serpent made of those same interlocking blocks. So I looked over to see what was going on. At first I didn't notice anything. Just the block thing, and a young woman leaning on the fence looking at it in a green dress. It was a breezy day, and about then the wind kicked up along with the young woman's garment. Apparently she was either camping at the Fort or had raided somebody's clothesline. This brought a loud sigh from the audience along with many smiles. About this time I noticed some angry wives heading over to the group, so I took off. I just couldn't stand around for the carnage that was about to happen.

That evening I was packing up some stuff. Lisa and Bruce stopped by and we chatted and said goodbye. By then I had already thrown something on the grill and ate it, but I didn't have a Kungaloosh until I had packed the truck. Rained that night, closed up the trailer the next day, hooked up and drove home. That's it, kids.

 

[Magicbus]

You're just a young pup.
The "Streets of America" at HS is one of my favorite places.
What's the story behind the hat?