Trip report to follow

[lisa8200]

Well, it started off like any other day,,,,Yeah right, if every other day was AWESOME . We ended p leaving to house about an hour after I planned but thats OK and off we went.Finally arrived just after noon and got checked in. We were able to go right to our site which is always a plus. we were given site 414 and we didn't care for it but oh well, any site is better than no site .There were only two problems with the site. One is that I could shake hands with everyone on their way to the comfort station because the path runs right along our site in the front. No biggie and if we used the comfort stations we would have it made. When we pulled up, the person almost right across from us was gone but, they left their car positioned perfectly to be out of the road but CLOSE.Anyone with a big rig knows that sometimes you need a little more than the road has available to get squeezed in. Well, when we came around the corner several people came out to watch the train wreck. we all agreed that it didn't look good but, I would try it at least once before going back up front. I took it slow and it slid right in first try, needless to say I appeared to be the man and they took my honesty as modesty when I said I just got lucky.We got most everything set up and the rain started but it was short lived. After the rain we did a little looping. During this we went over to see the Mouse keh TAB ( SP ) and that thing is Awesome. It's even cooler in person. Carol was just setting up so we didn't stick around, I just wanted to meet someone from the board.Then it was back to the trading post to see if they had anything new. We went to the meadows but, will go to the one by the docks tomorrow.I forgot that it has been redone until I was typing this. Oh yeah, Carol said Tent Camping Mom is here also.I need to find a picture of them. I believe that I have seen one before and I think that I have been within 5 feet of them twice already.I should have just askd but, I decided to try and verify first, some people are not as friendly as DIS'ers when strangers come up to them and I get looked at like I have six heads enough at home .then its off the singalong with Ms Sundae. We didn't get to met her yet but, this is only the first day. then it as back to the camper to rest up for MK. I am the only one that wants to be there for rope drop so I'm out voted. the hours for our MK day are 9am- 12am with evening EMH till 3am. lloks like its going to be a loooooooong day. At least there is plenty of time to come back to rest up and return later. Well, that was about all for now.I wll include some things about the site, Wildlife, and other stuff throughout to week.Time to wake up the rest of the Fam. What is it with these people and sleep. If anybody has specific questions about changes etc. now would be the time to ask. I will confirm or deny what I can. Worst case scenario I should be checking in at least every morning . I'll try to get a few pics as we go.

PS. No Otters yet but, I'm not the otter spotter....... I otter keep my eyes peeled.

 

[stacktester]

Wish I was there Mike. Sundee is off on Sunday and Monday so you'll have another sing a longer til then. Are the lakes still low? When we were there last time they looked like they were getting back to normal.

One ? I have is did you take your cart? I know you've got a 5'er so where did u put it? I was wondering if you towed it behind the camper. I've got a garage on mine but still need more room when we go 4 wheeling so I want to pull a couple behind me.

Have fun. We're looking forward to the reports.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Lisa,
So you got it in there first time!! I'm going to be going down there in 3 weeks with the 5ver. anyway to say the very least it will be very interesting! Have you had a lot of experience with towing and backing?
Congradulation!

 

[Shannone1]

Have a great trip Lisa.....I'll be watching for your reports

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Looking forward to living vicariously through you for a few days.

If Ms Julie is the CM at campfire on Monday say Howdy for us and if you see Ms Sundee please tell her also.

Thanks
Scott

 

[lisa8200]

Wish I was there Mike. Sundee is off on Sunday and Monday so you'll have another sing a longer til then. Are the lakes still low? When we were there last time they looked like they were getting back to normal.

One ? I have is did you take your cart? I know you've got a 5'er so where did u put it? I was wondering if you towed it behind the camper. I've got a garage on mine but still need more room when we go 4 wheeling so I want to pull a couple behind me.

it.

Have fun. We're looking forward to the reports.

Donnie, the lake looks about normal, or at least close enough that I didn't notice that it was ow. I will look today for that that.
I had a rack built for the fiver to haul the cart in the back. I'll put a couple of pictures up to show you waht we did. I'm not sure it will work with yours but you should be able to tell when you you look at

Lisa,
So you got it in there first time!! I'm going to be going down there in 3 weeks with the 5ver. anyway to say the very least it will be very interesting! Have you had a lot of experience with towing and backing?
Congradulation!

I've pulled and backed a few things but nothing lke this. We had a what I thought was a big boat ( 22' ) before but this is an otter of a different color .When we bought ours, it was delivered on Monday, had the hitch put in on Wednesday and checked in on Saturaday to a site that I still look at like how did I ever get in there. The rest have been alot easier. If you fax in a request before you go,request a site on a corner, ( we don't but have been in one ) after you make the turn you back straight in.If you have any backing experience it shouldn't take you long to get it.

Looking forward to living vicariously through you for a few days.

If Ms Julie is the CM at campfire on Monday say Howdy for us and if you see Ms Sundee please tell her also.

Thanks
Scott

Scott
I wanted to meet Sundae the first night but when she finished she was gone. She can move right along if your not paying attention. I was going to bring you up first thing. Looking back now, you would think I was meeting Mickey himself and telling him I knew Tigger. She probably would have known right away from the beer in my hand if I mentioned the DIS first .

Great, two days and I've turned it into a beer and otter thread all by myself. . Anyway, I'll try to put up some more info and pictures later today. Step DD could only stay for a couple of days and I have to drive her halfway back today so she can go to school tomorrow. Since I feel like I know you people, her Dad is meeting me, I'm not driving her halfway and leaving her to fend for herself the rest of the way . If I can't manage something later today I should have alot more time tomorrow morning.


Mike

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Donnie, the lake looks about normal, or at least close enough that I didn't notice that it was ow. I will look today for that that.
I had a rack built for the fiver to haul the cart in the back. I'll put a couple of pictures up to show you waht we did. I'm not sure it will work with yours but you should be able to tell when you you look at



I've pulled and backed a few things but nothing lke this. We had a what I thought was a big boat ( 22' ) before but this is an otter of a different color .When we bought ours, it was delivered on Monday, had the hitch put in on Wednesday and checked in on Saturaday to a site that I still look at like how did I ever get in there. The rest have been alot easier. If you fax in a request before you go,request a site on a corner, ( we don't but have been in one ) after you make the turn you back straight in.If you have any backing experience it shouldn't take you long to get it.



Scott
I wanted to meet Sundae the first night but when she finished she was gone. She can move right along if your not paying attention. I was going to bring you up first thing. Looking back now, you would think I was meeting Mickey himself and telling him I knew Tigger. She probably would have known right away from the beer in my hand if I mentioned the DIS first .

Great, two days and I've turned it into a beer and otter thread all by myself. . Anyway, I'll try to put up some more info and pictures later today. Step DD could only stay for a couple of days and I have to drive her halfway back today so she can go to school tomorrow. Since I feel like I know you people, her Dad is meeting me, I'm not driving her halfway and leaving her to fend for herself the rest of the way . If I can't manage something later today I should have alot more time tomorrow morning.


Mike

Thats funny, she usually has a pretty good idea of who is going to be there, she has ESP. She no doubt was expecting you and the beer would have gotten you lumped in with the rest of "the guys" on here.
Once Ms Sundee knows you she always knows you, the woman has an uncanny knack for remembering people, she is truly a people person.
If you REALLY want to get in her good graces you should invite her over for lunch She loves my cooking.

Scott

 

[Gatordad]

If you want to impress her even more, bring up the Steelers.

 

[lisa8200]

Lets see if I can et some info in here this time. Sunday everyone slept in longer than I wanted but hey, it's vacation so what the heck. we finally started on our way to the Magic Kingdom. This is DD's day so the plan is left up to her. Due to the fact that I know the park as well ( or better ) than I know my own town, I offer ( or was it otter ) little things to keep the day going smoothly. Still being a weekend there were quite a few people in the park, nothing like alot of people see but, we are to the point if we have to wait onr 15-20 minutes for a ride its too crowded ( we might be a little spoiled ) . Peter pan had about a 20 min. wait but small world had a line about 50 foot outside the building . We decided to save the crowded ones until later. the first trip we did Peter pan, Fast pass for Buzz lightyear and pooh, and made our daily trip to Adventureland for a Dole Whip. We made two trips on this day, after a break late in the afternoon we went back for the night. With Extra magic hours the park was going to be open until 3:00am. we made it all the way up to the end,,,,of 10:00pm. It's funny how the came little girl that says she can't go to sleep before midnite never makes it to even 11:00.we managed to do all of the things that DD wanted. I was "dying " to go on the haunted mansion but no, she gets scared. They seem to have started the Hallowishes fireworks with all the villians and as always they were awesome.Caraosel of progress is running. I keep hearing that it only runs occasionally but, it going everytime we visit. So Day one at the parks went good and fun was had by all.

Day Two was good as well. After dropping off DD we went to Magic Kingdom to hit the rides we missed.Most everyone knows about the Haunted mansion upgrade and it Rocks . I think it was even better than I thought. I don't know how to describe it without giving things away but, its definatly something you want to see and worth the wait. They made some changes to the Pirates as well. Anyone that has been on it since they added the Captain Jack Sparrow character probably noticed that the Song wasn't there. Instead of hearing it the whole ride you could barely make t out once. Now it is loud and proud near the end of the ride. They also made a few Cosmetic upgades thoughout. I was not extemely happy with the last upgrade but, I am with this one. We managed to do the Jungle cruise and then off for another Dole Whip .Thunder mountain is closedand that is the one Coaster ride that DW will go on. I have some friends coming on Wed. to go on splash and Space mountain with. DW will go on slash but she's not happy about it.then we went over to Buzz Lightyear where we both maxed out our scores for the first time. After that we decided to call it a day since the park was closing at 7opm for MNSSHP.DW got a text from some of her friends about going to MGM for EMH so we decided to go for that. When we got there we texted them and they texted back that the kids crashed and would not be going . We only went for them so this was dissapointing. We went on the great Movie Ride and then Back to the Fort.That brings us up to today, I'm sitting at the picnic table typing this report and all I can say is " THIS IS AWESOME "
I still plan on putting some pictures up when I have a minute. Today it's off to EPCOT for OCTOBERFEST Beer in Germany, but thats a story for tomorrow...

MIKE

 

[Colson39]

Ugh, Mike, I'm so jealous. One of my favorite beers to get during the Food and Wine Festival is the Octoberfest Beer in Germany (along with plenty of other beers of course ), 3 weeks until I get to join you in the delight that is Octoberfest!


As for the Carousel of Progress, they seem to open it up more now than they have done in the past. It used to be rare to see it open, now, as you said, it seems to open a lot more, even when it's not crowded.

Now getting to go on it is another story. I took my wife and mother in law on it for the first time a couple years ago (it's one of my favorite rides, but they had never been on it). Let's just say they HATED it, in fact it's the only ride at Disney that my wife has ever actually said she couldn't stand.

Whenever we get near it now, I always try to use some humour to get them to go on it again, but the only response I ever get is "You can go on it if you want, we'll go on Buzz Lightyear". I have yet to take them up on the offer, but I think this year I might just do that, I just love the Carousel of Progress.

"It's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!"....hah, I just put that song in everyone's head for the rest of the day

 

[CottontailCurl]

That brings us up to today, I'm sitting at the picnic table typing this report and all I can say is " THIS IS AWESOME "
MIKE

Boy, although I appreciate all of your trip report, that one sentence made me want TO BE THERE!! You took me right back to a sitting at a picnic table and "This is awesome" moment of my own at FW. It was late November so the weather was probably similar to what you're getting, the moment was just perfect. Have some fun for us!!

(PS, Colson, my family also loves CoP, because I've had a fear that the old guy in charge - can't remember his name - would get rid of it, we never go to tomorrowland without stopping in. Do you remember the old rides in EPCOT? I've heard on mouseworldradio the entire ride of Horizons and the Mom on that ride sounds very much like the Mom on CoP.)

 

[lisa8200]

Tuesday we hit EPCOT Center.Overall I would have to say that we had a better time than normal there. We managed to go on a few rides that I have either avoided or just didn't make time for in the past. There were a couple of negatives that could have ruined the trip,, you know loke no 1/2 yard of ale available outside the Rose and Crown . OK didn't ruin the trip but still DISappointing. One more negative and I'll move on, do you thinklarge parties get together before they go in the park and say " OK, when we get in there, lets all walk side by side to take up as much room as possible and if someone wants to tie a shoe, read the map, or just ask a question lets all stop in the middle of the travel way or step over to in front of the entrance to the nearest atraction " . Probably not but it seems like it. Ok lets not linger or carry on about this, I just had to get it out.
There are some rides that I havn't been on and I have always been disappointed in myself about it, We went on the Ellen Energy ride, Figment, and Nemo and friends and liked them all. The first thing when we got to the park was get our Soarin Fastpass.We got them just before 1:00 and the return time was 5:54. During the busy time It must be near impossible to get one unless you run right in as the park opens.In one of the inovations buildings there was a setup for Disney visa cardholders where you could have an individual meet with a character and they gave you a free picture. they wouldn't tell you which character and I started thinking geat, the ole bait and switch. Get us all exited and then we get to meet some secondary character. So, it's our turn and we go into the room and it's,,,,,it's,,,( dramatic pause),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MICKEY and PLUTO.
we had acouple of minutes with them to ourselves and then it was time to go. So for this has been one of our better trips.They are all AWESOME and magical but, this one has managed to step it up a notch. Wednesday is kind of a free day, I have some friends ( actually my best friend from school ) coming in today and I'm going to help them set up camp and then play it by ear ( ear,,,ears,,,Mickey ears,,,Disney,,,get it hee hee ). This friend happens to be the same one that we used to make trips every couple of weeks in our late teens early twenties.The wives have no Idea the Monster they are creating by getting us together at the Magic Kingdom. I think I've decided to post pictures when we get home, I just can't seem to find the time while here.Hopefully we will get to meet alot more DIS'ers in the future, I have friends that LIKE disney but only one ( the one coming today ) that GETS IT like you all do.I don't know about the post tomorrow since this is a free day but I may do a short one.I'll also have to wait and see about Friday Morning. With Check out on Friday and Thursay Regular Magic Kingdom during the day and MNSSHP at night, I may not have enough time to post until Saturday on that one...If only we could get the night in the Castle Million dreams that night. It wouldn't be my own bed at the Fort but I'm sure we could somehow manage to enjoy it .....I'm sure when I re-read everything this weekend I will have stuff to add that I forgot but we'll get it in.
MIC...see ya ,,,,KEY,,, why, because I'm burnin daylight....MOUSE

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Thanks for the update... keep em comin !

 

[Colson39]

Do they no longer sell the 1/2 yard outside the Rose and Crown, or is this because of the Food and Wine Festival????

I know I saw them when I was there a few months ago, hopefully this is just for the Food and Wine Festival (if I remember correctly, they haven't sold the 1/2 yard while the festival is going on in the past, because they have that big beer tent right near the Rose and Crown and they want people buying those beers instead).

See, out of all of your latest update, that's the only thing I took out of it...WHERE'S THE BEER!!! hah

 

[Us3]

I just found your thread and read through your report so far. I hope you guys are having a great time. Hopefully your enjoying the Fort on your "free day" today. I know your site well...I passed it everytime we went to the comfort station

Have you been able to see the special "Hallo-Wishes" from the beach area yet?

Have fun!
Sonya

 

[lisa8200]

Do they no longer sell the 1/2 yard outside the Rose and Crown, or is this because of the Food and Wine Festival????



See, out of all of your latest update, that's the only thing I took out of it...WHERE'S THE BEER!!! hah

I hope it's just for the Festival..The Octoberfest flowed freely at Germany so the trip was not ruined

I just found your thread and read through your report so far. I hope you guys are having a great time. Hopefully your enjoying the Fort on your "free day" today. I know your site well...I passed it everytime we went to the comfort station

Have you been able to see the special "Hallo-Wishes" from the beach area yet?
Have fun!
Sonya

No, we have never been big on watching the fireworks from the beach. I don't know why, maybe its the crowds....Crowds at Disney? who knew... We always make sure we see them from in the park though.We also used to go watch them from the roof of the contemporary but, I think they have stopped this. ( not from the restaurant just the roof ). I know that they at least say you can't if you ask.

 

[lisa8200]

I almost forgot,,,well actually I did forget, if I almost forgot it would have been in the last post. I know alot of people have a problem with the busses to EPCOT but I have nothing bad to say. It took a little while for the bus to Epcot to get there but the wait wasn't bad. the ride back to the fort we got to the bus stop at the same time as the bus so it was 15 min. from Epcot to our cart at Fort Wilderness.It wouldn't be worth it to me to drive my own car no matter what the wait but I rarely see anything positive about Disney Transportation between parks. I had this same Experience las trip so it wasn't a one time thing.If it's your first trip remember its not always bad. sometimes it's actually really fast.

 

[Shannone1]

Thanks for the update Lisa...I almost feel like I am there.

Has anyone else noticed that just about every thread lately seems to find it's way back to BEER ??

 

[proudmomof4]

Ugh, Mike, I'm so jealous. One of my favorite beers to get during the Food and Wine Festival is the Octoberfest Beer in Germany (along with plenty of other beers of course ), 3 weeks until I get to join you in the delight that is Octoberfest!


As for the Carousel of Progress, they seem to open it up more now than they have done in the past. It used to be rare to see it open, now, as you said, it seems to open a lot more, even when it's not crowded.

Now getting to go on it is another story. I took my wife and mother in law on it for the first time a couple years ago (it's one of my favorite rides, but they had never been on it). Let's just say they HATED it, in fact it's the only ride at Disney that my wife has ever actually said she couldn't stand.

Whenever we get near it now, I always try to use some humour to get them to go on it again, but the only response I ever get is "You can go on it if you want, we'll go on Buzz Lightyear". I have yet to take them up on the offer, but I think this year I might just do that, I just love the Carousel of Progress.

"It's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!"....hah, I just put that song in everyone's head for the rest of the day

Hey........do you remember that other song they used for a while.........."Now is the time, now is the best time, now is the best time of our lives...."

 

[stacktester]

Thanks for the update Lisa...I almost feel like I am there.

Has anyone else noticed that just about every thread lately seems to find it's way back to BEER ??

Yeah Shannone I have and it's mostly from that guy in MI but I won't mention any names. Must be a northern thing lol. Just kidding. Oh and btw Lisa is not Lisa. That is Mike lol. Remember when we thought Colson was Miss Colson .