Week before Easter at the Fort

[proudmomof4]

I will be starting a new job on 4/22 so we decided to take a last minute trip to the Fort 3/29-4/3.

I thought the Fort and WDW as a whole would be packed but it really isn’t. I would say the campsites are at 50-60%.

There are some Spring/Easter photo ops at the campfire and bike barn.


We have had 2 dining reservations, one at Beaches and Cream and the other at Steakhouse 71. We arrived to both a little early and were seated right away. That was surprising because I thought the crowds would be insane, but we really haven’t experienced that.

I can’t speak to crowds at the parks since our annual passes are blocked. But maybe the cost of gas and the TSA staffing shortage have affected travel to WDW.

The flower gardens at the Fort are looking fabulous, I need to find out what variety of Delphinium they use.

 

[Teamubr]

How was the steakhouse? We went right after it changed to Steakhouse 71 and it wasn't good. I ordered a filet. I'm not sure what cut of meat it was, but it definitely wasn't a filet in the normal sense. It was also over cooked. I took a picture and showed it to the chef at our local (great) steak house and he didn't recognize what it was.

I found the pic on my phone.



Too bad. I loved The Wave. A hidden gem at the Contemporary.

j

 

[proudmomof4]

How was the steakhouse? We went right after it changed to Steakhouse 71 and it wasn't good. I ordered a filet. I'm not sure what cut of meat it was, but it definitely wasn't a filet in the normal sense. It was also over cooked. I took a picture and showed it to the chef at our local (great) steak house and he didn't recognize what it was.

I found the pic on my phone.

View attachment 1061145

Too bad. I loved The Wave. A hidden gem at the Contemporary.

j

We actually went for breakfast and enjoyed that.

We did lunch a few years ago and thought it was good then. We’ve never been for dinner.

 

[proudmomof4]

Easter activities:

 

[proudmomof4]

I also want to mention that all resorts are on “lockdown” for buses from Disney Springs. They have gates up at the bus entrances and are scanning magic bands. This will last until the week after Easter.

 

[bama_ed]

The flowers look great, 'Mom!

On past trips (long ago) I had breakfast at SteakHouse 71 as well as lunch. Both were good (above "Average" for Disney food standards (which is a low bar that they have worked hard to earn)).

Mom, my family is about 30 days out from arrival. Thanks for the updates and any more will be welcome - I'll try to reciprocate in kind when I get there.

Good luck on your new job/role in the future. As a newly retired guy, I can tell you that retirement is ALL that it's cracked up to be. Hope you can get to that stage soon to allow for more Fort visits.

Bama Ed

PS - any more pics around the eyesore, although they will hurt me, would be appropriate.

PPS - I can't get my head around of how they want HUNDREDS of hotel and time share guests to come on a little 2-lane road from the WL entrance back-and-forth (and buses?) . It seems like a very long, skinny straw to try to drink so much milk shake through. But hey, I might have been a Civil Engineer at heart rather than the Mechanical I was. I just hope all those eyesore cars on the 2-lane don't hold up my bus from Settlement to any of the parks (I guess that's only MK in that direction). PT Barnum is more of a truth teller NOW than he EVER was in the past with regards to the eyesore. It's an amazing thing to experience in real time. Facts are simple things.

 

[proudmomof4]

The flowers look great, 'Mom!

On past trips (long ago) I had breakfast at SteakHouse 71 as well as lunch. Both were good (above "Average" for Disney food standards (which is a low bar that they have worked hard to earn)).

Mom, my family is about 30 days out from arrival. Thanks for the updates and any more will be welcome - I'll try to reciprocate in kind when I get there.

Good luck on your new job/role in the future. As a newly retired guy, I can tell you that retirement is ALL that it's cracked up to be. Hope you can get to that stage soon to allow for more Fort visits.

Bama Ed

PS - any more pics around the eyesore, although they will hurt me, would be appropriate.

PPS - I can't get my head around of how they want HUNDREDS of hotel and time share guests to come on a little 2-lane road from the WL entrance back-and-forth (and buses?) . It seems like a very long, skinny straw to try to drink so much milk shake through. But hey, I might have been a Civil Engineer at heart rather than the Mechanical I was. I just hope all those eyesore cars on the 2-lane don't hold up my bus from Settlement to any of the parks (I guess that's only MK in that direction). PT Barnum is more of a truth teller NOW than he EVER was in the past with regards to the eyesore. It's an amazing thing to experience in real time. Facts are simple things.

Thank you! I’m looking at working 5-7 more years and will retire.

We are taking things easy and slow on this trip. Tomorrow is our last full day, I wanted to extend it for a few more days, but I need to get my bigger Pyrenees to his vet, this may be his last trip.

I’m looking forward to your trip report, you always provide so much detail and of course pics. Have a great time and enjoy your time with your family!

 

[proudmomof4]

@bama_ed you asked and you shall receive.

If you look through the trees, you can see where the TSR will be.


Here are the rest of the monstrosity (eyesore and other nonflattering descriptors) pics.

 

[proudmomof4]

More pics

 

[proudmomof4]

I spoke with a source at the Fort who wishes to remain anonymous, this is not a bus driver. I was told that there will always be sites for RVs, trailers and tent campers but 100 loop is on the table for conversion to cabins. I’m not saying it’s happening for sure, but it’s open for discussion within the powers that be.

 

[Teamubr]

100 loop is on the table for conversion to cabins. I’m not saying it’s happening for sure, but it’s open for discussion within the powers that be.

I know there are (and have been) 2 cabins in the 100 loop, but I really hope this isn't true. 100 is my favorite loop, although I really don't fit there anymore. I may book a Preferred site for next February and see what happens. I'll get a golf cart anyway, but I always loved how close 100 is to the Settlement, trading post, boat dock and bus stop.

Once that fence and scrims come down, those A-frames on the water will be pretty open for viewing from us camper folks. Should be interesting for the DVC people that get one.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Gosh, @proudmomof4, that scrim does SUCH a good job of hiding the eyesore that I-NEVER-REALLY-NOTICED-ANYTHING-WAS-BEING-BUILT-BEHIND-PIONEER-HALL until your picture today. It's like it's almost invisible but now I see what you're talking about.



I CAN'T BELIEVE that I didn't notice it before.

I'll just keep checking the DVC/Resort boards for all the GOOD NEWS about this 'Bumpkin on Bay Lake'.

ED

PS - I'm sorry I asked now.

PPS - and while 100 makes a logical choice for "premium cabins", some of the interior sites would be REALLY TIGHT for a mobile home cabin the size of CFW. Some externals too about half way around 113-109? Although where there is a will (earthmover, dozer), there is a way.

 

[proudmomof4]

I wanted to mention that although this was a last minute trip, I was still able to get a psssholder discount on my campsite. So the days of no discounts on campsites are over, for now at least.

Today was our last day, we just stayed at the campsite and got food to go from Trail’s End. Our biggest dog has kept me up for the past 2 nights so I’m ready to go home and get some sleep.

Until the next time we head over to the Fort, I’ll be watching others’ trip reports.

 

[bama_ed]

 

[Teamubr]

Thank you, Proud mom.

I always love the live reports.

I think Ed is up next...

j

 

[2goofycampers]

Great TR. Thanks for taking the time. Wow, that new resort is close.

 

[proudmomof4]

PPS - and while 100 makes a logical choice for "premium cabins", some of the interior sites would be REALLY TIGHT for a mobile home cabin the size of CFW. Some externals too about half way around 113-109? Although where there is a will (earthmover, dozer), there is a way.

Since they built the other cabins on site, I would imagine they would do the same on 100 loop. but they would need a staging area, where would that be?

 

[proudmomof4]

I plan to be back to the Fort in early June. I told my new employer that I had a trip already planned. Hopefully the new pool will be open by then. I saw a good bit of landscaping going in, so maybe that’s a good sign?

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Thanks for all the updates and pictures, Proud Mom.

Ed - best to add a day in your coveted 100 loop and wallow around every inch of it. Like the teddy bear lady who spent every day at the Grand Floridian lobby or like that lady who refused to check out of the hospital 300 days after discharge. You could be next.

Headlines…camping guy, and his A frame, refuse to exit the 100 loop at Walt Disney’s Fort Wilderness resort. Folks, it appears he has chained himself to the tree. Camera zooms out to nothing but an empty lot and one lonely camper with four dozers ready.

And if it comes to that, I’ll take the first flight down…now would be a good time to tell us if you prefer chicken or brisket for your last fort meal before they haul you off to Disney jail.

I’m sorry. I got carried away there. I really hope that doesn’t happen.

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks for the shout-out, Melissa.

I'm in a good place right now as it comes to the Fort.

Stayin' in a Premium with DW, DD, DSiL, and granddaughter soon. Requested loop 400 (across from 100 and more pavement for us) with a rental 5er. We can walk around 100/200 and say, "stayed there, stayed there, stayed there, stayed there (really liked that one), stayed there, stayed there, stayed there". All hold good memories. So if they (DVC) wants to take 100, they can have it. I won't cry. There are many downsides to 100 loop (got those scars too).

But if I have to stay back in 1500 with my popup, there are (even) more memories back there. Not as convenient as for walking to the MK boat dock but having a site on the canal with the peace and quiet is PRICELESS. When the vultures soar/glide down the road in front of your campsite because the trees have been trimmed back over the road it gives them a long glide path. You and your own kids know the Tent and Full loops (which afford long stays) lend themselves to meeting fellow campers (and kids meet kids).

I truly feel sorry for the time share folks that might want to take 100 loop. I haven't been back to the DIS Resort/DVC boards regarding the "Bunion on Bay Lake" because the trolls there can't construct a reasoned complete sentence and the reasonable folks don't want to talk facts about the camping option (with its costs and massively greater flexibility). Thus we aren't dealing with serious people. They will crash and burn eventually. In time, they always do.

Like you, I'm getting older (aren't we all?) and I think I'm in a lull for WDW right now - been going for decades with kids, going now with a grand - but we might take a pause until more grands add up or are older. For the cost of a plain WDW/FW vacation, I can do a great deal more in Europe b4 my knees give out! (just did 2 Half Marathons in the last 2 months).

I might be booking us along those lines for the next 2-3 years.

Bama Ed