what's changed?

[joyah]

So I had this bright idea of going back to the Fort next August, I personally will suffer I HATE the heat, but I don't want to pull the boys from school. So what's changed in 5 years? We will be driving from Vermont with plans to do DC and probably the state park on Hunting Island SC. Once there I want to do a day trip out to Kennedy space Center and a Sea World day. Most like we will be a Disney 8-10 days. Since some of this will be during the Labor Day weekend would there be anything special that I would want to plan on to be at Disney vs DC?
Planning is in the infant stages and if this flies it will be the boys(almost 8&10 at travel time) christmas presents a huge box of disney stuff and in the bottem will be another box with their ticket (which I will take back immediately and put in the vacation planner). All ideas comments and suggustions will be much appriciated.
The last trip was october of 2002.
thank you all
Christy

 

[Colson39]

The Fort is pretty much the same as it was 5 years ago, there are cosmetic changes here and there, but overall it hasn't changed much. Now had you said 15-20 years ago, then that would be a bit different

I'm trying to think exactly what is different but I can't for the life of me. If anything, it's nothing major, but most resorts don't change much in 5 years.

And the way you're giving them the surprise, in their Christmas presents, awesome idea!

 

[joyah]

I figured not a ton had changed. The boys at 4 and almost 2 loved the whole place and to them it would have been a tragedy to have their memories dashed. I'm still surprised how much the little one remembers, the white rabbit scared him (of all characters and he still sleeps with the pluto he picked out himself.) they have been asking to go see mickey and have been watching the travel channel a lot lately.

Anything else any specific ideas for the box? I still have their mickey head ballons that I've thought about blowing up again and maybe attaching the little box with the park pass in it to that. When they open the box the balloon would float out.

 

[LarryJ]

I figured not a ton had changed. The boys at 4 and almost 2 loved the whole place and to them it would have been a tragedy to have their memories dashed. I'm still surprised how much the little one remembers, the white rabbit scared him (of all characters and he still sleeps with the pluto he picked out himself.) they have been asking to go see mickey and have been watching the travel channel a lot lately.

Anything else any specific ideas for the box? I still have their mickey head ballons that I've thought about blowing up again and maybe attaching the little box with the park pass in it to that. When they open the box the balloon would float out.

I can' remember when the hurricanes came thru, but the biggest change will just how open some of the loops are now versus what they have been for the 20 years prior to the hurricanes. Below are two pics the first Site 1626 in 1998 and the second Site 1628 in 2005. It took me several hours to site my satellite antenna to get thru he trees back in 1998, but did it in 2005 in like 5 minutes on the first try.

Larry

 

[Colson39]

Good point, totally forgot to mention the trees. Yes, there is less trees/ground cover now then there was in the past, mainly because the hurricanes cleared a bunch of them out, or they're having to be cleared out now because of damage from the hurricanes. The ground cover also has become more sparse because in recent years the fire warnings have dramatically increased during the summers in Central Florida.

Great comparison pic Larry!!!

 

[des1954]

The biggest changes (and best, IMHO) are:

They added more golf cart parking at settlement, T.E. & the boat launch, and it's more organized.

They have re-done the electrical at most of the loops so that the hook-up is located to the rear of the site & not in the middle. They also put outlets on the sign posts to make it easier to decorate!!

They changed the front entrance so returning guests don't have to go thru the guard (and wait for an eternity for check-in guests to go thru). There is a separate gate for returning guests to use with the room key card! YaY!!

They have made a concerted effort to remove trees that were in the way of slides, awnings, backing in, etc. Partially due to 2004 hurricanes & partly due to complaints.

Most of the comfort stations have been remodeled in the past 5 years, too.

Some of the bus stops have been relocated and remodeled (300/500 loop & 2100 loop).

The Outpost Depot has been replaced by a larger pavillion with more benches. Bus service from the Outpost is more efficient.

- - - - - - - - - -

Changes I would like to see made is to re-engineer parking at Meadow Trading Post. It can be a real zoo, and sometimes quite dangerous. I would like to see them ban automobile parking there altogether, or limit it to handicapped parking only, but that's not likely to happen.

I would also be pleased if they upgraded the pool at Meadow to a themed pool. The Meadow pool has been as it is since the Fort opened in 1971. It's time!!