What's New at the Fort?

[Tri-circle-D]

And yes, please let us know next time the CIA of the Fort is visiting so we can make proper requests on what we want you to photograph. This is one of my favorite threads in a long time...lol.

It looks like I'll be back at the Fort in mid-October.

Everyone can feel free to make requests- I will leave no stone unturned.

TCD

 

[Buss Lightyear]

We always look for all of the converted busses when we are there too. But that may be because we are there in a converted bus. We have a green MCI bus that was once a Greyhound and now is our motor home. We are annual pass holders from Michigan (crazy huh?) and we always stay at the FW. We have named our bus...Buss Lightyear!

Bus people are used to having folks stop and ask questions, so really do not hesitate to say hi if you see a big green bus with lots of (9) kids around. We are not rock stars but the kids are BMX stars. We use the bus to go to BMX races and to travel to Disney.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Well, I am sorry to say it, but it looks like this will be my last photo from this trip.

Maybe I can open a can of worms with this one, and keep this thread going for a while.

How do you like those Ft. Wilderness ice machines? I used to hate them. Now, I can tolerate them. I think of them like slot machines. Every time we use them, it is a gamble.

Last November, we were on the 1000 loop, so I went to the comfort station that the 900 and 1000 loops share for a bag of ice. I put my money in, get the bag ready, and out comes 1/2 a bag of ice. The fellow at the site adjacent to the ice machine, who watched the whole exercise tells me- "You know, they have been working on that machine- people have been complaining that it isn't giving them full bags of ice." Thanks buddy. I guess he sat there all day watching the fun.

So, the next time I need ice, I try a different machine, and Bingo- I mean Jackpot- I get a bag and a half! I have used this machine on each of my subsequent visits, including this most recent visit, and it consistently pays off!

There was also a previous visit where I put my cash in- and the machine starts grinding- and I got absolutely nothing. Not a cube! That ticked me off.

BTW- for any newbies out there- a bag of ice is $2.00 at these machines. And you need quarters. I used to complain about this price, but I guess I hadn't paid attention to what a bag of ice goes for at the local grocery or convenience store. Two bucks is not a bad deal considering that the machine is right there and at your service 24/7.

Also, for you newbies- put the bag under the chute before you press the coin slot in. The first time I used one of the ice machines, the ice got deposited right on the concrete as I stood there holding my bag. Almost every trip, I see a big pile of ice in front of the machines, and chuckle at the poor newbies. But, since you are smart enough to be reading the Disboards before your visit, I am giving you a free tip here.

But, I am not telling anyone where the big payoff ice machine is, you'll have to find it on your own.

Now, for the photo. Look to see if you notice anything amiss:

Do you notice the price?

This is the ice machine at the comfort station located on the interior of the 2000 (tent) loop. As previously reported, the other comfort station on the 2000 loop is currently being renovated. I'll bet its ice machine is going to go up to $2.50 too. I also bet that the rest of the machines are going to eventually get this "upgrade" too. But as of last weekend, the rest of the machines are still only $2.00.

So $2.50 for a bag of ice!

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

We always look for all of the converted busses when we are there too. But that may be because we are there in a converted bus. We have a green MCI bus that was once a Greyhound and now is our motor home. We are annual pass holders from Michigan (crazy huh?) and we always stay at the FW. We have named our bus...Buss Lightyear!

Bus people are used to having folks stop and ask questions, so really do not hesitate to say hi if you see a big green bus with lots of (9) kids around. We are not rock stars but the kids are BMX stars. We use the bus to go to BMX races and to travel to Disney.

Hey welcome to the DISboards!

So, you are trying to tell me not to check out your bus when you visit?

Hmmmmm.

Sounds a little suspicious.

If I see you there next time I'm at the Fort, I will have to set up surveillance to see if you really are who you say you are.

TCD

 

[Colson39]

Great, now we're going to be getting tons of "2.50 ICE!!!!?!!?!??!?!" threads.

The Fort CIA strikes again

 

[4mickey2]

great posts...

 

[des1954]

Colson 39... Your posts & pics are amazing!! We have been avid "Fort" campers since 1974 and actually were lucky enough to spend two full winters at the fort in 2002 & 2003. We usually go once a month for a 4 day weekend and 2 weeks during Christmas. I'm really dissappointed with the clean out - especially the 1100 loop. They've removed the "wilderness" from Ft. Wilderness! I spoke with one of the full-time loop attendants who's been there over 20 years and was told the new manager wanted to make the campground a more park-like setting. He/she will find out all too soon that to keep it cleaned out will cost more money than the budget will allow! They did this back in the mid-90's and found out it is cheaper to let the vegetation have it's way.

Thanks for the great pictures!

 

[We4mickey]

OOHHH! OHHH! I think I know which loop has the extra half bag of ice. I need to verify with my DH who is sleeping on the couch. I just asked him and he looked at me and fell back to sleep. Big help he is! Okay I asked my DS and he didn't remember so I called my other DS and we both agree on which one it is. Am I allowed to post it or do we want to keep it all to ourselves?

 

[DebbieT11]

Post! Post! Post!

 

[olbear]

Also, for you newbies- put the bag under the chute before you press the coin slot in. The first time I used one of the ice machines, the ice got deposited right on the concrete as I stood there holding my bag. Almost every trip, I see a big pile of ice in front of the machines, and chuckle at the poor newbies. But, since you are smart enough to be reading the Disboards before your visit, I am giving you a free tip here.
TCD

I was absoultely cracking up when I read this post. Oh my word, how funny. And I can just picture you afterwards just standing there with your empty $2 bag going.... : HUH?????

Too Too funny!!
Winnie

 

[Katie Dawn]

TCD, thanks so much for this post! I have enjoyed it!

And as a FW newbie myself, I appreciate the tips!

 

[Colson39]

Colson 39... Your posts & pics are amazing!! We have been avid "Fort" campers since 1974 and actually were lucky enough to spend two full winters at the fort in 2002 & 2003. We usually go once a month for a 4 day weekend and 2 weeks during Christmas. I'm really dissappointed with the clean out - especially the 1100 loop. They've removed the "wilderness" from Ft. Wilderness! I spoke with one of the full-time loop attendants who's been there over 20 years and was told the new manager wanted to make the campground a more park-like setting. He/she will find out all too soon that to keep it cleaned out will cost more money than the budget will allow! They did this back in the mid-90's and found out it is cheaper to let the vegetation have it's way.

Thanks for the great pictures!

lol, I think you meant to thank TCD, I didn't post the pictures

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I'm really dissappointed with the clean out - especially the 1100 loop. They've removed the "wilderness" from Ft. Wilderness! I spoke with one of the full-time loop attendants who's been there over 20 years and was told the new manager wanted to make the campground a more park-like setting. He/she will find out all too soon that to keep it cleaned out will cost more money than the budget will allow! They did this back in the mid-90's and found out it is cheaper to let the vegetation have it's way.

Thanks for the great pictures!

If the new manager cleans out some of the more private loops like the 300 or 800 loops, to make them more "park like" there are going to be a lot of unhappy campers at the Fort!

Personally, I like to have a little privacy when I am camping. I don't want people sitting at the bus stop to see everything that is going on at my site.

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

OOHHH! OHHH! I think I know which loop has the extra half bag of ice. I need to verify with my DH who is sleeping on the couch. I just asked him and he looked at me and fell back to sleep. Big help he is! Okay I asked my DS and he didn't remember so I called my other DS and we both agree on which one it is. Am I allowed to post it or do we want to keep it all to ourselves?

No, you have to keep this quiet.

The ice machines can run out of ice, but they will still take your money. As mentioned, it happened to me. There was a cast member cleaning one of the sites on the loop when this happened, and he told me that I could go to the Trading Post to get my $2.00 refunded, but I didn't bother with the hassle. So, if everyone uses the secret ice machine, it is going to run out of ice, and then where will we be?

Plus, if everyone knew where the good ice machine is, it would take away all the excitement of using the other ice machines. They are WDW's version of slot machines.

TCD

 

[mamaloya]

I wish you had given me the tip about the bags before my first trip. Same thing happened to me. Of course I didn't even know they had bags there for you until I finally got my walmart bag filled with ice. And yes, people do stand around watching the show. When we did not get ice once, I sent ds to the trading post and they gave him a bag of ice. Since then I would just send him there to begin with to buy some. Now we have a TT with a nice fridge and no more need for ice. YAY I never was much of a gambler so I really don't need the stress.

 

[ldubberly]

Colson 39... Your posts & pics are amazing!! We have been avid "Fort" campers since 1974 and actually were lucky enough to spend two full winters at the fort in 2002 & 2003. We usually go once a month for a 4 day weekend and 2 weeks during Christmas. I'm really dissappointed with the clean out - especially the 1100 loop. They've removed the "wilderness" from Ft. Wilderness! I spoke with one of the full-time loop attendants who's been there over 20 years and was told the new manager wanted to make the campground a more park-like setting. He/she will find out all too soon that to keep it cleaned out will cost more money than the budget will allow! They did this back in the mid-90's and found out it is cheaper to let the vegetation have it's way.

Thanks for the great pictures!

Here I thought they were doing it to keep the fire hazard down. I like it better the other way. I like to limit the public views of me in my pajamas.