Who will join us Late December - January, Trip Reports

[Disneypeach]

I guess I should have added that I'll be at the Fort Jan 21 to Feb 9. My longest trip ever to the Fort!

 

[garneska]

Ed,

Personally I say 20 to 285 to 75. They redid the 20 to 285 ramp. Hopefully makes it better. I would check traffic but if that exchange is backed up you can take exit 44 (route 6) to 285. Of course other option is 20 to 75 but definitely last choice. From the old house we drove route 6 to 285 with the rig so no issues.

As for construction it was 20 miles it felt like. I want to say about exit 227 down to 212 at least is the rough construction. After that not too bad. There is one other section in southern GA. On Jan 1 I think you will be ok.

If our plans stick we will drive to voldosta on dec 31. I can report back before you start to confirm construction.

 

[bama_ed]

Forgot to ask - for Peach or Garneska:

Should I buy gas in Georgia and if so where? Is it cheaper in Tifton or should I wait till Valdosta? I know Lake City, once I get to Florida, is a rip-off and the exits to Gainesville and Ocala are doable but generally more busy.

I looked at gasbuddy.com and Tifton seemed cheaper than Valdosta which seemed cheaper than Lake City. I'll probably need gas at or before Lake City. What's your experience on the way down I75?

Thanks, Ed

 

[KristinU]

Good for you, KristinU. Sorry we will be gone when you arrive.

Bummer indeed, one of these years I'd like to meet you!

 

[2goofycampers]

Ed, it was the best drive we have ever had down 75 on Dec 17 for construction. I like taking the scenic drive thru downtown, Frank likes the bypass. The cheapest fuel we found that was easy on/off was Flash Foods stores. See everyone soon!
Did we ever set a date for a get together?

 

[tltay2005]

Started to get things together. Printed packing list and my list of things we have planned and things we want to do. Trying to decide which Christmas decorations to take with us, we don't do a lot but like to have a few on our site. We are not visiting any parks, but do plan to do some resort hoping to look at all the decorations. Have one lunch and one dinner reservation, other than that we don't have any thing set in stone, which is kind of nice. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

 

[Disneypeach]

Forgot to ask - for Peach or Garneska:

Should I buy gas in Georgia and if so where? Is it cheaper in Tifton or should I wait till Valdosta? I know Lake City, once I get to Florida, is a rip-off and the exits to Gainesville and Ocala are doable but generally more busy.

I looked at gasbuddy.com and Tifton seemed cheaper than Valdosta which seemed cheaper than Lake City. I'll probably need gas at or before Lake City. What's your experience on the way down I75?

Thanks, Ed

Ed,
Get gas in Georgia. From my experience it has always been cheaper than Fla. I usually fill up in Valdosta or Lake Park. Since I spend the night going down at Eagle's Roost campground in Lake Park, I just fill up there. Exit 5...

 

[bama_ed]

Did we ever set a date for a get together?

Denise, I posted a separate thread with a poll question on that topic here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/dis-meet-at-the-fort-on-friday-january-6-2017.3566688/

I hope a lot of people involved in this thread can make it.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Christmas is over.

The joy of the holiday, visiting family and in-laws, and celebrating the reason for the season are all in the rear view mirror for this year. A week from today I should be checking into Fort Wilderness. It's time to start the prep.

The first thing to do today was to check the 2 Mickey string lights to make sure the bulbs work and also the bulb in the Mickey head lamp. Happy to say all are working and ready!





Tomorrow is the day to roll the camper out, prep it inside, and air up the tires. I have to work Thursday and Friday of this week so I have to make the most of the opportunities to prep that I have.

Bama Ed

 

[Ozgood]

Christmas is over.

The joy of the holiday, visiting family and in-laws, and celebrating the reason for the season are all in the rear view mirror for this year. A week from today I should be checking into Fort Wilderness. It's time to start the prep.

The first thing to do today was to check the 2 Mickey string lights to make sure the bulbs work and also the bulb in the Mickey head lamp. Happy to say all are working and ready!





Tomorrow is the day to roll the camper out, prep it inside, and air up the tires. I have to work Thursday and Friday of this week so I have to make the most of the opportunities to prep that I have.

Bama Ed

We are doing the same thing today! All the Christmas stuff is starting to find itself in storage.
I work everyday until we leave, so DH is in charge of getting the trailer out of storage and getting her ready. We haven't used it since the end of August, so it'll be nice to see it in the driveway again

 

[bama_ed]

DD18 saw the Magic Kingdom operating hours for this week (between Christmas and New Years).

On Friday December 30, the MK will be open, counting morning and evening Extra Magic Hours, from 7am till 3am (that's 20 hours counting on my fingers and toes). When we were at MK this past March during spring break, we made it from 8am till 2am. So this is even more extreme.

She says she could make 20 hours easy in the MK as long as she stayed caffeinated. As it stands next week we will be there during 9a-12a hours.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

She says she could make 20 hours easy in the MK as long as she stayed caffeinated.

The bigger question is, will @bama_ed make it 20 hours (caffeinated or otherwise!)

 

[Boomer1]

Took down the Christmas decorations today and have them safely stored away. Start my last rotation at work before vacation tomorrow, two 12 hour days and then two 12 hour nights. DH will pick me up at 7 am on New Year's Day after work and we will begin the long drive down. Hopefully will be checking into FW on Jan 3rd.

 

[bama_ed]

The bigger question is, will @bama_ed make it 20 hours (caffeinated or otherwise!)

Oh sure. I'd find an empty seat somewhere, get a bag of popcorn, and kick back. Bama Ed



PS - Camper interior is prepped. It was obvious I hadn't aired up the spare tire in a while.

PPS - Boomer1, that's a heck of a schedule you got on the way out the door.

 

[tltay2005]

We are here, checked in yesterday (Monday) and are here till Saturday. Site 1714, a nice wide and level site. Good news is that we got our favorite loop, not so good news is that this site backs up to the road. First time for this, and at first it was a little annoying, but we Are getting used to it. DS gave me an unwanted Christmas gift, a bad head cold. Camping while sick is no fun. Made a quick trip to Walgreens for some OTCs and tissue, and I am going to make the best of it. Went to Sanaa for lunch today. Love the AKL, but lunch wasn't that great. Loved the bread appetizer, but none of us really liked our entree. We all like to try new things, so we can cross this one off our list, but we won't be back. Tomorrow we head to DS for movie, dinner and the new drone show.

 

[bama_ed]

DS gave me an unwanted Christmas gift, a bad head cold. Camping while sick is no fun. Made a quick trip to Walgreens for some OTCs and tissue, and I am going to make the best of it.

Your setup looks good, Terri. True, camping while sick is no fun but it beats being sick at home. Just sayin'.

Enjoy your stay (try to anyway).

Bama Ed

PS - Hey, the Friday forecast looks downright cold...

 

[tltay2005]

Your setup looks good, Terri. True, camping while sick is no fun but it beats being sick at home. Just sayin'.

Enjoy your stay (try to anyway).

Bama Ed

PS - Hey, the Friday forecast looks downright cold...

Thanks Ed, feeling better today. Yes, cold front comes through Thursday, wearing shorts today, will be in pants and a jacket Friday. That's Florida.

 

[tltay2005]

Here's some pictures from Monday night at Trails End and yesterday at the Beach Club and our bike ride down the old railroad tracks. Thinking we may try the wagon ride Friday night. May have to bring a blanket, Friday will be a cold.

 

[bama_ed]

On the Theme Parks DIS board, see the announcement of a new Welcome Show on the stage in front of the castle starting January 9 (which is when the train goes out for refurb). Sounds like folks will be allowed onto Main Street to shop, browse, shop, get coffee, shop, etc. DS and I encountered this at DLP last summer and it was actually very nice. On-property guests on morning EMH could enter the turnstyles at 8am. But us off-property peons (staying in Paris and commuting to DLP was not a hardship) had to wait to be let onto Main Street at 830am. Then waited for the show at 9am. Did all the posing for pictures on Main Street and in front of the castle before the rope drop. The rope drop was on all the sidewalks off the hub.

Also glad we will be there to see the old Welcome Show at the train station one more time. I bet after the the train comes back after refurb, the Welcome Show will stay on the Castle stage going forward.

FORT RELATED: Wonder if they will bump up the boat times to handle this change. If the gates open at 830am for a formal 900am rope drop, will the big boat leave out in time to get us there at 830am or will it still aim to get us there at 850am? Hope they bump it up earlier.

Bama Ed

PS - with the security screenings and turnstyles, it was getting crowded outside the gates most mornings. I think this is a good thing and will stop the mob crush going under the berm/train station.

 

[tltay2005]

Learned something new today. Since we have stayed at the Fort in Oct., Nov., and Dec., we noticed that a few sites in our loop, 1700, have had the same people in it since October. Husband stopped and talked to one and found out they are cast members (she worked at animal kingdom) and they live at the Fort full time. CMs (full or part time ) get 40% off full hook ups and 50% of premium sites. She said there are a few couples that stay full time that are non CMs and just keep re booking and stay in the same site. Sounds like a good reason to get a part time job after we retire