Who will join us Late December - January, Trip Reports

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hey bama_ed, great pictures.

I was thinking about requesting 116 on a future trip.

How would you rate the privacy out the back of the site, and off to the side by the cabin?
Are people walking through that path back there able to see directly into your site?

Thanks!

 

[grumpyaggie]

The turkeys in 900 loop are waiting on us to show up & feed them ( no wait) we did not feed them, lol I am really missing our trip year ago today. Such good pictures & memories. Tears running my cheeks Glo

 

[bama_ed]

Hey bama_ed, great pictures.

I was thinking about requesting 116 on a future trip.

How would you rate the privacy out the back of the site, and off to the side by the cabin?
Are people walking through that path back there able to see directly into your site?

Thanks!

CP,

The privacy on the backside is fine but with some very limited visibility. The palmetto bushes make a good visual screen. There is also adequate screening down the rear side along the path/sidewalk. As far as the cabin side is concerned, we saw an older couple get dropped off there by a Disney vehicle yesterday but there are no lights or any indication that they're there. I hear the ac kick on occasionally because its on the backside of the cabin facing me but it's not bad.

The thing about this site is the noise from Trails End, the golf cart trail and walking trail, and the early morning workmen and delivery trucks. People also coming walking up the sidewalk into the loop off the boat still talking etc. but the foot traffic doesn't bother me. If you are all within a trailer, the noise probably won't be an issue for you. I like the site overall. Plus my Alabama feather and EZ ups invite conversation regarding college football.

#114 on the other side of the sidewalk is positioned so the awning side of a trailer/rv is facing the sitewalk. It was also one I was going to ask if it was available but when I was offered #116 when I checked in, I just took that. Although #117 across the street is still empty if you want me to try to save it for you (LOL).

I'll get some more pix of the site up on Thursday to answer your question.

Of course, you know but for others reading, any site you get assigned is really just luck of the draw.

Bama Ed

 

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Awesome, thanks for the info!

 

[tiggerdad]

The turkeys in 900 loop are waiting on us to show up & feed them ( no wait) we did not feed them, lol I am really missing our trip year ago today. Such good pictures & memories. Tears running my cheeks Glo

I know absolutely nothing about feeding them in the 900 loop directly my site on the first day and literally off of my concrete pad the remainder of our stay last year. Nope, I know nothing...

 

[bama_ed]

While getting ready for the MK this morning, my DD is breaking a newsflash:

the decorations on Pioneer Hall and Trails End are gone this morning and taken down overnight.



The Christmas Tree on the porch and the big one down on the lawn are gone too.



A few sprinkles overnight but we should have a dry (er) day.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

I know absolutely nothing about feeding them in the 900 loop directly my site on the first day and literally off of my concrete pad the remainder of our stay last year. Nope, I know nothing...

Working on recruiting a new squad?

 

[2goofycampers]

Ditto on what Ed said and his pictures.

 

[tltay2005]

Ed, I saw where Alabama had some severe weather, hope everyone in your area are ok.

 

[tiggerdad]

Oh weather, yeah Ed, they are generating panic around here as they are giving us a 50% chance of snow Friday into Saturday. Enjoy your time in the warm Florida region. They'll start the crazy supermarket stampede around here if this prediction doesn't change by tomorrow.

 

[bama_ed]

We've checked in for our dinner at BOG and are waiting to be summoned.

It turned into a beautiful day today and has gotten cool now that it's dark. The forecasted low Saturday night is 36 so no snow here. Terri folks were fine around us thanks.

Things are crowded here at MK. Still havent seen that rarest of creatures, the mythical 4th FastPass. I don't think it really exists. We took the 830am Keys To The Kingdom tour which lasted 5hrs and included the utilidors. Pretty neat.

Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. This is the only theme park day on this trip.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

It was a beautiful day again spent at the pool. My cousin and her family were at the cabins so they joined us. We love that you can borrow sports balls so we got a sand volleyball game going - moms vs kids. Listen, we spared everyone the spectacle of backing the popup into the site but we treated the pool to out of shape moms playing volleyball

 

[peg110]

It turned into a beautiful day today and has gotten cool now that it's dark. The forecasted low Saturday night is 36 so no snow here.

Trust me when I tell you that it CAN snow at 36 degrees. Probably not in Florida, but here in good ole NEPA, it can. Snow is more about the temperature in the UPPER atmosphere. Hope you have a "Snow free" time though.

Things are crowded here at MK. Still havent seen that rarest of creatures, the mythical 4th FastPass. I don't think it really exists.

We have managed to sight them a couple of times. They are very elusive though. Only the really skilled can successfully seek them out. You have to get the first three early enough in your day to make the possibility of seeing the fourth a reality. Often times if you are able to get a glimpse, it's usually a less exciting one (as all the good ones have already been scooped up).


QUOTE="bama_ed, post: 56928023, member: 73820"]We took the 830am Keys To The Kingdom tour which lasted 5hrs and included the utilidors. Pretty neat.
[/QUOTE] I did this tour with my eldest DD and her BF a few years ago. I thought it was pretty cool too. I don't think the DD was as enamored with it as I was. I thought the Utilidoors were cool, but I really wanted to go the "Length" of them but we weren't allowed. The Utilidoors were not as exciting as I had hoped though. Still, pretty cool when you think about it.

Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. This is the only theme park day on this trip.

Bama Ed

Sleeping in???? What's that?

Sleeping in for me is being able to sleep until 6 or 6:30 AM Particularly when at WDW. DW plans back to back to back to back schedules. My input is usually... "That sounds great honey, but staying in MK with the EMH until 2 AM and getting up for the 8 AM reservations at the Garden Grill the next day may not be a good idea for the KIDS."

 

[bama_ed]

Okay I am rested, ready, and have had my bowl of honey nut cheerios this morning... (and on my 2nd diet Coke):

We got to the MK at 8am and through the bag search and metal detectors (I always choose the wrong line). We checked in for the KTTK tour next to Tony's Restaurant and it cranked up at 830am out on the porch. While our guide was talking, the morning show (which only has a few more days to go) was being performed on the train station platform and we watched it from the rear. Then we watched the rope drop "perp walk" start up Main Street.

Ready, Set, ...



GO!



I enjoyed the tour. We rode the Jingle Cruise as part of it as well as Haunted Mansion (where ghost secrets were disclosed to yours truly) plus went backstage next to Splash Mountain where the parade floats are stored. After a nice lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace (a chicken caesar salad I had pre-selected which was included in the price), we had the "dessert" of the trip, the utilidor descent. In Fantasyland between the Carousel and the Winnie the Pooh ride is a snack counter called Friar's Nook:



And next to it was "the magic door" (no more photos beyond this point):



During the afternoon we rode our FP rides and walked on others. Dinner at BOG was lovely (our big splurge) and I had the shrimp/scallops/lobster in a bowl of pasta (normally served over "seasonal veggies" but the kitchen was putting it on pasta that night which was good for me). No dessert for me (everyone else did) because I had the french onion soup as an appetizer.

After dinner the kids stayed at the MK late into the night and me and DW headed for the exits slowly through the castle and down Main Street. The castle was lit up with its icicle lights.



Our boat to FW was "down there somewhere".



One look back over my shoulder:



And into the mosh pit:



Out through Town Square:



Bama Ed

PS - nice to see Trails End think of us runners this weekend:

 

[snowmedic]

Great job on the TR everyone, can't wait to get down to the Fort, though it will be a little later than originally planned.

The gates and fence around the pool are new for me since I was here in March 2016.

Is this the only gate to enter/exit the pool? We liked that we could walk from 15 - 1600 loop and just walk up to it. Now we have to walk around to the Pavilion, I don't think 'lil medic can walk that much further, it cuts into her slide time.

 

[garneska]

It was a nice day today. Worked and spent my afternoon sitting outside with the dogs working. I also did two loads of laundry. Waiting for the fire to die down to cook dinner.

Wish the beautiful weather would stick around for the weekend, instead it will be soggy for my race and freezing for Ed's race.

 

[tltay2005]

Great job on the TR everyone, can't wait to get down to the Fort, though it will be a little later than originally planned.



Is this the only gate to enter/exit the pool? We liked that we could walk from 15 - 1600 loop and just walk up to it. Now we have to walk around to the Pavilion, I don't think 'lil medic can walk that much further, it cuts into her slide time.

There are multiple gates. I know there was one on the side by the hot tub, one on the opposite side by the slide and one in the back/front by the snack bar. There may be others, but those I know for sure. We were there the week after Christmas and you did not need your magic band to enter, they were not locked during hours when the pool was open, which was 9am to 9pm when we were there.

 

[bama_ed]

Vince/snowmedic,

There are other gates to the pool other than the main entrance under the pavilion. IIRC there is one on the tennis court side which is where I photographed the life jacket stand. That one is nearest 1500 loop. There may have been another back on the corner where the hot tub is nearest the cart path. But I did see more than one for sure. lil medic will still be able to take a straight shot more or less into the pool area to the base of the slide stairs.

Wow. What a great night's sleep last night. No kidding. It was WONDERFUL sleeping with the windows open (but no fan pulling air through). Tomorrow should be the same.

What happened today? Made some rounds today to meet/talk with fellow DISsers and two stopped by here. Met Boomer1 and DH from Canada and Ozgood with DH and child today. Enjoyed meeting them both. Ozgood is running the Half (good luck!) and Boomer1/DH are joining us for lunch tomorrow. Rode by and said good morning to Frank and Denise - they have a fabulous campsite. Garneska (Kris) and Bert looked all tucked inside the RV this morning - guess I went by too early.

We also picked up our Kenny Kart this morning - didn't have to travel off property to pick it up. My parents who are here are the reason I got it and they used it today (although my kids got out tonight in it - NOT why I got it). We decorated it with some battery powered Christmas light strings. Stay tuned for another low light grainy picture of such coming up.

Before I head into where we went, I have to check a box on my personal TR list. Somewhere in the Fort in a patch of concrete is my name. I don't know HOW it got there. But I persevered to get it there so on every visit I go by and post a photo of it. It might disappear some day as concrete gets replaced but I make the effort to find it. A few DISsers know where it is besides myself.



So after lunch today we drove over to Port Orleans Riverside and took the boat from there to Disney Springs. DW had remarked how much she liked the boat ride on Tuesday night when we rode from Yacht Club to DHS and back. So I worked in this one too. If I had to pay for a hotel room on property, I'd like it to be at POR.

It's easy to ride the boat. Just park at POR (your MB should get you in) and walk straight in the front door and directly out the back. The boat dock is right there.



We didn't have to wait long at all.



The grounds there are really beautiful.



On the way you pass the old Treehouse Villas which are now part of Saratoga Springs DVC I believe.



The Lake Buena Vista golf course is on the way too.



Finally you turn the corner and arrive at Disney Springs over by the Christmas Store and Rainforest Cafe.



After a while over there and heading back, we chatted with my parents and I worked on the puzzle some. It's coming along - I turned my DD loose on it while I prepped supper and she made twice as much progress as I had in a shorter time.



Like garneska we grilled our supper cooking steaks for tonight and some burgers and pork chops for tomorrow. When I get the charcoal going, I look to cook more than one night's meat to get full camping use out of it.





To go with the steaks we got some mashed potatoes (2 large containers each serving 3 folks) and gravy from P&J's Takeout at Trails End. Also some cornbread to go with it and the price wasn't too bad. Fresh sliced tomatoes as our veg rounded out the meal.



A couple other updates - the big Christmas displays in 1600 loop that I had shown were being taken down today. Also it's funny to be down here in Florida and still getting weather alerts from Alabama about the 2 inches of snow possible Friday-Saturday. There is a good chance of some rain and storms associated with the Half Marathon which I hope will pass.

Our DIS poster garneska (Kris and Bert) came by with Mallory and Yeti tonight and Mallory had her Christmas lights on. They aren't very far away so it's a nice short walk for the two rock stars. We can hear the train whistles pretty loudly tonight plus we have learned the boat horn signals (1 long toot to go forward, 3 to back up).

Oh here is the golf cart with DS at the wheel in the dark with our lights on. tiggerdad, he was not going fast at all when this photo was taken - in fact, he was completely motionless.



I owe Cadav Pallor some photos so I will hop on those next.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

It was such a gorgeous day today. We canoed this morning and got a great new perspective of the Fort.

It was $13 /hr for each canoe, the most affordable but incredibly enjoyable, non-Disney priced recreation option. They've finished putting up a fence along the canal behind 300 and were wondering if this is what they are going to go to for all the canal banks that aren't "supervised".

Hung out at the site for a while

And then went for a see you later boat ride to the wilderness lodge. Construction is really coming along there

But one drink at their pool bar and we remembered why it's so much better to have a drink at your own campsite!

This was the view in the way back

Our captain, Martin, sang the whole ride and deserves a prize for truly magical cast member.

This is what a full day looks like

 

[amcc]

It was great to meet Denise and her DH and to see Ed again. What a nice Fort camping community there is here.

Spectacle of the day: we were biking through 2100 and I was admiring the skills of a gentleman getting a fifth wheel right into his site when suddenly my son was there and we collided. Our bikes got tangled and we were a heap on the floor, me ever so gracefully flat on my back on the asphalt. Good thing, we both got out with only little scrapes (and a bent tire rim from a brand new bike from Santa), bad news - we had an audience of about 6 people. That particular son is one scabby 10 year old!