January 2022 Trip Reports

[JP6972]

Our route to the Fort always catches 75 at Chattanooga on down through Atlanta. Only made the mistake of taking the Atlanta bypass once. Just prepare for the abrupt slow down in traffic thats bound to happen and take our time. I do take the turn off to take 27 to 192. Something about driving past the citrus tower that brings back fond memories of when my parents took us to Disney as kids years ago. We knew we were close when we could see it.

 

[Syndrome]

Our route to the Fort always catches 75 at Chattanooga on down through Atlanta. Only made the mistake of taking the Atlanta bypass once. Just prepare for the abrupt slow down in traffic thats bound to happen and take our time. I do take the turn off to take 27 to 192. Something about driving past the citrus tower that brings back fond memories of when my parents took us to Disney as kids years ago. We knew we were close when we could see it.

Thanks for this info !
Looking at the map , wondering the best way to get from 75 to 27 ?

Edit : Also thinking that 75 - FLA turnpike - 429 , would be easier and faster ? We do have Sunpass .......

 

[bama_ed]

I love that lunchbox, any particular store or in World of Disney?

The Co-op Marketplace on Cherry Tree Lane. They were just inside the front door on the right in that first display area. The lunchbox was $24.99 and the thermos was $19.99. I think it's part of the 50th Celebration merchandise because the art style is that of WDW back when it started in the early 70s. It's what I grew up with as a kid seeing and remembering.

 

[bama_ed]

Putting the trip reporting aside for a few days and come back to it soon. Gonna enjoy the sunrise this morning.

Bama Ed

 

[ruthies12]

We always come down 75 to the turnpike to 429, coming from Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati it's the only way for us to go. I've gone through Atlanta on Thanksgiving and it was easy, no traffic. Other times we try to pass through late at night. Next trip I have us going through at 3 in the afternoon on a Friday so I think that won't be pretty but it's our best option. I think on a Sunday morning you'll be okay.

 

[Teamubr]

Looking at the map , wondering the best way to get from 75 to 27 ?

Edit : Also thinking that 75 - FLA turnpike - 429 , would be easier and faster ? We do have Sunpass .......

The turnpike is the easiest way to go. And you already have Sunpass, so that makes it easier. We take it down to 429 then normally come in Western Way. This trip we arrived on marathon day so we jumped off 429 at the first exit (Winter Garden) and came in the backway to the Fort (Vineland to Vista). You don't get to drive under the Disney World arch that way, but it avoided the closed roads for the marathon.

j

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Good for you, Ed. Soak it all up while you can. Reports can always come later.

How did the Tie Dye turn out for Medium Medic? I kept telling G + D to try that but G was dead set on the dye ruining her basket on her bike. Unfortunately unprepared prior 4H leaders have scared her from future attempts. Lol! Let us know how the transport of the wet dyed tshirt back to camp and the end product turned out.

We do a pretty decent job of finding remote areas to visit. Enjoyed a long drive through the Wildlife Reserve and an afternoon stop at Horseshoe Crab Beach. Not another soul in sight! We played in the sand for a while and then grilled some hamburgers and hotdogs.
We have a little Webber table top grill that works just perfect for lunches like this.

We made it up to Montgomery last night and now headed over to a Memphis so hubby can check out a box trailer going into his cousins auction next week. Hope to make it back to the tundra in an uneventful manner late this evening.

Enjoy the potluck everyone. I bet a Fort potluck is the most relaxing of all the potlucks!

 

[snowmedic]

How did the Tie Dye turn out for Medium Medic? I kept telling G + D to try that but G was dead set on the dye ruining her basket on her bike. Unfortunately unprepared prior 4H leaders have scared her from future attempts. Lol! Let us know how the transport of the wet dyed tshirt back to camp and the end product turned out.

The tie dye went well. You can buy a shirt at the bike barn, 18.11 with tax. They give you gloves and instruction on how to make the shirt. After, the CM wraps it in Saran Wrap and puts it into a small Disney bag for transport along with instructions on washing.

 

[bama_ed]

Well the girls have gone monorail/resort hopping this morning so I'll squeeze in some short updates.

Back to Monday night and dinner at DS/Terralina's. Overall I was disappointed in my dish but my girls thought theirs was fine.

DW got an eggplant sandwich (her choice surprised me since she rarely/never eats eggplant) and butternut squash soup.



She liked and ate all the soup but only half the sandwich. Took the remainder back to the camper though and she said it was better as a leftover this morning than when it was served Monday night. Whatever.

DD got a full Caeser salad and from the appetizer side meatballs in polenta.



She liked the meatballs/polenta. Since she is a shrimp-and-grits girl at home, she called this an Italian version of that dish. It got a .

I got the chicken cacciatore. Half a bone-in chicken in a tomato broth with veggies and roasted potatoes.



The potatoes must have sat on a plate pre-served before receiving the chicken. The potato wedges were tough and hard to cut with a knife and fork.

Terralina is right next to Paddlefish (the old Empress Lilly).



So a mixed review thus your mileage may vary.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I'll hold the Magic Kingdom day for a later post but wanted to point out the 1500 loop residents. We got all kinds of folks in here (only 2 empty sites overnight). It makes it hard in my mind to answer the questions about travel trailers in the loop.

First, though, there are two other Aliners in the loop which is rare to find three of us nearby. One time at Gulf State Park I was there with two others but they were spread far apart and that was about two years ago.





A few Class B's like this one:



A T@b (teardrop):



A fiberglass squarish Casita:



And of course a number of tent set ups like this one:

.

Here's where I get confused.

There is a small-medium travel trailer directly across from me.



And a short Class C:



Maybe the only criteria for a Tent loop is knowing there is no sewer and a small-short rig? Ok. Whatever. I give up.

I will say based on limited driving around the loops this morn that the Fort is fairly full.

Bama Ed

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Bingo! That’s what I think too. If you’re small and don’t draw attention to what you are in…

I can’t recall a single past trip that didn’t have a mix of the same type of classes and campers you posted above mingled into the 1500 loop.

Small is key!

It is better to seek forgiveness than ask for permission in some cases…

 

[bama_ed]

Edit : Also thinking that 75 - FLA turnpike - 429 , would be easier and faster ? We do have Sunpass .......

Yes. I think the exit off the turnpike is 267a or 267b and there are signs indicating the exit for "Walt Disney World". Go through two automatic toll locations on 429 and get off at exit 6 Western Way. Come east and you will end up next to Coronado Springs. Turn left to get to World Drive and on to the Fort.

 

[bama_ed]

Yesterday we had our DISMeet pot luck lunch in the big "back yard" of site 1511. We had a total of 11 folks and 3 more dropped by to say hello before heading on to other plans. It was a lot of fun. The DIS folks represented were:

@Teamubr
@Boomer1
@TheRustyScupper
@Stratman50th
@bama_ed

Also gracing us with his presence and family to say hello was @snowmedic.

@Teamubr cooked his rear end off with burgers and hot dogs and the rest of us filled in around him. Rusty also brought some Publix fried chicken. Folks started arriving around noon and the last left at 4pm. We laughed and talked so it was fun. It's always nice to put a face with a name.

Today for us has lunch at Beaches & Cream and nothing else on the agenda as it's our last full day (probably do a load of laundry tonight). Yesterday turned out beautiful (nice and warm in the sun but still cool in the shade) and today is supposed to be the same but hit 79F. I cooked some scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast this morning for breakfast and even back in my loop I can hear boat whistles. So we are enjoying the peace and quite for about 90 minutes before we head over to Beach Club.

Last night we went to Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at the Poly at the request of DD. I had been once before but was willing to take her and DW. Crowded, of course, since the room is small but fun. DD and I both got souvenir mugs with our drinks.



That's DD's on the left - the Hippopotomaiti and my Zombie on the right.

Reedy Creek/Disney has been working on the power systems on this side of the Fort since we got here. Digging next to the comfort stations, working on the junction boxes in the loops, and cutting power at times. It appears most work currently is at the Comfort Station near the 1600 entrance.





On the way to Trader Sam's there were 5 food trucks in a circle in front of the Settlement Trading Post.



It felt a little jammed together. When returning from Trader Sam's in the dark, there were lots of camper golf carts parked willy nilly down there as folks parked close to walk over to order and eat at the tables.

Fun fact - speed test of Fort Wilderness wifi from my site at 747pm Monday night:



There is a cute little Pioneer Hall hanging Christmas ornament for sale in the Meadow TP with the front of the building on one side and the HDDR cast on the back side. Clever idea, no?



Another fun fact - the background music in the Pioneer Hall area cuts off right at 10pm even in mid-song. I was in the restroom coming back from MK Tuesday night and the music . just . stopped . But I had time to admire the tile art in the men's room there.







That's the odds and ends. I may get to MK later today. And I'd like to walk around and get some regular Fort pix.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Last day. Beautiful.



Bama Ed

 

[Stratman50th]

That really is a nice site Ed.
Really enjoyed seeing everybody!

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I check in Sunday, sorry I missed meeting people!

 

[Syndrome]

I check in Sunday, sorry I missed meeting people!

Same ........ sorry we missed everyone !

We are leaving Sat AM, for a Sunday checkin as well .
Not sure which route we will take yet as the weather storm is snarling our travel plans a bit .

 

[bama_ed]

Packed up this morning. Waiting for a load of laundry to dry then out of here. Will try to get the MK day and FW walk-around pix done tonight.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I am going to backtrack and tell you about our Magic Kingdom day this past Tuesday, January 18 2022.

FIRST BOAT TO THE FORT UPDATE!

The first boat to the Fort arrives 715-720am, loads, and gets to the MK dock about 745am. The suns comes up about 7am this day.



We went through bag check and queued up in line.



About 755am they started letting in guests into Main Street up to the hub to wait for the on-site guest early 30 min rope drop that would start at 830am.

The castle was still shaking off its shadows.



The rope drop was queued up down the arm of the hub that went towards the Spinning Teacups. (your magic band was scanned at the hub to check for on-site) Right before 830am, they announced to the crowd that 7DMT would not open initially as it was having problems (we could see the cars running in the distance). Obviously much of the crowd was there for that and had to alter plans. That was Breakdown #1 (you're going to notice a trend in this post ). Didn't impact us directly but did so indirectly since those folks had to go somewhere else (some still took a chance and went in line for 7DMT).

We had a plan, though, and Peter Pan was our first ride (no Lightning Lane or Genie+ for us). Won't go blow by blow but here were some of the early rides.



A pretty pic of the steamboat while in the Haunted Standby line.





Mr. Toad still lives in the pet cemetary on the exit side of HM.



Then Winnie the Pooh and People Mover where I noticed that our beloved Carousel of Progress was NOT operating and they were turning away guests from the entrance ramp. That was Breakdown #2.

I'm still about live entertainment so the Casey's Pianist, Dapper Dans, and Character Trolley were on our list.







Rolling to the next post.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Lunch was an ADR at The Plaza. Me and DD got the Main Street Burger (never had an egg on a burger before). DW got a bowl of soup.



The burger also had bacon so does it count as breakfast too?

Calvalcade



Main Street Band



All after noon (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Hall of Pres, Big Thunder all on Standby) and CoP was STILL down. Got in line for People Mover for a second time and IT broke while we were in line - Breakdown #3. We waited it out because a mechanic was up on the ramp working (CoP still not working behind us - and 7DMT had come up that morning). He got it going just before 7pm and came down the PM ramp to thundering applause from those of us who had stuck it out in the queue.

Coming off PM we saw that CoP was spinning up and they were letting guests up the entrance ramp. Pretty big crowd but it's a great show.

Then it was time for dinner at Casey's. I got the all beef footlong hot dog at Casey's and the girls got the Chili Cheese dog. My dog was delicious but the bun had trouble containing all that beef.



Castle show and fireworks are "meh".

After castle we did standby for Space Mtn then out for the night. The castle looked great at night in that gold and blue color scheme.



Main Street was all lit up.



Even the clock on Main Street is sporting the new gold color from the 50th color scheme.



Bottom line - we did standby and rode/saw everything we wanted to. The longest standby true wait time we stood there was 63 minutes for Big Thunder. But EVERY ride (other than the early 2/3) was over estimated by 10-25 minutes. And that's counting from the estimated wait time at the standby entrance to the ride (not the app). An hour wait is my personal max. Plus I refuse to walk around with my nose in the phone all the time.

A cold boat ride back to the Fort (stopped at WL on the way). All in all, we maneuvered around our schedule but three breakdowns in one day? For these prices?

That was our one park experience.

Bama Ed