RENDEZVOUS AT THE FORT - The Fort Wilderness DISMeet Trip Report October 2020

[Bishoparc]

Well, while the Magic Kingdom capacity is “limited”, it was way too busy. We are headed back to the Fort to eat lunch and give some time for it to thin out.





We stopped at the confectionary on the way out. I got the pumpkin pie rice krispy treat and the giant sugar cookie. The rice crispy treat had this lovely smell of pumpkin spice as soon as you opened it and has just the slight taste of it.




As we were walking out we happened to be there at the right time to hear the “Cadaver Dans”. @bama_ed, make sure you check them out!

 

[bama_ed]

Arc, as I was leaving the Car Care Center near the MK parking lot there was a huge line of cars at the MK Toll Booth across all entrance lanes. It was maybe 10am and it looked like a lot of people out there even then.

I am going to show the gifts I was given as "Outgoing Imperial DISMeet Chairman Emeritus" (my own made up title ) because I am told more people than just those here contributed to them. So here they are:

- Mickey-and-his-school flag. How did they know?

- Yes I am a puzzle guy. DW approves of this scene.

- A Fort Wilderness RailRoad logo (same as on the elevated water tank at the Meadow Pool slide) with my DIS handle added.

- A 16x20 high quality digital photograph by PaHunter of the MK #4 Roy O. Disney locomotive (I'm a train guy especially steam locomotives).

- A Fort Wilderness collage picture frame that will be filled with photos from this event

- A Hobby Lobby gift card for DW

Thank you all for your generosity. As I say when I do a live trip report, I enjoy reading your responses and inputs. It's like having you along!

Okay I've been fed and watered (lunch) and had a nap. Time for a bike ride for some leisurely Fort Wilderness pictures.

Dinner tonight is an ADR at Raglan Road/Disney Springs (hopefully back to DS for the last time).

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

Hit MK at 845 and folks were going in. Rode Space Mountain 3x in a row with 5 minute wait time. Knocked out Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder x2 each. I did see one of props on Big Thunder that I previously missed.


"Lytum and Hyde Explosives" pretty funny.

Got Pirates pretty quick then kids wanted to do Swiss Family walk through. Managed some shopping on Main Street.

Now...lunch at Tony's. Have never eaten at Tony's in all our trips but heard horror stories. So here it goes.

Bread is...well, bread. Nothing special. Oil is to be avoided.


DW and I had chicken scampi. Nothing special other than the obvious fact that the chicken died of dehydration.


DD both had pizza. No cardboard box to eat though...




Each of us had ice cream.


I would put it in line with an Olive Garden. Not best, nor the worst. Best part was a of this was still $4 cheaper than 4 burgers and fries and ice cream at Universal. Sad...

As far as rides. Lines go into walkways to avoid folks being bunched in switchbacks. Ride times posted have so far been about double actual time. 7 Dwarves showed 70 minutes. Line went all way around ride, past tea cups, past entrance to circus, all the way to Aerials ride. However it moved very fast and we were on in 50 minutes. It was the only exception so far.. Girls rode Dumbo and Goofy while I held place at 7 Dwarves. Haunted Mansion showed 25 minutes, was more like 10.

Few small single float events.

 

[friendofeeyore]

Thank you for remembering Arnold (grumpyaggie). Arnold loved putting puzzles together. He was so disappointed that we were not going to make this trip. Loving all the pictures & what everyone is doing. The weather looks great.

 

[Disneypeach]

I’m enjoying reading all y’all’s posts!
Got the Subsonic radio app on and wouldn’t you know it...their “background” music channel is playing the Fort’s background music! Very appropriate!
So wish I was there!

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

Those of you who have gone recently, is there anyway you could answer a few questions about the refillable mugs: Is it worth it to get the refillable mugs right now at Ft. Wilderness? Where can we get refills with all of the changes, and what are the hours? D you think it is likely that the Christmas mugs will be available by November 11th? Can I get refillable coffee and/or hot cocoa anywhere at the Fort? We loved having our mugs on our last trip!

 

[tiggerdad]

Another short parade piece as we stood in line for Splash Mountain.





Figure its last time we will see it as Splash Mountain...




Country Bears making a rooftop appearance.

 

[bama_ed]

Let's take a ride on my bike around the Fort this afternoon ....

A little housekeeping was taking place today. Keeping the Fort looking neat and clean is a job for these Cast Members.

The guy pressure-washing the sidewalk between the 1100 entrance and the 4-way stop towards the entrance:

And somebody has to come around and haul off the trash:

I hung a left and rode down past the Meadow TP to the entrance to 600 loop to admire the flowers.

Mind the rules of the road:

Pedaling further I stopped at the 3-way intersection down by 100 loop and looked in three directions:

- toward the big tree near the 100/200 and 400 entrance:

- straight ahead down the sidewalk/cart path towards Bay Lake:

- and towards the Settlement Bus Depot:

Looking further in that direction down the newly straightened Wilderness Way, I decided to go check out the new Tri Circle D in person.

Roll to the next post.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

On the way to the TCD on the new sidewalk is an unambiguous sign:

Note on the sign on the right in small letters it says the TCD hours are 10am-3pm.

The TCD the last few years was hosted the Sleepy Hollow Halloween Experience but of course it's not being held - but they have the pins for that cancelled 2020 event that they were going to put in the swag bags for sale individually instead.

All the big Percherons in the Deluxe stalls at the entrance were getting some fresh straw.

The Calliope is in its enclosed glass enclosure.

Then I sat on the seat and coasted past the Settlement Bus Depot down to Pioneer Hall to see how things were. The Hoop Dee Doo Review was shut down and the shades drawn.

A few rocking chairs have beenplaced on its porch for what? Ambiance?

Further on, a sign in front of the P&J's entrance directs people to enter through the Trails End door.

Four rockers only on the corner of the Trails End porch. Looking back along the Crockett's Tavern window:

And down the side porch toward the Game Room:

And if you're on the Trails End porch, you know what you have to do.

Let's roll into the next post.

Bama Ed

 

[Love Ft Wilderness]

Let me know if that "unambiguous" sign ends up stopping you. At least it's better than the felony(?) sign they used to have. We love riding our bikes around all over where we can. "No guests" seems to be a suggestion sometimes.

Thank you for all of the great updates! Please share if you get any intel on the exercise path or Hoop Dee Doo opening.

 

[bama_ed]

Disney wants you to wear your mask while you are out and about.

Okay.

View from the TE porch corner toward the Settlement TP.

Panorama view from the side TE porch. How long will they leave that ugly scrim and fence up?

Let's walk down to the Fort boat dock area.

Note the sign directing people back up to the Settlement Bus Depot for the bus to MK.

The "Clementine's Beach" sign has been relocated to near the boat building.

The familiar Welcome sign is still there. There are no longer any bike racks near that sign as there had been in the past. The racks are only out before the Clementine sign now.

I thought when Disney announced that recreation CM's had been called back that the pontoon boat rentals would resume but the rental window was still closed up tight.

However, when boat rentals DO resume, here are the rates:

Panorama of the boat dock where you wait for the boats. Note you can see both signs.

Looking from the dock over my left shoulder towards the old River Country location (DoNotSayItsName), that's one big pile of dirt way back behind the fence.

Let's leave the dock and resume our tour.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

The Trails End Porch still looks as good as it ever did. The banjo music is playing on the speakers to no one at this point in the afternoon.

I stood in that one spot and took pictures in all directions.

Time to get back on the bike and pedal up through 100 loop which is my favorite loop for now.

This is one way to carry bikes. I wonder what that kind of number that carrier (with bikes) adds to the hitch/tongue weight?

Up by 300 the Dog Park had some visitors. I'm not a pet owner (any more) and the last time I was here I think the dog park was still under re-construction. But they have done a good job of segmenting the space for use (fenced in) by small dogs, big dogs, and the kid's play area (not shown).

Follow with me as we turn town the road by the tennis courts to check out the Bike Barn and Meadow Pool area.

The Archery activity was under way behind the Bike Barn. It looked like fun but the occasional beating on the Indian drum was a little hokie.

What do you say we check out the pool action next?

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I will be wrapping up here soon.

You can see on the water tank above the slide the old Fort Wilderness Railroad logo that was put on my sign from last night. It's quite faded now though.

The kid's splash zone looked pretty good and wet!

And something new to me: the Gem Mining Activity station is between the Pool and Bike Barn near the bridge that goes to the Trading Post.

And somewhere this afternoon, after a brief detour, I went looking for them and yep they are still there.

This was a relaxing day for me especially this afternoon. Gotta get ready to go to dinner now.

Bama Ed

 

[team bradfield]

Thanks Ed

 

[2goofycampers]

Really enjoying the reports and the great pics!

 

[tigger92662]

Was able to snag a 10am boarding pass for RotR



Then we rode the Skyliner with @Teamubr and wife

 

[Boomer1]

Thanks for all the reports and pictures. If I close my eyes and imagine I can hear the boat whistle and the Settlement music. I expect tears will be shed when I finally stand there again.

 

[garneska]

I will post more in a bit but need some Mallory pics. Went to HS today, no boarding group for us. Back at the rig eating leftovers and hanging with Mallory. Here she is barking at turkeys.

 

[proudmomof4]

Ed, take another look at that sign, it doesn’t say “Clementine’s” it says “Clemintine’s”.

 

[bjschil]

L

Hit MK at 845 and folks were going in. Rode Space Mountain 3x in a row with 5 minute wait time. Knocked out Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder x2 each. I did see one of props on Big Thunder that I previously missed.
View attachment 532008

"Lytum and Hyde Explosives" pretty funny.

Got Pirates pretty quick then kids wanted to do Swiss Family walk through. Managed some shopping on Main Street.

Now...lunch at Tony's. Have never eaten at Tony's in all our trips but heard horror stories. So here it goes.

Bread is...well, bread. Nothing special. Oil is to be avoided.
View attachment 532009

DW and I had chicken scampi. Nothing special other than the obvious fact that the chicken died of dehydration.
View attachment 532010

DD both had pizza. No cardboard box to eat though...
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Each of us had ice cream.
View attachment 532013

I would put it in line with an Olive Garden. Not best, nor the worst. Best part was a of this was still $4 cheaper than 4 burgers and fries and ice cream at Universal. Sad...

As far as rides. Lines go into walkways to avoid folks being bunched in switchbacks. Ride times posted have so far been about double actual time. 7 Dwarves showed 70 minutes. Line went all way around ride, past tea cups, past entrance to circus, all the way to Aerials ride. However it moved very fast and we were on in 50 minutes. It was the only exception so far.. Girls rode Dumbo and Goofy while I held place at 7 Dwarves. Haunted Mansion showed 25 minutes, was more like 10.

Few small single float events.
View attachment 532014

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ooks really crowded. Great pictures. That you for sharing.