Never Forget 9-11
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
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Went to Disney's Fort Wilderness last week for 6 nights. My, DW & DS and I in our MH and a family of four friends in their TT. We checked in at 2:30pm. Check out time is 11:00 and check in is at 1:00pm. We were assigned sites opposite of each other.
My friend was in front of me so I waited for him to try and back in his TT. He had a hard time and it took almost an hour and a lot of help from Disney employees to get him in (in his defense it was a tight spot). While he did this I unloaded my golf cart from the trailer on the MH. I pull the cart up to my spot and there are two small TT parked on the site and kids running all over the place. There is absolutely no sign that they have even thought about packing up.
I then see a woman and a man exit one of the TT. (for the record they looked like two "crack heads".... I make that judgment on numerous years of experience in Narcotics enforcement). I ask the "gentleman if this was his site and he said yes it was and that they would be leaving in a couple of hours. I explained that I was assigned this site. He said they had not gotten to sleep until 7:30am and they were tired.
At this point I called the front desk and explained what was going on. They offered to give me and my friend other sites... but when he realized who my friend was, he decided he should stay parked after his parking ordeal.
They sent someone to talk to the folks who should have left. I did not hear what transpired, but whatever happened it did not motivate them to leave. Disney told me to drive my MH up to the front desk area and wait till these folks left so I could set up in my reserved paid for spot. After about an hour of sitting in the lot while running the gen I told Disney they needed to give me a place to hook up so I could cool my MH and fridge. A while later they sent me to a site on the other side of the campground.
6PM roles around and my friend calls me from his site and tells me they did not pack up and they just left in their golf carts. I take a ride over to "my" site in my golf cart and the folks on my site also pull up. I explain that I should have been here at 1pm if I wanted. They in return tell me they did not get to sleep until 730am and they needed to rest. I explain that that is not my problem. At this point the potential for an ugly situation is brewing. I use my best judgment, tell him I will return once he is gone and drive away.
7pm and I return to my friend TT to make dinner arrangements for our two families. Mr Crackhead yells out to me that Disney is charging him for another day so he is not leaving. I thank him for the info and I thank God that I have seen way to much in life... and that I have learned to not let the little things get to me. Life is to short to worry about the uncontrollable little things. We decide on pizza and I go and pick it up. By the time I got back the "rude" family was gone.
We did not get set up till very late. Disney called me back and gave me a refund for one night of camping.
I have a few questions:
Since when does Disney allow two TT on one site?
I know Disney is a friendly place...but I think they should have "motivated" these folks to leave a bit earlier.
Turned out we had a great week. Even the rain did not get us down. We really had a blast. I hope I taught my son a lesson on patience and picking your battles. These folks were beyond rude...they only worried about themselves. I am glad that this was a uncommon event in the camping world and I have not let it leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Thanks for listening......
2000 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 34T
Florida's Gulf Coast
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downtheroad
Tumbling Waters, Washington
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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You and I are cut out of a different piece of cloth. I would have been fine with it until about 2pm....then well..., I know myself and know that I would not have come close to showing the patience and self restraint that you did.
Shame on them and shame on Disney.
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Bearnkat
Fort Worth, Texas
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Joined: 07/30/2004
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What a grouch! I've never heard of anything happening at FW like you described. Bummer! I'm glad the rest of your week went well. I just don't understand why some folks act the way they do!  I think you were way past being patient! I know I wouldn't have been able to keep my cool.
* This post was
edited 06/30/08 03:04pm by Bearnkat *
Chuck & Terry
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JabotheHutt
Chattanooga, TN
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I think you were fantastic in your fortitude to not let this situation turn into a match of wills. Rightfully, the campground charged the proper people and credited the proper people. While I also am not one to allow myself to be run over, the fact remains, that until they moved, that was still their site, and me standing over them makes the situation worse, and me even madder.
And no, not Shame on You. Congrats for the self discipline!
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rhillx4
Huntington Beach ,CA
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Joined: 10/13/2007
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Well you are a much better person than myself. I may have been able to control myself for an hour or 2 after the checkout time. But that would have been it. LOL Thankfully there are not that many rude campers in the world. Glad it did not ruin your trip.
Safe travels!
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caqui
Garrison MN
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Joined: 06/30/2008
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WOW! I'm glad you stated that this was an unusual event in camping. There are rude people everywhere, especially on the freeways and roads. If we let them get to us that would be rage and I don't think I ever heard of camp rage!
You were a great example to your son.
Mom of three sons.
caqui
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Burro
U.S.A.
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Joined: 12/14/2004
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Congratulations on your infinite patience. We all know there's no point engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
You set a wonderful example for your son.
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TomW2
Southwest Washington State USA
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Joined: 05/23/2005
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Wow, I can't believe that Disney allowed that to happen. About 2:00 they should have notified the interlopers that at 3:00 there would be law enforcement and a tow truck to help them get going and that Disney would not be the one paying for the tow truck.
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Chemgoddess1
Suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio
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Joined: 07/29/2002
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How did Disney allow you to check in knowing that your site was not available? I would think that someplace that busy and that famous would have someone going around and clearing/straightening sites in those two hours between check out and check in. Our State parks do it, don't see why they are not capable of it.
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RetiredbutWorking
Central Texas
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Why should Disney care! They got an extra nights rent from their over priced, over crowded parking lot.
RBW
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