Lou...

Looks like you & I lucked out today. Even had to take out the sunglasses.

It's understandable that you're excited but take a deep breath Itch. IMO, real time reports are not as good as the post trip reports. An occasional update is good though. Post your site number so that we can find you. I'm planning to stop by the Fort on my way out this coming Friday afternoon so hopfully I can meet the four Fiends that will be there.

Ya, what she said.

Follow the links below to locate the characters you want to meet. For the appearance times of those characters, pick up a "Times Guide" when you enter the park. If you need anything else let me know. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/entertainment/character-greetings-epcot/ http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/entertainment/character-greetings-magic-kingdom/ http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/entertainment/character-greetings-hollywood-studios/ http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom/entertainment/character-greetings-animal-kingdom

Looks like for once the forecast appears to be right. Didn't someone post that they'd never seen it rain all day at WDW? Well, it has today. What are you camping in?

You're too funny DB.

And I thought all the whoppers were at Burger King.

You're right Stef, that photo didn't do us justice, so I cropped it. And yes, everyone tells me I look like a young Tom Selleck. Hey, if you have it, you have it. And for the record, Stef is 5'6" so you can see that I'm at least 6'. Seriously, for me, the original photo was taken at a good distance and you can't tell how tall we are, or are not. Nice job on the TR. Did someone, who you'll divulge later I'm sure, give you some pointers?

Ya, thanks a lot, but you have it backwards. I want fewer people to ride the buses. Why would I want more work? I am retired after all.

Man, I wish I had come up with that line.

Clarification, Never used on the Fort's internal routes. Your chances of getting the older bus on the external routes is 25/30%. That's the percentage of the fleet that are still RTS buses. If you're getting one half the time, you're just unlucky.

Lurking over there is not going to get you banned here, but I will let the air out of your inflatables next time you're at the Fort.

In addition to the Admiral Joe Fowler there is the General Joe Potter and the Richard F. Irvine ferryboats. All three were renamed in 1999 to honor the three men that were most responsible for the building of WDW.

Who is Admiral Joe Fowler? http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Joe+Fowler

It's part of the Magic of Disney Animation attraction at HS and is also at Disney Quest. When they discontinued the animation studio at HS, they needed something to replace it. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/attractions/magic-of-disney-animation http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/entertainment/disney-quest-indoor-interactive-theme-park

If you're in the area and have never been to Celebration, stop in. As my wife is the Celebration Rotary Club's prez, we'll have to be there. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-national-pie-championship-20110324,0,5562680.story

I wonder how they know? Is it a smell when they reach a certain point? I'm going to kidnap your little Buddy someday, he's so cute. The strange thing about our Buddy finding the site is that usually he stops every 10 feet to sniff and mark the spot, but yesterday he just took off and didn't stop. Gail & I looked at each other about half way there and said he can't be doing what we think he's doing. I guess it's not that unusal. I'm sure we've all heard the stories of cats & dogs finding their way home from long distances.

The Gillig is favored by drivers and passengers alike. It has the best instrument panel and has the best climate control system of the 3 buses. It's the most common bus used at the Fort. The RTS is the older bus. It has the steps. They are being phased out. Never used at the Fort. The Nova bus is a piece of crap made in Canada. Rumor has it that early on the roof AC system would catch on fire. They vibrate at 40mph. They have an annoying self braking system that engages as soon as you lift off the gas. You can't coast without feeling the bus jerk repeatedly. It will actually come to complete s

Hey, it's Disney transportation. So what if it's in Tokyo. How come WDW doesn't have these cool looking buses? I want one.

Deb must know me better than I thought.

Ahh, but you would be mistaken TripleB, I see it all too frequently. In fact Friday the monorail went down, so the tug had to go in and get it. Guess what happened? The tug broke down. So now the tug needed a tug. It was a mess. Buses had to be diverted to TTC and the resorts most of the morning.

They look like they're waiting for someone to tow them. Is that even possible?

Yup, I do, but in engineering design, function always should trump style. Let's not forget that they are buit by a Canadian company, Bombardier.

Aren't they pretty. Not a picture, but while were on the subject of the over rated but cool looking monorails. Fairness in reporting dictates that I reveal that I find the monorails to be a poor excuse for mass transit. They are the most flawed and expensive form of mass transit in use today. Did you know that each monorail requires over 4 mechanics to maintain it, however one mechanic is able to maintain nearly 5 buses? At today's estimated cost, a one mile monorail system is equal to the cost of 350 buses. Monorails only service 3 of the 34 resorts on WDW property. With the constant breakdo

Here's an amazing thing that happened at the Fort today. We stayed in site 911 for a few days over the Labor Day weekend. While we were there today riding our bikes we decided to stop at TCD's site, yes, you heard me correctly, to let Buddy walk around. It appeared that he was on a mission to get somewhere so we just let him lead the way. He not only took us the the 900 loop from the 1500 loop but to site 911. When we got there, he plopped himself down next to the RV that was there as if it were his MH. He didn't stop at any other sites. When we got very close, he hesitated for a second, but