Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Along with the help of a few 'operatives' (TCD, FlaFortCampster, DisneyBishops, Tiggntaz, and others) I have developed a resource to address a particular need in the Fort Fiend community:Every map available for Fort Wilderness only list the loops numbers and they are not drawn to scale... until now!Announcing the Fort Wilderness GoogleEarth Site Map. This is still an early version and there are many improvements to come, but I wanted to release it now to keep others from duplicating my efforts, especially due to the recent interest in such a resource. Since there are improvements to come, my prime request is that you not redistribute the .kmz file (GoogleEarth placemarks file), but feel free to send folks to the website to download it for themselves. This way, folks will always know where to go for the latest version.Another request, use this information for good, not evil! Seriously, if FW suddenly starts getting tons of requests for specific sites they may decide to stop honoring such requests altogether. Besides, the chance of a particular site coming available to coincide with your check-in is pretty remote during all but the slowest seasons. So the suggested method for getting the type of site you want is: list the things you want in a site, suggest a loop that you think accomplishes those goal best, and then perhaps mention a couple of sites that you think would be ideal.As I mentioned above, there are many improvements to come. The most recently completed was to update the 600 loop to match the newly expanded configuration. Next will be to add the cabin loops.I am very excited to hear your feedback as to how this resource could be improved. Much more information about the project and plans for the future are on the webpage. So, are ya ready?A Brief Tutorial:First, you must download and install GoogleEarth software from here. If you have done that already and can successfully launch it and see the satellite imagery, then you are ready to use my file.The next step is to download my placemarks file from here. To get started, I'd recommend getting the Fort Wilderness.kmz file. It is smaller than the Fort Wilderness.kml. Once you download the .kmz you should be able to double-click it to open it. If you get an error message saying you need to pick an application, find GoogleEarth to open the file.My file is a set of data that gets mapped into your GoogleEarth. Once it is opened you should see a folder in the left pane under Places called "Fort Wilderness". If you see two (or more!) "Fort Wilderness" folders you would do well to select and delete them all, and then re-open the newest one.If you double-click the folder, your view should shift as you fly to Fort Wilderness :banana:. The initial view is a high altitude position to see an overview of the whole Fort, like this:From here you can use the hand to grab the view (just click and drag), or double-click anywhere to zoom in a bit. The more you zoom in, the more info you'll see. For instance, you will see the loop name first, but if you zoom in you will see individual site numbers.Here you can see the loop numbers:...and here you are close enough to see site numbers:Note also, that as you got closer the big marker for the Meadows Recreation Area was replaced by the individual attractions in the rec area (the Sing-a-Long and Bike Barn can be seen in that last picture). If you see a site name that is underlined in the Places pane, that site can be clicked on to show more info... usually a picture of the site, like this:You can try to click any icon you see, and there is often more info that will pop-up. For instance, of the three icons you see in the overview the Settlement and the Meadow have pop-ups with video in them, whereas the Outpost one is merely a marker and has no pop-up.For instance, this is what you see if you click the "1500 Loop" icon:That is a loop tour video (compliments of Tiggntaz) and some other info about the loop, including average walking distances to Fort features.If you put your cursor in the top right of the view, navigation tools will appear which will allow you to manipulate your view, in just about every way conceivable (pitch, rotation, elevation, etc).But the best advice of all is to play around with it... you can't break it! You'll be amazed what you can discover. Under the Places pane, there is a Layers pane with TONS of cool stuff to explore... try turning on 3D Buildings and check out the Disney Parks! Here is the 3D view of the Meadows area:Enjoy, give feedback, and use it for GOOD! Link to post Share on other sites
daddyphat808 - Eric 16 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Wow! this is awesome. I see me getting even less done at work! Link to post Share on other sites
daddyphat808 - Eric 16 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 The links have an extra http:// in them. Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks Shanta! No matter how many times I visit the fort, I can't ever remember the site numbers unless I stayed in it and took a picture Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Lisa 53 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks for bringing this over here, Shanta!!! I have spent many an evening looping at the fort with your google maps. It is a great way to "be there by proxy". Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Fabulous!One thing - "Site MapsPlease do not post this placemark on the GoogleEarth Community site as we need to retain editability of these markers. Please visit the camping forum at the DISboards for the latest version of this data set." Link to post Share on other sites
H in SC 85 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks so much for posting this info over here, it is much appreciated. :D Link to post Share on other sites
Just Whipperwhirl 24 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks Shanta! It feels like Christmas Morning. Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 The links have an extra http:// in them. Thanks, I fixed the links in the original post. Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Fabulous!One thing - "Site MapsPlease do not post this placemark on the GoogleEarth Community site as we need to retain editability of these markers. Please visit the camping forum at the DISboards for the latest version of this data set."Yeah, the project-status site will need some major re-work to get it up to date. I was more worried about getting the info in post #1 right, and getting the GE data up to date. Thanks for reminding me that my work is not done though! LOL Link to post Share on other sites
Kazlac4 3 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Shanta, you are the man!! Many thanks! :partythree: Link to post Share on other sites
beccaewert 10 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks Shanta! It feels like Christmas Morning.it does :partythree: many many thanks!!! Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Ah, FF.net feels even more like home now that Shanta's Google Earth posts have arrived. Thank you for taking the time to move this over here, Shan. Link to post Share on other sites
datgrt@fw .... Doug 1 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 'Thanks' Shanta ......... I /we really appreciate you posting the 'FW Site Maps in GoogleEarth' here on the Fort Fiends site! Link to post Share on other sites
brerroadrunner 8 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Very nice! Thanks for all the info made easy. Easy for us that is.. :heart: Link to post Share on other sites
freshlybarked 4 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Nice to have you here Shanta. Thanks for all you do for us. Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks! I have just explored all of FW and WDW! I appreciate you posting this here for us! Link to post Share on other sites
AuburnJen 777 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks Shan. I know you have been terribly busy and I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us out with a tremendous treasure and asset. You da man! :rofl2: Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks SHAN!!! This is great!! Can't wait to get back to my home computer so I can play with this again!!!!!! (Can't load Google Earth on the work puter) Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted March 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 I'm glad so many folks find this to be a useful resource. As for moving it here... I made it for the use of Fort Fiends, so where else could it be but FortFiends.net? For now I am leaving the old info and links intact "over there" but I won't be advertising updates or responding to questions about the maps on that site. This is the new home for FW Site Maps, and the project page will soon reflect that fact. Thanks Jen for making a Fiend friendly home for us! Link to post Share on other sites
HillBillyWhisperer 20 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Christmas in February! Thanks!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Retired and Happy (Ken) 101 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Am I confused or just slow? If I have GoogleEarth on my desktop and access the .kmz file, is there anything else I need to access? I tried to access Site Data, but it said I needed Adobe Flash. When I installed that, it still said it was not installed. Link to post Share on other sites
homebrew 14 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 Am I confused or just slow? If I have GoogleEarth on my desktop and access the .kmz file, is there anything else I need to access? I tried to access Site Data, but it said I needed Adobe Flash. When I installed that, it still said it was not installed.Not sure if it'll work but give this a try. Point your cursor at the program you want to open...right click.....a box should pop up with different options. Pick "Open with" and hover over it for a second and one of the options it gives you might be google earth. Link to post Share on other sites
Ghester 0 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I'm glad so many folks find this to be a useful resource. As for moving it here... I made it for the use of Fort Fiends, so where else could it be but FortFiends.net? For now I am leaving the old info and links intact "over there" but I won't be advertising updates or responding to questions about the maps on that site. This is the new home for FW Site Maps, and the project page will soon reflect that fact. Thanks Jen for making a Fiend friendly home for us!Shanta thank you so much for bringing this over!! :banana: My DH and I have spent so much time using it. Even DD11 has it on her laptop and she likes to loop also. LOL. I think that it is an honor that you are here and I look forward to reading your posts. I also hope to meet you at the fort one day :oGina Link to post Share on other sites
canadianfockerfiend Trevor 1 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thanks for bringing it over and posting it. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts