Sleigh ride to see holiday lights at Fort Wilderness

[Bus36]

I tried to book a regular carriage ride (non-"sleigh", non-"holiday") at FW for the Tue before Thanksgiving today. CM said nothing could be booked for carriage rides at that time at FW (only at POR). I asked it the carriage rides switched over to 'holiday mode' then, and she said that could be the reason, but they haven't opened the sleigh rides yet. So, I,m not sure what to think or believe. No carriage rides of any kind around TG?

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Update on my experience:

I called again and was able to book a regular sleigh rides at FW for the week of Thanksgiving. I was previously told by another CM they were not available. The CM who helped me today says the holiday sheikh rides begin 11/30.

I was booking two carriages. Preferred time was 8:30. I got the last ride available at 8:30 (for my wife and i and son, 2) and my other is at 9pm. ( for my parents). I put that in there to show that certain times are already full, even 4 months out.



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[howedaniel]

We did this Christmas 2010, it was our first time at Disney for the holidays (we usually go in summer) and it was such a great experience

 

[cruella4me64]

Quite a bit of price difference between the sleigh ride and the wagon ride. What makes it the sleigh ride worth the extra money?

I subscribed to this thread when I saw this post, but have missed seeing an answer.

Does anyone know the difference in routes?

Does one go through the decorated campsites better than the other? Sounds like renting a golf cart is priced comparable to the sleigh ride. Wondering how much more campsite viewings, if any, the sleigh ride provides more than the wagon ride?

Driving around in a golf cart sounds fun too. I will have a rental car, but, shoot ... when in Disney!

 

[DsnyMama]

I subscribed to this thread when I saw this post, but have missed seeing an answer.

Does anyone know the difference in routes?

Does one go through the decorated campsites better than the other? Sounds like renting a golf cart is priced comparable to the sleigh ride. Wondering how much more campsite viewings, if any, the sleigh ride provides more than the wagon ride?

Driving around in a golf cart sounds fun too. I will have a rental car, but, shoot ... when in Disney!

I was wondering myself and I called Disney and talked to a CM.

The sleigh rides are 25 minutes and go around the wooded areas and a few campsite loops.

The wagon rides are 40 (I think?) minutes and go around the wooded areas, down to the beach area, and she CM said just a couple loops. She said the wagons don't go down as many as the sleigh because they are too large to fit down the small camp loops.

The golfcar is the same price as the sleigh and you get it up to 24 hours.


We've decided to go with a cart rental.

 

[taaren]

I was wondering myself and I called Disney and talked to a CM.

The sleigh rides are 25 minutes and go around the wooded areas and a few campsite loops.

The wagon rides are 40 (I think?) minutes and go around the wooded areas, down to the beach area, and she CM said just a couple loops. She said the wagons don't go down as many as the sleigh because they are too large to fit down the small camp loops.

The golfcar is the same price as the sleigh and you get it up to 24 hours.


We've decided to go with a cart rental.

Thanks for calling! I'd been wondering the same thing. I think we'll go with the wagon ride since its cheaper but longer since for DS it will mainly be about the horses/wagon than where it goes.

 

[tiggore91]

So if I decide to rent a golf cart instead of the sleigh ride or wagon ride, how do I go about doing it? I would only want it for about 2-3 hours. What time is the rental place open until? I understand I would have to pay to rent it an entire day, I am ok with that.

Sorry for the strange questions, just want to get more bang for my buck!! The hubby is an avid photographer and I feel if we did the sleigh ride, he would miss some shots I know he would want to get. I doubt the person would stop every time we wanted to take a picture!!

 

[tiggore91]

Anyone?

 

[AuntBJ]

From the WDW web site:

Electric Cart Rentals

Explore the more than 700 acres of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort in an electric-powered cart. Daily rentals are available at the Outpost. Advance reservations are highly recommended. To reserve a cart up to one year in advance, call (407) 824-2742. (Fee applies.)

I have been checking in REALLY late and noticed people coming in about renting golf carts. The CMs explained they would rent them but the 24 hour period ends at 10:00 AM(I think) the next morning so they wouldn't advise renting that late.

The outpost is the check-in building at the front gate.

 

[siskaren]

You might have better luck asking on the camping forum, since I'm sure that's where the experts on Ft. Wilderness hang out.

 

[uscgmouse]

I read online that they offer the wagon rides for $8 a person and they leave at 7:15 and 9pm I think. No reservations required.... Is this right?

I want to do this on our trip in November but want to make sure I don't mess up by not making a reservation.

Thanks

 

[AuntBJ]

I read online that they offer the wagon rides for $8 a person and they leave at 7:15 and 9pm I think. No reservations required.... Is this right?

I want to do this on our trip in November but want to make sure I don't mess up by not making a reservation.

Thanks

I am not sure of the times but you are correct that there are no reservations for the wagon rides. The reservations are for the private carriage rides.

 

[Woodmnky]

Does anyone have any advice as to how early to arrive for the wagon ride? We are thinking about doing this on Thursday Dec 6th after dinner at Trails End, but I'm trying to figure out how early we would likely need to line up.
Thanks

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Can anyone who's done the wagon tell me how hard it is to get onto it? We are thinking of doing this as we did the sleigh last year and loved it but we have my parents as well this yr. I am wondering if they will be able to climb in easily-is it like steps up tp it?

Also are the benches forward facing or facing out?

Do you see a lot of the campsite decs? That is mostly whatwe would want to see agin.

 

[michellelovesthemous]

Can anyone who's done the wagon tell me how hard it is to get onto it? We are thinking of doing this as we did the sleigh last year and loved it but we have my parents as well this yr. I am wondering if they will be able to climb in easily-is it like steps up tp it?

Also are the benches forward facing or facing out?

Do you see a lot of the campsite decs? That is mostly whatwe would want to see agin.

I would love to know about the accessibility of it too as mom is in a chair and climbing up into something would be near impossible!! But she would love this!

 

[uscgmouse]

We leave in 6 days... any last minute suggestions on the wagon ride? It will be myself, dh and ds (2) Should we bring a blanket? Wear coats? Any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[Jenna319]

Does anyone know when the sleigh rides are offered until and how long FW Xmas decorations are usually up? I have a private dining experience booked as a surprise at the GF on Sunday Dec. 30th at 730 for our 10 year anniversary and this sounds like something fun and unique to do before dinner! Has anyone done the sleigh ride that late in the year and still seen decorations?

 

[lvstitch]

We always just take the (non-reservation) horse-drawn Wagon Ride that loads up in front of Pioneer Hall every night.

Very low price, and a lot of fun.

http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/carriage.htm




This also is often another way to see the Electrical Water Pageant on Bay Lake.

We do this every time we go to the 7:15 Hoop:

It's just like a horse-drawn "hay-ride" (no actual HAY is used, but a wooden wagon with benches all around, drawn by two horses) that departs from in front of Pioneer Hall (the Hoop's theater) at about 9:30. The driver heads the horses down to a secluded section of beach and stops so the riders can view the EWP in private. It's really kind of special.

Do they do this all year round? I thought I had read they only do it in Dec. I can't find any information about it on Disney's web site.

 

[Mom loves Disney]

The benches are forward facing. You would have to turn sideways to look out. I hope that helps some. Someone will come along with more info I'm sure.
We enjoyed our ride last Christmas.

 

[Robo]

Do they do this all year round? I thought I had read they only do it in Dec. I can't find any information about it on Disney's web site.

All year long.

(BTW, Disney's website is infamous for being generally unreliable.)

 

[siskaren]

Here's more information about the various carriage rides that are available:

http://allears.net/btp/carriage.htm