Tri-circle-D
<font color=peach>Throwing some love to TCD<br><fo
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2004
- Messages
- 4,937
Someone has to do it.
It might as well be me.
So, here is the first, and definitive, report on the 2009 Haunted Carriage Rides offered at WDW's Fort Wilderness.
In case you are totally unfamiliar with this, here is the official description:
Roam the woods of Fort Wilderness on a 25-minute Haunted Carriage Ride while hearing the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Can accommodate 4 adults or 2 adults with 3 children ages 9 and under.
Price: $60 per carriage
October 2 - 31, 2009
Rides at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00 PM
Three carriages available for each ride time.
This is the second year that the Haunted Carriage Rides have been offered. In years past, this experience was known as the Haunted Hay Ride. The difference between the two is that for the carriage rides, you ride in a four person horse-drawn carriage, and in the Haunted Hay Ride, you would ride in a large horse-drawn wagon, with about 20 or so other guests. The Hay Rides were also narrated by a live person, in costume, and, frankly, were much better. The narrators seemed to be competent actors, and it was probably expensive to pay them. So, WDW went with the individual carriages, and a taped narrator. I like the old version better, but the new one is still fun.
Here is a link to a report that gives the details for the inaugural Haunted Carriage Rides: A Definitive Report on the 2008 Haunted Carriage Rides
The 2009 version is identical in almost every respect to the 2008 version. The cost is the same- $60 per carriage, for up to four adults. The start/end point is the same-the special events bus stop next to the Blacksmith Shop. The narration of the ride is the same- a tape recorded rendition of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The path taken is the same- past the stables toward Bay Lake, past Pioneer Hall and the Settlement Trading Post, and then down and around the Wilderness Swamp trail.
There were some slight prop changes along the trail.
But, there was one thing vastly improved over last year's version.
The Headless Horseman chased our carriage!
Last year, the Headless Horseman just kind of sat there atop his horse as we passed him. This year, he rode around our carriage, and he tried to grab our heads!
Enough with the talk, here's the photos:
Here we are in our carriage, with our driver Lori, and our horse, Drummer. Lori was a very sweet and pleasant driver, who added a bit to the taped narration:
Here we are leaving the Vineland Station (the special events bus stop near the Blacksmith Shop):
There was a thread a week or so ago asking about the tipping policy for the horse-drawn excursions at Fort Wilderness. This sign answers that question very clearly:
As we headed out of the station and toward Bay Lake, Lori told us that this area that we were traveling through used to be owned by the Van Tassel family, who came down from New York, and started a tavern by the lake. She then turned on a tape recorder, and a narrator began to tell us the story of the Van Tassels, and their lovely daughter Katrina, and her suitor, Ichabod Crane.
We then approached a path that told us not to enter:
We find out here that our horse, Drummer, has a mind of his own, and despite Lori's best efforts, we are involuntarily along for a ride where Drummer will decide where we go.
We enter the village limits of Sleepy Hollow:
We drive by the Sleepy Hollow cemetery and pumpkin patch:
The narrator tells us that a pumpkin appears to be missing.
And then we come to a fork in the road. The narrator says that the signs were switched. Lori confirms this. She tries to steer Drummer in the right direction, but he resists. And so we go the wrong way!
We go by an old school house and bridge. It is very dark back here on the path, Lori says that we should try to head back to the tavern, and so we do. We see a few more things along the way:
We enter a clearing, and to our left we see a wagon with a glowing pumpkin. And, we see something approaching from the distance:
It is the Headless Horseman!
He circles our carriage, swiping at our heads:
Lori tells Drummer to get us out of there, and we speed away from the Headless Horseman:
Finally, we are safe, and we head back to the starting point.
Lori dropped us off right at the bus stop:
The final verdict is that we really enjoyed our ride.
If you are at all interested in a Haunted Carriage Ride, they are being offered every evening in October. You can call ahead for reservations, and I would definitely suggest that you do so. I did not call for our reservation until the week before we wanted to go. Every slot was reserved for October 15 through 18. We were only able to ride because we walked up and asked if there were any cancellations, and there was only one. I don't think these Haunted Carriage Rides were as popular last year, but they seem to be this year. In fact, on this past weekend, they added a 10:30 ride each night, and those three slots were booked, too.
The number for reservations is 407-939-7529.
I think that covers everything, but if you have any questions, ask away.
TCD
It might as well be me.
So, here is the first, and definitive, report on the 2009 Haunted Carriage Rides offered at WDW's Fort Wilderness.
In case you are totally unfamiliar with this, here is the official description:
Roam the woods of Fort Wilderness on a 25-minute Haunted Carriage Ride while hearing the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Can accommodate 4 adults or 2 adults with 3 children ages 9 and under.
Price: $60 per carriage
October 2 - 31, 2009
Rides at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00 PM
Three carriages available for each ride time.
This is the second year that the Haunted Carriage Rides have been offered. In years past, this experience was known as the Haunted Hay Ride. The difference between the two is that for the carriage rides, you ride in a four person horse-drawn carriage, and in the Haunted Hay Ride, you would ride in a large horse-drawn wagon, with about 20 or so other guests. The Hay Rides were also narrated by a live person, in costume, and, frankly, were much better. The narrators seemed to be competent actors, and it was probably expensive to pay them. So, WDW went with the individual carriages, and a taped narrator. I like the old version better, but the new one is still fun.
Here is a link to a report that gives the details for the inaugural Haunted Carriage Rides: A Definitive Report on the 2008 Haunted Carriage Rides
The 2009 version is identical in almost every respect to the 2008 version. The cost is the same- $60 per carriage, for up to four adults. The start/end point is the same-the special events bus stop next to the Blacksmith Shop. The narration of the ride is the same- a tape recorded rendition of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The path taken is the same- past the stables toward Bay Lake, past Pioneer Hall and the Settlement Trading Post, and then down and around the Wilderness Swamp trail.
There were some slight prop changes along the trail.
But, there was one thing vastly improved over last year's version.
The Headless Horseman chased our carriage!
Last year, the Headless Horseman just kind of sat there atop his horse as we passed him. This year, he rode around our carriage, and he tried to grab our heads!
Enough with the talk, here's the photos:
Here we are in our carriage, with our driver Lori, and our horse, Drummer. Lori was a very sweet and pleasant driver, who added a bit to the taped narration:
Here we are leaving the Vineland Station (the special events bus stop near the Blacksmith Shop):
There was a thread a week or so ago asking about the tipping policy for the horse-drawn excursions at Fort Wilderness. This sign answers that question very clearly:
As we headed out of the station and toward Bay Lake, Lori told us that this area that we were traveling through used to be owned by the Van Tassel family, who came down from New York, and started a tavern by the lake. She then turned on a tape recorder, and a narrator began to tell us the story of the Van Tassels, and their lovely daughter Katrina, and her suitor, Ichabod Crane.
We then approached a path that told us not to enter:
We find out here that our horse, Drummer, has a mind of his own, and despite Lori's best efforts, we are involuntarily along for a ride where Drummer will decide where we go.
We enter the village limits of Sleepy Hollow:
We drive by the Sleepy Hollow cemetery and pumpkin patch:
The narrator tells us that a pumpkin appears to be missing.
And then we come to a fork in the road. The narrator says that the signs were switched. Lori confirms this. She tries to steer Drummer in the right direction, but he resists. And so we go the wrong way!
We go by an old school house and bridge. It is very dark back here on the path, Lori says that we should try to head back to the tavern, and so we do. We see a few more things along the way:
We enter a clearing, and to our left we see a wagon with a glowing pumpkin. And, we see something approaching from the distance:
It is the Headless Horseman!
He circles our carriage, swiping at our heads:
Lori tells Drummer to get us out of there, and we speed away from the Headless Horseman:
Finally, we are safe, and we head back to the starting point.
Lori dropped us off right at the bus stop:
The final verdict is that we really enjoyed our ride.
If you are at all interested in a Haunted Carriage Ride, they are being offered every evening in October. You can call ahead for reservations, and I would definitely suggest that you do so. I did not call for our reservation until the week before we wanted to go. Every slot was reserved for October 15 through 18. We were only able to ride because we walked up and asked if there were any cancellations, and there was only one. I don't think these Haunted Carriage Rides were as popular last year, but they seem to be this year. In fact, on this past weekend, they added a 10:30 ride each night, and those three slots were booked, too.
The number for reservations is 407-939-7529.
I think that covers everything, but if you have any questions, ask away.
TCD
out of me! The scariest part was when then MP3 player fell off the carriage and broke. We were stopped, sitting in the dark, creepy woods when the driver asked one of us to get down and get the player for her. WHAT!? NO! It's SCARY back there on that road! 
