A question about boat transportation

[MudQueen22]

We are starting to plan our trip for June of 2019.

It will be our first time staying at Fort Wilderness campground.

We plan to reserve a preferred loop, and to request the 100 loop.

Our favorite park is MK, so we will spend three or four days there.

Can you tell me everything we may want to know about taking the boat to MK (or to Contemporary then to MK)? We are rope drop people, and we might try to get pre-park opening breakfast one morning. How early do the boats start transporting people? Is there usually a long line or a long wait? How does it work with strollers? Do you fold them up and carry them like you do on the buses, or can you stroll the kid directly onto and off of the boats?

We would return at some point during the day to eat a meal at our campsite, then may return to the parks. This would mean we would return possibly late at night. Would we need flashlights to get back to our campsite, or is there adequate lighting on the paths? How late do the boats run?

 

[bama_ed]

There are two types of boats from the Fort dock: the "big" boat that leaves off the left side of the dock and the "small" boat that leaves off the right side.

The big boat starts its first run about 30 minutes before rope drop and runs back and forth between the MK dock and Fort dock. It will generally get you there for the opening but you will be in the back of the queue between the ticket gates and the walkways under the Main Street train station. You go through security after getting off the boat at the MK dock. This boat has a sheltered interior with some exterior seats front and rear. Strollers can roll on and off without closing up.

The small boat (like Jungle Cruise but a little larger) starts at 630am and runs between the Fort dock and the Contemporary dock. It is there to get people to Chef Mickey's for breakfast at the Contemp and to walk to MK. Wilderness Lodge has a similar direct boat. At some point in the morning there becomes one boat that runs between Fort-W.Lodge-Contemp. At some point in the afternoon the small boat continues running but reverses direction. I don't recall if it's clockwise in the morning and counterclockwise in the afternoon or visa versa but you get the idea. You may have to ride through a stop to get to your destination if it's not a morning ride. Strollers have to be collapsed to ride this boat. It has a roof but no walls and is open to the wind and rain on all sides.

If you take the small boat to Contemp to rope drop MK, you get off at the Contemp dock and walk toward it then veer right and walk under the monorail line to MK. After you cross World Drive you go through the Security point. The benefit of the small boat is you can leave early enough to get in front of the queue for rope drop which can help get in position to be in the early front of the line for things like 7DMT. This is also the boat to take for a pre-open breakfast since those folks are let into the park immediately before rope drop people are let in. Check in for breakfast folks are on the far LEFT entrance tunnel in a separate roped off area. A CM stands there with a sign for bfast checkin and a 2nd CM is there to check your name but it's on the far left.

Usually there is not a very large line for either boat for rope drop. We have taken the smaller boat the last couple time to rope drop then the big boat back and forth to the Fort for same day travel. IMO no flashlight needed if you are in a Preferred 100 or 200 loop.

Good luck with your planning.

Bama Ed

 

[KyGirl]

Not OP but I wanted to say thank you for all this information. I love a detailed post that actually really explains something I need to know! Very helpful!

 

[mickeyfan0805]

Not OP but I wanted to say thank you for all this information. I love a detailed post that actually really explains something I need to know! Very helpful!

All Hail Ed!!

 

[MudQueen22]

Thanks so much, Bama Ed. That was very detailed and helpful.

Looking forward to our trip to the Fort.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

BAY LAKE & SEVEN SEAS LAGOON RESORT BOATS to/from WL-FW-CR-MK: (effective July-2015)

Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom: (RED FLAG)
One MOTOR LAUNCH runs each from 30-min prior to MK opening until 1-1/2-hrs after MK closing. These boats run only between the MK and WL. (Estimated boat "steaming-time", after cast-off = 12-min)

Fort Wilderness, Magic Kingdom: (GREEN FLAG)
One MOTOR CRUISER and one MOTOR LAUNCH runs each from 30-min prior to MK opening until 1-1/2-hrs after MK closing.These boats run only between the MK and FW.(Estimated boat steaming-time", after cast-off =15-min)

Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary: (BLUE FLAG)
Two MOTOR LAUNCH run at 0645-hrs to 2330-hrs daily. Both run clockwise (FW>WL>CR>FW) until about 1500-hrs, then reverse direction (CR>WL>FW>CR) at 1500-hrs. (Estimated boat steaming-time", after cast-off = 15-min each stop)

FW-WL-CR, Polynesian, Grand Floridian: (GOLD FLAG)
If you want to go to the GF/Poly from the WL, CR or FW by boat, you will have to go to the MK and then get the Gold flag MOTOR LAUNCH. In addition, there is no boat that goes directly from the CR to the MK, GF or Poly. Additional boats may be added to the Gold, Green, Red and Blue routes during periods of exceptionally high demand, like at heavy MK closings, to alleviate guest lines at the docks. runs each from 30-min prior to MK opening until 1-1/2-hrs after MK closing. (Estimated boat "steaming-time", after cast-off = 10-min)

Wheelchair and ECV "411":
Rental Boats:
The rental boats at various marinas include pontoons, individual watercraft, and sailboats. Only the pontoons have ready access for chairs and ECV's without collapsing or man-handling.

Resort MOTOR LAUNCHES and CRUISERS:
For MOTOR LAUNCHES, strollers must be folded prior to boarding and ECVs cannot be accommodated on MOTOR LAUNCHES under any circumstances.

MOTOR CRUISERS do accommodate ECV's unless the lake water level is too low. Additionally, all MOTOR LAUNCHES require guests to step down into the boat.

 

[snowmedic]

Here are the 2 boats that bama_ed mentioned in his post. The first one goes from the Fort to Magic Kingdom.



And this one makes the rounds from the Fort, Wilderness Lodge, and Contemporary.

 

[amcc]

While these two posters are the gold standard in FW information, during the first week in January, the FW-CR-WL resort boat loop had two boats running (afternoon into late evening), one clockwise, one counterclockwise. We learned quickly to check to see if the one going in the direction we wanted was near arriving at the dock we were at. Worth checking if you are in a hurry.

 

[sippican]

amcc,
Thank you, that has been our experience for quite some time (we visit in April, October and December); one in each direction - clockwise, and counterclockwise. Sometimes we'll take the first one that arrives just to enjoy the ride.
I was beginning to think that I have been imagining things, maybe the schedule changes?

 

[PaHunter]

These were taken during our trip in Sept.

 

[bama_ed]

While these two posters are the gold standard in FW information, during the first week in January, the FW-CR-WL resort boat loop had two boats running (afternoon into late evening), one clockwise, one counterclockwise. We learned quickly to check to see if the one going in the direction we wanted was near arriving at the dock we were at. Worth checking if you are in a hurry.

That could be during that time of year. I too have relied on Rusty's info.

That first week of January, though, was a few days after New Years which is the busiest time of the year so it could be a busy-time-of-year, slow-time-of-year rotation. In the last two years I have sat through a stop at WL between the Fort and the Contemp (at night to view the fireworks from CR).

And if I am wrong, it won't hurt my feelings if anyone says so.

Bama Ed