Boat Fanatics Need Advice: To Fort Wilderness MARINA from Animal Kingdom JAMBO House

[Bonacker]

We want to get to the Fort Wilderness MARINA via water . . . .from Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Villas.

(I've heard it's proably easiest to take a taxi the full way, but we thought it would be fun to take a water launch, and maybe use this as a chance to see another resort.)

So, whadda think?

• Taxi to Wilderness Lodge, and then Blue Flag Water Launch to the FW marina?

• Taxi to Contemporary, and then water launch?

• Or, can we take the BUS from Jambo House to M.K. and boat a water launch there? Or would that require M.K. park entrance. (This is our day off from the parks, when we planning to hang out at AK Lodge and Fort Wilderness, so we don't want to use tickets just to get water launch, if that's required.)

Which of these sounds quickest/easiest?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

[dmunsil]

We want to get to the Fort Wilderness MARINA via water . . . .from Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Villas.

Quickest is always going to be taxi. You could take the taxi to Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary and then boat to FW from there. So go to the one you most want to see. Keep in mind that the taxi ride from AKV to Contemporary is pretty much the longest cab ride you can take on Disney property, so it'll be ~$30 plus tip.

Or yes, take the bus to MK, then a boat from MK to FW. You don't need to enter the park. I think you might go through security bag check and then back out again, but don't quote me on that.

A random suggestion: if you want to make a deluxe resort tour out of it, that can be a fun activity. I'd leave plenty early and take either the cab to CR or bus to MK and walk to CR, then check out the CR, monorail to the Poly, check it out, monorail to GF, check it out, then monorail to MK and boat to WL, check it out, and finally boat to FW. If time starts running late, just head straight for MK and get the boat to FW.

 

[helenk]

I would just take the bus over to the MK, and take the boat to FW from there. This does not require using a park ticket. The boat launches are to your left as you walk from the bus stop towards the park

 

[sam_gordon]

Or bus to MK, then walk to CR and through it to the Marina. Slightly longer than going to the MK boat launch, but you get to see the CR.

 

[Bonacker]

Thanks so much, you guys! I personally would love to resort-hop, and check them all out, via monorail. ... but I guess it will depend on the kids' state of mind the day of (and the husband's). So glad we have some fun options.

 

[OKW Lover]

Not sure why you need to get to the FW marina since you can get the same services at any of the other resorts around Seven Seas Lagoon & Bay Lake.

I guess the easiest is the bus to MK and then boat to FW. No, you do not need MK admission for this. Taking a taxi to FW isn't a great solution because you'd then need to take the internal bus to the marina from there.

 

[Bonacker]

We're going to the Fort Wilderness Marina because we are heading to Hoop Dee Doo Review, with some horse/pony/farm afternoon fun beforehand.

(The FW map shows Hoop Dee Doo and stables/carriage ride/ponies/etc are much closer to the marina than they are to the entrance where you'd arrive via taxi or bus. . . . Right? Also, boat ride to FW = more fun than yet another bus from one end of FW to the other.)

 

[twoodson]

Depending on when you're going - you may consider taking a change of clothes. We were once soaked by a late-summer shower while on a boat to Hoop Dee Doo. We still enjoyed the show, but a change of clothes would have been nice.

 

[OKW Lover]

We're going to the Fort Wilderness Marina because we are heading to Hoop Dee Doo Review, with some horse/pony/farm afternoon fun beforehand.

(The FW map shows Hoop Dee Doo and stables/carriage ride/ponies/etc are much closer to the marina than they are to the entrance where you'd arrive via taxi or bus. . . . Right? Also, boat ride to FW = more fun than yet another bus from one end of FW to the other.)

Ah, that explains it. HDD is indeed very close to the marina.

 

[joelkfla]

We're going to the Fort Wilderness Marina because we are heading to Hoop Dee Doo Review, with some horse/pony/farm afternoon fun beforehand.

FYI, the farm animal petting zoo at FtW has been discontinued.

The pony ride and stables are still there.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if riding ponies remember the closed toe shoes. there is a playground near by, on the other side of HDDR than the barn. second the change of clothes in case of rain. you do not need park ticket to use boat from MK to FW. that would be the way I would use to get from AKL to the Fort. a taxi would leave you at the other end of the campground, no car or taxi parking near HDDR. the walk would be over a mile or you would have to take internal bus

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks so much, you guys! I personally would love to resort-hop, and check them all out, via monorail. ... but I guess it will depend on the kids' state of mind the day of (and the husband's). So glad we have some fun options.

not sure of your kids' ages but mine would've freaked out if i told them we were going to spend hours taking a slow boat to 'where-ever' instead of being in one of the parks or pools.

We found it easy to explore various resorts by scheduling a meal or doing the monorail loop on our day of arrival with a dinner at one of the resorts.

enjoy your trip.