Boat from MK to WL

[Vondigo]

Hi! We have an ADR for storybook dining at WL during our trip later this month. We’ll be at MK that day and we were told we can take a boat to WL from there. Where do the boats depart from? And how often do they run? Is there a way of looking at the boat schedule online? Want to be able to plan around FPs etc. (and honestly, want to reduce my anxious mind that we’ll miss a boat and get to the ADR late! lol)

 

[Searc]

Hi! We have an ADR for storybook dining at WL during our trip later this month. We’ll be at MK that day and we were told we can take a boat to WL from there. Where do the boats depart from? And how often do they run? Is there a way of looking at the boat schedule online? Want to be able to plan around FPs etc. (and honestly, want to reduce my anxious mind that we’ll miss a boat and get to the ADR late! lol)

Boats are in front of MK and clearly marked which boats go where. There is no set schedule.

 

[Vondigo]

Boats are in front of MK and clearly marked which boats go where. There is no set schedule.

Awesome thanks! Just knowing where they are and that they’re clearly marked makes me feel more confident

 

[Best Aunt]

There are buses between MK and Wilderness Lodge also. The buses run more frequently and are a shorter trip.

 

[shafke]

If you just miss a boat it should be no more than about 20 minutes for the next boat. The ride itself would be about 15 minutes or so plus a few minutes walk from the dock to the restaurant.
I would plan on exiting the MK (out of the turnstiles) at least 45 minutes prior to your ADR time.

 

[Vondigo]

Thank you @Best Aunt and @shafke So happy to have an idea of how much time to give ourselves. Good to know there are buses too.

 

[Capt_BJ]

a few comments ... my last visit, staying at GF I never went into a park but explored other hotels that I could get to via the boats. He's where the various resort boats tie up at MK in the area I marked with yellow square which acts as the center of the hub and spoke arrangement that's basically how the boats run. Th GF boat used the pier with the blue roof and as I recall the boat to WL which also headed to campgrounds is the orange circle. Which is which is clearly signed ... WDW NEVER seems to have a shortage of signage!

the boats ran almost continuously and I don't believe I ever waited more than 10 minutes ....

I also did some bus travels and typically waited longer for a bus BUT the bus DOES hold more people ... the SOME of boats are small in comparison. If there is a LONG queue for a boat you could be waiting a while but I find the boats little used and was never on one that was full. I saw different boats used at different times for each route ... larger ones used near opening times etc ....

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just a quick comment on @Capt_BJ’s map above, the Poly/GF/MK boat normally stops at the blue roof on the left as noted, however that area is under significant construction at the moment and is not being used. All boats are using that middle dock area. But everything is very clearly marked, it’s hard not to find where to go.

Have fun!

 

[Vondigo]

a few comments ... my last visit, staying at GF I never went into a park but explored other hotels that I could get to via the boats. He's where the various resort boats tie up at MK in the area I marked with yellow square which acts as the center of the hub and spoke arrangement that's basically how the boats run. Th GF boat used the pier with the blue roof and as I recall the boat to WL which also headed to campgrounds is the orange circle. Which is which is clearly signed ... WDW NEVER seems to have a shortage of signage!
View attachment 462227
the boats ran almost continuously and I don't believe I ever waited more than 10 minutes ....

I also did some bus travels and typically waited longer for a bus BUT the bus DOES hold more people ... the SOME of boats are small in comparison. If there is a LONG queue for a boat you could be waiting a while but I find the boats little used and was never on one that was full. I saw different boats used at different times for each route ... larger ones used near opening times etc ....

Just a quick comment on @Capt_BJ’s map above, the Poly/GF/MK boat normally stops at the blue roof on the left as noted, however that area is under significant construction at the moment and is not being used. All boats are using that middle dock area. But everything is very clearly marked, it’s hard not to find where to go.

Have fun!

ah this is great! Thank you both! Can’t wait to be on that middle dock/orange circle on our way to dinner