Boat services from Wilderness Lodge

[Brandis]

What different boat routes are there from Wilderness Lodge?

Is there a boat from Wilderness Lodge to Polynesian? Or would I have to change boats at the MK dock or catch the Monorail from there?

 

[goofy4tink]

You can take the boat, from WL, to either the CR or to the MK boat dock. If you take it to the CR, you can then take the monorail to the Polynesian from there. If you take the boat to the MK, you can then either head to the monorail or just transfer to the Polynesian boat.
If it were me?? I would head to the CR and then take the monorail to the Polynesian..quickest way I would think.

 

[VAN]

I believe that both boats from WL also stop at Ft. Wilderness as well.

If going to the Poly, I'd just hop on the first boat that showed up.

 

[goofy4tink]

I believe that both boats from WL also stop at Ft. Wilderness as well.

If going to the Poly, I'd just hop on the first boat that showed up.

Not neccessarily. Some boats leaving WL do not go to FtW. Some go to FtW after leaving WL...depends on the route. I think the boat from MK stops at WL then goes on to FtW. Just can't remember which is which right now...I did both boats and tend to get them confused in my little brain.
The other issue would be that there are sometimes long lines...for each boat. You have to decide which line to get into. You aren't going to be able to say...'oh, here comes the boat to MK, I think I'll just hop over to that line' if there are already 40 people waiting to board that boat, and expect to get on it.

 

[VAN]

Well, sometimes during busy times, there are dedicated WL boats and other times not. Sometimes the boats go in one direction and othertimes not.

Sometimes, there are no lines for the boats and sometimes there are.

So, yes, you need to be aware and not hesitate to ask the CM before boarding a boat/bus/whatever ... "Will this take me to _______?"

I've had times where it just happens to be a change in shift, service, route, etc and then they will direct me to get on something else.

GENERALLY, the boats do route WL-FW-CR (or reverse) and WL-FW-MK (or reverse).

 

[clkelley]

There are TWO boat routes at Wilderness Lodge.

There is a route that goes WL-CR-FW in the morning, and WL-FW-CR in the afternoon. There are two of the small launches on this route.

There is a route that goes WL-MK, no other stops. There are two boats on this route. One of those boats is a large cruiser, the other is a small launch.

 

[Gary M]

There are TWO boat routes at Wilderness Lodge.

There is a route that goes WL-CR-FW in the morning, and WL-FW-CR in the afternoon. There are two of the small launches on this route.

There is a route that goes WL-MK, no other stops. There are two boats on this route. One of those boats is a large cruiser, the other is a small launch.

This is the way it was in Feb. of this year. At one time the WL shared a MK boat with FW, but that changed a couple of years ago.

 

[Brian Noble]

If it were me?? I would head to the CR and then take the monorail to the Polynesian..quickest way I would think.

I'd take a cab. The Poly is just a stone's throw away from WL, and the cab ride will be under $10 with tip. Certainly on the way *to* dinner, when you have a time to be there. On the way back? Taking the scenic route might be a fun way to digest.

 

[Brandis]

We have a rental car, but I thought the boat would be nicer.

 

[grimley1968]

We have a rental car, but I thought the boat would be nicer.

If you have a car, then drive. The Poly is literally on the other side of the TTC from WL, and on the same street (though the street changes name from Timberline Drive to 7 Seas Drive). Expect a 5 minute drive or less from one resort to the other. This is much quicker than a 2-leg boat trip or boat/monorail trip.

IMHO, save the boats for going to MK from WL.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Should you decide to take the boat then I would get on the one with a blue flag that goes to the Contemporary, because from there you would take the Resort Monorail to the TTC and the Polynesian is the next stop.

However I also agree that if you a rental car it would be a lot faster because the Polynesian is 5 minutes or less from the Wilderness Lode, because when you leave there you drive straight past the TTC and then you would arrive at the Polynesian.

 

[Brian Noble]

The boat will be nicer. It will also probably take 45 minutes. Up to you.

 

[joelkfla]

If you have a car, then drive. The Poly is literally on the other side of the TTC from WL, and on the same street (though the street changes name from Timberline Drive to 7 Seas Drive). Expect a 5 minute drive or less from one resort to the other. This is much quicker than a 2-leg boat trip or boat/monorail trip.

IMHO, save the boats for going to MK from WL.

Plus a 5-minute walk from Poly self-parking to the lobby.

If you're returning to WL afterwards, then drive.

If it's for breakfast, then consider where you're going next and whether you want to drive there. If you're heading to the MK afterwards, there's no advantage to driving. If you're going to another park, it depends on whether you want to drive your car to that park for the day.

 

[goofy4tink]

There are TWO boat routes at Wilderness Lodge.

There is a route that goes WL-CR-FW in the morning, and WL-FW-CR in the afternoon. There are two of the small launches on this route.

There is a route that goes WL-MK, no other stops. There are two boats on this route. One of those boats is a large cruiser, the other is a small launch.

Thanks for that info. I knew it wasn't the same each time I used the boats. I didn't take into consideration the time of day.