Boat Strategy Question: WL to MK

[Steve TLT]

We’ll be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for the first time in April and I was wondering about getting to the Magic Kingdom via boat. I remember hearing that the boat coming from Fort Wilderness to the WL is often full and bypasses the WL on the way to MK. I also thought I remembered hearing that there was a boat that ran to the Contemp. Is there in fact a boat to the Contemp. That we could take and then walk over?

Thanks, Steve

 

[disney queen]

yes there is a boat to the contemp. it takes about 5 minutes to get there. we have stayed at the lodge many times and have never had problems w/the boat being full and bypassing the dock. but i will say we are always on the first boat of the morning; so, i can't say about later in the morning how it is. you will love the lodge. it is so laid back and just wonderful!

 

[crisi]

We also never had this problem during our stay at the Lodge.

 

[PlutoPal]

Yes, you can take a small boat from the WL to the Contempo. Then you can take the monorail from the Contempo to the MK.

 

[jaysue]

The boat transportation was just grand. Very timely, never a long wait - the boat to MK had a GREEN flag and the one to the CR had a BLUE flag.

The only time we had to wait for a boat was leaving MK at peak time - we did not want to, but DS was getting a little cranky with DH (me) and DW said ok boys time to pack it in for the night. In this case we had to wait about 10 minutes for another boat (no big deal)

Never saw a boat "bypass" us but on a couple of occassions the boat went from WL to FW then to MK (during quieter times of day) and likewise from MK to FW then WL (during quieter times as well)

Where are you staying in WL (what view etc?)

Any questions let me know

Thanks
Jason

 

[alyssa810]

We thought the boat to MK was the ONLY good transportation at WL; after our trip there we decided that it was worth it to get a rental car even when we stay on site. We never had problems with the boat as far as the crowds or skipping WL either.

 

[jaysue]

I keep hearing rumours of the less than great bus service - this may be due to the fact that sometimes the buses stop at GF and Poly as well as WL and FW as well.

We did have a car during our Mar 9-13 trip, and when we went to AK and Epcot and MGM we did use it - hence we did not experience the bus service at WL.

The only time I used the bus service (as opposed to boat/monorail) was from AK to the TTC and then monorail to MK - that was quite fast.

Thanks
Jason

 

[peachgirl]

I too have heard the reports about bad bus service at WL but we were there for 2 weeks at one of the busiest times (12/19/02-01/01/03) and the service was fantastic. We never experienced boats being full and passing by. Other than the boats to MK, we used the bus system exclusively and couldn't have asked for better service. There were no waits over 10 minutes, most under 5. Many times the bus was sitting there waiting for us as we walked up.

There were certain times that the bus did go to the GF. Chip 'n Dale Express explained it in a post as I could never figure out what the pattern was...

"Prior to 11am, WL shares with Grand Floridian. Post 11am, WL shares with Fort Wilderness, with the exception of DAK... which is GF all day long."

So, when they do go to the GF they aren't stopping at FW. We only went to the Poly once, and the bus driver recieved a call to do so. Of course they could change those routes at any time and I'm not sure it's still following the same routes. At any rate, whatever the stops were, the busses were extremely prompt and we had no complaints whatsoever. The WL busses were much better than the bus experiences we had while staying at the Yacht Club in 2000!

 

[jaysue]

That is what makes this board community so helpful and special

Based on what I am seeing, I am leaning towards having no car for the May 03 trip

Thanks
Jason

 

[Steve TLT]

Thanks for the replies all!

We’ll be leaving Friday for a short Spring break to visit both my parents and my wife’s. But we just couldn’t go all the way to Florida from Ohio with out at least a little time in “The World”. We’ve got two nights (4+5 April) at the WL with a Woodland (Lodge) View, I’ve asked for the “MK view” side of the WL. I’ve heard some rooms can see parts of the MK. We’re planning on a Nice day in the MK Saturday, Spoodles Friday evening and some time at Down Town Dis.

Can’t wait!

 

[jaysue]

You are going to have be near the top floor - try 5th or 6th to see anything like Fireworks for example from the North (Artist's Point) side as the trees are quite high. I think it will be a hit and miss as to what exactly you can see.

We stayed on the 2nd floor to be close to the pool and the boat launch

Thanks
Jason

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

Love that place........WL that is...

Of all the times we've stayed there, we've never had a problem with the Bus service or Boats. Also, when we were there, the boat to MK was never shared with Ft. Wilderness.

Have fun on your trip!!!

As far as the other post regarding the woods view, we've always been on the 3rd and 4th floors, on both we were able to see the fireworks from MK.

 

[kimmar067]

.....are better off just taking the boat to MK. Be advised that if you get on a boat that goes to the Contemp, it is quite a walk from the docking area to the monorail!

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

When we were at WL in May 2002, WL and FtW always shared the boat. This was even true during busy times such as mornings and closing. I don't remember the boat ever passing the WL, but there were times it was standing room only when it got to the WL. It was the same situation when we stayed at the FtW cabins in June. Of course I don't know what the situation is now. Disney does seem to tinker with their transportation system a good deal

 

[the Legend]

Heres my 2 cents on the WL/MK boat situation based on my Sept 2002 trip report .... People have added there suggestion to the replies so that may help you too.

Our WL/MK day - Solving the boat issue

 

[MelissathePooh]

Unless I wanted to visit the Cont. resort, and had some time to kill, I wouldn't consider taking the boat from WL to Cont. and walking to MK from there.

 

[QJ411]

Hi,

We stayed at WL and we LOVED the boat service...it wasn't full at all and we were never bypassed. We'd rather take the boat than the bus!!! We thought WL was the PERFECT location, the boat to MK was quick and sometimes, we opted to take the boat to CR to take the monorail to MK just for the sites.

You'll have a GREAT time at WL!!! ENJOY!!!

 

[Elk34]

We were at WL march 8-16 and took 3 different trips to MK. My mother and step father were staying in their RV at Ft. Wilderness. Each day that we went to MK we told them to get on the first boat to MK and we would do the same and meet onthe MK docks. We never shared a boat with them and we always were ther 5-10 minutes before them.

However on the way home we did share with them but it would stop at WL first. The exception to this was the day we stayed until 9 o'clock (MK closed at 8 but shops etc on Main Street were open until 9) and got on the last boat of the day. The Electric Water Parade was goingt on in front of WL so we had to go to FW first and then to WL otherwise we would have gone to WL first. WL is closer to MK.

 

[Synonymous]

Remember that if you take the boat to CR, the monorail will take you to Poly and GF before MK. I thought I had figured out a great way to beat the system, one time, believing the monorail would go straight to MK, but it doesn't.

 

[duck_adoo]

Hi there,
We stayed at WL Aug 2002 and had no problems w/the boat to MK. The only 'slight' issue was that we had early ressies for b-fast at Cindy's. On that morning we took the boat to the Contemporary and walked to the gates, but other than that it was great! The buses were not as efficient.
Have fun,
Duck