Boats to MK in the evening, what do you think?

[AuburnJen92]

I know I might be opening up a can of worms here, but here it goes...

After staying at the fort for 7 days, I have noticed a particular problem that I will be bringing to Disney's attention in the coming days. Every evening after 3pm, the route changes for the MK boats, The Cataways, Mermaid I, and Bon Voyage. (the bigger boats of the fleet) Instead of going to MK, FW and then to WL, they change routes after 3pm to MK, WL, and then FW. I found VERY long lines to MK every evening at the fort on the dock and found out why one night when we were coming "home" from MK. We hit WL and there was a huge line to get to MK to see the evening's activities. When we got to the Fort, there was a huge line there as well, but only 10 or so people could board the boat after the few of us got off because the boat was full of WL people. Now, I am not saying the WL people don't have a right to go to MK, but they have 3 boats. Why can't they get one of the boats to go the opposite way of the other two and give the FW people the same opportunity as WL people get? It seems to me that the FW people are getting the short end of the deal. Thoughts?

 

[rapriebe]

Yes, I have noticed this several times also and found it very frustrating. It really does short change the people at FW because they have to wait for several boats inorder to get to MK. They really need to have one going in each direction.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Hate to say it but, it is done that way so the guests of the WL don't have to spend as much time on the boat. In the AM they are last on and in the PM they are first off. As a regular camper I agree it isn't right but the campground is often treated like a "stepchild".

 

[AuburnJen92]

I have heard from several people I goto Disney with that if enough people write to them and express their views, sometimes they do listen. I am at least going to try for the FW people that have to stand out in the heat this summer. I just couldn't stand watching them swelter like that. Oh, and by the way...my mother added that she paid as much as the WL people to stay in the cabins and wondered why they got "preferential treatment" as she called it.

 

[stacktester]

I feel the same way. I don't mind when the boat uses the outside of the dock because it doesn't take as long but when they use the inside it takes a while. I like getting a little more excercise so we've been going directly to the CR and walking over to the MK.

Oh and by the way, riding the buses is very similar. I hate riding from Epcot because the bus goes to WL 1st and then drives all the way back towards the TTC and goes back to the outpost. That after a long long day in the park with crowds and heat sucks. That's why I drive. As far as the MK boat trip goes though, I just try and relax and enjoy the view. I don't have a toddler though like some or a sleeping fussy baby in my lap so I know that can be frustrating.

 

[GbG]

It boils down to attempting to treat higher paying customers better. If I were paying the price of WL per night as opposed to the cost of FW per night, I'd expect shorter rides too.

 

[Gatordad]

then get the special folks a special boat to ride extra special fast to the disney.

I find it such a pain as well...... maybe you can tell the boat captain you have a pre-vo, and he'll skip the other stop! lol

 

[mousebrain]

Take the other boat (blue I believe) to the CL and take the monorail to the MK. I hate lines.... I would rather walk a little more and be moving than just standing. You can also walk from the CL if I am right it is not too far.

Mousebrain

 

[terri01p]

then get the special folks a special boat to ride extra special fast to the disney.

I find it such a pain as well...... maybe you can tell the boat captain you have a pre-vo, and he'll skip the other stop! lol

LOL...

Yea, we noticed this too, don't even get us started..

 

[Colson39]

Take the other boat (blue I believe) to the CL and take the monorail to the MK. I hate lines.... I would rather walk a little more and be moving than just standing. You can also walk from the CL if I am right it is not too far.

Mousebrain

Great suggestion, sometimes it just takes a little thought

I don't like that they do it, but I understand why they do it. We often have come out of the MK to see the long line waiting for the FW/WL boats, and we do the exact same thing, we hop on the Monorail, go to the Contemporary, and either mill around a bit or just head on to a boat from there to the Fort.

It can easily be much faster depending on the length of the line. Plus I never complain about getting to spend a little time in the Contemporary (unless we REALLY want to get back to the Fort...lol).

 

[tellnotails]

then get the special folks a special boat to ride extra special fast to the disney.

I find it such a pain as well...... maybe you can tell the boat captain you have a pre-vo, and he'll skip the other stop! lol

Don't go hate'n on the Prevomaddonas........

 

[Colson39]

Don't go hate'n on the Prevomaddonas........

You know, some people that own Prevosts DO read this board, it's not very nice to continue to call them names. Just saying :/

 

[WDWFWfan]

I agree, it's a money issue. The boat schedules are established to ensure that WL guests have a seat. I understand why they do it, I just do not agree with it.

 

[mickeymouse1017]

We were told by the boat captain a few weeks ago that the reason that the boats change at 3 is to help the people at WL get to FW for the Hoop Dee Do on time. It makes sense but I preferred it when the boat went to straight to MK and straight back. Boy am I spoiled!

 

[Gillian]

Do they have a lot more people at WL than FW? With the VWL plus the hotel, it seems like a ton of people could be staying there.

I love riding the boats but hate lines and crowds so we end up driving a lot. Good tip about the contemporary going home from MK.

 

[Colson39]

Do they have a lot more people at WL than FW? With the VWL plus the hotel, it seems like a ton of people could be staying there.

I love riding the boats but hate lines and crowds so we end up driving a lot. Good tip about the contemporary going home from MK.

I don't think it is a matter of occupancy but a matter of what rate is charged. Most people pay a lot more for a WL room than they do at the campground. It's not right in the sense, but it is a business.

If any of us were running a business, and wanted to run it succesfully, who would you make the boat traffic run to? The higher paying or the lower paying? I love the Fort, and I would love to see everyone get equal treatment, but in a business, those who pay the most are going to get the best treatment. Sorry to say, but it's been that way for a long time, everywhere :/

 

[terri01p]

I don't think it is a matter of occupancy but a matter of what rate is charged. Most people pay a lot more for a WL room than they do at the campground. It's not right in the sense, but it is a business.

If any of us were running a business, and wanted to run it succesfully, who would you make the boat traffic run to? The higher paying or the lower paying? I love the Fort, and I would love to see everyone get equal treatment, but in a business, those who pay the most are going to get the best treatment. Sorry to say, but it's been that way for a long time, everywhere :/

Colson39, if you put things in perpective, us campers still spend about as much at WDW as the folks at WL, on our last trip we dropped 3500.00 easy at WDW on camp site, food, etc...so don't sell us short, we still can pop down some money even in a tt.

 

[Colson39]

lol, I'm not saying that campers don't spend money I'm sure campers can easily spend more than people staying at WL.

That wasn't my point though. The AVERAGE camper will not spend as much money as the average WL "resident", you're talking about 70-80 buck at most campsites (or cabins at 200-300), compared to rooms that average 200-300 and can go much higher than that.

There is no way that campers spend as much money as people at the WL on average, it's just plain economics. The average room at the WL is way more than the average "room" at FW, so right there it is already out of whack. Yes, campers spend money on food, but most campers also bring their own food. And the WL has gift shops just like the Fort does.

I wasn't claiming at all that campers can't spend as much or more than someone staying at the WL. But the WL is considered a "Deluxe" resort for a reason

 

[lrab1126]

that totally stinks...I will be keeping that in mind for august. As for catering to the high paying resort guests...what we pay for the 4 of us to stay at the cabins is no cheap venture, there is less than a 100 difference for us between the 2 resorts. I love the boats as well so we will use it for MK and probably to get the monorial to epcot. Before WL was there, riding the coats was such a breeze.

 

[tellnotails]

Fort.........blue collar

WL...........white collar



I'm fine with that.......