Boulder Ridge - Few Questions

[js]

Hi.

I just right this moment moved our week in a standard view studio at AKL Kidani to Boulder Ridge. We have never stayed at WL, CC or BR so we are excited to try something new after 13 years of owning DVC (SSR).

However, being new means I know zero about it. Im traveling with my mom. I just changed her scooter and our food. These will all be done at WL check in, correct? Seems to be from what scooter people told me.

How do I get to MK? Still a bus or is it bus and boat. If boat, can we take the scooter on the boat? Is one faster in the morning than the other?

Food? Im going to cancel our Saana ressies but are there any signature and lounge places in WL? Ill put in a dining alert for what I need.

Anyplace special I can request? I do not mind and would enjoy the walk. View is more important than being close to an elevator.

Thanks so much!

 

[wnielsen1]

Post your questions in the Villas at Wilderness Lodge (the REAL name before Disney changed it to Boulder Ridge) thread below. The Groupies there will take care of you.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/v...edition-viva-vwl-updated-13-oct-2021.3242976/

 

[js]

Post your questions in the Villas at Wilderness Lodge (the REAL name before Disney changed it to Boulder Ridge) thread below. The Groupies there will take care of you.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/v...edition-viva-vwl-updated-13-oct-2021.3242976/

Thank you.

 

[DeeBee3]

You will love it! boat to MK is the best!

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I saw scooters on the boat as well.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Once I had a scooter, and I was getting on a larger boat going to the WL. The tide was such that it was a difficult on/off process, and I wasn’t sure it was going to be possible. I have decided that with scooter, I will stay with a bus. Just my experience.

 

[RoseGold]

I just stayed at BR and there were two kinds of boats. One would definitely be easily accessible, the other I think would be much tougher. They were coming pretty often, and there's the bus. Most of the boats were accessible. They might have had extra boats for holiday rush.

 

[ande2428]

We stayed there in late November early December and the boats were running constantly to and from the park. You shouldn’t have an issue with the scooter

 

[Laurie DeUmberto]

Hi.

I just right this moment moved our week in a standard view studio at AKL Kidani to Boulder Ridge. We have never stayed at WL, CC or BR so we are excited to try something new after 13 years of owning DVC (SSR).

However, being new means I know zero about it. Im traveling with my mom. I just changed her scooter and our food. These will all be done at WL check in, correct? Seems to be from what scooter people told me.

How do I get to MK? Still a bus or is it bus and boat. If boat, can we take the scooter on the boat? Is one faster in the morning than the other?

Food? Im going to cancel our Saana ressies but are there any signature and lounge places in WL? Ill put in a dining alert for what I need.

Anyplace special I can request? I do not mind and would enjoy the walk. View is more important than being close to an elevator.

Thanks so much!

Boulder Ridge is a boat to MK. I have seen scooters on WDW boats many times. The boat is very relaxing and fairly quick! Geyser Point is the newer lounge near the water and I have not eaten there but I have read excellent reviews! It is my home resort and I love it because it is very relaxing after a long day in the parks.

 

[PatMcDuck]

It used to be every other boat was a larger one that took scooters. The little boats cannot take them. Last trip there, they were rarely using the smaller boats though. I love BR, and WL is beautiful.

 

[Her Dotness]

Important to know--the larger boat that can take a scooter may alternate with the smaller one that cannot. So, if you get to the dock and it's a small boat, you'll have to wait for the next large one to arrive.

If the boat is lower than the dock edge, the skipper will typically ask people on the boat to go to the opposite side so that the dock side rises. That generally takes care of any distressing "Will the scooter have to jump the gap?" concerns.

Something helpful to know is that you can ask for a stop at the Contemporary if wanting to go there. At less busy times of day, the skipper will radio ahead to arrange that if possible. Very helpful reducing the distance when going there for a dinner ressie.

I hope your mom is an experienced scooter user. Getting one onto and off both boats and monorail can be challenging--potentially distressing for an inexperienced scooter driver. If she's not accustomed to scooter use, practice at big box stores or malls will be important to give her a sense of how they maneuver, how fast to go, how quickly one can stop, etc.

 

[Mle8308]

Important to know--the larger boat that can take a scooter may alternate with the smaller one that cannot. So, if you get to the dock and it's a small boat, you'll have to wait for the next large one to arrive.

If the boat is lower than the dock edge, the skipper will typically ask people on the boat to go to the opposite side so that the dock side rises. That generally takes care of any distressing "Will the scooter have to jump the gap?" concerns.

Something helpful to know is that you can ask for a stop at the Contemporary if wanting to go there. At less busy times of day, the skipper will radio ahead to arrange that if possible. Very helpful reducing the distance when going there for a dinner ressie.

I hope your mom is an experienced scooter user. Getting one onto and off both boats and monorail can be challenging--potentially distressing for an inexperienced scooter driver. If she's not accustomed to scooter use, practice at big box stores or malls will be important to give her a sense of how they maneuver, how fast to go, how quickly one can stop, etc.

Boats are not going to the Contemporary or Fort Wilderness at this time, this service has not yet returned. They will not take you there. You can take the boat to the MK and then the monorail to the Contemporary.

 

[Her Dotness]

Boats are not going to the Contemporary or Fort Wilderness at this time, this service has not yet returned. They will not take you there. You can take the boat to the MK and then the monorail to the Contemporary.

Ah, didn't realize that. Thanks for the correction. Too bad as that was always a really nice service when we stayed at WL.

It's also a pleasant 10-15 minute walk/roll to the Contemp from MK. That's often simpler than getting on the monorail for so short a distance.

 

[Mle8308]

Ah, didn't realize that. Thanks for the correction. Too bad as that was always a really nice service when we stayed at WL.

It's also a pleasant 10-15 minute walk/roll to the Contemp from MK. That's often simpler than getting on the monorail for so short a distance.

Agreed! Hoping it comes back soon!

 

[DonMacGregor]

Agreed! Hoping it comes back soon!

Well, the sign on the dock is still there. so...

 

[Mle8308]

Well, the sign on the dock is still there. so...

From your mouth to Chapek’s ears!!!

 

[js]

Hi all.

We got back on Saturday. Although I knew I would like WL, I was surprised I really liked it enough not to hesitate to book again if I saw it.

Took boat with scooter twice to MK without any problems. First time, we were on the dock about an hour before RD, boat was there but the first boat of the day was small so we had to wait about 15-20 minutes for the next boat. It was still quicker than sitting on the bus and then going to Fort Wilderness. Boats were easy to get off/on for my mom. Any bus we took, always stopped there and hung out for what seemed like 5-10 minutes. It was agonizing for me LOL

Stayed at BR in a studio overlooking the bungalows and water and could see and hear the water show each night, although there were some trees in the way. Room needs a refurb but it was clean and really suited our needs. My mom parked the scooter on the side of the door and it was never in our way. We didn't encounter one bad CM at the resort or parks. We actually commented and wondered if they read the FB groups where people complain so much about them that they are being extra nice.

We ate at Whispering Cannon twice. Not because we enjoy the antics (we really don't we enjoy a quite meal and to relax with some drinks) but because it just suited the time we were back at the resort without any ressies and did walk up. They sat us by the fireplace, a table for two, which was quiet and a little out of the way. When we went back the second time, I requested this table and it was perfect. We ate at Gieser Point, which I enjoyed but weak drinks so I switched to wine.

Thank you all again for your help! I moved us from ALK Jambo to WL a week before our trip when it became open. It is harder to get than AKL so thought I may as well try it then when I could. Happy we did.

 

[Her Dotness]

We had a comfy stay in a BR 1br in 2019.

Agree with you that the room was a bit "shabby chic" though quite clean and well-appointed.

Did your mom find the ramp from WL to the BR entrance tooth-jarring? Hubby has his own powerchair and majorly dislikes that ramp.

We generally went around behind BR toward the boat dock to get most places so didn't use the ramp except for arriving and leaving.

 

[js]

We had a comfy stay in a BR 1br in 2019.

Agree with you that the room was a bit "shabby chic" though quite clean and well-appointed.

Did your mom find the ramp from WL to the BR entrance tooth-jarring? Hubby has his own powerchair and majorly dislikes that ramp.

We generally went around behind BR toward the boat dock to get most places so didn't use the ramp except for arriving and leaving.

Hi. I'm not sure what you mean about the ramp?
We usually got out of the bus and then walked down the wooden ramp to the "front" of BR. Is that what you are referring to, the long wooden ramp from WL to BR? We didn't give it a second thought but maybe your husband would feel it more in a wheelchair vs. scooter.

 

[Her Dotness]

Is that what you are referring to, the long wooden ramp from WL to BR?

Yup, that one.

We didn't give it a second thought but maybe your husband would feel it more in a wheelchair vs. scooter.

I expect that a scooter--those with the seat and a foot platform connecting to the steering assembly that are fairly bulky--might reduce the vibration from the slats in the ramp more than DH's powerchair does.

Glad to learn you didn't have an issue with it.