Disney World Wetland Reserve

[canadadeb]

I remember reading here somewhere awhile ago about a wetland reserve that Disney owns. I think it's a bit away from the parks, but you can do a tour in a jeep or something. I've tried searching and can't find any information about this - does anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks!

 

[Northstar]

I haven't been, but it's in my notes as something I want to do. It's called the Disney Wilderness Preserve, and it's run by the Nature Conservancy, not Disney (ie, Disney gives the bucks for a good cause and the folks who know how to run a wilderness preserve do it... so it really is a preserve, not a theme park). Don't know the name of the town, but it's on Lake Russell and is to the south.

I hear there's an amphibious water/land craft that you can tour on.

Haven't checked this phone no., but it's in my notes:
407 935-0002

One Canuck to another,
Northstar

 

[jann1033]

i inquired about it last time...the hours are 9-5 Oct- june, 9-5 july-sept30 weekdays only ( closed major hoildays), $2 adults, $1 kids free under6 i believe the boat rides are only certain days in the winter and early in the am. website www.nature.org/florida i believe they told me it's about 45 mins to a hr from wdw
mail address is 2700 scrb jay trail kissimmee fl,34759

 

[kangaroodle]

DISNEY'S WILDERNESS PRESERVE

There's a little-known part of the Disney empire in Florida, just to the south of the theme parks, that few people know about. It's probably the absolute best bargain with the Disney name attached to it. It's called the Disney Wilderness Preserve. Covering 12,000 acres of wetlands, it's located 15 miles south of the parks on the border of Polk and Osceola counties at the headlands of the Florida Everglades. The wildlife preserve/sanctuary was purchased by Disney in the early '90s. Currently owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, they offer a Conservation Learning Center, hiking trails and guided walks and buggy tours. General admission is only $2, with the tours being extra and offered only on certain days. You can visit their website at http://www.tncflorida.org/pages/disney_wilderness_preserve.html for more information. They are open daily from 9-5 except on major holidays. It's a place of quiet and solitude that is very rarely visited since it's off the beaten path. Escape from the noise and crowds of the parks and drive on over for a visit.

Mike Corbo for DisneyDollarless

Visit the WDWIG DisneyDollarless pages at: http://allearsnet.com/pl/disneydollarless.htm

OR Subscribe to the email list by visiting: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisneyDollarless/join

 

[kangaroodle]

I just checked out the links in my previous post. I guess it's too old and none of them work. i did a google search for Disney's Wilderness Preserve and came up with this one. I should work......

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art5523.html

Kathy

 

[Simba's Mom]

Has anyone ever been there that could share a review?

 

[wildernessfamily]

and I didn't know about it! haha, actually the above web address did work. Loved reading it, didn't know it was there...stumped me with that one.

 

[canadadeb]

Thanks so much for all your help. No wonder I couldn't find it, I was looking under wetland instead of Wildlife Preserve. We're going to try and check it out this trip, if DH can drag me away from the parks for a day!