fastest way to Trail's End

[snyderla]

We will be staying at Swan for 2 nights, then SSR. What is the fastest way to get to Trail's End from either resort? We will have a car, but where would we park if we drove. Once we drove to TTC and took a bus to FW, other times we have taken boats from MK. We will go their for breakfast a couple of times. thank you...

Lori

 

[Boo'sMom]

You could always drive to FW and take the bus to Trail's End (wouldn't be my first choice)
I think I'd park at Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary and take the boat.

 

[bicker]

I don't believe the boat would be any where near as fast as the bus.

Personally, I'd stay at Wilderness Lodge and walk to Trail's End, but that's just me.

 

[WillCAD]

I agree with Boos Mom, drive to Contemporary and take the boat.

Driving directly to Ft Wilderness would actually take a long time, because the parking lot is on teh other side of the campground from Trail's End, and you have to take in internal bus. The boat dock, however, is only a short walk from Trail's End.

You could also park at TTC, but there is no boat from TTC to FW/WL, you'd have to take the monorail around to MK first.

Many of the boats between FW and WL stop at FW first, then WL, then on to Contemporary or MK. If you park at WL and take the boat, you might have to ride it all the way around the loop before you get to FW.

There is a walking trail between WL and FW, but I have never tried it. I understand it's about a 20-minute walk from WL to FW along the trail. On my map it looks roughly equal to walking all the way around World Showcase.

 

[BCV23]

I would drive to the FW parking lot. The internal bus does not take all that long in my experience.

That bus from the TTC to FW doesn't run anymore unfortunately.

I wouldn't think security at CR or WL would allow you to park there to go for a meal at FW.

After your breakfast, you will have your car to get to whichever park you're heading to.

 

[WillCAD]

I would drive to the FW parking lot. The internal bus does not take all that long in my experience.

That bus from the TTC to FW doesn't run anymore unfortunately.

I wouldn't think security at CR or WL would allow you to park there to go for a meal at FW.

After your breakfast, you will have your car to get to whichever park you're heading to.

With a parking permit from SSR, you will be able to get into Contemp, no problem.

While you're at Swan, you won't have a parking permit, so they will ask you at the gate what you're at Contemp for. Simply tell them you're there for breakfast and they will give you a 3-hour parking permit - again, with no hassle.

On days when you are goint to MK for the day anyway, just park at MK and take the monorail around to the park entrance, and get the boat to FW from there. It will take longer than parking at Contemp, but when you finish breakfast you will be able to go right to MK without moving your car from Contemp to the MK lot.

 

[BCV23]

Just curious why it would matter if you're staying at SSR?

I would not feel comfortable saying I was parking for breakfast when I had no plans to dine at the CR.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

The fastest route isn't always the best route...if you want to drive somewhere just to get that ambience might as well drive to the nearest Cracker Barrel (larger portions)! However, if you want to enjoy the route and stay within the magic, I would definitely recommend driving to either the CR or WL and take the boat; there's nothing like approaching FW from the lake and walking to Trail's End from the dock.

The trail from WL to FW is a nice, easy 20-minute walk, but it is not lit so after dark is a little hard.

Personally, I'd drive to WL, walk the trail to FW/Trail's End, eat, etc., and then take the boat back to WL. However, if the train was still running at FW...

...It's the journey as much as it is the destination!

-R

 

[WillCAD]

Just curious why it would matter if you're staying at SSR?

I would not feel comfortable saying I was parking for breakfast when I had no plans to dine at the CR.

When you are a Guest at a Disney resort - ANY Disney resort - Disney gives you carte blanche in the parking department.

Of course, I don't recommend abusing the priviledge, but I certainly don't consider parking at Contemporary for a few hours while eating at Ft. Wilderness to be an abuse.

 

[Gillian]

I thought that parking at some of the monorail hotels is limited and that they will (or have the option to) give you a 3 hour permit even if you are staying at another wdw resort. If asked why you are there, I don't know if a meal at Trails end would be a good reason to be let in.

I think that parking at the FW lot and taking the bus is very easy. My ds likes the internal FW bus because he likes all busses. I like looking at the campsites & stuff. Parking in the FW lot is no problem.

Parking at the MK lot and taking the boat also seems like a good idea if you are going to end up at the MK. Of course, you can also take the boat to MK after breakfast, then the boat back to FW and a bus to your car.

Or take a bus from your resort to the MK then the boat to FW. If it starts running early enough for your plans.

 

[plutospup]

The "quickest way"...
...Drive to FW, and take the internal bus to the Outpost. We have stayed at FW, and even when we stay at other resorts we enjoy Trails End. Coming from SSR if you turn left out of the resort, you can take the back road to FW. It's quicker, and a lot less traffic.
As mentioned above, the most scenic way to Trails End is by boat from the MK. You pass by CR, WL, and come upon FW. It's a 5 min walk (if you're slow) from the FW marina to Trails End.

 

[ztbz]

Another way to go is from the Disney/Mgm Studios (when the Studios is Open), You can take the Bus from Mgm and it will goto the Wild Lodge then onto the Settlement Depot which is the nearest Bus Stop to the Trails Inn and Pioneer Hall.

 

[WillCAD]

I thought that parking at some of the monorail hotels is limited and that they will (or have the option to) give you a 3 hour permit even if you are staying at another wdw resort. If asked why you are there, I don't know if a meal at Trails end would be a good reason to be let in.

I think that parking at the FW lot and taking the bus is very easy. My ds likes the internal FW bus because he likes all busses. I like looking at the campsites & stuff. Parking in the FW lot is no problem.

Parking at the MK lot and taking the boat also seems like a good idea if you are going to end up at the MK. Of course, you can also take the boat to MK after breakfast, then the boat back to FW and a bus to your car.

Or take a bus from your resort to the MK then the boat to FW. If it starts running early enough for your plans.

Every time I have parked at a monorail resort with a parking pass from one of the Value resorts, they have simply waved me in without even asking why I'm there.

If you enter a monorail without a WDW parking pass (i.e. if you are stating off-site or at Swan-Dolphin), you will be stopped at the security gate and asked why you are there. Just say, "Having breakfast!" and you will get a three-hour parking permit.

 

[bicker]

I thought that parking at some of the monorail hotels is limited and that they will (or have the option to) give you a 3 hour permit even if you are staying at another wdw resort.

Actually, that extends to all the resorts. The resorts that they typically apply this to are the monorail resorts and the Epcot resorts.

 

[BCV23]

When you are a Guest at a Disney resort - ANY Disney resort - Disney gives you carte blanche in the parking department.

Of course, I don't recommend abusing the priviledge, but I certainly don't consider parking at Contemporary for a few hours while eating at Ft. Wilderness to be an abuse.

If you tell the security guard you are dining at FW, I very much doubt you will be allowed to park at the CR. We've never stayed there but do stay at the Polynesian often. A few years back it became very difficult to find a parking spot at times. Security has really tightened down now and as bicker said, you will get a three hour pass for dining whether you are staying at SSR, offsite or are a local. The parking situation for guests staying at the Polynesian is now much better.

 

[WillCAD]

If you tell the security guard you are dining at FW, I very much doubt you will be allowed to park at the CR. We've never stayed there but do stay at the Polynesian often. A few years back it became very difficult to find a parking spot at times. Security has really tightened down now and as bicker said, you will get a three hour pass for dining whether you are staying at SSR, offsite or are a local. The parking situation for guests staying at the Polynesian is now much better.

If you stop and tell the guard that you are dining at FW, he will simply give you a 3-hour parking pass. I have never seen or heard of anybody with a WDW resort parking pass in their windshield ever being turned away from another WDW resort.

But my point is that if you have a WDW resort parking pass in your windshield, the guard at Contemporary won't even ask you what your business is - they wave you through without stopping you. No 3rd drgree, no 3-hour pass, just drive on in.

At least, that's been my experience over the last few years. I don't doubt that some guards are more strict on the parking policy than others.

 

[BCV23]

I understood your point but just disagree with you. There just isn't enough parking at the CR for everyone who wants to go to FW, WL, MK, etc..

But as you say some guards are stricter than others.

But for the OP, I would not risk trying to park at one resort to dine at another unless you have extra time in case you are denied.

 

[bicker]

The three-hour parking pass situation varies by the hour at times.

 

[BCV23]

The three-hour parking pass situation varies by the hour at times.

But I would hesitate to elaborate on that.

 

[snyderla]

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions! I think we will go ahead and either drive to FW and take internal bus or just take a bus to MK and take the boat to Trail's End, it is such a pleasant ride (MIL doesn't like it though). Thanks again!