FW to MK boat transportation changes.

[proudmomof4]

Over on the WL resort thread, there is a post about changes to the boat transportation which is also affecting FW.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneys-wilderness-lodge.3894123/page-80#post-66408559

posted by mrsap

Magic Kingdom Water Taxi Service to Nearby Resorts Makes Major Change​

The complimentary water taxi service from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge has changed protocols, affecting some transportation wait times and policies.


Previously, there was one boat route that took guests between Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Another, totally separate boat traveled to and from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Now, one boat is transporting guests to both resorts, leaving Magic Kingdom and stopping at Wilderness Lodge first before heading to the campgrounds.


This means there is no longer a direct boat to the campgrounds, creating a backup at the Fort Wilderness dock. What used to be a 20 minute boat journey from the park to the campgrounds has become roughly 35 minutes with the additional Wilderness Lodge stop.


The change reportedly has to do with the amount of boats that can accommodate scooters and strollers. Scooters can only travel on the large enclosed boats, not the small open air boats. And strollers have to be folded up on the small boats.

With the updated route, a large boat now stops at both resorts, followed closely by a small boat.

A third water taxi connects Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, but this route does not begin operating until the afternoon.

 

[Kite16510]

 

[fla4fun]

I wonder how much pressure this will put on the bus to MK? We usually take the bus instead of the boat for the AC.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wonder how much pressure this will put on the bus to MK? We usually take the bus instead of the boat for the AC.

The conspiracy theorist in me suspects Disney is trying to push more people to the buses. That DVC property is gonna add even more demand, it's not exactly small, so they know they've got a problem coming up and need new transport or more efficient current transport. Now, the boats will be more efficient guest load wise because they'll run at a higher capacity- if guests don't balk too much about the boat times or refuse to take the bus instead. So, kinda seems like ultimately they either update the boat fleet to meet current and future demands or get people to pick buses instead. (And don't get me going on the ECV thing, the taxi route in the afternoon normally doesn't even run boats that can accommodate ECVs and any complaints about the boats and ECVs in our experience is always met with "just take the bus". That is not the driving factor here.)

Be real interesting on that big boat when the heat hits and you're in a sweatbox for 35 mins instead of 20 mins...

 

[DL1WDW2]

The new Lakeshore Lodge will have a new dock to travel to MK .
They are currently building it according to the castmember that picked us up Sunday and we could see the construction work from the boat .
Can anybody tell me if this looks like a Dock under construction?