Getting from Ft Wilderness Marina to the HDDR in an ECV?

[prncess674]

Dad will be using an ECV. We are staying at the Contemporary. My understanding is that there is a boat that will take us directly from the CR to FW. Is the path from the marina dock to HDDR paved, lighted and accessible via ECV?

 

[BillSears]

The good news is the path is paved, the distance isn't too far from what I remember and I'm sure they have it lit up at night.

The bad news is I don't think your Dad will be able to take his ECV onto the boat. As far as I know the boats that run from Fort Wilderness to the Wilderness Lodge and then to the MK don't stop at the CR. These boats are the large ones you can take an ECV onto. I think the boat that goes from the CR to FW is one of the smaller launches that won't hold an ECV.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Bill is correct, the boat from CR to FW is not accesible, your best bet would be to get to MK and take the larger boat from MK to FW. If you need to take the ECV into the show I think you will enter through Trails End(don't worry when you don't see a ramp into the HDDR).

 

[prncess674]

Thanks guys. Since we are staying at the CR, we will take the Monorail to MK, then take the larger accessible boat from MK to FW. He probably won't need to take the ECV into the show but he will need a ramp unless his condition vastly improves in the next couple of months (our trip in October) as he is currently using a walker. Fingers crossed that he will be back to just using a cane by October.

 

[daughtersrus]

It's been a few years since we stayed at FW so things may have changed. .

Depending on the water level, you may not be able to take a boat. My daughter uses a manual wheelchair and we were not able to use the boats at all during our trip. We either had to drive or take the bus. The CM said that if the water level is too low, they do not allow wheelchairs or ECVs on the boats. I think that she said it was because the ramps wouldn't line up properly. My daughter was pretty little so we offered to hold her while my husband lifted her chair onto the boat. They still wouldn't allow it. It was a pain because some of the buses didn't have lifts and those that did, didn't always work.

Someone, please correct me if things have changed.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

It's been a few years since we stayed at FW so things may have changed. .

Depending on the water level, you may not be able to take a boat. My daughter uses a manual wheelchair and we were not able to use the boats at all during our trip. We either had to drive or take the bus. The CM said that if the water level is too low, they do not allow wheelchairs or ECVs on the boats. I think that she said it was because the ramps wouldn't line up properly. My daughter was pretty little so we offered to hold her while my husband lifted her chair onto the boat. They still wouldn't allow it. It was a pain because some of the buses didn't have lifts and those that did, didn't always work.

Someone, please correct me if things have changed.

I'd guess about 98% of the time you will have no problem with the boat. On the rare occasion that the boats won't work there should be a sign at the dock directing you to the bus depot. FW does not have a bus at the MK, they may run one when the boats can't or they may combine the route with WL. If you cannot use the boat the best thing to do would be to check at the bus info booth and let them know your situation and they can point you in the right direction. At this time I believe ALL buses have working lifts or ramps.

 

[clkelley]

If for some odd reason, you can't take the boat directly to Ft. Wilderness in the ECV, then the correct path is walk/monorail to Magic Kingdom, bus to Wilderness Lodge, then bus to Ft. Wilderness (might even be the same bus).

There is also a path from Wilderness Lodge to Ft. Wilderness that is accessible and very pretty. About a 15 minute walk.

 

[clkelley]

The good news is the path is paved, the distance isn't too far from what I remember and I'm sure they have it lit up at night.

The bad news is I don't think your Dad will be able to take his ECV onto the boat. As far as I know the boats that run from Fort Wilderness to the Wilderness Lodge and then to the MK don't stop at the CR. These boats are the large ones you can take an ECV onto. I think the boat that goes from the CR to FW is one of the smaller launches that won't hold an ECV.

One time one of the large launches did stop at the CR to specifically pick up an ECV for Ft. Wilderness, so before you trek all the way to MK, ask a boat driver if they could radio one of the larger launches.

 

[Cndrsgrl]

Couldn't help posting. We camp at fw and my dad uses his ecv. Other posters are correct that you can't load on the "little boats" so you'll need to go to MK and pick up the boat to FW. The docks are "floating" so water levels shouldn't be a problem. Note: you may need to load on first or get off last. When people get on the boat it lowers the boat and there is a drop that occurs. Once you reach FW, the path to TE is paved. Your dad should have no problem. For HDD, let the staff know your dad is in an ecv. They will take him up the ramp at trail's end and let you and your family enter with him there. Good luck on your trip. My dad's had to use an ecv since his stroke in 98 and we love having him at disney with us. We've had to be his eyes and ears for getting around. Just make sure your dad has pretty of practice with the ecv before use.

 

[pugdog]

In the 15+ years that we have used the boats we have never been turned away.