Haunted Wagon Ride

[mamatojon]

Hi everyone! I have a question about the haunted wagon rides in October. Does anyone know if these run nightly? If I have a dinner reservation at Whispering Canyon at 6:00, do you think I'd be able to make it to FW in time for the last ride? I read somewhere that they run every half hour for 6 rides starting at 7:00, are they really running them until 9:30 or did that mean that they last 1/2 hour and they are staggering the rides every 15 minutes or so? Is it a hayride that seats a lot of people or a private carriage type ride? I also read that you can't reserve them early, should we get the kids hopes up for it? We are staying at WL so I could get over there in the early afternoon and reserve it then. On that note, is the sleepy hollow theme done super scary, appropriate for young kids? We are taking my son and daughter, 6 & 2, and my 2 newphews, 8 and 1. We are choosing to do this instead of the MNSSHP, I would love to do the party but it is just too $$$$ for all of us.

 

[Jesussavedme]

I don't know any more than you do, but I found this on the Mousesavers website...
Haunted Wagon Rides at Fort Wilderness

Each October Fort Wilderness offers a Haunted Wagon Ride based on the classic Washington Irving story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The wagon rides include a performer who tells the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. The wagons depart from Pioneer Hall approximately six times each night.

In 2005 the Haunted Wagon Ride cost $15 adult, $10 child (3-9) and took place on October 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31. Tickets could be purchased on the day of the wagon ride at the Fort Wilderness kennel from 9 am to 5 pm.

Hope that helps you out some - have fun!

 

[mamatojon]

Thanks! I wonder when they will release the dates for this year. Has anyone here actually done this ride and can answer my other questions?

 

[bellelinus]

Hi everyone! I have a question about the haunted wagon rides in October. Does anyone know if these run nightly? If I have a dinner reservation at Whispering Canyon at 6:00, do you think I'd be able to make it to FW in time for the last ride? I read somewhere that they run every half hour for 6 rides starting at 7:00, are they really running them until 9:30 or did that mean that they last 1/2 hour and they are staggering the rides every 15 minutes or so? Is it a hayride that seats a lot of people or a private carriage type ride? I also read that you can't reserve them early, should we get the kids hopes up for it? We are staying at WL so I could get over there in the early afternoon and reserve it then. On that note, is the sleepy hollow theme done super scary, appropriate for young kids? We are taking my son and daughter, 6 & 2, and my 2 newphews, 8 and 1. We are choosing to do this instead of the MNSSHP, I would love to do the party but it is just too $$$$ for all of us.

My daughters and I were staying at WL last October when we decided to do this. We got up the morning we planned to go (Oct. 14) and went to FW fairly early to get the tickets. When we got there that night, they had two lines running -- the line for ticket holders (who got to load first onto the wagon) and another "standby" line to finish filling up the wagon after the ticket holders were all on. It is a large wagon seating perhaps 30 people -- seats were on the back row, each side, and a bench in the middle.

We LOVED the ride -- but to warn you, it is pretty scary when the headless horseman starts chasing the wagon! The earlier parts of the ride are less intense, but at the end he rides up directly behind the wagon, glowing head in one hand, sword in another, chasing the wagon at high speed. We were in the back and literally the horse's breath was on my neck and my oldest daughter had to duck to avoid the long sword being thrust toward the people on the wagon. We thought it was fabulous -- the best Halloween-themed event we have ever done -- but be sure that your kids won't spend the entire time hiding their eyes before spending the time and money.

 

[mamatojon]

My daughters and I were staying at WL last October when we decided to do this. We got up the morning we planned to go (Oct. 14) and went to FW fairly early to get the tickets. When we got there that night, they had two lines running -- the line for ticket holders (who got to load first onto the wagon) and another "standby" line to finish filling up the wagon after the ticket holders were all on. It is a large wagon seating perhaps 30 people -- seats were on the back row, each side, and a bench in the middle.

We LOVED the ride -- but to warn you, it is pretty scary when the headless horseman starts chasing the wagon! The earlier parts of the ride are less intense, but at the end he rides up directly behind the wagon, glowing head in one hand, sword in another, chasing the wagon at high speed. We were in the back and literally the horse's breath was on my neck and my oldest daughter had to duck to avoid the long sword being thrust toward the people on the wagon. We thought it was fabulous -- the best Halloween-themed event we have ever done -- but be sure that your kids won't spend the entire time hiding their eyes before spending the time and money.

Thanks so much! This is exactly what I wanted to know. Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

This sounds too cooooool!!!

 

[tink too]

I definately want to try this out, too. Thanks for the info!

 

[jpmandan]

Headless Horseman, Glowing Head, Sword, and a chase. How COOL is that???
I (we) have to do that.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm slow today, couple questions about this very cool sounding halloween idea

*tickets are only sold "in person/day of"?

*where @ FW do they sell them & how early each day (before early EMH)?

*how comfy/bumpy are the wagons for those of us w/bad backs...steps to climb into them?

TIA

 

[bellelinus]

I'm slow today, couple questions about this very cool sounding halloween idea

*tickets are only sold "in person/day of"?

*where @ FW do they sell them & how early each day (before early EMH)?

*how comfy/bumpy are the wagons for those of us w/bad backs...steps to climb into them?

TIA

Yes, at least when I was there last October you had to go to FW to buy the tickets. I went to the kennel to buy them that morning. I'm not sure how early you could buy them in the morning -- we were there about 9:30 or so and the first few rides were already sold out (however, I discovered that night that they sell wait list tickets to fill each wagon if you are willing to hang around until after the people who bought the tickets in advance loaded the wagon).

As for the comfort level, I seem to remember that it was just a bench with little back support, but I don't remember being terribly jostled (I might have been more than a little distracted by the chase, though!). I think there were steps going up to the wagon for loading.

 

[dsneygirl]

We did the Haunted Wagon ride in Oct 03 and 05. So much fun. I don't remember the course being that bumpy. The Headless Horseman is awesome!