Horse back riding at Fort Wilderness?

[jdm]

Has anyone done this? Every time I try doing a search, the function tells me it's busy or unavailable.

We're thinking of doing this and was wondering if anyone has done it or knows anything about it.

Thanks
Jenn

 

[dtuleya]

This is from WDWPlanner.com

Horseback Riding
At Walt Disney World: Fort Wilderness - Visitors are led by guides; This is a walk-paced ride - fine for beginners. The horses are sometimes used in the Magic Kingdom parades. The cost is approximately $32 per person. The ride is 45 minutes. Reservations are necessary and can be made up to 2 weeks in advance at 407-824-2832. A maximum of twenty participants per ride. Rides take place daily at 8:30 am, 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4 pm from the Trail Blaze Corral at Tri-Circle D Livery. Parking in the lot is free to guests staying at a WDW resort; but others are charged about $5. No children under 9 are allowed to ride. There is a 250 pound weight limit.

Here's some more information I found from the Disney (Canadian) site:

General Information: We suggest you wear long pants for the ride. Hats should not be worn, except baseball caps. Please do not bring cameras or pocketbooks. And remember, shoes must be worn at all times. (Please do not wear open-toed or open-heeled shoes.)

Please note: Ride times vary due to seasons and cancellation of rides may occur due to inclement weather.

Hoep this helps!

 

[Memph1s]

I think it is an OK ride for a complete novice. It is a single file slow walk through the woods on a well-worn flat trail. However, anyone that rides regularly will be bored other than being able to be around some horses.

 

[tiggger1]

It is great for someone who has never riden, like my husband. he enjoyed it but he was really nervous. I, on the other hand have been riding for year and have 2 horses. even though I enjoyed it, by the half way point I was bored. the only thing that made it less boring, is that one of the new horses was acting up. the guide at the end had to switch horses around. He took the one that was acting up, I got to ride his own mount and the young girl on the crazy horse rode mine. The horse I ended up riding back had much more of pulse and I hung out in the back with the 2nd guide and he even let me trot a few times.

 

[We4mickey]

The kids have done it and said they wouldn't do it again. It was boring in their words.

 

[BYC]

My daughter and I did it while DH and sons rode those little boats(forget what they are called). Both of us are riders, so we were wishing they had a more advanced level so we could trot and canter, but they don't. If you just like being on a horse, and like a nice quiet trail ride through the woods, you will enjoy it. All the saddles are western, which I find pretty uncomfortable. I don't think we would do it again, but we did enjoy it!

 

[bianca]

My kids and husband have done this twice over the years, and have said that they would never do it again. Simply put, they think there are tons of better ways to spend money at WDW. Like the other posters, they found the ride to be too slow and non-eventful. I'm sure it is something that can be enjoyed as a one-time experience, though.

 

[jdm]

Thanks for your replies. I am not an experienced rider and DD is a Western gamer, very experienced but just loves the thrill of being on a horse in different places. Last year on DCL in St. Martin we did an meandering ride on the beach.

There is also a trail ride at one of the state parks and I'm wondering where the scenery would be better. We've never been to the Fort Wilderness area except for years ago to see the Hoop de Doo and it was dark. Was it a very scenic ride or just a - you've seen one woods, you've seen'em all woods- thing?

Thanks everyone,
Jenn

 

[cyndilou01]

we've done it, it was nice SLOW WALK, if you dont ride often you will love it, if you are an advanced horseman, I would say rent a bike or a canoe and see the woods that way... the canoe ride is nice quiet and they do have some pretty woody areas....

have fun

 

[mrsfascinating]

My Mom and I went on the trail ride this past Dec. Both of us are experienced riders. At home we don't have woods to ride so It was a nice change of pace from schooling in the ring. I agree if you are looking for riding excitement you are not going to find it here. The western saddles were uncomfortable ,but we both have english saddle butts. For us the best part was talking to the guides about behind the scene things in Disney and how to adopt a WDW pony. You definitly want to wear comfortable long leg pants a horseback ride isn't the time to wear the blue jeans you can only snap when laying down.

 

[jdm]

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips. I think we'll do it. Maybe combine it with a lunch at Whispering Canyons. I need to do more research but I think the restaurant is also in this area.

While DD is an advanced rider, these trail rides while traveling aren't really about thrill riding which she gets plenty of with her gaming. She is just a horse lover to the core and loves the experience of seeing different barns, on different horses and riding with different guides etc. She is never bored on horseback!

For scaredy cat me, it'll be perfect. I don't ride in anything but a Westen saddle. Gotta be able to hang onto the horn if the horse decides to trot or something exciting like that!!!!

Thanks again,
Jenn

 

[Jennasmomma]

Is this ok for someone that is a beginner? My DD loves horses. She's wrote a pony at the pumpkin farm that just goes up a straight line, turns around and comes back. We are going to DW in December. She is saving up her $ so she can do this.

 

[cyndilou01]

wHISPERING CANYON is in the Wilderness Lodge, just ride the boat over, much faster, and the food is good, and it is a lot of fun... we were told it is the same food as the hoop d doo, but without the show... but they do some fun things, like if you ask for ketchup, the waitress will yell Ketchup and whoever has it on their table has to bring it to you...so you may end up with like 7 bottles on your table at a time ... you will like it, it is one of the places we try and go to every visit...