I want to reserve a 30-minute horse drawn carriage ride during our upcoming trip this December because we think DS (2 1/2) would enjoy it. I learned that there are horse drawn carriage rides at SSR, Port Orleans and Fort Wilderness, and there are horse drawn sleigh rides at Wilderness Lodge during our stay. I nixed the sleigh rides because I was told the route mainly goes through the wooded area near WL, and I think DS would be bored (whereas it sounds perfect for a romantic couple trip). Of the three remaining options, Fort Wilderness seems the most interesting -- both for DH and me (a bit more of that outdoorsy feel) and for DS (as I read somewhere that along the way you see the tents/RVs at the campground and during the holidays they often get all decked out with decorations).
For the onsite portion of our trip I've already made our dinner reservations, typically around 6:30 pm to remain consistent with DS's schedule. For our trip dates 5:30 pm is the earliest time available to reserve any of the horse-drawn carriage rides. We will have a car. One one night where the 5:30 pm slot is still available, we have dinner reservations at the Flying Fish at 6:30 pm. I've never driven to Fort Wilderness before, but I understand you have to park at a lot near the entrance then either walk or take the internal bus to reach the pick up point (Crocket Tavern). I just don't have a good sense re how long it would take to walk to/from the parking lot (with a toddler) or to ride via the internal bus. If our carriage ride ends at 6 pm, is it fairly certain that we could get back to BCV in time to park our car and then walk over to the Flying Fish in time for our 6:30 pm ressie? Or should we drive straight to Boardwalk, park the car there, and reach FF that way? Or is the timing going to be so tight that we'll end up waiting a long time past our 6:30 pm ressie, thereby end up with a cranky toddler eating off-schedule?
For the onsite portion of our trip I've already made our dinner reservations, typically around 6:30 pm to remain consistent with DS's schedule. For our trip dates 5:30 pm is the earliest time available to reserve any of the horse-drawn carriage rides. We will have a car. One one night where the 5:30 pm slot is still available, we have dinner reservations at the Flying Fish at 6:30 pm. I've never driven to Fort Wilderness before, but I understand you have to park at a lot near the entrance then either walk or take the internal bus to reach the pick up point (Crocket Tavern). I just don't have a good sense re how long it would take to walk to/from the parking lot (with a toddler) or to ride via the internal bus. If our carriage ride ends at 6 pm, is it fairly certain that we could get back to BCV in time to park our car and then walk over to the Flying Fish in time for our 6:30 pm ressie? Or should we drive straight to Boardwalk, park the car there, and reach FF that way? Or is the timing going to be so tight that we'll end up waiting a long time past our 6:30 pm ressie, thereby end up with a cranky toddler eating off-schedule?
