MK to Ft. Wilderness by boat

[Liz]

How long does it take to go by boat from MK to Ft. Wilderness approximately? Is there a boat from the Contemporary to FW also? Where would we catch that - I assume out by the marina somewhere?

Do the boats run during a thunderstorm? If it is storming and the boats aren't running, I guess our next best bet would be a bus from MK to WL then transfer to another bus to FW.

Does this sound right? Thanks!

 

[SB in KY]

The boat from MK to Ft Wilderness runs in all weather...it is a large vessel with indoor seating. The boat runs every 15 to 20 minutes and I would guess the ride to Ft Wilderness takes 10 to 15 minutes. I would allow at least 30 minutes from the time you get to the MK boat dock (to allow for wait time)

The launch from the CR to Ft Wilderness is a much smaller open boat and it does not run during bad weather. You catch it out at the dock next to the MK launch...it also runs every 20 minutes or so.

If for some reason you cannot get the boat to Ft W (although I don't know why you couldn't), I believe they are now running direct bus service to the MK from Ft W also so you could just take a bus there.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Unfortunetly, the direct bus only runs from WL, and not FW.

 

[Liz]

Thanks for the great info!

 

[Maherae]

While there may not be a "direct" bus..as in no other stops, there are separate buses to each area of WDW. From FW the bus will stop at WL/GF and go on to whichever area you boarded for.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

While there may not be a "direct" bus..as in no other stops, there are separate buses to each area of WDW. From FW the bus will stop at WL/GF and go on to whichever area you boarded for.

The Magic Kingdom bus from WL will be a direct non-stop bus.

From Fort Wilderness, the majority of the theme park buses will be non-stop. During the morning, only the Epcot bus will stop at WL, then FW, then Epcot. All other buses are FW only. During the afternoon, Studios will switch over to WL -> FW -> ST. Animal Kingdom and Downtown buses will remain FW only all day long.

 

[Liz]

Is the boat that runs between MK & FW the same kind of vessel that goes between the Boardwalk area resorts and Epcot/MGM? We were on that last summer in a torrential downpour and that boat didn't move till it stopped! I have video of it pouring (leaking) inside the boat in one area! It was incredible!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

They are different vessels. The MK watercraft will move during torrential downpours, and other bad storms. Fog is usually the only time when they will stop operations.