Mk to WL Boats

[FloridaCat]

TRANSPORTATION: For the most part, we thought it very convenient. During the morning and at park closings, the trip is one resort. It is during the day going or coming that more then one stop was encountered. Boats have two colored flags. A small Launch runs a continuous circle from WL to FW to Contemporary. It has a blue flag. The MK boat is larger and flies a green flag.
We only had two problems, a CM with the small boat told us she was going to Contemporary and did not have to wait for the MK boat. What she did not tell us it was a long walk to the Contemporary lobby, up four floors on escalators. We do not recommend this trip. The second problem was the same day at MK closing. WL & FW share the same dock, but separate boats. It was very crowed and the lines were back to the park. As we arrived a small boat was leaving the WL dock and a small boat was loading at the FW dock. Ten minutes later another small boat came to the FW dock. The crowd became agitated and some verbal abuse was being hollered to the CM. He must have contacted a Supervisor as another CM arrived there and was on the radio. Then two large boat came for both resorts and cleared the dock. We were packed like sardines, but we were heading back to the resort. This seemed totally unnecessary and poor planning on someone’s part. We waited a total of 45 minutes by my DD watch.
If WDW awards its CM for good deeds, the Pilot on the WL boat deserves it. He turned our crowd from a ugly mood to singing by the time we were half way across the lake. He started with trivia, quizzes, and having the left side of the boat singing Row Row Your Boat and the right side jumping in on the second Chorus. By the time we reached the WL dock, everyone was in a good mood laughing and talking to each other and continued to the lodge entrance... A masterful job on his part I will post this part on the transportation thread so hopefully someone can follow up on this. On a good note, we went down to the dock one evening and a Blue flag boat was there. We asked the CM if she cared if we rode the next trip with her. She said hop on and we made three round trips with her and got a lot of information from her. She was very friendly and we enjoyed her company immensely. It was very relaxing and enjoyable and you should consider it. We did it just before sunset and it was beautiful out on the lake. One minor annoyance was it seemed the bus trip to FW to pick up people was one time a few minuets and the next run seemed to take forever. It seems not all drivers are up to speed on the shortest routes.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by FloridaCat
One minor annoyance was it seemed the bus trip to FW to pick up people was one time a few minuets and the next run seemed to take forever. It seems not all drivers are up to speed on the shortest routes.

On the contrary.

Studios buses pick up at the Settlement Depot. That is located down a short road by the Wilderness Lodge guard shack. This is the short way that you are thinking of.

Downtown Disney and Epcot buses pick up at the Outpost Depot, which is located on the far end of Fort Wilderness. This is the "Long way" that you are thinking of... To get there, one exit's the WL, takes a left onto World Drive, which jughandles into Vista Blvd. By the way, it should be noted that Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot is ON THE WAY to both these locations.

 

[FloridaCat]

Thanks for clearing that up. One morning several of us were commenting on why it was taking so long to FW