Nature trails at WDW?

[Dimplenose]

On my first visit to WDW in 1998 my favourite place was Discovery Island (the real one not the renamed Safari village). Are there any other nature trails or more natural places to visit in or very close to WDW?

Libby

 

[RedShorts]

Libby
We too stumbled across Discovery Island in 1998, a nice unexpected treat.
I'm also interested in knowing of alternatives.
Is Discovery Island still there and in the same format as 1998?
Chris

 

[KayleeUK]

Discovery Island closed in 1999

Fort Wilderness has horse riding, Carraige rides, pony rides and a petting farm - might be worth a visit??

 

[Scotfan]

There is a wilderness trail that you can walk at Fort Wilderness I think it goes to WL?
I've never done it as I'm too worried about the wildlife ( the 8 ft long variety with teeth and the wriggly variety)

 

[Scotfan]

Oh just noticed I've been tagged.

 

[Bexx]

We also visited Discovery Island back in '99 and I'm really sorry they closed it. It was something completely different to do at Disney. I just remember being a little concerned when I saw the size of the birds and the many, many, marks on the ground - know what I mean?!

Fort Wilderness is a really nice place and fairly peaceful. We went canoeing there and we were the only ones using the waterway - luckily I know you won't see as much wildlife there as you did at Discovery Island, as that was a specially set up place, but it's probably the only other place you would have a chance of seeing something.

I've just had a look in one of many of my old guidebooks and they mention a specific trail at Fort Wilderness called the Wilderness Swamp Trail. Don't know if it still exists, but it says to go to "Guest Services at the FW Reception Outpost", or the "Pioneer Hall Ticket and Info Window in the Settlement Recreation Area" to pick up a map for it. Might be worth a try.

Here's a map of FW http://allearsnet.com/acc/ftwmap.jpg Hope it works.

 

[RedShorts]

What a shame

 

[Dimplenose]

Thanks for your replies. I think it's a shame that there's no Discovery Island. There used to be a nature trail near River Country(a place we never made it to) but as that's closed I'm assuming the trail is too.

If this Swamp trail does exist would it be available to guests staying off site? The riding sounds interesting - I might look into that for next summer.

Libby

 

[Bexx]

If this Swamp trail does exist would it be available to guests staying off site?

I don't see any problem with that at all. Just go and wander round FW and have fun