Options for going to Fort Wilderness

[Carnator]

I copied this from the DisABILITIES FAQs thread;


The large boats that go to resorts at MK are usually accessible, but may not be if the water level is very high or very low (which doesn't happen often). They do provide alternate ways to get the the parks if this happens.


I will be using an ECV. We will be going to Fort Wilderness to eat at Trails End and then go to Campfire and a Movie after we eat. If I am unable to board the boat or the boat stops running by the time the movie ends, what are my alternate ways of getting back and forth? If I take a bus from one of the parks to Fort Wilderness will I be dropped of at a cental location and then have to get on another bus to the Trails End and Campfire and a Movie?

Any help or suggetions are appreciated.thanks

 

[yoopermom]

You might want to post this on the Transportation Board as well, but, from our many times staying at FW, I will say that the resort busses all pick up at the Hoop de Doo after each show (this is in same building as Trails End). So you could boat it from MK to FW, take an internal bus to the campfire, internal bus back (make sure you get on the right color, if not sure, just ask the driver), then resort bus back to your resort, or boat back to MK if they're still running. As a last resort, you could take a park bus back to a park (whichever is open that late). None of this is as hard as it sounds, really! We love FW, and I'm sure you'd enjoy it. I've ECVed all over it, but wouldn't reccomend doing it for the first time in the dark, despite the paths...
Terri

 

[Carnator]

Thank you

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

FW has 2 main bus stops, Outpost and Settlement. Epcot, AK and DTD(double check when you get there, I forget sometimes) pick up at Outpost.
MGM and WL bus pick up at Settlement(near Pioner Hall, Trails End, boat dock). The MK boat will run until about 1 hour after the park closes, so that may or may not work for the movie depending on park hours that day. If all parks are closed, DTD is your transfer point for resort to resort. As for internal bus colors, those denote which loops the bus will go to, yellow and orange will get you to the movie(I think orange will be best, get off at 800 loop and cross the bridge.) The buses will say for example Outpost Orange, that means it run down the center road from Settlement to Outpost, a Settlement Orange will run the same loop but is heading to Settlement. A side note to the Orange bus, when it reaches Settlement it changes it's sign to WL, goes out to the WL, changes it's sign to FW, goes back to Settlement and becomes Outpost Orange. If you need any other help with FW transportation let me know.

 

[Belle1962]

FW has 2 main bus stops, Outpost and Settlement. Epcot, AK and DTD(double check when you get there, I forget sometimes) pick up at Outpost.
MGM and WL bus pick up at Settlement(near Pioner Hall, Trails End, boat dock). The MK boat will run until about 1 hour after the park closes, so that may or may not work for the movie depending on park hours that day. If all parks are closed, DTD is your transfer point for resort to resort. As for internal bus colors, those denote which loops the bus will go to, yellow and orange will get you to the movie(I think orange will be best, get off at 800 loop and cross the bridge.) The buses will say for example Outpost Orange, that means it run down the center road from Settlement to Outpost, a Settlement Orange will run the same loop but is heading to Settlement. A side note to the Orange bus, when it reaches Settlement it changes it's sign to WL, goes out to the WL, changes it's sign to FW, goes back to Settlement and becomes Outpost Orange. If you need any other help with FW transportation let me know.

Dear GOD-that sounded waaaayyyy too confusing to me. We were thinking of doing the campfire this trip but with all that color and changing (and what is Outpost and Settelment???) I think we'll just stay at the condo and swim.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Dear GOD-that sounded waaaayyyy too confusing to me. We were thinking of doing the campfire this trip but with all that color and changing (and what is Outpost and Settelment???) I think we'll just stay at the condo and swim.

Really it is not bad. Outpost and Settlement are the two main bus stops(when FW was built there was no need for that many buses and neither area could support all the buses needed without major rehab to the roads, so they split the buses to two stations). Outpost is the check in area and extra parking(traffic is very limited in the campground), Settlement is inside the campgroud near the marina(the area is called Settlement because of the Settlement trading post there, at one time this was the main shop, with a deli and soft serve ice cream). The colors don't make much difference if you are just going for the campfire show, they only indicate which loops they serve, all buses go to Outpost and Settlement in continualy loops. All the internal buses will eventualy get you to the campfire show, some faster than others, but they will all work.

 

[Belle1962]

Thanks--that sounds easier--just hop any color bus and we end up where we want!!!! LOL. I have issues with new things (and in the dark too!!) and anxiety so I like S I M P L E.

Is it a long walk back to the campfire? I was going to bring my own chair but don't want to carry it far. Or can I bring my ecv? is the path bumpy?

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Tell the bus driver where you are headed and they will make sure you get off at the right stop(there are 4 possible, 2 with shorter walks). One of the shorter walks involes going through a camping loop(big bear little bear loop) and then a short path past the comfort station(bath house). The other is at the 700/800 loops(can't rember the names), it has a mulched path and a bridge over the canal, this is the shortest but may be tough with the mulch and bridge(it is not a big bridge) for ECVs. Most important is to take just a minute or 2 to look at the map that is posted at every bus stop, enjoy your ride around the campground, it is very relaxing.

 

[Carnator]

Thanks for all the info!!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Here's a map of FW to help you get your bearings:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/fortwilderness.htm

Have a great trip!

 

[clkelley]

Thanks--that sounds easier--just hop any color bus and we end up where we want!!!! LOL. I have issues with new things (and in the dark too!!) and anxiety so I like S I M P L E.

Is it a long walk back to the campfire? I was going to bring my own chair but don't want to carry it far. Or can I bring my ecv? is the path bumpy?

Do NOT get on the PURPLE Bus. It goes nowhere near the campfire. As a previous poster mentioned look for an Orange or Yellow bus. For an Orange bus, get off at Loop 800. If you get on a Yellow bus, get off at Loop 1500.

In actuality, it is a very short walk from the HDDR to the Meadows area.

When you leave Hoop De Doo, walk/ECV through the golf cart parking and get on the concrete path. Cross the road at the crosswalk. The sidewalks will split in two. Take the sidewalk toward the right. Follow it and the Meadows area with the campfire will be on the left. About a 10 minute walk. (Don't worry, if you accidently take the wrong sidewalk to the left, you'll still get there, but the Meadows area with the campfire will be on the right.)

The entire Campground is totally ECV accessible. I have ridden an ECV all over the place there. (It is my hubby's and he needs it to traverse the parks. He doesn't go camping with me, so I bring the ECV and use it like a golf cart around the Fort.) It takes me about the same time to go from one end of the campground to the other on my ECV as it takes a bus when you factor in waiting on the bus, loading the ECV, the internal stops, and unloading the ECV.)

 

[Carnator]

Thanks for the map LittleSpark and for the additional info cl