Pony Ride/Dinner/Campfire Scheduling Questions

[Dannielle_1]

Hi - I was wondering if I could get some help from the Fort Wilderness experts out there.

I am planning a late afternoon/evening over at Fort Wilderness for some of the activities.

I currently have ADRs at Trails End for 6:10 and am definately planning on doing the campfire & sing-a-long at 7:30.

I think I want to do the pony ride for my son and then look around the Tri-Circle Ranch. We would do this before dinner as I see that the pony rides finish up at 5:00. I'm just not sure on the timing here. How long are the pony rides? Can we look around the ranch after 5:00 or does it pretty much shut down with the pony rides? How much time do you think we should allot for this general area?

What can we do between finishing up there and dinner?

I was thinking about doing one of the wagon rides, but timing wise it doesn't seem as if it would work out. Its fortyfive minutes and starts at 7:00 and the campfire is a must. Can we walk from Trails End down to the campfire location. Is it a nice stroll or are there some trails down there that would be good to take or is it better to bus down?

I appreciate any help in trying to work out this late afternoon/evening for a day visitor. Thanks!

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

The pony ride is actually by TE & not TCD. If you get there early enough, TCD is at the parking lot by the outpost. Go there first, walk around, then take the bus to the outpost & do the pony ride before going to TE (or do the pony ride & then take the bus out to outpost & look around TCD). Just make sure you have plenty of time alotted for the buses too. You can walk to the campfire from TE, but I think it's about 1/2 mile. I'm sure someone else can let you know the specifics better about that though.

 

[bama_ed]

To kill time between the end of your pony ride and your ADR, there is a children's playground on the lake side of Pioneer Hall/Trail's End (the pony ride is on the other side fo the building). There is the beach on the lake itself (hammocks for grown ups) with sand, tether ball poles, and of course the Settlement Trading Post.

The pony ride itself is only about 5 minutes long. They have a little step stage to help the child get into the saddle and then a parent has to lead the pony by a rope around the corral area back to the loading place. Trust me, the pony knows where he's going. The horse barn is is also open (partly) so you can view the animals in their pens and they have signs by each stall usually with the horse's name, type, and some info. The pony ride has a minimal charge (about $5 maybe)

It's about a 10-15 minutes walk from TE to the campfire or you can take the bus. Just depends on what you want to do. We did the pony rides when our kids were younger, we love eating at TE, and are campfire junkies. You'll enjoy your evening - just relax and have fun. Plus, if the crowd at TE isn't bad, you might even be able to move up your ADR.

Have fun with your family!

Bama ED

 

[Dannielle_1]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like we could get there around 4:30 and have plenty of time for the barn & pony ride. We'll be at the Magic Kingdom that day and plan on talking the boat launch over there, so maybe head to the launch around 4:00. Does that sound good?