Pony Rides at WL campgrounds??

[Jake & Crew]

If anyone has an info I would be so grateful. We are checking in to WL on a Sunday afternoon and meeting up with our party for dinner, looking for fun non-park things to do that day. Had heard about pony rides for the kids at the nearby campgrounds but can not find any info on it. Do they still exist ~if so is it worth doing that day?

Other ideas are downtown disney or mini -golf. The kids are little (6,4,3, 1) and will have been traveling all day so we want to have low-key fun. The pool is always an option, but coming up with a back up plan since it will be Feb ( yes that crazy vacation week) when we go.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[Seahunt]

Info on the pony rides at FW:

Tri-Circle-D Ranch

The Tri-Circle-D Ranch, located at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, is home to Disney's world-famous Percheron hitch. The Ranch offers a variety of recreational activities for the entire family.

Trail Rides - 45 minutes, all participants must be at least nine years old. Rider weight limit is 250 pounds. $23.00.

Hayrides - Relaxing, one-hour hayrides wander the trails of Fort Wilderness, the shores of Bay Lake and through spooky Sherwood Forest. 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightly, weather permitting. $6.00 adults, $4.00 children. Tickets are purchased from the driver.

Pony Rides and Petting Farm - Pony rides are available with a rider weight limit of 80 pounds, from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. daily, $3.00. A petting farm is located next to the pony rides and houses many unique animals including Blossom the donkey, goats, sheep and exotic chickens. There is no charge for the petting farm. Feed corn is available for 25 cents.

More info here and check out the links on the left for "Other Recreation":

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/moreMagic/otherRecDetail?id=OtherRecStablesDetailPage

Have a great time!

 

[Gillian]

Another thing my kids always like - when you get off the boat from WL to Fort Wilderness, you'll pass a playground while walking to the pony area.

 

[bama_ed]

We've done this several times over the years. You can take the bus or boat (or walk the exercise trail) to FW. All will put you in the Pioneer Hall/petting zoo corral area. It is $3-4 per kid and there is the weight limit as specified earlier. The Disney cast member helps your child mount the horse into the saddle and then you the adult/parent lead the horse at a walking pace around the corral area between the animal pens of the pigs, goats, etc back to the mount/dismount area. It is a short walk but memorable for the kids. Each horse has a name (of course) and our kids would inquire about the horse they rode in the past or wait to ride that one again if available. We still remember Tonka and Sugar fondly!

Enjoy

Bama ED

 

[tiggger1]

not sure if the time changes or not but when we were there in April they were only open until 4pm.. ( we tried to go before we dinner reservations at 5 but they were already closed)

 

[CottontailCurl]

Info on the pony rides at FW:

Tri-Circle-D Ranch

Pony Rides and Petting Farm - Pony rides are available with a rider weight limit of 80 pounds, from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. daily, $3.00. A petting farm is located next to the pony rides and houses many unique animals including Blossom the donkey, goats, sheep and exotic chickens. There is no charge for the petting farm. Feed corn is available for 25 cents.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/moreMagic/otherRecDetail?id=OtherRecStablesDetailPage

Have a great time!

In case anyone else is looking for this information and has older children than the OP's, when we were there in September my daughter wanted to go on a pony ride so much but was told she couldn't because of her height. She is in the 60's range of weight but at the petting zoo pony ride area they have a 'you must be this tall' height bar that she was about 5 or so inches taller than. She was so disappointed. Don't tell her, but when we go back in December I'm going to take her horse-back riding. Growth spurt ya'll, good for Rock N Roller Coaster, not good for pony rides.

(Edit to say that I went to the link at Disney's web page and the requirements are as follows:
Pony Rides
Hay! Come on down to the farm for a gentle stroll around the stables. These trots for tots (ages 2 and older, with an accompanying adult at the lead) offer the ideal introduction to interacting with our four-legged equine friends.)

 

[CottontailCurl]

Hey there! You're kids are the perfect ages for the pony rides! You have on your list 2 of my kids' favorite non-parks places to go. The other is Downtown Disney, they can spend some serious time at Legoland building stuff. They have a racing ramp there in the area where all the legos are and kids can build lego racecars and race them against each other on the ramp. If you're looking for the most relaxing and peaceful after a day of driving, I would go for the peace of the marina area of the campground, they will be able to walk, run and let off steam in the larger open areas near the petting zoo and on the other side of Trail's End where the playground equipment is. Mom and Dad can get a bevvie and sit on the front porch nearby and watch them let off steam (porch with rockers pictured below in sig). Did I mention it's very peaceful there? I hope you have a great time!

(Question for Fort Wilderness Fanatics; is that the playground in the background of my picture of the rockers on the front porch?)

Angie

 

[campingcorgi]

(Question for Fort Wilderness Fanatics; is that the playground in the background of my picture of the rockers on the front porch?)

Angie[/QUOTE]

Yep, the playground is right across from the side porch of the TE. Good playground--lots of climbing area with a rubber mulch surface, and some swings adjacent.

 

[Jake & Crew]

Thank you so much for the great info! Will check on the time before we go, looks like FW is the perfect place for that first afternoon as we wait for the rest of the party to arrive and settle in. Downtown Dis will be our after dinner destination.

Quick ? about the bevvie on the porch (love the idea) is there some place right there to buy one or do we bring our own and are these adult bevs we are referring to? (it will have been a looonng day of travel with a party of 10 from RI).

Thanks again

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

You can purchase your beverage at Crocket's Tavern, right inside Trails End, right behind the rocking chairs.

 

[Live4FW]

About them there beverages;-)

As others have said you can buy some just behind the chairs you see in the pic. Another option is to pick up a couple from the settlement trading post. Quite a bit cheaper (for the beer and split of wine) and since there is no service on the porch, no problems enjoying them there.

However, DW usually gets her dacquiri there and those are only available from TE/Crocketts

Also -that playground has been remodeled in the yast year or so and is quite nice

 

[CottontailCurl]

QUOTE=campingcorgi]
Yep, the playground is right across from the side porch of the TE. Good playground--lots of climbing area with a rubber mulch surface, and some swings adjacent.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, my gauge was off about how far away the playground would be, I thought they would have to sit farther toward the end of the side part of the porch. That's even better that it's up front.

And to Jake and Crew; here's a link to a menu for Trail's End and Crockett's Tavern (says it has a full service bar) and the store is just a short walk across the way from the restaurant/tavern.

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_teb.htm

 

[Jake & Crew]

thank you for letting me know about "them there beverages" ~ glad y'all caught my drift and I am not the only one looking for a little something to take the edge off after moving the family 1/2 way cross the country for a week of relaxation (read mommying on the road!)