question about wilderness lodge boat-do you think we need to rent a car?

[jenniferma]

Hi there-- we just last night switched our ressies to WL- never stayed there before, so we are really excited. Our trip is far away.. Nov. 29th- Dec. 6th of 2008.

We were going to stay at CSR and rent a car, but I am wondering if we will need it if we stay at WL? We will have three kids with us-- DD7, DD5 and DD20months. I am assuming we are going to bring the double stroller with us.

DH HATED, I mean HATED lugging that double stroller on the buses last trip (we stayed at POR). We do plan on coming back the WL for breaks and naps.

My question is-- can you ever ride on the boat with kids IN the stroller? or, will we have to fold it up each time-- even if the kids are asleep?

So far we arrive Sat and hope to go to see the ponies at Ft. Wilderness that afternoon, dinner at Chef Mickeys. Sunday- MGM (coming back to WL for naps and dinner, going back to MGM), Monday- MK (dinner at GF) MK that evening, Tues- Epcot (break) epcot. Wed- MK all day (with break), Thurs. AK- back to WL MVMCP that evening, Friday- go home.

Thanks for your advice!
jen

 

[spiceycat]

the boat only goes to the MK.

you can ride the boat to CR and take the monrail to TTC - switch over to Epcot monrail.

that say the buses are a heck of lot easier.

how about buying another stroller that is easier to close up? or 2 strollers?

if the boat is not too crowded you can just roll the strollers in - no getting the kids out.

AK and Studios are both buses transportation only.

 

[jcolello]

Hi Jen,

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge this past May for the exact same reasons you described. My DS was not even 2 yet and still needs his naps and I was 7 months pregnant, also needing mid day breaks. We also wanted to minimize the need to use buses.

It ended up working out really well, except we did have to take the bus to AK and MGM. There are two boats that leave from the WL. One does a loop between WL, FW and MK and the other goes to the Contemporary (I can’t remember if this one also went to FW – I think it might have).

Anyway, the one that goes to FW loop is a bigger boat and you can push a stroller on even with the sleeping kid in it. If you have the side by side double stroller, you might have an issue getting through the door, but I think that if the boat is not crowded, you can push a front/back double stroller on. One thing to be aware of is on the nights that there is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review at FW, the boats are VERY packed. People get on at MK, then there is the stop at WL and then it goes to FW, empties out and then fills back up at MK. The one night we got caught with that, we watched 3 or 4 boats go by before we got on one. Also, sometimes they go the other direction – which I never figured out that schedule.

The other boat going to the Contemporary is smaller and requires all strollers to be folded up.

Overall, we loved the WL!!! Check the other postings here for which rooms to ask for since some rooms allow you to see the MK fireworks from your balcony. I don’t remember our room number and I don’t think we were in a prime room for the show, but we were able to see some…it was pretty cool.

Hope this helps

 

[Endeavour105]

Hi there-- we just last night switched our ressies to WL- never stayed there before, so we are really excited. Our trip is far away.. Nov. 29th- Dec. 6th of 2008.

We were going to stay at CSR and rent a car, but I am wondering if we will need it if we stay at WL? We will have three kids with us-- DD7, DD5 and DD20months. I am assuming we are going to bring the double stroller with us.

DH HATED, I mean HATED lugging that double stroller on the buses last trip (we stayed at POR). We do plan on coming back the WL for breaks and naps.

My question is-- can you ever ride on the boat with kids IN the stroller? or, will we have to fold it up each time-- even if the kids are asleep?

So far we arrive Sat and hope to go to see the ponies at Ft. Wilderness that afternoon, dinner at Chef Mickeys. Sunday- MGM (coming back to WL for naps and dinner, going back to MGM), Monday- MK (dinner at GF) MK that evening, Tues- Epcot (break) epcot. Wed- MK all day (with break), Thurs. AK- back to WL MVMCP that evening, Friday- go home.

Thanks for your advice!
jen

***For information on WDW Watercraft operations on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, check out this thread for accurate and complete info:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1614057

As the information indicates, for the small motor launches, strollers must be folded prior to boarding...no exceptions...Take the kids out first...

On the motor crusiers, however, just wheel 'em aboard.

The OP's comment that the boat only goes to the MK is incorrect and misleading. See the above thread link.