Timing/help for Trail's End, Campfire, then boat to MK?

[happy2go2wdwmom]

Would love any of your expertise w/ this plan---on Sat., May 15th 2010, we're planning to leave a park (not MK, but not sure which other one yet) at about 5:45pm and head to FTWilderness to go to Trail's End buffet dinner --planning to make reservations for about 6:15pm (?) there. After dinner, we'll either walk (how far is it and where is it from Trail's End?)---or take an internal bus to the Chipn'Dale Campfire Sing-Along which I hear starts at 8pm in the spring...then we'll cut out a little early or right after we get character autographs and want to head over to MK---would love to get to MK that night to see some of the Spectromagic parade, but the fireworks start at 10pm and would not mind taking the 45 minute boat over and see the lighted boat parade from this persepctive, too---how do we get form the campfire to the boat dock and how long does it take and how often do these boats run? think this plan will work?

TIA!

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

Forgot to mention that Spectro that night is at 9pm. I am thinking we'd be too rushed to try to get to MK by 9pm and also, would not mind seeing Wishes and light parade from the boat while heading over to MK (it's open 'til 11pm that night). So, we could run in for one last quick ride that night at MK once there. Does this seem like a realistic plan?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

1st, don't count on getting from any park to TE in 30 min. I'd give myself an hour to be safe. The kids can play at the playground, if you're early. You could walk to the campfire from there, but it's a bit of a walk. The internal bus would be my choice. If you're taking the boat to MK, you'll need to ride the bus or walk back to the area TE is located. I was thinking the boat ride was around 20 min, but it's been awhile since we stayed there. Also, I'm thinking the boat doesn't run, during the EWP. Hopefully, someone else can correct me, if I'm wrong. Alternatively, you could watch the EWP & Wishes from the beach near TE.

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

very helpful info---thanks! Will be sure to give ourselves an hour from the parks then. I know this is a little off topic now, but I was worried about the view of Wishes from the WL beach w/ the new addition to the Contemporary resort.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

very helpful info---thanks! Will be sure to give ourselves an hour from the parks then. I know this is a little off topic now, but I was worried about the view of Wishes from the WL beach w/ the new addition to the Contemporary resort.

I don't think BLT would interfere with the view. You can see Wishes & EWP from Fort Wilderness' beach just outside TE. There's no need to go to WL, unless you just want to look around.

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Just a couple of thoughts--I was wondering why you wouldn't choose to go to Trail's End on a MK day? You can take a boat from the MK and it drops you off at the FW marina which is a very, very short walk to the TE buffet. If you go from another park, you'll have to take a bus from the park to FW, and that will drop you off by the kennels. Then you will have to take one of three internal buses to get up to the Pioneer Hall stop. An hour would really be cutting it close, and who wants to waste so much time stuffed in a Disney bus when you can take a nice relaxing boat ride across Bay Lake instead?

Secondly, no autographs from Chip and Dale at the campfire. It is really quick, their time is short there. You are sometimes lucky to get a picture with them. When it's time for them to go, they hop on their golf cart and leave, whether they have seen everyone or not.

And yes, the boats stop during the water parade.

 

[stitch'sgirl]

To get between the campfire and the TE, you need to take an internal bus. Just ask the driver, you will want to get off at the backside of the Meadow Trading Post complex to get to the campfire.

 

[WEDWDW]

If you go to Fort Wilderness from a park other than Magic Kingdom,take a bus to Wilderness Lodge and then take a boat from there to The Fort.

You will then be about a 2 minute walk from Trails End Buffeteria.

The boats do stop when the EWP is in their "area".If you are on a boat that is already out on the water at that time,the boat will stop out on the water and you get to watch EWP from out on the water "up close".

Watching EWP out on the water is AWESOME!

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

Just a couple of thoughts--I was wondering why you wouldn't choose to go to Trail's End on a MK day? You can take a boat from the MK and it drops you off at the FW marina which is a very, very short walk to the TE buffet. If you go from another park, you'll have to take a bus from the park to FW, and that will drop you off by the kennels. Then you will have to take one of three internal buses to get up to the Pioneer Hall stop. An hour would really be cutting it close, and who wants to waste so much time stuffed in a Disney bus when you can take a nice relaxing boat ride across Bay Lake instead?
And yes, the boats stop during the water parade.

Oops--just got booted off after a long reply to this---in short, you are right---we once took the boat to HDDR and it was heavenly--we're hopper people who go commando style, and we plan to go to MK several times during our trip so this idea would mean our doing one park in the day time and then if possible, and even if we only have 20 minutes left of the park being open that night, we'd go to MK----or maybe we'll take a slower road and wtch Wishes form the FW beach.... Thanks for your post!

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

If you go to Fort Wilderness from a park other than Magic Kingdom,take a bus to Wilderness Lodge and then take a boat from there to The Fort.

You will then be about a 2 minute walk from Trails End Buffeteria.

The boats do stop when the EWP is in their "area".If you are on a boat that is already out on the water at that time,the boat will stop out on the water and you get to watch EWP from out on the water "up close".

Watching EWP out on the water is AWESOME!

Oooooh that's what I want! Hmmm, so if we take a 9:30-ish boat from FW....

 

[MadiWI]

Secondly, no autographs from Chip and Dale at the campfire. It is really quick, their time is short there. You are sometimes lucky to get a picture with them. When it's time for them to go, they hop on their golf cart and leave, whether they have seen everyone or not.

Did this change? We went over to the campfire early last May, and Chip and Dale did do autographs. They did some photos at the very beginning, but then they made everyone take their seats, then I think Chip and Dale might have split up to go through the crowd and do autographs and pictures. I know that they were very clear that we couldn't line up - but that they would come to us in a more orderly manner. It was more like at a character meal, really.

The campfire is a lot of fun. Definitely a fun "extra" during a trip.