Transportation at WL

[Brodiecat]

OK, I'm a little concerned about the transportation problems at WL. We will have a vehicle and don't mind just drinving to the different parks. Can we park for free at the parks since we are staying at WL? I am one of those types of people...once I'm ready to call it a night, nothing better be in my way. If I have my vehicle, I can leave when I want and be bacl to the hotel within 15 minutes or so.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Yes, since you are staying at WL, you can park at the parks for free. At check-in you will get a paper permit to put on your dashboard. When you drive to a park, the CMs in the booths will wave you through.

When my DW and I stayed at WL, we used the buses some and drove some. We loved the boat to MK (that's the way to travel!). We thought the buses were good -- we weren't in any great hurry to get to/from the parks.

However, we decided we preferred driving to Epcot and AK -- both of those it seemed to take the WL bus forever and a day to get to the park to take us back to the WL.

 

[Brodiecat]

Thanks Eeyore for the speedy reply. Anybody else have anything to share?

 

[km2all]

We just got back from the WL and loved the boats. Unfortunately we could not say the same for the buses. We have some really long waits and ended up going on a Contemporary bus and taking the boat across. It might have taken longer but at least we were moving. Also, for Epcot fireworks we drove to the Yaht Club (to check it out), and walked to Epcot.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I agree about the lousy bus service, howver, since you have a car it shouldn't affect you.
We found the boat service to be very effeicient.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I'd say go for the car rental. For us, when we are on vacation, we let everyone else do the driving . . .besides DH's driving gets me nervous in CT, nevermind having him drive around FL.

We just stayed at WL. It's a beautiful resort! I couldn't stand the transportation though.

The boat was shared with Ft. Wilderness and it was a pain especially having to be so close to WL after leaving MK, but instead they'd take you halfway across Bay Lake to drop of Ft. Wilderness first.

The buses came pretty regularly . . .we didn't wait long at all. But some buses were shared with Ft. Wilderness and it took a long time to get from Point A to Point B.

Maybe one day they'll attach the monorail system to WL. It's soooooooooo close to the TTC! The day they do that, I'll stay again at WL.

 

[Robinette]

We really love the Wilderness Lodge. It's one of our favorite places to stay. We always rent a car on our Disney vacations, we just like having it if we decide to go off property to eat or shop, plus we do US/IOA. The only time I've had a problem with the transportation at WL was this past May (the 13th I think). After the fireworks at MK we waited 1 1/2 hours for the boat back to WL ! There were no buses running for us, just the boat. Buy the time a boat came, the park was just about empty. It was not a great way to end the day. But again, that is my only complaint about WL .

 

[jordanyosh]

Get a car. You have heard before and have heard now that WL has complaints about transportation. Don't let that detract you from having a great time at WL. It is a great resort.

That said, we have never had a problem with Disney transportation at any of the resorts. I fall under the "I am on vacation and the further I am from a car the better". So waiting longer for a bus than it takes drive is no prob to me because i am not driving. For you, waiting for busses will drive you nuts. So again, rent a car and don't let having to rent a car prevent you from having a great time at a great resort.

 

[copper0426]

Just wanted to add my little two cents. We enjoy WL we do prefer the boat rides over the buses. Last time we stayed there, a few of our buses stopped at FW it took a long time. Even though the boat stops there to at time, it doesn't seem so bad.

Hope you have a great time.


Diane

 

[peachgirl]

When we stayed at WL this past December, the transportation was as good as any resort we've ever stayed at. The busses were very prompt and we never waited more than 5 minutes for one.

It was much better than what we experienced at OKW during our trip 2 weeks ago. I was very surprised at how bad the busses at OKW were. I don't know if they've cut back on the bus service or what, but the busses at WL seemed like heaven compared to OKW busses!

At any rate, unless things have changed since December, I don't think the WL transportation is any worse than any other resort that doesn't have monorail service.

 

[Ratpack]

I don't think the transportation at the WL is a problem at all. MK is a snap with the boat. EPCOT, take boat to CR and then Monorail to TTC and then on to EPCOT. MGM and AK always came quickly, in fact all buses came quickly with the exception of DTD, but hey, I just get to keep my money longer. I guess it could be different for us since we go in July/August, we are in no hurry at all and it is nice to step onto a cool bus instead of having to wait on the car to cool off. Plus I do not have to drive, just sit back and talk about what we are going to do or just done. Relaxing to us. Just my opinion.

 

[mat2672]

Dont worry about your transportation. Just enjoy your trip to the most beautiful disney resort there is. The transportation issues for the WL are way overrated. The boats are awesome and you will always have wait time issues for the busses at some point at every resort. its an unperfect system and there will always be a problem here or there. The key is to focus on the fun your having and the great resort your staying at. Ive read so many posts the last couple years about transportation problems that came up at the different resorts. Its amazing to me that people will totally rip a resort because they maybe waited 20 minutes for a bus one day. Dont get me wrong. Im sure there are major problems once in a while with a bus or whatever, But I just think it all depends on what your focussing on. Im not going to sulk all day because I had to wait for a bus for 20 minutes. I guess it comes down to if you see the glass as half full or half empty. When Im at disney, its always half full! Just my opinion.

 

[castlehappy]

We were just at WL in May and I have to say that the transportation was wonderful, all of it! We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus. The buses were never crowded and a couple of time, we were the only ones on the bus. Now that has never happened to me before at Disney. That was our first trip to WL and we will be going back. The boat ride was incredible and was never crowded. I actually enjoyed the trip from MK even when the boat went to FW first. Bottom line, just go and enjoy yourself.