We are going to visit Ft . Wilderness again! Need help though

[Camping Griswalds]

We used to camp there quite frequently, but having that third kid ( almost 5 now) really put a cramp in our lifestyle of camping! Anyway, we want to come over and enjoy the festivities we remember fondly. Can you help refresh my memory of things?

We are staying at Saratoga Springs. What is the best way to get to Ft. Wilderness? Where do the buses drop us off? We want to see the sing - a -long with Chip and Dale, and some of the movie. What time do these start? We'd also love to catch the water parade by the shore. What time does that come by? Will we have to catch another buss to get there? ( We always had a golf cart before, so the logistics of this are a bit confusing to me right now. When we were there last, I think it was the "Chip" bus that went in and out of Ft. Wilderness, and the "Dale" bus that went to the different loops.) Is it possible to walk from the campfire to the beach with a 4 year old?

Thanks for your help

 

[Shan-man]

The "best" way? For me, best means most relaxing and scenic, so I'd hop a bus to MK, take the launch to Fort Wilderness. To get back home I'd hop the bus to Downtown Disney (runs late), and take the launch back to SSR. Arrival at your destination via boat is always my ideal... helps you forget about the buses in between! Plus, it sounds like most of what you want to do is walking distance from the marina. I would think a 4 yo could do it, especially if you break it up (trading post, playground at 300, canal gazing). If you arrive by boat, the only thing you'd need the FW buses for is if you want to go home by my prescribed route. In that case, just look for any bus that says Outpost. That will take you to the front where you can catch buses to the parks and DtD. As for the movie times, it depends on when you go.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Thanks for the help. We will be there sometime next week. Probably the 1st of May through the 4th is when we will be at Ft. Wilderness. I'm not concerned which movie it is, just want my daughter to see Chip and Dale, have a s'more, and see pieces of the movie. Does the electric water parade still come by the beach? If so, at what time?

I love the idea of taking a bus to the MK, a boat to Ft. Wilderness, and then on the way back, taking a bus to Downtown Disney and then a boat to SS. Great idea. I love the boats, and miss them

 

[2goofycampers]

The EWP comes by at 9:45 pm. Campfire starts at 7:30 pm.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Thanks again. If I remember correctly, the movie starts about a half hour after the sing - a - long right?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thanks again. If I remember correctly, the movie starts about a half hour after the sing - a - long right?

Hey Camping Griswalds- I remember you from back in the day.

Are you clear on the buses? The Chip and Dale and Boone and Crockett buses are no more. Now, there are three internal bus routes: Yellow, Orange and Purple. They all run from the Settlement area (by Pioneer Hall) to the Outpost area (by the Lobby). The one that goes closest by the Campfire area is the Orange bus route. You can get off at the Meadow Trading Post or 800 loop stop, and then walk across the footbridge behind the 600 loop to the campfire. Back when you last visited, there were no buses to Epcot, MGM (now known as Hollywood Studios) or Animal Kingdom. Now, there are buses from the Fort to all of those places.

As for the campfire, at this time of year, the fire is lit at 7:30, the sing-a-long starts at 8:00, and the movie starts at 8:40. There are no double features during daylight savings time.

I would be very interested to hear you reaction to what the Fort looks like now. There has been a lot of clearing and "improvements" since you last visited. I'd like to hear what you think about the changes.

TCD

 

[Shan-man]

If you are taking a bus from the Settlement (near the marina) the orange route is the closest and quickest (about a 400 foot walk from the bus stop). But, if you are coming from the Outpost (near the parking lot) the orange route takes longer since in wends its way through the cabins. If you take the yellow route, the bus ride is faster and the walk is more like 800 feet after you get off at the 1400 bus stop. Enjoy!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

If you are taking a bus from the Settlement (near the marina) the orange route is the closest and quickest (about a 400 foot walk from the bus stop). But, if you are coming from the Outpost (near the parking lot) the orange route takes longer since in wends its way through the cabins. If you take the yellow route, the bus ride is faster and the walk is more like 800 feet after you get off at the 1400 bus stop. Enjoy!

I agree with Shan-man's advice. I didn't mention the yellow route, because I thought it was a bit longer, and what fun is it cutting through the 1400 loop? But, if I was coming from either the Outpost or the Settlement, I would take either Orange or Yellow- whichever one got there first. I wouldn't mind the longer walk, and sometimes you might have just missed your bus, and have to wait 15 or 20 minutes for the next one. If a bus pulls up and it will get me to where I want to go, I'll take it. Neither one of these options presents a horribly long walk. After all, most of the folks staying in 1400 have a longer walk from their site to the campfire than you will from the bus stop. Same with folks in 700, 800, 900, 1000 and 1100, etc.

Shan-man, out of curiosity, how long is the walk to the campfire from the 1500 loop bus stop? I have noticed a lot of folks using that route- i.e. getting off at the bus stop, and walking across the footbridge there, past the pool, to the campfire area. I believe that there are sidewalks for this whole walk (although some are currently blocked for the pool project). I am sure it is a longer walk then the walk through the 1400 loop, but I am wondering how much longer? This also seem to be the primary route taken by everyone hoofing it from the 1600-1900 loops.

TCD

 

[Shan-man]

About 1100 feet, but it is a scenic path. I'm surprised it isn't a bigger difference versus the 1400 stop.

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

FYI The footbridge from the 1500 bus stop only goes to the volleyball court right now. All the sidewalks on that side of the pool are blocked by fences that go all the way to the canal. I tried going that way to sneak around to the TP but it was a no-go. You need to walk on the roadway just north of the bus stop to get to the pool and campfire areas. You just need to look out for speeding golf carts when you walk that way.