Where have all the MK horses gone!

[icartjetta]

O.K. I have question for all you experts out there. I have lived here in Orlando my whole life, 36 years (yes, I am a native) one of the few. My DH38 moved here from New York when he was 11. So needless to say we've been to Disney a few thousand times. Just last weekend we noticed, where have the horses gone? There used to be horses going down mainstreet with carriages and I for the life of me can't remember the last time I saw them.

On another note, we also wondered when the last double decker bus went around World Showcase.

Can anyone remember the horses or the double decker busses.
TIA

 

[goofy4tink]

I have seen the horses on several occasions on Main St....pulling the trolley with the performers both on it and behind it.
And I have seen the double-decker bus in Epcot with the characters on it.

 

[icecrystahl]

I definetely remember the horses, I am a rider so I always notice them! They were there on our last trip back in Feb. 05'.......I LOVE EM'!

 

[icartjetta]

Wow, I thought they were gone for sure. I'm so glad they have'nt been done away with.

 

[Robo]

The WDW Horse Stable is over at the Ft. Wilderness Campgrounds (right behind Pioneer Hall).

You can take the free boat transportation from MK over to FtW and the stables are just a 2 minute stroll away from the dock.

When I talked to the "wranglers" over there, they said that they run the horse-drawn trolley in MK every day, but only in the mornings (sometimes a couple of hours into the PM). The trolley is also used as a mobile STAGE for the singing group (Kids of the Kingdom??) who ride up and down Main Street performing in the mornings (singing, "I'm Walkin' Right Down the Middle of Main Street, USA").

So, if you want to see more horses, boat over the FtW and see 'em at "home".

FtW also offers a couple of horse-drawn open-air Hay-Rides every evening of the year (each one following the first two "HOOP DEE DOO" shows of the evening).

And horse-drawn CARRIAGE rides (private coach) every evening as well.

Yep, the horses have a good gig over at FtW!

----------------

The Epcot Double-Decker Bus is used to carry the CHARACTERS into, out of, and "around" in Epcot. I see it very frequently.

 

[icartjetta]

Thanks I am never in MK in the morning that might be why I don't see the horses.

But if I remember correctly in the beginning of Epcot the busses used to take guest around World Showcase having a couple of stops.

 

[jennyl772003]

We saw the horses last Aug. We only saw them the morning of our last day though. We are not early risers, so we probably were not up early enough the other days.

 

[Robo]

The reason the wranglers said that they stop the horses in the afternoons is that the people congest Main Street getting ready for the 3PM Parade.
And later, Wishes and/or SpectroMagic.

Too much chance of an unplanned "meeting" of horse and human.

 

[BonnieA]

I loved riding the double decker buses around the world showcase. It was a great way to rest and there was entertainment involved. You got to listen to the bus driver trying to drive through the crowds, quite interesting. But the crowds just got to be too much I think and they discontinued them.

 

[emememem]

Saw the horse pulling a cart with performers on it who got out and danced last Sunday

 

[peter11435]

Thanks I am never in MK in the morning that might be why I don't see the horses.

But if I remember correctly in the beginning of Epcot the busses used to take guest around World Showcase having a couple of stops.

The horses are still there every day. However as stated they are usualy only out in the mornings for a number of different reasons. I was just there yesterday morning and there were two making the rounds.

 

[vsimeone]

This thread just brought back an old memory. One of the times that my family traveled to WDW I was about 16. Now, no old jokes because that was dang near to 25 years ago - but my brother and I went horseback riding at Fort Wilderness. It was a pretty big deal because we stayed at the Polynesian and my parents let us have the run of the World! So we went to Fort Wilderness all by ourselves and went horseback riding and then to River Country. We were real big shots back then, let me tell you!

Anyway, haven't heard about horseback riding there in years and just wondered if it was still around!

 

[Sammie]

This thread just brought back an old memory. One of the times that my family traveled to WDW I was about 16. Now, no old jokes because that was dang near to 25 years ago - but my brother and I went horseback riding at Fort Wilderness. It was a pretty big deal because we stayed at the Polynesian and my parents let us have the run of the World! So we went to Fort Wilderness all by ourselves and went horseback riding and then to River Country. We were real big shots back then, let me tell you!

Anyway, haven't heard about horseback riding there in years and just wondered if it was still around!

Yes it's still there at Fort Wilderness.

As stated the Main Street Trolly horses are only out in the mornings due to crowds and heat.

 

[TinkInPink]

i have a question if you go over to fort wilderness to see the horses are you allowed to kind look around and meet the horses. im the only rider in the family and ive heard the ftw horse back riding is nothing special, so if i could just look around it would be fun.

 

[Equidae]

I saw the horses this past Sunday in the MK early in the morning. They haven't gone anywhere! I love early morning on Main Street -- the trolley, cars, and, best of all, the Trolly Song!

 

[Robo]

i have a question if you go over to fort wilderness to see the horses are you allowed to kind look around and meet the horses. im the only rider in the family and ive heard the ftw horse back riding is nothing special, so if i could just look around it would be fun.

Horses are in stalls in the stable that are open to the public.
(Although there's not much "public" there most of the time.)

There are signs on the stalls for "No Feeding" and "No Petting" but if there are CM wranglers nearby, just introduce yourself and you might find some "kindred spirits".

The CM's who work at the stable are real "horse people" and know their stuff... usually very open to conversation (if not too busy at the time.)

 

[TinkInPink]

thanks!

 

[TravelGrl]

I Believe that POR also offers horse drawn wagon rides

 

[bytheblood]

Both were out when I was there in June of '05.