Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness Transportation Update (It's finally happening)

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

So, the test route is finally happening. As of Tuesday March 8th, 2005, the following changes will be made to the Fort Wilderness & Wilderness Lodge transportation lineup:

1.) There will no longer be service to/from the Transportation & Ticket Center to the Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness. The bus will still go from Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge and back, but it will not be going to the TTC anymore.

2.) From Wilderness Lodge only, there will be a DIRECT bus to the Magic Kingdom. This bus will run about every 15 minutes during normal MK bus service hours.

Boat service will not change.


As with all test routes, THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.

 

[BCV23]

Tyler, do you know how people who park at the TTC for a MK day and then go to a HoopdeDoo show that ends after the MK closes will get back to the TTC.

And how about people staying at the monorail resorts who use boat transportation to get to the Hoop. We use to take the TTC bus after the show and catch the resort monorail (or walk to the Polynesian) after the show.

Thanks.

 

[Jackson58z]

Tyler.....gang...
Thanks for the updates and the news, as always.

I will be having a big group of 17 people going to Mickey's BBQ at Fort Wilderness on a Tuesday night during my stay there. We will be renting a minivan for the group as well and staying at Old Key West.

I was wondering....I think I am going to drive the group to the Wilderness Lodge and take the bus or boat over to Fort Wilderness.....and then back. (I was even thinking of walking.....but the group my not be as much into walking as I am).

What do you guys think of this plan?

Thanks folks,
Jackson

 

[Kimberle]

Thanks Tyler! I love the boats, but I know some people don't. This will make them happy.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Tyler, do you know how people who park at the TTC for a MK day and then go to a HoopdeDoo show that ends after the MK closes will get back to the TTC.

And how about people staying at the monorail resorts who use boat transportation to get to the Hoop. We use to take the TTC bus after the show and catch the resort monorail (or walk to the Polynesian) after the show.

Thanks.

After the 7:30 and 9:30 HDD shows, there are floater buses that take guests back to the resorts. One of these three buses will handle any guests needing to get back to the TTC or another MK resort after the HDD.

 

[clkelley]

This means that when the boat levels at Ft. Wilderness cannot accomodate ECVs and Electric Wheelchairs, folks will have to take a bus from Ft. Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge, then get off, then get on another bus to Magic Kingdom??

Although I guess they could drive their ECV/Electric Wheelchair down the path to Wilderness Lodge and take one bus directly to Magic Kingdom.

Which end of Fort Wilderness will the Wilderness Lodge bus leave from?? Settlement or Outpost??

Carol

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

From what I am to understand, Fort Wilderness and the Magic Kingdom both have floating docks, so water levels should not pose a problem. However, I don't drive the boats, so I can't say that with 100% certainty.

The bus that will go to the WL is the Orange route bus. It goes from the Outpost, along the Orange route to the Settlement, then to WL, and then reverses.

 

[tardin1964]

Tyler...how soon before MK opens does the bus from the WL start running and how long is the ride?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I don't work mornings, so I have not seen the morning dispatches, however, since the TTC bus started a little before 7am, and all other resort MK buses start prior to 7:00am, my best educated guess is that the MK bus will start around 6:45-7:00am, perhaps earlier. They will run in 15 minute intervals, and it's about a 5 minute trip.

 

[tardin1964]

Thanks Tyler.

 

[pennyplanner]

I don't get the doing away with the TTC WL transportation. We thought that was very handy. How would I get to the Poly for dinner if I was staying at the WL?

It just seems so convoluted if I need to take the boat to the Contemporary and then hike up into the hotel and catch a monorail. Is that how it would work? Or worse, going to MK by bus or boat and then taking the monorail.

We also used to ride the monorail to and from Epcot via the TTC.

Why the change???

--penny

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I don't get the doing away with the TTC WL transportation. We thought that was very handy. How would I get to the Poly for dinner if I was staying at the WL?

Same way as any other guest... take the bus or boat to the MK, then catch the Monorail.

Why the change???

Guests wanted an alternative to the cold and congested boat. The TTC bus really wasn't a popular route, either... the majority of its riders were non-resort guests who wanted to go to DTD. So now the DTD bus at WL will be less congested.

 

[Gary M]

During our many stays at the WL we used the TTC bus several times during a trip. I will miss the bus service, but I did notice that the bus from WL to TTC had few passengers when I rode it. I'm not sure how many guest knew much about that route.

 

[pennyplanner]

I agree Gary M. I don't think many knew about it. It was just super handy, especially if you like to ride the monorail to and from Epcot. It would seem to be a much quicker option than the new bus/boat connection as a transfer.

We will miss that option. The bus ride to Epcot always seems especially long!

How long does the bus take to get to MK from the WL?

That is an interesting option to add. It must come in handy when the resort is very busy. The boat can be crowded especially when it is closing time after WISHES at the MK. That has always been our longest wait using WL tranportation.

Regardless, WL is our must-do for our WDW trips!

--penny

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

How long does the bus take to get to MK from the WL?

Buses run every 15 minutes, and it's a 5 minute ride.

 

[pennyplanner]

Thanks, Tyler. That is a very quick ride. Where do the buses let you off? Since we always ride the boat from WL, I have never paid attention to where they let you off.

I guess I am always too excited about just getting to MK to notice!

Thanks again,
penny

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

WL is currently using #4 at the MK, which is right under the monorail beam, just past the Ferryboat dock. Not a far walk by any means.

 

[GrumpyandMinnie]

how is the route working? We are going to WL 6/23 - 6/30. My sister is going to be at the Poly. We're wondering the best ways to get back and forth.

 

[zillow]

Do the MGM and Epcot busses from WL still go to Poly and GF first? Does anyone know?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

WL does not share with the Polynesian.

Some buses (Epcot) will go to Fort Wilderness.
Other buses (DTD & AK) will go to Grand Floridian.
Studios does GF in the AM, and FW in the PM.