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

[DrmWvr1299]

We are staying at WL for the first time in Dec. and we are wondering what the bus routes are for the parks. Which resort gets picked up first, etc?

 

[Gary M]

WL gets picked-up first and see Chip n' Dale Express above for schedule.

 

[GrumpyandMinnie]

Bump!

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.

Just checking in with my fellow WL'ers- Has anyone had any trouble getting where they want to go, or has anything changed about the routes?

We would have liked the bus to the TTC to stay, but we'll get to the Poly (sister and brother-in-law) by way of MK or boat to CR if that's what's available.

TYLER???

 

[band_man]

YES, had trouble this past week!

Loss of the TTC bus was a pain for us. Basically if you want to go to the Poly for OHANA/Luau or to the GF you have to take the boat to the CR then monorail OR boat/bus to MK then boat or monorail. We were caught this past week when we went to the poly via boat to CR then Monorail, but after the Luau when we returned to the CR, we walked all the way out to the pier to find that the last boat between the WL and CR leaves at 10pm. (There is a notice posted in small print on a dock sign). There was quite a crowd of people making their way to the pier and then having to do a 180 back to the CR up the escalators, to the monorail, back to the MK , walk to the busses to get back to WL. Several people where shocked claiming the short boat hours were new. When the MK closes at 2am and the luau is also a late event, not to mention all of the other possible goings on, that boat should run later.

Was not fun. The TTC bus was very convenient - we learned our lesson. You had better plan out your transportation options to and FROM your destination well in advance and ask more than 1 CM because not all give the right answer.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The TTC bus was very convenient - we learned our lesson. You had better plan out your transportation options to and FROM your destination well in advance and ask more than 1 CM because not all give the right answer.

Convenient perhaps, but seldom used. It usually ran either empty, or close to empty, with CM's being the predominant users.

AS for transportation info, *NEVER* trust bus information unless it comes from someone wearing purple pants.

 

[band_man]

Convenient perhaps, but seldom used. It usually ran either empty, or close to empty, with CM's being the predominant users.

I am sure you are right. We discussed the fact that Disney must have made the switch after researching ridership. But for us, it was nice.

I do like the direct bus to the MK. If they would keep that boat running to the CR at least until the park closes that would be just about perfect.

 

[BCV23]

Bumping for someone on the restaurant board.

band man, my family is going to miss that route as well. We always used it when staying at the Polynesian. It was great.

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

We also miss the TTC bus. Just back from WL yesterday, and we went to O'Hana to eat. It would have been nice to just bus to TTC and walk over. Instead we took the boat and got absolutely positively soaked during one of the afternoon monsoons. Then we walked through about a foot (I'm not exaggerating!) of water to get to the monorail. Yuck. (But O'hana was worth it!!)

 

[pennyplanner]

Anybody know the cost of a cab from WL to Poly?

I know that seems crazy but it would be nice to make it a quick trip instead of a long one! I will be making a PS for around 5 or so and don't want to have to plan an hour in advance to get there. That way we could enjoy the pool a little longer.

Thanks,
penny

 

[tamu91]

I think it might be just as fast to catch the bus to MK and hop on the resort monorail there.
We were at WL in early May and the bus trip to MK was simply awesome. Like Tyler mentioned, about 10 minute wait @ WL at most and 5 minute bus ride to MK.
Bus rides to Epcot took a real long time, about 40 minutes due to some delays at FW.
Why can't WL get direct bus routes to Epcot and AK like some of the other deluxe resorts, AKL and OKW comes to mind?
And forget about going DTD on the bus.

 

[pennyplanner]

Honestly, the bus trip to Epcot from WL always seemed excessively long to me. It took us at least 40 minutes to get there! Add to that the walking time to the World Showcase and it seems a LONG time to get there!

That's why we would always jump on the bus to the TTC and then take the monorail over to Epcot. Much quicker and more fun!

I was contemplating the bus to MK from WL and then a resort bus to the Boardwalk and taking the boat or walk to the International Gateway. That would be for a late afternoon return to WS for a dinner reservation.

Any opinions on this?

--penny

 

[BCV23]

Anybody know the cost of a cab from WL to Poly?

I know that seems crazy but it would be nice to make it a quick trip instead of a long one! I will be making a PS for around 5 or so and don't want to have to plan an hour in advance to get there. That way we could enjoy the pool a little longer.

Thanks,
penny

I don't know how much a cab would cost but that would have to be one of the shortest rides within WDW. The WL driveway may be as long as the rest of the ride. It would also be much faster than going to the MK and then taking the monorail, ferry or launch.

Did I say I'll miss that bus?

 

[BCV23]

Honestly, the bus trip to Epcot from WL always seemed excessively long to me. It took us at least 40 minutes to get there! Add to that the walking time to the World Showcase and it seems a LONG time to get there!

That's why we would always jump on the bus to the TTC and then take the monorail over to Epcot. Much quicker and more fun!

I was contemplating the bus to MK from WL and then a resort bus to the Boardwalk and taking the boat or walk to the International Gateway. That would be for a late afternoon return to WS for a dinner reservation.

Any opinions on this?

--penny

I don't know which will be faster. Maybe hop whichever bus comes first...MK or Epcot. But if you do bus to MK and then catch another bus, the BC is the closest resort to IG.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

YES, had trouble this past week!

Loss of the TTC bus was a pain for us. Basically if you want to go to the Poly for OHANA/Luau or to the GF you have to take the boat to the CR then monorail OR boat/bus to MK then boat or monorail. We were caught this past week when we went to the poly via boat to CR then Monorail, but after the Luau when we returned to the CR, we walked all the way out to the pier to find that the last boat between the WL and CR leaves at 10pm. (There is a notice posted in small print on a dock sign). There was quite a crowd of people making their way to the pier and then having to do a 180 back to the CR up the escalators, to the monorail, back to the MK , walk to the busses to get back to WL. Several people where shocked claiming the short boat hours were new. When the MK closes at 2am and the luau is also a late event, not to mention all of the other possible goings on, that boat should run later.

Questions about boat times have been asked and answered dozens of times on the DIS boards. The times for the boats running the blue flag route (CR/WL/FW) haven't changed in years. 6:45 am until 10:00pm. Green flag routes from MK/WL/FW run until at least 45 minutes past park closing including nights when the park closes at 2am. Gold flag route (MK/GF/Poly) runs 830am until at least 45 minutes past normal park closing. Guests just need to remember that the parks --not another resort-- are the transportation hubs for all resorts. Had you taken the rail to MK, you would have walked less than 100 yards to the dock for the cruiser that would have had WL as its' first stop. Walk a few yards more and you would have been at the bus stop for WL.

 

[Talking Hands]

Oh bother. Does this mean an extra transfer from bus to bus of wheelchair users. I really hate that because invariably the waiting driver will take all the able bodied guests and then take off before I can transfer to the second bus.

 

[BCV23]

Questions about boat times have been asked and answered dozens of times on the DIS boards. The times for the boats running the blue flag route (CR/WL/FW) haven't changed in years. 6:45 am until 10:00pm. Green flag routes from MK/WL/FW run until at least 45 minutes past park closing including nights when the park closes at 2am. Gold flag route (MK/GF/Poly) runs 830am until at least 45 minutes past normal park closing. Guests just need to remember that the parks --not another resort-- are the transportation hubs for all resorts. Had you taken the rail to MK, you would have walked less than 100 yards to the dock for the cruiser that would have had WL as its' first stop. Walk a few yards more and you would have been at the bus stop for WL.

But the DISboards is not required reading for WDW guests.

And even those of us who frequent the Transportation forum may not have seen such postings. I've noticed the info on the CR>WL>FW bus but couldn't have remmebered the times as it doesn't affect me. But who knows, someday it might and it would be good if WDW made the info more readily available to its guests as it did years ago.

We very much enjoy the Gold flag boats but until your post, I had not seen any info on operating hours and as a frequent guest at the Polynesian, we don't get that info there either.

Did I mention I will miss that bus?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It should be noted that the TTC gets reconnected to FW/WL 1hr after the MK closes till 2am, daily.

 

[Bella2000]

We just booked a last minute trip to WL for the first time. We have visited often but never stayed there and I was honestly dreading the boat to MK for the whole trip. I am psyched about the bus option. It is still an option - right?

We've either stayed at the monorail resort or Epcot resorts so I know nothing about WL transportation options so I know I have a lot of transport research and thread searching to do. Thanks everyone - especially Tyler for getting me up to speed with all of your insight and info.