WL to MK by boat

[goofydad621]

I was wondering how long the ride is from the Wilderness Lodge to the MK is by boat? Does it stop anywhere else or is it direct? How often does it run?

thanks Dave

 

[Kimberle]

It start abt 1/2 hr before park (or EE) opening. It may stop at FW either coming or going. It runs about every 20 minutes. The ride is maybe 12 minutes.

If you need to get to the MK earlier for a PS, you can take the small boat to CR, then walk or monorail to MK. This boat runs 7 am - 10 pm. It also shares with FW. (CR/WL/FW, any order.)

Or you can take the bus to the TTC and monorail or ferry boat.

 

[jwfla422]

It's about a 20 min boat ride but very nice. I'm trying to remember if it stopped at FW first, but I think it was the opposite. I believe it goes from FW to WL to MK and then the same route back.

 

[Gary M]

Before 3:00 pm the boat runs from WL to MK to FW then WL after 3:00 pm the boat goes from WL to FW to MK then back to WL.

The ride is about 10 minutes from WL to MK. As mentioned, the boats run about every 20 minutes.

 

[goofydad621]

Thanks All

Kim

When is your DD birthday? Has she caught up to where she should be? My little princess was 10 weeks premmie 3 lbs 2 oz will be 7 in Feb. She is my little doll

Dave

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by goofydad621
Thanks All

Kim

When is your DD birthday? Has she caught up to where she should be? My little princess was 10 weeks premmie 3 lbs 2 oz will be 7 in Feb. She is my little doll

Dave

She is a March baby, now 5.5 and lovin' every minute of Kindergarten. She was "caught up" around her 2nd birthday. She's a bit on the short side (abt 43"), but could be just taking after me as I'm only 5'3".

Thanks for asking,

Preemies are such wonderful little miracles.

 

[JPDisney]

What is the best mode of transportation to epcot from WL

 

[Kimberle]

The bus, abt 20-25 minutes.

You could take the small boat to CR, then monorail to TTC, switch trains & monorail to Epcot. Or take the bus to TTC, then monorail to Epcot.

The bus is much faster and more direct. We really missed it during our CR stay. The monorail took much to long.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Be aware the boats can be a long-long wait following MK fireworks. We have waited in line as long as 90-minutes following MK fireworks -- & we are at WDW a lot. Also remember everyone is pretty well exhausted at this time. Post-MK-fireworks boat service to FWL & WL often seems to lack anyone "in charge." & unfortunately the boats are really your only option at this time of the evening. We suspect many-many folks in-the-know are parking for free in the WL lot telling the gate security folks they are "eating at WL's WC. This jams up the boat service.

 

[Gary M]

After the fireworks at MK you could take the monorail to TTC and then the bus from TTC to WL. I'm not sure if this is faster than the boat, but another choice.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by John Dobbertin
Be aware the boats can be a long-long wait following MK fireworks. We have waited in line as long as 90-minutes following MK fireworks -- & we are at WDW a lot. Also remember everyone is pretty well exhausted at this time. Post-MK-fireworks boat service to FWL & WL often seems to lack anyone "in charge." & unfortunately the boats are really your only option at this time of the evening. We suspect many-many folks in-the-know are parking for free in the WL lot telling the gate security folks they are "eating at WL's WC. This jams up the boat service.

Actually that isn't correct, after the fireworks or park closing you can jump on the large ferry (they always have one waiting) that goes to TTC then ride the bus back to either WL or Ft. Wilderness Campground...if you would have to wait for several boat before you can board the direct boat to the Lodge, the TTC & bus would be quicker. If closing is before 10:00pm you could walk to the CR then catch a small blue flag boat over to WL dock. Another alternate route would be to ride the Monorail over to TTC but the monorail can also be very crowded at this time.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Reality check here. Travel with family -- 3 children ages 10-7-5. You've been at MK as early as possible taking advantage of "magic-hour." Took mid-day break. Back for evening excitement. Post-fireworks - everyone exhausted. Now start thinking about walking to CR, thru CR to wait on boat dock (assuming you're WDW vet & know where this is) or taking ferry to TTC & walking in heavy crowds to bus area (again assuming you're WDW vet & know how to find these cutting across heavy exiting traffic w 3 exhausted kids in tow). Now wait for WL bus. Hassle factor huge. Problem here is w WDW boat transport. Often not enough service at peaks to handle crowds. We have pursued this with WDW transport and told: Budget cuts.

 

[ErinInCT]

Just back from WL. I found it necessary to allow 30 minutes to get from my hotel room door to MK. Just to be on the safe side!! Also, on the way back from Wishes we took the monorail (rode up front, the lines were long but I guess no one knew this cool secret cuz every time we rode the monorail I asked to sit up front with the driver & we were able to - I feel bad now & greedy, maybe I should have told someone else & let them have it!) to Contemporary & then took the boat from Contemporary to WL. No one was at the Contemporary boat dock, it was very peaceful & there were a few ducks for dd to feed (they sell the food right there). We were "home" pretty quickly.

 

[John Dobbertin]

ErinInCt -- How long did it take you to go from MK after Wishes via Monorail then CR then boat to WL?

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by John Dobbertin
Reality check here. Travel with family -- 3 children ages 10-7-5. You've been at MK as early as possible taking advantage of "magic-hour." Took mid-day break. Back for evening excitement. Post-fireworks - everyone exhausted. Now start thinking about walking to CR, thru CR to wait on boat dock (assuming you're WDW vet & know where this is) or taking ferry to TTC & walking in heavy crowds to bus area (again assuming you're WDW vet & know how to find these cutting across heavy exiting traffic w 3 exhausted kids in tow). Now wait for WL bus. Hassle factor huge. Problem here is w WDW boat transport. Often not enough service at peaks to handle crowds. We have pursued this with WDW transport and told: Budget cuts.
Mr John Dobbertin,
Reality check? I'm not sure what your reality is...I was respoining to a incorrect statement made by you in your post...

Post-MK-fireworks boat service to FWL & WL often seems to lack anyone "in charge." & unfortunately the boats are really your only option at this time of the evening.

The boat to WL isn't the only option...If you choose to stand and wait for 90-minutes when I would rather board a ferry and ride to TTC and take a short walk to catch a bus that takes all of 2 minutes to reach WL total time 20 minutes, you may stand there.

I'm not sure why the number of visits I've made to WDW has anything to do with the FACTS?

To answer your other questions:
(assuming you're WDW vet & know where this is) I do know where the dock is at the CR.
(again assuming you're WDW vet & know how to find these cutting across heavy exiting traffic w 3 exhausted kids in tow). Yes I have walked in heavy traffic exiting the Parks and have done so many times, not with three children I usually have five ages 11-4, but maybe not as many times as you have.

 

[missycj96]

We thought the resort launch to CR and walk to MK was the best! After the fireworks, you just walk right out of the park (no waits). The resort launch is much cuter and faster than the larger boat - which to me felt like a ferry - and stopped at WL.

 

[tardin1964]

It may be a little crowded on the ferry to TTC after wishes, but the bus from TTC to WL is usually pretty empty.

 

[John Dobbertin]

I think we have attempted every way possible of exiting Wishes to the WL short of taking the Monorail or Ferry to the TTC and finding our way through the woods to the WL. When we say "the boats are the only option" we meant IOP the only "sensible" option. IOE nothing is faster than the MK-WL boat even with long-long waits. Everyone here may take issue with that, but that's been our experience. Why WDW can't provide better MK-WL-FWL boat service following Wishes is beyond us. IOP the boats are very inconsistent following Wishes. And to be told by WDW the reason is "budget cuts" is really unacceptable.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Originally posted by John Dobbertin
I think we have attempted every way possible of exiting Wishes to the WL short of taking the Monorail or Ferry to the TTC and finding our way through the woods to the WL. When we say "the boats are the only option" we meant IOP the only "sensible" option. IOE nothing is faster than the MK-WL boat even with long-long waits. Everyone here may take issue with that, but that's been our experience. Why WDW can't provide better MK-WL-FWL boat service following Wishes is beyond us. IOP the boats are very inconsistent following Wishes. And to be told by WDW the reason is "budget cuts" is really unacceptable.

For someone who thinks they know everything about WDW, you seem to be the most "Un-Disney" like person! There is no need to be nasty to other people.
Have you ever seen the line for the monorail after wishes?? I am always glad that I don't have to stand somewhere on Mainstreet waiting in that line.

I have been to Disney about 200+ times and I don't think I have EVER waited 90 minutes for a boat to WL. I have hoped the resort monorail to TTC and gotten on a bus...that is quick and makes the wait not feel as long because you are moving.

As for Budget cuts...face "reality"..Disney is a business and as such they look at it in a very business like manner. They don't just decide to cut back on transportation..it is a carefully caculated business move that they deem necessary. What would you rather them do...cut housekeeping..I mean..you don't really need those sheets clean between each family right??? Here is the reality...Florida is having a HUGE tourism problem...and that was just compounded by the hurricanes. It is a sad fact that they have to cut some areas, but don't make it sound like it is something they do on a whim. If you don't like it, stay somewhere else.

 

[John Dobbertin]

I don't mean to be "nasty." We have spent about five months at WDW in the past five years. We have not been there during-or-since the hurricanes, and I do feel for all the folks in Florida for their suffering. My point regarding WDW "budget cuts" has to do with WDW's every-year increase in everything they charge for (during times of very mild inflation) while reducing a very important transportation function -- the boats from MK to WL & FWL. We were last at WDW in January-February. The MK-WL-FWL boat service was very inconsistent for the entire five weeks we were there. It was especially inconsistent following Wishes. I was really disturbed when I talked with WDW Transport folks (supervisor on telephone) to be told the reason for the reduction in the service was "budget cuts." There was no further explanation.