WL Transportation - My Experiences

[cgorn]

Just got back from a five-day trip last night. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge. Beatiful, intricately themed. There was some scaffolding for some refurbs in the front which took away from the initial "WOW" I've learned to expect from WDW deluxe resorts, but I digress...

There are some important conflicts between what I read in the books we bought (Unofficial Guide, Passporter) and some of what was written here. These are things that need to be considered when you are attempting to be on time for various dining reservations and the like:

Magic Kingdom:
The books say the boat is the only transportation between WL and MK, but it's fast. This is wrong on all counts. There is a dedicated and direct bus to and from MK which comes often and is a short ride. The boat, however, sometimes -- not always -- shares with Fort Wilderness, and took us 25 minutes at one point. The boat takes longer to dock and load/unload than the busses, too.

We had also read that the WL busses no longer share transportation with other resorts, but that is wrong as well. To the best of my recollection:

Animal Kingdom:
Shares with Grand Floridian. It's about a 25-30 minute ride. We needed to get from AK to MK, and decided to take that bus to the Grand Floridian and then the monorail. From park gate to park gate, the entire trip was about 50 minutes.

Epcot and MGM:
Shares with Fort Wilderness. 20 minutes

Downtown Disney:
Shares with FW and Polynesian. About 25-30 minutes

So I'm not complaining; still had a wonderful time, though we were late for all of our dining reservations (CMs were wonderful about it; seating was not a problem). Just figured I'd share.

Chad

 

[boomhauer]

Thanks alot for posting that. We're staying at the Wilderness Lodge for the 1st time in December, and transportation is our only concern. We will be renting a car, but this is helpful. My wife may end up leaving the parks early with the car and I'll be relying on Disney transportation back to Wilderness Lodge.

On the return trips from the parks, were you sharing? Were you 1st dropped off or were the other resorts dropped off 1st?

 

[jmkrat]

I am staying at the Wilderness in December too. Does the boat go to the Contemporary? If so, do you recall how long of a trip that was? I thought about taking that and going on the monorail. I am a little nervous about trying the Wilderness, but we are only going for 3 days. The other 4 will be at the Boardwalk. Thanks for the info, very detailed. I think people do tend to forget how long it takes to dock the boats.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Does the boat go to the Contemporary?

The Wilderness Lodge has a boat that goes to the Contemporary & back to the Wilderness Lodge, which is totally seperate from the one that goes to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[cgorn]

On the return trips from the parks, were you sharing? Were you 1st dropped off or were the other resorts dropped off 1st?

We were 1st dropped off after Animal Kingdom, but the others went to Fort Wilderness first (if I remember correctly). The boat went to WL first and then to FW on the return trip.

Chad

 

[boysmom5150]

cgorn
We just purchased dvc at VWL and will be making our 1st VWL stay in Oct. Is the boat to/from MK non-stop or does it stop other places.

 

[vatmark]

I don't think the busses are always like this for WL. I think it may have been due to a slower time of the year.

We stayed at WL In early Dec.06 and the only thing we shared with was FW when going and coming home from Epcot. The AK bus went right from WL to AK. The MgM bus went straight to MGM. The MK bus went straight to MK. We never stopped at GF or the POLY.

Annie

 

[cgorn]

cgorn
We just purchased dvc at VWL and will be making our 1st VWL stay in Oct. Is the boat to/from MK non-stop or does it stop other places.

The boat stops at FW on the way to MK, but WL is always the first stop back to the resorts.

The first time we took the boat it did go directlyto MK and only took 8-10 minutes, but I think someone said that after 5PM or perhaps 3PM it is shared.

Chad

 

[boysmom5150]

Cgorn
Thanks for your info

 

[jenjersnap]

So the direct WL-MK bus is back? It was discontinued for awhile there because of road construction.

 

[emilyclaire]

So if you were going from MK to WL for an ADR at WCC (whoa, that's a lot of abbreviations ), would you take the boat or the bus? Which way is a better guarantee of making the dinner on time?

 

[zdad]

So if you were going from MK to WL for an ADR at WCC (whoa, that's a lot of abbreviations ), would you take the boat or the bus? Which way is a better guarantee of making the dinner on time?

I personally would take the boat. Arriving at WL by boat is a stunning view. You really get to see WL in a unique way. The ride is a relaxing time too. Not a speed boat by any stretch, but you should give yourself plenty of time to walk around the lodge anyway.

Enjoy your time.