Would you drive or take boat to Fort Wilderness for HDDR?

[Cree629]

I have taken the boat from MK in the past and it has worked out just fine, but this year we will be coming from Epcot earlier in the day and we will be driving our rental car... My thinking is that I'd probably rather a 15 minute boat ride than a 12 minute internal bus ride at Fort Wilderness, so I am leaning toward parking at the Contemporary and taking the boat from there.

We will already have paid to valet park in the morning at the Beach Club for our Epcot morning (my girls have an early morning dance workshop in the World Showcase), so my understanding is that I can show my valet ticket at the Contemporary and not have to pay to valet there that night (is this correct?).

If we did park at Fort Wilderness, is that free? I have heard that parking is somewhat limited there?

And if we chose not to valet at the Contemporary, would we be able to park in their regular lot for the evening and tell them we're taking the boat to HDDR? I know they'll let you park free for meal reservations, but didn't know if they'd extend that to a reservation at Fort Wilderness if we were planning to take the boat.

Thanks in advance!

 

[shafke]

Be aware that if you park at the CR you then still need to take a boat to FW. You either need to walk around to the back of the CR to hop on the launch which could take up to 30 minutes (walk plus total trip) or walk to the MK and hop the boat from there.

You would then need to repeat that on the return.
Parking at the FW lot is probably the better option... I would guess you'll save a minimum 15-20 minutes. You would probably at the HDDR at about the same time you are getting on the boat at the CR.

 

[Ambassador]

Our understanding is that parking is near the entry gate at FW, then a shuttle to HDDR. We have always taken the boat from WL, and found it very quick and convenient.

 

[grimley1968]

Since you will have already paid for valet parking for the day, I'd valet park at CR or WL and then boat over. I don't know that it would actually save time versus parking at FW and taking the internal bus to the back where HDDR is, but I think it is a much more pleasant experience arriving at FW by boat, where you have less than a 5-minute walk to Settlement Hall. Just be sure to have an extra tip ready for the valet parker at CR, if you decide to do this. For that matter you could do this at WL if you like. It uses the same boat to FW that CR does. There is a walking path between WL and FW, but it is long, is not lighted and not safe after dark.

Like the previous poster, I've only otherwise been to HDDR via the boat from WL, and found it very convenient as well.