Best way to Trails End at Fort Wilderness

[MargaretJ]

Sorry if this has been asked before. What is the best way to get to Trail End Restaurant? I will be driving to Fort Wilderness but can I drive to the Restaurant or do I have to park somewhere & then catch a bus?

[HappyCamper]

MargaretJ,

You won't be able to drive to the Trail's End but getting there is very easy. When you see the Ft. Wilderness sign, pass that entry and take the next left. That should bring you into the Hoop Dee Doo parking lot.

Park your vehicle and walk about 100 feet to the covered bus pick-up area. Take the bus marked orange route. This bus will take you all the way to the back of the campground where the Trail's End is located.

Once you leave the bus, walk to the back past the petting zoo on the left, the display camper on the right, and the Hoop Dee Doo two-story building on the left. Just past the HDD is the Trail's End - the buildings are connected.

You can also reach the TEB via the boat from the MK, WL, and Contemporary resorts. The boats drop you in the rear of the campground so there wouldn't be a bus ride involved.

Allow plenty of time to explore Ft. Wilderness. It's not like any other WDW resort. It's so quiet you'll not think youre anywhere near Disney and there's lots to do. Be on the lookout for wild peacock - there's even a solid white peacock that I've yet to see open. (I sure would like to!)

The bus may be a pain for those who'd prefer to drive and park near the building, (which can't be done), but it sure keeps it quiet for those of us who stay there!!

Have a great time. (And, BTW, how are you feeling these days?)

Debby

[MargaretJ]

Debby I should have known that the expert would have an answer for me. I plan on printing these out to take with me in just 19 days! Thanks for asking, I am doing pretty good now. Just some tiredness & stiffness when sitting too long.

[HappyCamper]

Ah, no expert, Ms MJ - my memory gets worse by the day. But, it just so happens that I'm working today and my FtW maps, etc. are in my drawer close by.

I'm glad you're doing better - you'll be 100% in no time now!

Have a wonderful trip. I'm going to just miss you. My loss.

Debby

[DrBabe]

It's easier to go to Trail's End by taking a boat to Fort Wildernenss. You can catch one from MK or from the Contemporary. From where the boat docks, it's a very short walk. I'd prefer that to having to park at Fort Wilderness and then taking the Interconnecting buses. Another idea, but one that needs to be checked out. I'm wondering if you can park, too at the Wilderness Lodge and catch a bus from there.

[MikeS]

Yes Dr. Babe you can.

Busses travel from the TTC to WL to FW all day long.

You can catch a bus at either the TTC or WL that takes you to FW.

You can also walk from the WL to FW...tough to say how long this walk would be, I've only run this path and I'm guessing it took me about 5-10 minutes to run from WL to FW.

MikeS

[HappyCamper]

When we were there in October, very few of the buses ran to WL. I don't know why the change, but we went to the WL maybe twice during our week's stay.

Following Dr. Babe's train of thought, though, you could park at WL and take the boat to FtW as well as a bus.

I find the boats to be slower than the internal FtW buses, but quicker than the buses going to the campground from the parks. The MK boat goes to WL first, then to FtW, back to WL, and then to the MK. Sometimes, you can wait quite a while for the boats to make their journeys. As can happen, Disney doesn't always have sufficient transportation for a quick trip by any mode.

Since you're staying at the Poly, you could always take the monorail to the Comtemp and then the boat to the campground if you didn't want to drive. (I'm assuming, though, that there's a reason you mentioned driving to FtW.)

I'd guess that you'd just have to decide which method of transportation you want or decide which sounds the easiest. We never use our vehicle, so we'd rely on total Disney transportation.

You're going to love FtW and the area no matter how you get there. Think about me while you're there - it's home for me!!

[Joe]

Just my observation/experience here; when we were heading over for the HDDR we got on the WL/FtW bus from MGM. It dropped us off right in front of Pioneer Hall after a stop at the WL. Quickest ride I have ever made from anywhere to Pioneer Hall, we were there within 20 minutes of getting to the bus stop at MGM.

[AliciaG]

I need y'all's advice on this one. I'll be at Epcot that day. Would I be better off to take the monorail to the TTC then transfer to MK for the boat, or would I be better off to take the bus to WL or Ft. Wilderness? If the bus is my better option... does the same bus go to WL and Ft. W? What do I do once I get off at Ft. W? I'm guessing there are several stops there, but I really don't know. Sorry to be so clueless. :oops: I just wanna make the meet on time. How much time would you allow from Epcot? Thanks!

[HappyCamper]

Joe:

The MGM bus is the only one that drops off in the back of the resort. (Last year it was the AK bus.) EPCOT and AK drops are in the front of the resort now, (at least they were 10/25).

AliciaG: You can always take the boat ride to MGM and grab the bus from there. A FtW bus will also pick up at EPCOT and bring you to the front of the resort. Just two of many ways to make the trip!

And, don't forget the transportation wizard at Ahnalira's site for info on times: http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp

Debby

[Rosebud]

HappyCamper explained it well, but I don't think anybody mentioned the stop you want at FtW is called The Settlement. Sometimes the drivers will just say The Settlement when they pull up to the stop and not mention anything else.

If you get off the bus - go downhill. If you get off the boat - go uphill.

For those of you that think that taking a taxi might get you right there - think again. The taxi will drop you off at the main lot where the parking for pioneer hall and check in is - then you will have to take a bus.

[HappyCamper]

Here's a map and legend of the bus routes. It even shows the second driveway at the entrance for HDD parking. (The entrance by land, except for MGM), is as the bottom of the map. The entrance by water is at the top of the map.) As Rosebud wisely advises, the Settlement is the area for Trail's End. Hope this helps everyone.


http://home.hiwaay.net/~jlspence/busroute.jpg

[MargaretJ]

Oh my gosh I am more confused than ever now - so many suggestions. I will have a car & will be driving from Downtown Disney that day before the 2p meet. So is it terrible to take the bus if I drive & park at Ft Wilderness? After the meet we plan on doing the Monorail Resort Hopping then head to Magic Kingdom for MVMCP. I was planning on moving my car from Fort Wilderness to Grand Floridian after the meet so it would be handy after MVMCP.

[AliciaG]

Thanks Happy Camper and Rosebud! :D

I think I proved in chat the other night that I easily confuse regarding Disney transportation. :lol: Especially with stuff I've never seen. :oops:

From the looks of the transportation wizard and the Ft. W map...it looks like to go to the meet, my best option might be bus to WL then boat to Ft. W. 31 minutes doesn't seem too bad for that.

[HappyCamper]

Margaret:

If it were up to me and if I had my car, I'd park at Ft. Wilderness and get on the orange bus to the Settlement, which is where the Trails End is. For me, with my failing memory, it would be the easiest thing to do and probably in the end the quickest route. I've never found it terrible to take a bus through FtW. It's a beautiful ride and doesn't take but a few minutes.

AliciaG: if you're going to bus to WL, I'd ask the driver if he's going to also make FtW. If he does, stay on that bus instead of taking the boat. If the driver isn't going to do FtW, then take the bus to FtW.

Sorry for the confusion.

Debby

[MargaretJ]

Debby you sold me. I think that is what I will do. Knowing me I would park my car at Wilderness Lodge before the Mini Meet & then forget where I parked it that night after MVMCP. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions & help!

[MikeS]

If I were not staying at FW, WL, or any of the monorail resorts I guess my choice would be to park at the Wilderness Lodge because at the end of the day I could go directly from TMK to WL via a launch or take the Ferry or monorail to the TTC and then a bus to WL.

The bus ride from the TTC to WL is about 3-5 minutes.

I really like the TTC-WL-FW bus route, hence my suggestion to park at WL.

MikeS

[SusanL]

I am going to MVMCP that evening so I intend to bus to MK and take the boat to Fort Wilderness, then after the meet I am gonna take the boat to the contemporary for the resort tour with Tagrel then go to MVMCP and then take the bus back to the Boardwalk.
SusanL

[MargaretJ]

SusanL I may end up doing what you are since I will more than likely do the Tagrel Tag-a-long & then going to MVMCP. Thanks all.