From Wilderness Lodge to Epcot

[sbkline]

For those of you who have stayed at WL, what way do you find is quickest to get to Epcot? Is it best to take the bus? Or to take the boat to MK, and then the monorail? Of course, I know some of it may have to do with whether the boat is there waiting for you, or if it is setting off right as you walk up to the dock. Or if the bus takes you straight there, or if you have to wait 15 minutes for them to load up an ECV. Or if the monorail is there waiting and ready to go, as opposed to getting there right as it pulls out, and you to have to wait for the next one. But in general, which way would you think would tend to be the quickest, if all other things are equal?

 

[lilclerk]

I'd definitely say the bus. I even found the bus to the MK to be quicker than the boat, but that was just my experience.

 

[Rob562]

Your trip via the MK would require a boat (or bus) and then *two* monorail rides (MK to TTC, TTC to Epcot). In just about any way, the bus will be faster.

-Rob

 

[LeafsFanNL]

With no reservations or qualifications the Bus, even though the bus stops at FW

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Definitely the bus...probably by about half the time.

 

[captainkidd]

With no reservations or qualifications the Bus, even though the bus stops at FW

Since when?

I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge 4 times and have never once shared a bus with Fort Wilderness. We've shared only with Grand Floridian, and to Epcot, we shared with no one, as the GF has the monorail to Epcot.

 

[bugsbunny]

Since when?

I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge 4 times and have never once shared a bus with Fort Wilderness. We've shared only with Grand Floridian, and to Epcot, we shared with no one, as the GF has the monorail to Epcot.

Ive stayed there and it was so bad (the lateness and sharing) I wrote Disney when I got back. I waited 45 minutes for a bus. Nothing came. We called teh front desk. A bus showed up at the 60 minute mark...of course we had to wait for the scooters that just showed up...boarded and got about halfway out towards World Drive. TURNED AROUND to go back to Ft.W becuase they were complaining. It was already standing room only!! We picked up like 5 people since that all we could handle.

We were late to Le Cellier. We called ahead before the bus even showed up and they were super nice to hold a table for us and only had to wait like 10 minutes when we got there at 6pm on a Saturday night.

I find it practically insulting you have to share a bus with other hotels when you are paying $300/night. And dont forget about Downtown Disney!!! That is even better! You share it with like FOUR HOTELS!!!! Such a great time!

 

[stlbobby]

Since when?

I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge 4 times and have never once shared a bus with Fort Wilderness. We've shared only with Grand Floridian, and to Epcot, we shared with no one, as the GF has the monorail to Epcot.

Bus sharing depends on the time of year, how fully booked the hotels are, and can even change through-out the day. WDW is constantly tweaking the bus service to keep people moving.

So it is possible WL could share buses with different resorts on different stays or even on the same day.

 

[Phonedave]

Bus sharing depends on the time of year, how fully booked the hotels are, and can even change through-out the day. WDW is constantly tweaking the bus service to keep people moving.

So it is possible WL could share buses with different resorts on different stays or even on the same day.

Exactly,

I have been on a variety of WL - EPCOT trips via bus. Either direct, with a stop at GF, and with a stop at FW.

But has others have said, unless there is something VERY wrong with the bus service and unless you hit the boat / monorail / boat combo just right, taking the bus from WL to EPCOT is faster.

-dave

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We were there a couple of weeks ago and the bus to Epcot from WL most definitely stopped at FW. It didn't bug me, but my dad was SOOOOOO not pleased. I warned him that stops were a possibility. Still, even with the stop at FW...it would be quicker to take the bus and make the FW stop vs bus or boat to pick up the monorail and switch monorails. Of course, if you're not in a hurry- the boat to the monorails would be nice trip.

 

[lilclerk]

Since when?

I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge 4 times and have never once shared a bus with Fort Wilderness. We've shared only with Grand Floridian, and to Epcot, we shared with no one, as the GF has the monorail to Epcot.

I stayed at WL last August and shared with Ft Wilderness a few times. Not during peak travel times, though.

 

[sbkline]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I didn't realize it would be so hands down in favor of the bus. I guess I forgot about the time to disembark one monorail and board the other. Perhaps if everything came together perfectly, as in getting to the boat right when it's about to depart, getting on the monorail right as it's about to close the doors, and then the same with the other monorail, perhaps it would be quicker, but odds aren't very good in favor of things working out that perfectly. But like someone else said, if I'm not concerned about the time factor, that may be the more enjoyable way to go.

 

[captainkidd]

This is a definite issue with Disney and one they just don't seem to get. If you are paying to stay at a Deluxe Resort, you should have better bus service. It's too bad, as the WL is my favorite resort, but we too have noticed the horrible bus issues there. We've been lucky I guess not to have to share with FW though.

It's why I'll never stay in the Epcot Resort area again. I'd love to stay at the Boardwalk sometime, but the bus service to and from those resorts is insulting given the amount of money it costs to stay there.

 

[lilclerk]

This is a definite issue with Disney and one they just don't seem to get. If you are paying to stay at a Deluxe Resort, you should have better bus service. It's too bad, as the WL is my favorite resort, but we too have noticed the horrible bus issues there. We've been lucky I guess not to have to share with FW though.

It's why I'll never stay in the Epcot Resort area again. I'd love to stay at the Boardwalk sometime, but the bus service to and from those resorts is insulting given the amount of money it costs to stay there.

I wouldn't say the bus service was "horrible" when I was there, but when I went to the MK about 1.5 hours before it opened, and at mid-day breaks we did stop at FW. But the waits for the buses themselves weren't bad at all, and they weren't crowded in the slightest. I loved taking the bus to the MK because everyone else took the boat :lol: The bus was nice and quiet.

Now the Epcot resort buses really are pretty terrible, IMO.

 

[flavious27]

For those of you who have stayed at WL, what way do you find is quickest to get to Epcot? Is it best to take the bus? Or to take the boat to MK, and then the monorail? Of course, I know some of it may have to do with whether the boat is there waiting for you, or if it is setting off right as you walk up to the dock. Or if the bus takes you straight there, or if you have to wait 15 minutes for them to load up an ECV. Or if the monorail is there waiting and ready to go, as opposed to getting there right as it pulls out, and you to have to wait for the next one. But in general, which way would you think would tend to be the quickest, if all other things are equal?

the bus will be quicker, it is a direct trip. Though taking the boat then monorails is more fun and part of the cost of WL.

 

[mp2bill]

Your trip via the MK would require a boat (or bus) and then *two* monorail rides (MK to TTC, TTC to Epcot). In just about any way, the bus will be faster.

-Rob

I dunno. It took me two hours to get to EPCOT from the WL once. For some reason, an EPCOT bus just never showed up. Plus, I like taking a leisurely ride on the boat to MK. And riding the monorail is always fun. I guess if you're looking for the fastest way, though, waiting for the bus is probably best (assuming you can get one in 10 minutes or so).