Holiday Sleigh Ride at Fort Wilderness Lodge - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Well, here I am again with eleventybillion questions for you lovely folks.
This is the first time WookiePants and I will be at WDW for the holiday season and we're trying to pack in as much lovely stuff as we can. We're going to the MVMCP, La Nouba, Candlelight Processional (if it ain't sold out), Osborne Lights, etc.
On our last day before we leave, we are not going into the parks. I would like that night to be special, so I thought we could do the "sleigh" ride at Fort Wilderness.
I'd like to know if it's worth the $70 for the trip for WookiePants and myself. We will be having dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe that evening at 7:40 pm, so we'll be at that location anywho. However, with the "all you care to eat" skillet that we saw on the menu, I might schedule the sleigh ride BEFOREHAND.
I'd love any and all opinions on this side excursion! Thank you in advance.
We did the sleigh ride in Dec 2012 and loved it! Our driver was very personable and we have a wonderful drive around looking at all the decorations that were up. Some of the people in the RVs had gone the 'extra mile' and provided snacks for the tours! It should be dark to really appreciate all the lights. I can see how having a 'non-chatty' drives might make the ride less fun, but it was worth every penny for us.
Thank you so much - totally confirms that this will be a fun event for us.
PS - I love your cat. We are cat people here, and your little guy looks awesome! Maybe I should post a picture of Princess Banshee (17 years old!) in my sig!
We did the holiday sleigh ride some years ago now, but we really enjoyed it. It was wonderful to see everywhere decorated so beautifully by the people staying there.
Captain Jack looks like a wonderful fellah. Our geriatric princess is the light of our household. My father always said that you can tell the measure of a man by the way he treats animals & children - so I have a soft spot in my heart for people who love pets & kids. here she is: and yes...those are ALL her blankets. Did I mention that we spoil her rotten?
And another vote for the sleigh ride! Awesome! Thanks!
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We did this this past December and it was fun. There were 4 of us so the $70 price tag was a real bargain! Note that much of the enjoyment hinges on how elaborate the campground guests decide to make their displays. Disney does not do ANY displays. This past Christmas, some campers had scaled back on their decorations in protest as they wanted to get a discount from FW for their stay and they did not get one That's what one of the campers told us anyways. It was still an enjoyable experience.
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Originally Posted by DisneyWitch
We will be having dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe that evening at 7:40 pm, so we'll be at that location anywho. However, with the "all you care to eat" skillet that we saw on the menu, I might schedule the sleigh ride BEFOREHAND.
Just making sure that you are aware that the sleigh ride is at Fort Wilderness while Whispering Canyon Cafe is at the Wilderness Lodge (2 different resorts). There are in the same neighborhood, (and just a short boat ride away from one another) but they are not at the same location.
Just making sure that you are aware that the sleigh ride is at Fort Wilderness while Whispering Canyon Cafe is at the Wilderness Lodge (2 different resorts). There are in the same neighborhood, (and just a short boat ride away from one another) but they are not at the same location.
Wow!!! Good to know!! Having never been there, I thought they were at the same place and we could just hop from one place to the other. That will help me plan our time better.
It's just the 2 of us, and although $70 might be steep, it is a nice way to end our wonderful holiday.
We did it a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. The price has gone up since then (haven't they all ), but I still think it's a lovely way to spend some time. You do have to go over to Fort Wilderness. From the Wilderness Lodge you can take a boat or there is a path if you want to walk. I've never done the walk after dark though so the boat might be a better option. One other thing to plan for - a tip for the driver. I know the web site says they aren't allowed, but I think most of the drivers take them and our driver was certainly thankful.
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We did this in 2010 and really enjoyed it. My parents started visiting WDW in 1971 and we made many wonderful trips in the years that followed and all of them were spent staying at Ft Wilderness. The carriage ride was a trip down memory lane for my mom and I, so much of our enjoyment was from that. But, that being said, it was still amazing to see all the beautiful displays that so many campers put up on their sites. It really is something to see, and a horse drawn carriage is a magical way to do it.
We also had campers offer us treats along the way, and it really added to the holiday spirit. I think this would be a perfect cap to your vacation.
I do have to say that while you can walk the path from the WL to Ft Wilderness, I would NOT do it at dusk or after as it is through the woods. It is Florida, and the path, while not on the lake, is near it, and you could encounter many forms of native wildlife. Take the boat from the WL to Ft Wilderness and the carriage ride is just a short walk from the dock.
As far as tipping the driver, we were unsure if the drivers could accept, or expected to be tipped, so we quietly tipped our driver, and she quietly accepted it with much appreciation.
If you decided to do this I think you will find it is a very enjoyable experience that is out of the hustle and bustle of the mainstream of WDW.
there was a sign on the back of the driver's seat in our carriage that said driver's were'nt allowed to accept tips. we tipped the horse and the driver was going to carry it for him.
there was a sign on the back of the driver's seat in our carriage that said driver's were'nt allowed to accept tips. we tipped the horse and the driver was going to carry it for him.
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), but I still think it's a lovely way to spend some time. You do have to go over to Fort Wilderness. From the Wilderness Lodge you can take a boat or there is a path if you want to walk. I've never done the walk after dark though so the boat might be a better option. One other thing to plan for - a tip for the driver. I know the web site says they aren't allowed, but I think most of the drivers take them and our driver was certainly thankful. 
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