[goofygal1975]

I haven't really paid as much attention to any posts regarding Trails End Buffet as I should have...until recently.:angel :whistle: Now I am interrested in this.
First of all, is this located at the Fort Wilderness Camp ground? I am forever confusing the name of the campgrounds with the Lodge!:dazed

On our first night at our resort (AllStar Sports) I was thinking of trying out Trails End. Then doing the campfire w/Chip and Dale and possibly the hay ride.

Can I take the boat from the Cont. over to this area? If so, how far of a walk is it to Trails End from the boat? and then to the Campfire area?

Is Trails End a Character Diner? If so, I am assuming PS are in order. 120 days or 60 days here?

How long is the Campfire and what normally goes on during this time?

For the Hay Rides, I saw we should call ahead and reserve. who should we call and how soon to do this?

How long should I figure spending in this area?

I think I remember reading that we can watch the boat parade from there and take a boat ride back to Cont. That would work out great!! (i'd hop on the monarail back to MK and take bus to ASsp)

Sorry for so many questions. This is only our 3rd time staying onsite and we've never tried anything other than the parks and chef mickeys. Trying to branch out a little. ;)

[BDavis932]

Originally posted by goofygal1975
"I haven't really paid as much attention to any posts regarding Trails End Buffet as I should have...until recently.:angel :whistle: Now I am interrested in this. First of all, is this located at the Fort Wilderness Camp ground?"

Yes....

"I am forever confusing the name of the campgrounds with the Lodge!:dazed On our first night at our resort (AllStar Sports) I was thinking of trying out Trails End. Then doing the campfire w/Chip and Dale and possibly the hay ride. Can I take the boat from the Cont. over to this area? "

Yes...


"If so, how far of a walk is it to Trails End from the boat? and then to the Campfire area?"

5 minutes, max!!

"Is Trails End a Character Diner? If so, I am assuming PS are in order. 120 days or 60 days here?"

No characters, just great people and wonderful home cooked food! We have never made ressies in the past, and I'm not sure you even can since I haven't made my ressies for our May trip yet, so I can't answer this one for sure. (come on, PhantomBantom...you can help us out here!!)

"How long is the Campfire and what normally goes on during this time?"

I know that chip and dale come to visit, and they play a disney movie/or cartoons. Not sure how long the whole thing is start to finish....(PhantomBantom....ahmmm)

"For the Hay Rides, I saw we should call ahead and reserve. who should we call and how soon to do this?"

Call 1-407-WDW-PLAY. I'm pretty sure you can get these the same night from the hayride host, as well.

"How long should I figure spending in this area?"

For dinner, trails end buffet is $15.00 per adult (worth it, too!) and like $9.00 per child. The petting zoo is free, and the pony rides are $3.00/ride (approx). The camfires are free, and the hayrides are $6/adult and $4/kids (3-9)

"I think I remember reading that we can watch the boat parade from there and take a boat ride back to Cont. That would work out great!! (i'd hop on the monarail back to MK and take bus to ASsp)"

You're right...you can watch the electrical water parade from the Ft Wilderness Beach area, and you can also see the fireworks from here. Another idea may be to go to the petting farm, check out the peacocks around the property, eat at Trails End, then catch a boat to the Wilderness Lodge, check out this gorgeous hotel, then watch the water parade from the WL beach. That way, you're seeing 2 new areas in one night!

"Sorry for so many questions. This is only our 3rd time staying onsite and we've never tried anything other than the parks and chef mickeys. Trying to branch out a little. ;)"

You can never ask too many questions here...everyone loves to share their Disney experiences as much as possible!!

Have fun planning!! And ask away.....!

[PhantomBantam]

"If so, how far of a walk is it to Trails End from the boat? and then to the Campfire area?"

5 minutes, max!!

***Ha! Its only about 100 yards from the pier to Pioneer Hall Buildings. Even in your worst condition it might take you 3.

"Is Trails End a Character Diner? If so, I am assuming PS are in order. 120 days or 60 days here?"

No characters, just great people and wonderful home cooked food! We have never made ressies in the past, and I'm not sure you even can since I haven't made my ressies for our May trip yet, so I can't answer this one for sure. (come on, PhantomBantom...you can help us out here!!)

***No PS availiable, you wont need them. Best Kept secret on the property. So far...

"How long is the Campfire and what normally goes on during this time?"

I know that chip and dale come to visit, and they play a disney movie/or cartoons. Not sure how long the whole thing is start to finish....(PhantomBantom....ahmmm)

***Oh, uh, (ahem) The Sing A Long Smore Makin' Fetivatin' starts at 7pm and the moving picture show starts at 7:40pm. The shows are always feature length, so plan an hour or two for time. Live music, an impromptu Childrens chorus, Photo Ops.

"For the Hay Rides, I saw we should call ahead and reserve. who should we call and how soon to do this?"

Call 1-407-WDW-PLAY. I'm pretty sure you can get these the same night from the hayride host, as well.

***<BUZZZ> Wrong-o my sweet butternut squash, The Hey rides are First come First serve, last about 45 minutes and leave Pioneer Hall at 6:45-7pm and 9-9:15pm BUT! You can reserve a Private Carriage ride from 6pm-10pm for $30.00 for 30 minutes. Just outside Crokett's Tavern (Pioneer Hall)

"How long should I figure spending in this area?"

For dinner, trails end buffet is $15.00 per adult (worth it, too!) and like $9.00 per child. The petting zoo is free, and the pony rides are $3.00/ride (approx). The camfires are free, and the hayrides are $6/adult and $4/kids (3-9)

***How long...How long do you want to spend? Most all the activities end around 10-10:30pm.

"I think I remember reading that we can watch the boat parade from there and take a boat ride back to Cont. That would work out great!! (i'd hop on the monarail back to MK and take bus to ASsp)"

You're right...you can watch the electrical water parade from the Ft Wilderness Beach area, and you can also see the fireworks from here. Another idea may be to go to the petting farm, check out the peacocks around the property, eat at Trails End, then catch a boat to the Wilderness Lodge, check out this gorgeous hotel, then watch the water parade from the WL beach. That way, you're seeing 2 new areas in one night!

***The electric parade starts around 9:45pm. It may be possible to see the fireworks and or the Water Parade from the Hey Ride. They even have special Firework Hey Rides! The main thing to remember is the schedules for outdoor activities change as the days get longer and shorter. Its a free call from your Disney hotel to FW to get all the updated hourly events and movie schedule. If you want to try to forcast you could call FW Guest Services at 407-824-2788

Remember there is a Wilderness Lodge Children's activity Center Too!

[goofygal1975]

Wow!! Thanks BDavis932 and PhantomBantam :D :D That is great information!! I really appreciate it. I will definately make that our agenda for our first evening. (weather permitting...we're going in June!!) I've seen the boat parade once on the fourth of July and FW behind the GF. It was great!! My DS and mother have not seen the boat parade yet. I wasn't sure how I was going to fit this into our trip. Now I know. This will be a great way to start our trip!! I'm so glad we have such knowledgable people on this board ;)


:)

[BDavis932]

[quote]Originally posted by PhantomBantam
[b]"If so, how far of a walk is it to Trails End from the boat? and then to the Campfire area?"

5 minutes, max!!

***Ha! Its only about 100 yards from the pier to Pioneer Hall Buildings. Even in your worst condition it might take you 3.


*****Not with my kids! They are so pokey!! They have to stop and look at EVERYTHING, so AFTER the playground, it takes us at least 5 minutes. It sure was nice when they were in strollers and they would stay with us!! Now one is zooming over here, and one zooms over there....Good thing there are two of us and two of them!! Hehehe!

[PhantomBantam]

Then goofygal should take that as a warning. And a good one too. There is a playground between the pier and Pioneer Hall. Just enough to derail a short walk.

[goofygal1975]

Warning taken!! I'll be sure to add some time for playground play!!:D I know my DS will head straight there!!:)

[ilvminnie]

Hey PhantomBantam, can you reserve the private carriage ride ahead of time? Maybe WDW-PLAY? My DH & I are doing our first real vacation by ourselves in Oct & I thought that would be a really romantic thing to do the night before we leave for our cruise!:love: :love: :)

[PhantomBantam]

Yes you can reserve the Carriage ride. Try the 407-WDW-PLAY number. Or try the Front Desk at FW 407-824-2727. Either will figure a way to get you reserved. If Its a private ride, perhaps you can time it right to see the Fireworks.

[goofygal1975]

My sisters bf wants to propose to her at Disney in November..so i'm trying to help him out. He asked if there was a carriage ride there that they could go on!! So i found this old thread. ANyone been on this lately? I know it would be *so* perfect if he could time it in november to coincide w/the fireworks!! ANy idea when the fireworks are in the begining to middle november??? He really thinks this would be a perfect way to propose to his princess...and he thought of it all by himself!!;) :)

[Hyway]

I should be able to help you since we just stayed in the cabins last week, but we never found time to do the campfire or the movie. The petting zoo was slim on animals and you can't really go into the enclosures to pet them. You have to reach over or through the sturdy rail fence. The pony ride was a good deal relatively speaking because you walk the pony yourself around the petting zoo and you can change kids half way through if you wish.

The first night there both my older girls were sick so I took my 4 yo son down to the dock and took the boat over to the magic kingdom and back just to watch teh fireworks from the boat. That was nice.

[MickeyRon]

Okay... so, I guess I am still confused... how do they know if you are resort guest or not... do they pay great attention to this? We are planning to take our DD to the Campground area and enjoy the campfire and hayride... However, we are staying off property so should I plan to get turned down on these activities?

[PhantomBantam]

Anyone can participate in all the activities except maybe the pool games. And that is if you get checked for resort ID. And even then the pools are not themed so I wouldn't expect much on-site traffic much less off-site traffic.

There are no check in stations at the Movies and Marshmallow Roasts/Campfire songs activities. Its in a very large open and outdoor area. No tickets or PS are needed. The admission is open through out the activity so you can come and go as you please.


Carriage rides, Boat rentals, pony rides, petting zoo, nature trails, exercise programs, Horse back riding, Paddock tours, blacksmith demos, tennis courts, 2 Arcades, Fishing Excursions, Canoe, water mouse, paddleboats, sun tracker pontooning, bike and Golf carts rentals, Horse shoes, shuffleboard, and then there is the daily pool game as mentioned above and the seasonal special programming. All available to everyone who can get there.

I'm sure WDW admin. would like for these things to be for their patrons. And there is NO WAY to get to these things with out parking at some Disney facility as only Disney transportation can enter Fort Wilderness without an end destination to a site or cabin. But it would be almost impossible to check everyone for resort ID.

There are several activities that require reservations such as carriage rides, fishing excursions, Hoop De Doo and golf cart rentals but most are First come first served. One call to the main desk at Fort Wilderness will answer any and all possible questions for times, PS arrangements, and reservations. Most schedules are set a month in advance.

[Hyway]

I was never asked for any identification that I was a disney resort resident before getting on any of the disney transportation. ou can leave the magic kingdom and get right onto the boat going to Fort wilderness

[MickeyRon]

Originally posted by PhantomBantam
Anyone can participate in all the activities

There are no check in stations at the Movies and Marshmallow Roasts/Campfire songs activities. Its in a very large open and outdoor area. No tickets or PS are needed. The admission is open through out the activity so you can come and go as you please.


Carriage rides, Boat rentals, pony rides, petting zoo, nature trails, exercise programs, Horse back riding, Paddock tours, blacksmith demos, tennis courts, 2 Arcades, Fishing Excursions, Canoe, water mouse, paddleboats, sun tracker pontooning, bike and Golf carts rentals, Horse shoes, shuffleboard, and then there is the daily pool game as mentioned above and the seasonal special programming. All available to everyone who can get there.

YAHOOOOO! :love: :D :D :D :D :D

I don't have to change my plans and it sounds like the boredom buster surprise has arrived at the Ft. Wilderness campground!!

In the sigle digits and can't wait to leave Columbus, OH!!! I am sooo ready for this vacation!!!