Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Bus Ride to Magic Kingdom Is Taking Longer Due to Construction
On a recent visit to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, we waited much longer than usual for a bus to Magic Kingdom. We later found out why. Guests traveling between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom will want to be aware of this temporary change to the resort’s bus route. This route also affects guests of Disney’s Fort Wilderness. You’ll have to forgive me. It was hard to fit all of that in the title.
Normally, the bus ride from the Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom is relatively quick. The bus travels from Magic Kingdom to the Wilderness Lodge, continues to the Settlement at Fort Wilderness, and then returns to Magic Kingdom. Based on our previous tracking of this route, the trip from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom averages 12 minutes, including the stop at Fort Wilderness. However, things have temporarily changed.
Wilderness Lodge Buses Are Now Stopping at the Outpost
The road that buses normally use between the Wilderness Lodge and the Settlement at Fort Wilderness is currently closed. As a result, buses leaving Wilderness Lodge must exit the resort and travel to the Outpost at Fort Wilderness before continuing to Magic Kingdom. For reference, the Outpost is at the opposite end of the Fort from the Settlement, and it’s a mighty big resort.
The order of the stops has not changed. However, instead of stopping at the Settlement, the bus is now stopping at the Outpost. This new route adds considerably more driving time to what is normally a very short bus ride. We experienced the change firsthand during our visit. As mentioned above, I first noticed our wait for the Magic Kingdom bus was considerably longer than usual. Once we were picked up, I almost immediately noticed the route change. I thought, surely we’re not going to the Outpost? We did.
We were picked up at Wilderness Lodge at 5:54 p.m. The bus arrived at the Fort Wilderness Outpost at 6:05 p.m., and we reached Magic Kingdom at 6:16 p.m. That made our total travel time from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom 22 minutes. Again, this route usually takes about 12 minutes, and we also felt the pinch of the longer route by how long we waited for the bus to arrive. So, because of the construction detour, our trip took almost twice as long as the usual ride.
How Long Will This Bus Route Change Last?
The Cast Member driving our bus confirmed that the Outpost stop is being used because of the road closure and told us this would be the route until the road reopens. He indicated that it should reopen at least by the expected opening date of Lakeshore Lodge next summer. That means guests should plan for this longer route to continue for the time being.
Disney notes on its website that “soil erosion prevention work is taking place along the sidewalk of Big Pine Trail that may require roadway detours through mid-October.” It is unclear as to whether this is the same exact area.
The Change Also Affects the Internal Bus Between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness
This temporary road closure also affects guests taking the internal bus service that runs between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. The internal bus follows the same route from Fort Wilderness to the Outpost.
So, if you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge and want to visit the Settlement at Fort Wilderness, you’ll have to take the bus to the Outpost first. If the bus driver doesn’t continue to the Settlement, you’ll need to exit at the Outpost and then take an additional internal bus to the Settlement. (The bus driver will clarify this with guests on board. But if you’re unsure, just ask the driver. They are there to help.)
It is very important to be aware of this modified route because the Settlement is home to several popular Fort Wilderness destinations, including dining and recreational activities. You’ll want to allow more time than usual when using the bus service.
Alternative Option During This Construction
When people want to know the fastest route between these resorts and Magic Kingdom, I usually say the bus. However, we all know that the boat ride is more scenic. In most cases, the boat will also be the fastest option during this road closure.
Boat services are available between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom. Fort Wilderness also has boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. (The resort-to-park boats do not share stops as the buses do.)
There is an additional boat service directly between Wilderness Lodge and the Fort Wilderness Settlement that begins after 3:00 p.m. It’s a somewhat triangular loop between Disney’s Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness. I would recommend taking this boat service to get to and from Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue in the evenings.
As always, the boat service can be affected by weather and other operational considerations. Therefore, the bus will likely be the most reliable service, albeit lengthy for the time being.
Final Thoughts
For now, guests should keep this temporary transportation change in mind when planning trips between Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and Magic Kingdom. We’ll continue tracking transportation changes and update this information as needed. As a reminder, this article was written based on our experience, and this is not a permanent change.
If you would like to know more about transportation at either of these resorts, see our guide to transportation at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or you might like our guide to transportation at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.
If you are new to planning a vacation or would like to know more about how things work, see our beginner’s guide to transportation at Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.
In the Comments
Will this bus route change affect your upcoming trip? Let us know in the comments.
