Internal Bus Transportation and Directionally-Challenged Grandma

GreatLakes

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 6, 2015
I also posted this on the information thread on the resorts board but know this is the place for all Fort Wilderness questions and wanted to also post it here.

I have a cabin related question. We are looking to go down next November. It will be my wife, son (18 months at the time), me, and we are bringing my mom. When our son is in need of a nap it will most likely be my mom that brings him back to the room. My mom is not what you'd call a good navigator. Because of this arrangement we are looking at one of three options: A Fort Wilderness Cabin, an Art of Animation suite, or an All-Star Family Suite. Our preference is that order but we have one dilemma, the internal bus system at Ft. Wilderness.

We have never stayed at Fort Wilderness but have visited there on a non-park day. If we stay at AoA or an All-Star my mom would just need to take the resort bus from the park to the resort, get off at the proper stop, and then walk to the room. At Ft. Wilderness she would have to take the boat or bus to the resort and then the internal bus to our loop. What I am wondering is if there are cabins close enough to either the front bus stop or boat drop off that she could just walk to instead of take the bus? Is there any other internal-transportation option that she could take short of renting a golf cart?

We really want to stay at Fort Wilderness but if it will add stress for my mom we will have to select a different option.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
The cabin loops are closer to the Outpost/ checkin area and so is the main busstop for the parks. The internal busses that run for the cabin loops is Orange, that is what it says on the marque, and MAYBE Purple. So from either end of the Fort that would be the bus or busses to catch. They stop at the entrance to each loop, then it is just a walk to the cabin. The busses also announce which loop they are coming up to for a stop.

So, I think as long as she can remember what bus to take and what loop you are staying in she will be fine. She can also ask the driver if they are going to the cabin loops also.
 
I also posted this on the information thread on the resorts board but know this is the place for all Fort Wilderness questions and wanted to also post it here.

I have a cabin related question. We are looking to go down next November. It will be my wife, son (18 months at the time), me, and we are bringing my mom. When our son is in need of a nap it will most likely be my mom that brings him back to the room. My mom is not what you'd call a good navigator. Because of this arrangement we are looking at one of three options: A Fort Wilderness Cabin, an Art of Animation suite, or an All-Star Family Suite. Our preference is that order but we have one dilemma, the internal bus system at Ft. Wilderness.

We have never stayed at Fort Wilderness but have visited there on a non-park day. If we stay at AoA or an All-Star my mom would just need to take the resort bus from the park to the resort, get off at the proper stop, and then walk to the room. At Ft. Wilderness she would have to take the boat or bus to the resort and then the internal bus to our loop. What I am wondering is if there are cabins close enough to either the front bus stop or boat drop off that she could just walk to instead of take the bus? Is there any other internal-transportation option that she could take short of renting a golf cart?

We really want to stay at Fort Wilderness but if it will add stress for my mom we will have to select a different option.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Loop 2800 is very close to the entrance of fort wilderness where the outpost bus depot is. We were in loop 2500 and even walked from there one day. You can request to be near the loop entrance to be even closer.
I have found the bus drivers at fort wilderness to be helpful. They'll ask when you get on where you want to go. Or just let them know when you get on where you want to go.
Before you send grandma off on her own, take the bus around the campground to the pool or boat dock to get an idea of how it works and where everything is.
We've stayed at all the resorts you're considering. I think it's easier to get lost at the all stars than at the fort.
 
I also posted this on the information thread on the resorts board but know this is the place for all Fort Wilderness questions and wanted to also post it here.

I have a cabin related question. We are looking to go down next November. It will be my wife, son (18 months at the time), me, and we are bringing my mom. When our son is in need of a nap it will most likely be my mom that brings him back to the room. My mom is not what you'd call a good navigator. Because of this arrangement we are looking at one of three options: A Fort Wilderness Cabin, an Art of Animation suite, or an All-Star Family Suite. Our preference is that order but we have one dilemma, the internal bus system at Ft. Wilderness.

We have never stayed at Fort Wilderness but have visited there on a non-park day. If we stay at AoA or an All-Star my mom would just need to take the resort bus from the park to the resort, get off at the proper stop, and then walk to the room. At Ft. Wilderness she would have to take the boat or bus to the resort and then the internal bus to our loop. What I am wondering is if there are cabins close enough to either the front bus stop or boat drop off that she could just walk to instead of take the bus? Is there any other internal-transportation option that she could take short of renting a golf cart?

We really want to stay at Fort Wilderness but if it will add stress for my mom we will have to select a different option.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
internal buses are not hard to use even for your mom. know which number your loop is, not just the cabin number and which color bus runs to your loop. driver calls out the loop or loops for each stop. cabin number is usually the first 2 numbers are the loop number and the last 2 are the cabin number. I will pick a number 2436 cabin would be in loop 2400 and cabin would 36. each loop as a sign with number of loop at the beginning of loop. only place where internal bus could be not going to loops is at where you would get bus from ferry from MK, and I think it is yellow route which goes to Wilderness Lodge before going back to loops. this only true of one color of the 3. for MK only other option would be renting golf cart and her being able to find your loop which could be 3/4 the way across resort.no car parking near dock for MK. and not the best for others as yes you could drive there but would have to cross traffic which includes buses to get to car parking. last year after second day 4 year old knew the bus stop and by third day she knew which direction she wanted bus to be going, to the dock or park buses. for her wore part of vacation was she didn't get to bring the buses home with her. ask me any thing you want to know more about as we usually use buses. just notice your son's age at trip time your mom is going to have to get folded stroller plus your son without help on any bus not just campground buses. will she be able to do this
 
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From experience,,,, write stuff down, where she can find it. Like your cabin #.
 
At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think your mom will find more people at Fort Wilderness willing to help her out if she needs directions than the other resorts. Campers in particular tend to take things a little slower and when staying at the resorts it seems like everyone is focused on getting from one place to another. It's true too that she'll need to be able to fold your stroller (if you take one) to get it on the bus, BUT I've also found that frequently other passengers or the bus driver will lend a hand to a grandma.
 
Harriet you are so right. Other guests at Ft W are the best. Stand there looking lost and someone will come up and ask if you are okay And offer to help if they can.
Great lakes if mom is only going back from Magic Kingdom show her where to catch the BOAT and where to catch the bus (Just beyond Pioneer Hall) and if she has a problem with which bus she needs all she needs to do ask the driver if they go to the cabin loop
 


My mom was *severely* directionally impaired, but her coping strategy was simple:

We made "cheat sheets" for her for every place she wanted to go. Because of the way her directionality functioned (or didn't LOL) we would make them like this:

Turn RIGHT out of the driveway, and go to the STOP SIGN. (This is RUBY ROAD)
At the STOP SIGN, turn left. (On to Golden Avenue) There will be a BANK on the LEFT, and a GAS STATION on the RIGHT.
Go through THREE STOP LIGHTS. At the FOURTH STOP LIGHT, turn right. (On to Highland Place) After you turn right, there will be a CHURCH on the LEFT and a HOSPITAL on the RIGHT...


By writing down specific land-mark based instructions, she could navigate just fine on her own; if the trip was lengthy, she would stop and "refresh" her instructions. Once she memorized a set of instructions, she was fine. I still have all her old notebooks, full of the instructions from cities all over North America on how to navigate her daily life, including to and from the Post Office, the grocery store, the doctors office, etc.

As others here have stated, I wouldn't hesitate a moment to have your Mom stay at FW; everyone there is so sweet and kind and friendly; she will be perfectly safe. Take a few minutes to create a "cheat sheet" for her (Write your Loop/Cabin number at the top, then something like "Take the bus to FW from the Theme Park, and at the Depot, change to the ORANGE Bus...") and she will be fine! :)
 
Thank you for the information everyone. I think we are good with the transportation.

I have a follow-up question. My wife, the 18 month old, and I will be staying in the bedroom and my mom sleeping on the bed in the family area. We assume we will be using a pack & play still and I couldn't tell from the pictures if one would fit in the room.

Does anyone know?
 
Thank you for the information everyone. I think we are good with the transportation.

I have a follow-up question. My wife, the 18 month old, and I will be staying in the bedroom and my mom sleeping on the bed in the family area. We assume we will be using a pack & play still and I couldn't tell from the pictures if one would fit in the room.

Does anyone know?
last August we had the same plan but also add a 4 year old in bedroom. daughter put pack & play in between the bed and the bunk. pack & play might fit at end of bunk but not sure as big sister was using top bunk. worked well for us but baby was a lot younger than yours
 

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