Biking at Fort Wilderness

Today we did exploring activities.  We are trying to wait to visit the parks.  Last year (while still working) we purchased two annual passes to Disneyworld.  They will start the day we activate them at the gate and last one full year.  Since we were not planning on arriving this early....well we thought we would do things that one doesn't spend time doing while in Disney.

Biking in Fort Wilderness.  I've read more than once about a bike/hike trail at Fort Wilderness.  Today we went biking and found two trails that actually connect.  The trails start at the horse barn before the beach area.

There is a sign that says No Carts Allowed.  That is the clue.  While riding along this paved path, keep your eyes open for shapes made of pine cones. Hidden Mickey!

Traveling along the path, one can see another path.  We had been looking for this one and finally found it.  It is about a third of a mile from the start of the trail.

You can see the trail on the other side of the road. Its really nice. One has to quickly make a decision at the Y.

Going straight is the lake.  Going to the left leads to Fort Wilderness Lodge.  Going to the right leads to the remains of an old waterpark called River Country with the inevitable signs "Cast members only".    We decide to bike to Fort Wilderness Lodge along the lake.  That's the Contemporary Hotel with the Cinderella princess castle behind it.  It would take some doing, but what a spot to watch the fireworks over the castle!

We stop at the Geyser at Wilderness Lodge.

Looking over at the Lodge, one can see the flags on top.  Hey, that looks like stairs.  Doesn't someone have to take the flags down at night?  Lets go ask.

We've been fortunate enough to go to the top of the Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone National Park) to take the flags down in the evening and sure enough, if you are a guest at theWDW Wilderness Lodge, you can ask to be added to the list of guests to go to the top and put the flags out in the morning!  Wow!  I sure wish I knew a bell hop there too!

We decide to spend the rest of the day visiting the other three big monorail resorts, the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. The Contemporary has a nice mural by the artist who designed, "Its a Small World."  The Polynesian is supposed to have a volcano, but it is really a water slide.  We decided to visit the Grand Floridian another day and made it back to the trailer for supper of crock pot chicken and vinegar cole slaw.