Is Disney Camping For You?
The Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is like no other Walt Disney World resort experience. Whether you’re a camping expert or new to roughing it in the wild, this Walt Disney World Resort accommodates all levels of nature enthusiasts. The Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is one of the largest campgrounds is the United States, so it can be overwhelming for first time visitors. Here are all the things I wish I knew on my first camping trip. Buckle up for some tips for first time campers at Fort Wilderness!
Transportation:
Just like any other Walt Disney World resort, Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground has buses to and from the parks. Weather permitting, you will travel to and from the Magic Kingdom via boat.
Getting to the park buses or boat can feel a bit intimidating, since they are a hike to get to. Not to fear, the campground has a bus route that specifically runs through the resort. It was so easy hop a bus to and from our camping area to the main transportation hub, the pool, or to the boat dock. Once we figure out the internal bus route, it made getting places easier.
Get The Golf Cart:
The bus system within the park is great, but just like waiting for a park bus, it can feel like the world’s longest wait for the next bus. If you’re looking to be more self-reliant, rent one of the resort golf carts. You can use it as your own personal transportation around the campground. I love this option! You can recharge them right at your campsite and it’s fun to just drive around the campground. This park has a significant amount of free roaming wildlife, so watch out for deer and turkeys when speeding around! Pricing for a golf cart range from $65 - $85 per day, but is money well spent for getting around the resort.
If you travel with bicycles, they are also great for getting around the park and a way to save money by not renting the golf cart.
Food:
Lucky for you, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue dining experience is located at this Walt Disney World Resort! If dinner and a show is your thing, this a fun resort option.
If you’re used to the big resort food courts that the other Value and Moderate Level Resorts offer, you will find a different experience here. Snacks and basic groceries can be purchased at Meadow Trading Post and Settlement Trading Post.
Trails End is a small grab-and-go food court with a mobile order option. There are a handful of made-to-order items, but it is a slim variety. You won’t find the big resort food counters here. It feels appropriate being that many campers bring their own food supplies in their RV or Camper. However, if you were looking to eat out and at the resort for every meal, this resort feels limited for that.
Fireworks:
I don’t love the fireworks crowds in the parks. I try to maximize my ride time or leave the park during the fireworks show. Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is close enough to the Magic Kingdom that you can see the show from the resort beach! They have speakers lined along the beach, so you get the show music too! It’s not a perfect view, you will miss any low launch pyrotechnics, but I’ll take the view if it means no crowds!
I still recommend heading down to the beach early, like twenty minutes prior to the show, as it will get a little busy on a nice night and there are limited benches and chairs on the beach. It’s still nowhere close to park crowd busy! If you plan ahead, stop by the Chuck Wagon or Meadow Snack Bar to grab and go with a Mickey S’Mores Kit!
Resort Day Fun:
The Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is a fantastic place to spend a non-park day! Like many other resorts, it offers a campfire and s’more hour and outside movies. In addition to that, there is a Ranch! Tri-Circle-D Ranch give you the opportunity to take a horse, wagon, or holiday sleigh ride. Participating in the Tri-Circle-D ranch fun is on my Walt Disney to-do list!
Renting a golf cart is not the only rental option here. Bikes, Canoes, and Kayaks are all available. The Wilderness must be explored and can be with these rentals! I always plan for some resort hopping, but after seeing it all in action at the campground, I should have planned some resort time here!
Exciting Surprises:
If you are camping during a Holiday season, then be prepared to be amazed by the Holiday displays! Sure, the resort is well decorated for the Holidays, but so are many of the campsites! My first camping experience was during the Halloween season, and I did feel left out of the spooky season fun. The number of elaborate campsites was amazing! A regular nighttime activity for us was to drive our golf cart around at night, checking out all the displays. We totally stepped up our campsite décor for future trips.
I’ve done three camping trips with my parents to the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. We’ve loved our stays here. We’ve done weeklong trips and trips paired with the Disney Cruise. Future Disney goals for us is to rent of the new Disney Vacation Club Cabins to try something new. For those who have also camped at Walt Disney World, what do you wish you knew prior to your first camping adventure?
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