(A version of this article was published on Pirates & Princesses, along with similar articles on other Disney Resort Pocket Guide pieces.)
Sleep under the stars on your next trip to Walt Disney World, at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Be one with nature at this truly unique experience, which offers guests the perfect blend of outdoor life and Disney charm – right around the corner from Magic Kingdom.
Lodging options at Fort Wilderness are wildly different from all other Walt Disney World resorts. Standard hotel rooms in a typical hotel campus are nonexistent here. For guests in the mood for more of a camping adventure, Fort Wilderness offers several options which will satisfy the RV travelers and the hard-core tenters alike. Camp sites of different sizes can accommodate everything from tents and pop-up campers to larger RVs. Sites vary by accommodation size, and prices also vary a bit by location within the resort. All locations offer sewage hookups.
Guests who want more of a “glamping” experience can enjoy beautiful rustic cabins that sleep up to six adults, as long as one guest doesn’t mind snoozing in a top bunk bed (and what kid or kid-at-heart wouldn’t love that?). All cabins have full kitchens and bathrooms, and all sites at Fort Wilderness – whether cabins or campsites – have charcoal grills for guest use. The planDisney PDF Pocket Guide offers more details on the different room types.
Relaxing water taxis efficiently carry guests to Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas resort area. Fort Wilderness is sprawling, but the grounds are dotted with bus stops which can carry guests throughout the resort, and outside the resort to other WDW destinations.
Rustlin’ up some grub is easy to do, with several fun food options. Trail’s End Restaurant offers an assortment of American BBQ fare for dinner, and an assortment of breakfast favorites in the morning. Nearby Crockett’s Tavern serves plenty of beverages and a few small bites. P&J’s Southern Takeout is a quick service venue offering more BBQ options, plus a selection of pizza, burgers, and (gulp) salads. Breakfast is offered at P&J’s as well.
If you wanna kill two birds with one stone, combine food and fun into one rootin’ tootin’ high-energy dinner show. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (reopening this summer) plays multiple times nightly at Pioneer Hall. The six brilliant Pioneer Hall Players combine for plenty of singing, dancing, and comedy, all while guests chow down on – you guessed it – more American BBQ favorites.
Settlement Trading Post is the primary destination for resort-specific merchandise and some basic groceries. Meadow Trading Post also offers a small assortment of goodies for guests. While both merchants offer basics for on-site cooking, eating, and drinking, guests may also want to consider outsourcing some groceries ahead of time. Several local options will be happy to deliver groceries right to the resort!
Sun-parched guests can cool off in two different resort pools. Meadow Swimmin’ Pool is the primary swimming destination, featuring a 67-foot-long corkscrew waterslide, whirlpool spa, and a frontier fort-themed splash zone area for kids. The nearby Meadow Snack Bar will keep the belly satisfied. Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool also offers a whirlpool spa, but no water splash zone of food.
Outside the water, Fort Wilderness really shines with many fun entertainment options. Tri-Circle-D Ranch offers horseback rides, pony rides, carriage rides (including a sleigh ride at Christmastime) and the chance to meet some of the ponies and horses that roam Main Street, U.S.A. Archery lessons are available at the Bike Barn.
One of the most charming and exciting activities to do at Fort Wilderness is simply exploring the campsites. Whether on foot, by bike, or by golf cart (which are available for rental), you won’t be disappointed by the creativity guests put into decorating their own campsites. For an extra special treat, tour the campground during Halloween or Christmastime! Walkers and runners will love getting lost in the grounds of Fort Wilderness. Create your own route through the cabins and campsites, for as long a loop as you wish.
Nighttime welcomes Chip ‘n Dale at their Campfire Sing-Along, and of course guests can always check out the movies under the stars. Or, head down to the Fort Wilderness Marina to watch the Electric Water Pageant float by.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground offers guests a one-of-a-kind experience. Even if you don’t plan to stay at the resort, consider visiting for dinner and a show, and hang around for a bit to explore this treasure trove.
Editor’s Update 12/13/23: Disney Vacation Club has offered new details and updated renderings for reimagined Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The reimagined cabins will become the newest Disney Vacation Club resort at Walt Disney World when they debut in Summer 2024.
planDisney Pocket Guides are especially helpful to guests who are considering staying at a resort they’ve never before experienced. The Pocket Guides take the form of 5-14 page PDF slides, which are easily printable and savable to smart devices. They offer efficient snapshots of the resort basics, including:
- Transportation options
- Room sizes
- Food and beverage options and locations
- Pools and recreation activities
- Shopping
- Tips from the planDisney panel
Check out the full list of planDisney Pocket Guide summaries here.
In addition to Disney Parks Blog, planDisney also releases Pocket Guides via their Instagram page. Following their IG feed is a great way to stay updated on the newest releases.
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(Cover Image: My Mickey Vacation Travel)
