Why stay at Fort Wilderness? Why NOT!

When it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation, the resort options are so endless that it can be headache-inducing (it was for me at first!)

Should you choose to stay on property (which I highly recommend), one of your options is Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, which is a moderate level resort (ie-middle of the road prices) with amenities and rustic charm galore

Lodging Options – Fort Wilderness offers different types of campsites from traditional tent sites (with electric), full hook up sites (with electric and sewage hookups), preferred and premium full hook up sites (size and location are what makes these ones more desirable). Not in the mood to ‘rough it?’ Then consider the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, which provide all the comforts of home nestled into the serene woods of the campground. The cabins sleep 6, have their own bathroom and kitchenette, and are a great option for families who desire a little bit more space to roam than your average hotel room.

Dining – In keeping with the frontier theme prevalent throughout the Resort, the dining options available are: Trail’s End Restaurant (serves American down-home classics on a breakfast and dinner buffet and has an ala carte lunch menu), Crockett’s Tavern (a full-service bar that features a small menu of items such as nachos and pizzas), Mickey’s Backyard BBQ (a seasonal character meal served family style with Mickey and his friends), and last but not least, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review, the Resort’s nightly old west themed dinner show that serves up delicious classics (friend chicken, ribs, and all-you-can-drink-beer) alongside a highly entertaining variety show.

Entertainment – There is so much to do at Fort Wilderness, including water sports (water skiing, boat rentals, and bass fishing tours can all be done here), extensive jogging/walking/biking trails (and yes you can rent bikes here too), 2 beautiful pools, horse back riding, a petting zoo, nightly movies with Chip and Dale, and so much more…needless to say, there is never a dull moment at Fort Wilderness.

Transportation – The Campground is BIG and spacious, which can mean a lot of walking, which is why they have an internal bus system that services different stops around the campground. You can also rent a bike to get around, or my personal favorite – golf carts rentals. The best transportation option in my mind though is the boat service to the Magic Kingdom – it is much better than a bus, and it isn’t always the fastest, but the view is certainly better (you pass the other deluxe resorts before coming upon the Magic Kingdom)

Value – When I was younger I used to wonder why we stayed at Fort Wilderness in our camper instead of in one of the hotels – and now that I am older, I have learned the secret – a Walt Disney World vacation does NOT come cheaply, and if you want to play with the Mouse, you have to pay…a LOT. If you’re a fan of camping, you can save yourself a ton of money with a  campsite at Fort Wilderness (typically around half the price of a hotel room at one of Disney’s Value Resorts), and with camping equipment and the ability to make your own food, you can save even more money.

I stayed at Fort Wilderness many times during my youth, and the car ride from Upstate NY to Orlando was a 2 day trip, hauling not only regular luggage but a pop-up camper, food, and every camping supply imaginable. No matter how long that trip and how tired we were, our moods magically lifted every time we entered into the Campground. It is beautiful, spacious, and I can’t say enough good things about it.

So if you are looking for a cheaper but still on-Disney-Property option, look no further than Fort Wilderness, it will make your Walt Disney World stay even more magical (and you didn’t think that was possible….)

Related articles

• Top 5 Best Things About Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (chipandco.com)
• Stranded at Walt Disney World and Loving It (chipandco.com)

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