Guide to Fort Wilderness Campground at Disney World
Fort Wilderness Campground is one of the original three resorts at Walt Disney World. In this post, we’ll share history of the rustic retreat, why it’s a special spot you should visit on your next vacation, and what’s on the horizon in 2024. Plus, our reviews of the cabins, campground, restaurants, and our most recent experience tent camping. (Updated April 23, 2023.)
Let’s start with history, as it’s hard to understand the Fort Wilderness of today–and what makes it so special–without knowing how it began. Unlike Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness did not open on October 1, 1971. Along with the Contemporary and Polynesian, “construction” of Fort Wilderness was behind schedule in the home stretch of 1971. Unlike those hotels, it wasn’t fast-tracked to debut by opening day of Magic Kingdom. In fact, the land earmarked for the campground was essentially pristine wilderness as of Spring 1971 when the team arrived on-site to begin work on the project.
Consequently, Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opened on November 19, 1971 over a month after Magic Kingdom and the two hotels. Similar to how Contemporary was viewed as an extension of Tomorrowland and Polynesian of Adventureland, Fort Wilderness was viewed as a counterpart to Frontierland, giving guests a way to stay in the American frontier. The campground debuted with 232 campsites as well as Tri Circle D Ranch, which was primarily constructed as a convenient location for horses in the parades at Magic Kingdom.
In the years that followed, Fort Wilderness would expand considerably. The first big addition was the Fort Wilderness Railroad, which soft opened in Spring 1973. Fort Wilderness Railroad consisted of four steam trains that each pulled five cars around a circular route through the campground, similar to that of the current internal buses, at a maximum speed of 10 miles an hour. Each train was approximately 115 feet long and having capacity for 90 guests.
Fort Wilderness Railroad’s track was far and away the longest railroad operating in a Disney park, more than double the 1 1/2 mile route around the Magic Kingdom. During the heyday of the River Country water park in peak summer seasons, all four trains of the Fort Wilderness Railroad operated daily to provide sufficient capacity to meet demand. Tickets cost $1 and were good all day, with the train typically running from 7 am until 11 pm. (Resulting in a similar ‘wake-up call’ that guests staying in the Poly bungalows now get each morning!)
Fort Wilderness Railroad was relatively short-lived by Walt Disney World standards. There’s still debate over when it permanently closed; we know that service was reduced in 1977, but continued until at least 1979. In early 1980, Fort Wilderness Railroad went on “hiatus” for a feasibility assessment or evaluation, but it never returned. (Learn more about Fort Wilderness Railroad.)
Today, Fort Wilderness offers campsites and cabins along with a wide range of recreational options. While Fort Wilderness is only a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom, it feels worlds away. The sprawling ‘resort’ is situated on 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, giving the campground a ‘buffer’ between it and the rest of Walt Disney World.
Now that we’ve looked backwards, let’s fast-forward to 2024 when Fort Wilderness will undergo one of its biggest changes ever. Walt Disney World recently announced New DVC Cabins Coming to Fort Wilderness Campground. The proposed plans call for more than 350 new cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort, which will soon be ready for a refresh. The new cabins would be built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features.
Additionally, there are a collection of improvement projects already underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that are designed to enhance the guest experience. Examples include proposed pool and walking trail enhancements as well as new expanded dining experiences at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern, with more exciting news to come.
The announcement of Disney Vacation Club coming to Fort Wilderness explains why Trail’s End…Ended. It’s going to be one such “collection of improvement projects.” As will be made clear throughout this, we have a tremendous amount of nostalgia and memories for the Fort Wilderness. As such, we are protective of ‘the Fort’ and any potential changes that unnecessarily modernize it in ways that are, or could be, thematically incoherent or inconsistent.
However, we also recognize that the campground is in serious need of more practical dining options and amenities for serve guest needs and preferences, and this could be a step in that direction. Fort Wilderness has been a time capsule at Walt Disney World in ways that are both good and bad.
One reason that Fort Fiends and other Walt Disney World fans have been so skeptical of changes is that many have been hamfisted and seem to misunderstand what makes the parks & resorts special in the first place. Obviously, Walt Disney World is a business, but many changes have optimized exclusively for that, while ignoring what makes the places special.
That’s precisely how Fort Wilderness almost ended up with a generic and modern tower replacing the forest between it and Wilderness Lodge. The newly-announced changes coming later in 2023 and 2024 are much better than the proposed Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, but the jury is still out on whether they’re “good” or just “less bad.”
We’re trending towards optimism, which is quite the change of pace for us (we hated Reflections with a passion, so it’s a low bar). Our sincere hope is that Imagineering undertakes these updates with care, and in keeping with the character and charm that makes Fort Wilderness such a special place. The campground is beloved by its many fans for its quirkiness. It does need a modernized food court; it does not need one with generic, bland, and uninspired design. Keep Fort Wilderness Weird, Disney.
Another addition around that same time is more well-known. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was one of the original ‘upcharge offerings’ at Walt Disney World. This show was created to lessen the blow of decreased attendance in the wake of the 1973-74 Oil Embargo, debuting on June 30, 1974 as a temporary summer show with a cast of college interns.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was an immediate hit with guests, and Walt Disney World Entertainment scrambled to audition a full-time cast by the end of summer as the interns headed home. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue opened as a permanent show on September 5, 1974.
It’s now one of the longest-running dinner shows in the United States, with more than 40,000 performances. While the show has been tweaked over the years, it’s largely the same today as it was in 1974, maintaining the same spirit of Americana and old-fashioned family fun served with down-home comfort food.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a quintessential Vacation Kingdom of the World experience that every die-hard Walt Disney World fan should do at least once. While the hokey humor won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it has something for nearly everyone. The performers are incredibly talented, the audience engagement gives it a great energy, and it’s a good meal. You can read our Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Review for more.
Fort Wilderness has other dining options, as well. P&J’s Southern Takeout and The Chuck Wagon food truck are both located nearby, with the former being the counter service restaurant in Pioneer Hall and the latter being housed in a retro-inspired RV nearby. We are huge fans of P&J’s Southern Takeout, and often recommend it as an escape from midday crowds at Magic Kingdom; it’s a delicious and value-friendly family feast.
Other relatively recent developments are the relocation of Tri-Circle-D Ranch and demolition of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ. Both these changes actually occurred in preparation for the construction of Reflections Lakeside Lodge. That project was actually reasonably far along when it was postponed indefinitely–had the parks not closed in March 2020, that tower would likely be opening this year.
We’ll circle back to food and fun, but it’s probably worth discussing the accommodations options at Fort Wilderness, as that’ll be make or break for many Walt Disney World vacation planners. Again, Fort Wilderness is very taste-specific in this regard, and likely to be a ‘resort’ you’ll either love or hate.
As a kid, I loved camping at Fort Wilderness, which was my family’s go-to place to stay at Walt Disney World until Shades of Green opened in 1994. We stayed in our truck camper there at least a half dozen times from the late 1980s through early 1990s. I have a lot of nostalgia and fond memories for Fort Wilderness as a result.
Sarah and I have stayed at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness several times and we’ve also done tent camping at the Fort Wilderness campsites. As far as campgrounds go, Fort Wilderness is relatively unrivaled. We’ve camped at some really nice campgrounds on the West Coast, particularly in Utah and California. Aside from ones overlooking sandstone arches or the Pacific Ocean, it’s almost impossible to beat Fort Wilderness. Certainly, when it comes to amenities, cleanliness, and overall quality, Fort Wilderness is tough to top. But it’s also the only campground at Walt Disney World, so those planning to camp don’t really have many alternatives.
From our perspective, this makes the Cabins at Fort Wilderness the more interesting of the accommodations. While very different, these are essentially an alternative to a larger hotel room or family suite, making them a good comparison (or contrast) to a multitude of accommodations for larger parties at Walt Disney World.
Again, very taste specific, but we love the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. They’re great for larger parties wanting good bang-for-buck, anyone wanting a place to decompress from the sensory-overload of the parks, or those wanting a convivial setting for group bonding. The biggest downside is the layout, which puts bunk beds in the main bedroom.
In general, the (Walt Disney) World and life move at a slower pace at Fort Wilderness. It’s a simpler time and place, and that really needs to appeal to you and also mesh with the priorities for your Walt Disney World vacation. If you’re theme park commandos, it’s not for you. If you’re fine with a more leisurely experience, it could work.
To that point, the serenity of Fort Wilderness really cannot be overstated. This sprawling campground is a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks, offering about as sharp of a contrast to Magic Kingdom as is conceivably possible for a place only minutes away. It’s almost as if Fort Wilderness Campground is “off the grid” and hasn’t been victim to as many of the changes made that have sanitized and made some of the other original ‘Vacation Kingdom of the World’ resorts less endearing.
There’s an undeniable magic to Fort Wilderness, and it’s easy to see and feel while walking around the rustic resort, enjoying dinner, or catching the evening entertainment. It’s as if the atmosphere rubs off on everyone who stays here or visits, with a spirit of conviviality and community unlike any other resort on property. Not to overstate things, but it sure seems to me like Fort Wilderness is the happiest place at Walt Disney World. It’s a really special place.
More than anything else, this is why we are so glad that Disney decided to abandon Reflections Lakeside Lodge. While there are several reasons Reflections was a half-baked idea, chief among them was the irreversible impact it’d have on the seclusion and serenity of Fort Wilderness, its largely unspoiled scenery, and the atmosphere that exists as a result.
In addition to the aforementioned amenities and dining, other features of Fort Wilderness include playgrounds, two heated swimming pools, Crockett’s Tavern bar, Electrical Water Pageant, fishing, horseback riding, wagon rides, and more. There are showers, laundry rooms, restrooms, and Comfort Stations in every campsite loop.
This just scratches the surface of the dining and recreation offerings at Fort Wilderness. It’s honestly hard to keep track of everything. In addition to permanent food trucks, there are also temporary ones that appear during the week. We see something new each time we visit.
One of our favorite ways to spend the evening at Fort Wilderness is watching Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long.
For those unfamiliar with Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, it features the nutty friends for a campfire celebration followed by a classic Disney movie under the stars. Prior to the character appearance, there’s a talented performer who leads classic campfire songs in an outdoor amphitheater.
Prior to Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, fire pits are available for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
Once the characters appear during the performance, guests are invited up towards the front of the stage for an informal dance party. (I seem to recall this being different last time we did it–I think Chip ‘N Dale mingled with the audience during the first half of the show, signing autographs, posing for photos, and engaging in general hijinks. It’s been a few years, though!)
Regardless, Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long is good ole fashioned fun for guests of all ages.
The musician is talented, and performs songs that are actually good. Expect to hear “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes,” “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” among others. I don’t have a full playlist, but if you like the music of John Denver or Johnny Cash, you’ll enjoy this.
Not that we make a point of creeping on other guests during sing-alongs (sometimes it just happens), but it really seemed as if everyone was having a good time during Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long.
It’s one of those things that’s deceptively simple, and simply fun. With campfires, good music, and character shenanigans, what’s not to enjoy? In general, this is the story of Fort Wilderness as a whole. It’s a ‘resort’ that may not seem compelling as compared to its more impressive counterparts at Walt Disney World, but is much more fun in person than it might appear on paper.
We often recommend Fort Wilderness to families with kids who are high energy and hands-on. It’s a great place for children to actively explore and have fun in real life. Without fail, we see kids having a hoot at Fort Wilderness.
If I had to score resorts at Walt Disney World on their ‘fun factor’ for kids, Fort Wilderness would be the runaway champion. (The only others that even come close are Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Yacht/Beach Club.) In an era when entertainment for kids primarily occurs in front of a screen, Fort Wilderness is a breath of fresh air. Literally and figuratively.
On an odd and random note, one of my favorite “jokes” is stopping Sarah abruptly before she’s about to enter Meadows Trading Post. I’ll exclaim: “Hold on, we’re not allowed in there!”
“Why?” she questions.
“Well, we’re not service animals, are we?!”
This is the corniest of corny dad jokes, and one that is guaranteed to induce eyerolls from your family and friends. Please feel free to borrow it. I promise you, no one will laugh. Maybe it’s simply too cerebral.
Speaking of Meadows Trading Post, it’s home to a ton of awesome Fort Wilderness merchandise. I don’t really know where else to put them, so I figured I’d share photos of the merchandise here:
Maybe I’m biased because I love Fort Wilderness, but I think this whole line is fantastic. I ended up buying only the Chip ‘N Dale mug to add to my growing collection of rustic Wilderness Lodge and Grand Californian mugs, but I was tempted by so much more.
Several of the shirts are really good, but my favorite item of all is the backpack. As someone who always carries a photography bag, I wouldn’t have any use for that…but I almost bought it, anyway. The quality is fantastic and those patches are perfect. (For similar reasons, the water bottle is also exceptional–but we only use bottles with filters.)
Kudos to the merchandise team behind these products, because they really captured the essence of Fort Wilderness. I do wish they could’ve brought back “Musket Mickey Mouse,” but totally get why that wasn’t possible. At least there are fan made/small shop designs available with him.
Ultimately, we always have a fantastic experience at Fort Wilderness, which is truly an underrated and underappreciated Walt Disney World resort. While it’s not for everyone, you might just be surprised by how much your family enjoys Fort Wilderness. At the very least, we’d recommend booking Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue or taking a boat ride over for a midday break from Magic Kingdom to enjoy some delicious fried food.
You might even consider a stay at Fort Wilderness in the cabins or campground, depending upon your party’s preferences. In our view, Fort Wilderness is the ideal intersection of being outdoors while still being a part of civilization. It’s a perfect change of pace from the craziness of the parks, and 50 years later, there’s still something special about this place. It’s the best remaining embodiment of the “Vacation Kingdom of the World” and continues to carry on the vision the Disney brothers (and others) had for the Florida Project back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you stayed at the campsites or cabins at Fort Wilderness? What did you think of the experience? Have you visited for dining, entertainment, or anything else? Do you think there’s a certain magic to the place? Agree or disagree that it’s a nice serene and secluded change of pace from the parks? Anything else to add that we didn’t cover? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We are part of the Fort Wilderness passionate Fanbase! We’re down there 12 weeks a year with our storm troopers. We decorate for Halloween, Christmas and spring and give away toys to kids while we’re there. There’s nothing like the fort. We book 500 days in advance!
My family and I just left Fort Wilderness today after a weeklong stay and are currently towing our camper back home to Michigan. I was very impressed with our stay at the campground. The sites were nice, the campground clean and we appreciated all the services and amenities that the campground offered. My only disappointment was that there was so many activities offered, we didn’t have time to partake in everything in-between visiting the parks. We would definitely love to visit again for a longer stay! PS. As one of those crazy, spreadsheet-loving overplanners, I really appreciate this site, as I utilized it exclusively for all of my Disney planning needs. Thank you Tom and Sarah!
Thank you for this article! We’re staying in the cabins at fort wilderness this coming September! It was between this and wilderness lodge and the kids and husband all voted for this! They love that we’re renting a golf cart and seeing wild turkeys walking around. Hoping we see some good Halloween decorations at peoples camp sites! Only thing I’ll miss is having a super cool themed pool!
I enjoyed reading about this wonderful place and its position in the original vacation kingdom. Surprisingly little has changed since the 70’s, which is so nice. in regards to the cancelled Reflections next door; I think that whoever gave their approval to build this resort should have their name put on a company-wide blacklist, preventing them from being a part of any decision making at any existing or proposed resort (I’m assuming they were already a part of the new Polynesian mistake).
we love Fort Wilderness. We have stopped off in Orlando simply to stay there, without even going to the parks. we bought our first camper back in 2009 for our Autistic daughter to be able to travel easier. Fort Wilderness was one of the first campgrounds we went to and we have been going ever since. it is so peaceful and you never know what wild animals you may cross paths with. I hope they never change it.
Wonderful overview of your personal experience! We also miss Discovery Island and hope Reflections really is off the table forever. These days we use Kissimmee Orlando RV fir our RV and golf cart rental and have been pleased with the service, quality, and cleanliness.
We stay at the Fort every year. We haul our fifth wheel camper down for two weeks with the grandkids. I have stayed at other resorts but the Fort is by far our families favorite. We almost always go in November so decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do. My grandkids help me set up our display each year and we almost always get lots of compliments, plus the grandkids can find the way back to the camper! Our fur baby loves going to Disney and he loves going for walks at the Fort. It’s a wonderful place to stay.
We camp all over the country including Fort Wilderness. I agree it is a special place, although it has lost its appeal since our first visit in 2010. One correction to your article there are not bathhouses (comfort stations as Disney calls them) in every loop. However we have never had an experience where they are a long distance away.
We stayed in a cabin with our dog for our last two vacations. (2021, 2022) We loved it! We were in the same cabin both years which made it feel like home. Having a full kitchen in the cabin and plenty of space was great! We loved the friendly community feel and all the recreation options. Driving our golf cart around the grounds was a fun adventure and we did think the resort specific merchandise at the two gift shops was lots of fun! True, it’s not as fancy as some of the other resorts so it’s important to research before you go to make sure it’s right for you. It’s a very large resort and the boats and bus stop to MK are at one side of the resort and the bus stop to the other three parks at the other so it pays to study the map and internal bus system before you go. We are looking forward to our next visit!
Tom – do you need to be a resort guest to attend the sing-a-longs? How would I get more info as to times and days of the week? I have be a long time follower of your blog and have always found it so helpful. Thanks!
Debbie R
the sing-a-long is every night weather permitting. It is followed by a movie. the movie starts at 8pm. I can’t exactly remember the time they light the campfires. I want to say it is about 7pm. oh, you can roast marshmallows on the fires the food truck offers a kit you can buy or you can bring your own. I hope this helps.
We’re also big fans of Fort Wilderness. I’m hesitant to add more praise because getting a site is already difficult enough. When we leave, we’re already anticipating our next trip! We’ve been going to WDW since our honeymoon in 1978, staying at many of their hotels over the years with our daughters (did the cabins twice back when the swimming area at the lake was roped off and you could visit Discovery Island). After retiring from our teaching careers, we bought an RV and FW is our favorite campground. We can bring our fur baby, sleep in our own bed, cook out, and truly unwind from the parks. Our granddaughters love it so much that they want extra days on the trips with us just to enjoy all the activities there. We buy glow necklaces for them to give away at the Settlement playground a few nights. Christmas is amazing with everyone’s sites decorated and lit up (us included!). We’ve met so many nice people who are like your neighbors while you’re there. We can’t imagine staying in a hotel room now!
PS Another fun activity is to join the FW Scavenger Hunt group on FB – campers hide all kinds of prizes around the property and post hints! It’s an off-shoot of Walt’s Fort Wilderness Campers.
November 1979 my husband and I spent 2 weeks in Fort Wilderness for our honeymoon, in a tent, and we had the best time ever! After we had our 4 children, the first time we took them there they were 3, 5, 7 and 8 and we all had so much fun! That was the summer of 1989. We live in NJ, and every time we went on vacation, that was where we went. We loved River Country and would always splurge and spend one day there every time. We would rent a go cart one of the days and just ride around on that, too. They also had the island with the birds on it, I think it was called Discovery Island. For us, there was no other place that we would rather go to for our vacations, and we never even went camping for a weekend or anything here in NJ because for us, camping meant Fort Wilderness. We even made an adventure out of doing our laundry at the “laundromat”, lol. As a matter of fact, one of my very best memories was the time we spent doing a ton of laundry one night! As the kids got older and grew, we graduated to using 3 separate tents, but I’ll tell ya. We never grew tired of going there. We enjoyed each time just as much as the time before. Now our kids are grown and 3 of them have a bunch of kids of their own, and it’s been many, many years since we’ve stayed there. My husband and I had to move on to staying at the different resort hotels (which is fine and are still filled with the magic of Disney) and every so often we do go over to Fort Wilderness to reminisce, but it just isn’t the same anymore. I’m so glad they finally brought back Chip ‘n Dale! Now if they could bring back River Country, that would be AMAZING!
I just read what you wrote. I am also from NJ! Small world( no pun intended). I had gotten engaged on 5/27/2000 in front of the Castle. He had kept it a secret and, asked a woman to film it. I remember being so embarrassed because of all of the attention. It was a great memory. He was 24 and I was 33. When we broke up 5 years later, he destroyed the tape. I was angry because there were so many other things on that tape that I would’ve liked to keep. Thank you for letting me take a walk down memory lane. BTW, I had spent New Year’s Eve with a friend. On our very last night and last bus from Pleasure Island( wow! So long ago) we just happened to meet these 5 guys. They were from Livingston NJ. We struck up a conversation and that was that. Great memories.
Hi Trish. Wow, I’m so sorry that happened to you.
While we were on our honeymoon we were in one of the stores on Main Street in MK and my husband just happened to look out into the street. All of a sudden he spotted on of his teachers from high school! So of course he wanted to rush out and catch up to the guy to say hi to him. Like you said, “it’s a small world.”
I hope life has been good to you since then
Thank you so much for hoping my life turned out for the better! It was a wonderful time, at the time. Although he was extremely sweet to ask me in front of the Castle, being as young as he was. He had some ” experiences that I over looked”. I thought that it was something that his generation was into. I was not alright with. It took some time, but, life really does go on. My Husband Louis is all man. Thank you again for checking on me. You are very sweet. Maybe we will run into eachother!
My girlfriends and I used to go 3 times a year. We loved the cabins and loved walking around after 3am! I would go rent a fishing pole and sit on one of the rocking chairs. Us young ladies did this for years. It saved us money and gave us so many wonderful memories! Nobody who drove the internal buses will ever forget the girls from 2222!
I loved the atmosphere of Fort Wilderness, and for the most part we loved it. The only downside to it was that both my parents needed mobility aids, which made it difficult to navigate, and made traveling to the parks take almost two hours with waiting for the internal busses, because we couldn’t just hop on a golf cart. The cabins were very comfortable, and my
daughter still keeps talking about our cabinet!
Bring back the Musket Mickey! Also, I wish they had some Fess Parker/Davy Crockett merchandise.
With that said, I still love the FW merchandise, and I hope to venture over there in Christmastime 2022 to purchase a bunch if the selection is similar to Christmastime 2021.
I stopped by Trail End for the breakfast buffet a couple of weeks ago on a beautiful morning around 9:00 and it was gone! The buffet tables were missing, so it looked like a permanent thing (?) There were 4 or 5 people in the restaurant picking up bags of food all nicely stapled shut & going elsewhere to eat – presumably mobile orders. It was so sad…and creepy.
When I asked a cast member about it’s status, I got the most vague answer possible & I just kind of shuffled out the door, dejected. Anyone know about this? Between the missing buffet and no more boats to & from Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary, the whole place had a ghost town, abandoned feel. I hate to write such a negative experience on this post, but I’m hoping it was just a one-time thing.
Hi Joe … Trails End is no longer a buffet – it is served family style, and is still all you can eat. It’s been that way since it reopened after the pandemic closures. You might have been there on a Tuesday or Wednesday – it is closed on those days. P&Js is open for take out only, and in the evenings, the food truck round up is there when Trails End is closed. Maybe you were there super early, but the Settlement area has been very lively and active anytime we’ve been theree.
The boats do only run back and forth to Magic Kingdom now, but there is a bus that goes to Wilderness Lodge from the Settlement bus stop. As with so many other things that Disney has not brought back, it is due to staffing shortages.
The boat captains are wonderful, and several told us, **wink, wink** to always ask them the fastest way to get to the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge. If it’s a slow time of day, they said it’s easy for them to drop you directly. We tried this out and got a dedicated ride from the Wilderness Lodge to FW right after eating at the Whispering Canyon Cafe.
We absolutely adore Fort Wilderness. We bought an RV in the summer of 2020 as that would make travel so much easier in a pandemic, and we are hooked on the RV travel life! The Fort is our favorite place to go, and even though I am grumpy about almost everything else with Disney, I just can’t stay away from the Fort! We’ve been 8 times in the last two years, and have two more trips booked … so far.
This is a great article, the only thing not mentioned is how huge the resort is, and planning for getting around it is essential. There are internal buses that run between the front and back of the resort with stops along the way, but this can be slow and you’re stuck with their routes and schedule. The Fort also offers golf cart rentals, right now at about $67 a day, which makes getting around super easy, but can really hike the price of a stay. There are other golf cart vendors in the area, many of which are much lower in cost. However, Disney does not allow them to deliver to the Fort, so one has to go out with a vehicle capable of towing a small trailer and bring it in, then return the trailer. Some will allow you to drive their truck and trailer, but you still have to go get it. Kind of a hassle, but worth it to save a pretty big chunk of money.
We did the math, and considering our frequent visits, we found it was more cost effective to buy two e-bikes than to rent a golf cart each visit. We absolutely love our bikes, and make cruising around the Fort part of the fun in our stay. During holidays, people decorate their sites with inflatables, lights and other cool stuff, and it’s fun to ride around looking at it all.
Hi Tom and Sarah – Our first trip to Fort Wilderness was in 1974. The wilderness railroad at that time was free, I rember our son riding the train by himself (he was 4) around the campground. When we went back in 1976, the railroad cost
50 cents to ride, and in 1976 it was gone. I still have all of the handouts that we received when we would check
in at the main gate. Fort Wilderness has changed a lot since we first stayed there in our pop up. We are now
DVC members in our 70’s and stay at Bay Lake Tower. Enjoy our articles immensely.
Tom, you’re article on Ft. Wilderness hit home on so many levels! We’ve only stayed there once…but dream of going back with others. As a couple in their 50’s, I do all the WDW planning. My girl isn’t a huge fans of the parks due to crowds so one trip about 5 years ago, while planning, I googled “things to do in WDW besides the parks.”
I also researched renting a camper as we would be flying in from New Jersey. I found a company on-line and couldn’t have been more happy. They provided a fire ring, bicycles, firewood, tablecloth and candle for the picnic table and lights to decorate the trailer. We went to the parks 2 out of 7 days that trip. The rest of the time was mostly spent in Ft. Wilderness. It never rained that whole week and we spent so much time riding bikes, canoeing, walking, swimming and I introduced my girl to the Electric Water Parade on the beach. We saw the Hoop-De-Doo, at Trails End and said ‘Hi’ to countless others enjoying that park! We can’t wait to return!
Thanks for sharing your experience–Fort Wilderness really is a special place!
If you don’t mind, please share the company–that could be a helpful resource for others and I don’t have any expertise (yet) as to which of those options are best.
Tom,
The company I used was Greenbergrvflorida.com. I just checked and now it looks like it takes you to rvshare.com. It looks like things have changed somewhat re these companies since our trip in 2014
Jack
Hey Tom … one camper rental company that is really good is Camper Rental Adventures – https://www.facebook.com/camperrentaladventures They have great packages that can even include a golf cart, and they have Disney themed campers too.