New 2021 Fort Wilderness Discount
Walt Disney World has released a new discount for Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that ends just before the holiday weekend of Memorial Day 2021. In this post, we’ll share details, some of our photos from the campsites, historical comparisons, and why Disney might have reason to incentivize stays at Fort Wilderness right now.
With Walt Disney World’s “Stay Under the Stars, in the Magic!” promotion, guests can save 20% on fully-equipped campsites most nights and weekends from April 11, 2021 through May 27, 2021 when booked by May 27, 2021. Campsite types eligible for this offer can accommodate everything from traditional tents to luxury RVs.
“Discover fantastic pool areas, charming woodland trails and rip-roarin’ entertainment–all in the magic of the great outdoors–and you can enjoy a variety of Guest benefits designed to make your Disney vacation as easy and convenient as possible, including complimentary transportation around Walt Disney World Resort.”
Here are more official details and fine print: The number of campsites allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same campsite. Length of stay requirements may apply, and advance reservations are required.
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are not included in this offer. This deal cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion, which means no the “two free days” ticket deal if you book this. That special offer is valid now through September 25, 2021.
It’s also worth nothing that’s also currently a room-only discount offering the general public up to 30% resort stays. That deal excluded campsites but offered 20% off the Cabins at Fort Wilderness (and runs through July 10, 2021), so there actually is a similar deal for the cabins–and one that lasts longer.
For some historical context, last year Walt Disney World released a very similar offer on March 6. That was also a 20% discount on stays at the Campsites most Sunday through Thursday nights from March 29 through May 21. It had to be booked by May 21.
We never saw those travel dates arrive at Walt Disney World, as the parks closed 10 days after the discount dropped and didn’t reopen until after the deal had ended. This ended up being the last special offer prior to the closure, with nothing at all released until July and no general public offers until September.
Coincidentally, tent camping at Fort Wilderness was our last resort stay at Walt Disney World prior to the closure. It was fairly uneventful, so I’m not going to rehash it here. Read Our Fort Wilderness Camping Experience if you’re on the fence about booking a stay at the Fort Wilderness Campsites.
I will say that we are huge fans of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Just about everything about it is great, from the old school Vacation Kingdom vibes to the tranquility so far removed from theme parks that it’s hard to believe Magic Kingdom is only a short boat ride away to the glorious & great value feasts. About the only thing we don’t love about Fort Wilderness is the normal pricing.
Prior to consulting my records and discovering that a similar Fort Wilderness Campsites deal was released around this time last year, my instant gut reaction was that this discount was dropped due to the lack of on-site perks at Walt Disney World right now. While that’s obviously wrong, it does have me curious what the true impact of “burner campsites” is on overall bookings at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
For those unfamiliar with the burner campsite phenomenon, it’s a pretty common practice in some Walt Disney World fan circles to book a throwaway room for one night to take advantage of the perks associated with it. Namely, MagicBands, plus the priority FastPass+ and Advance Dining Reservation booking windows. It has also been used strategically by some to get Extra Magic Hours and free parking for two days, purchase the Disney Dining Plan for the same amount of time, and acquire reusable mugs.
This has been a pronounced issue in the last several years that the Fort Wilderness Campsites. It’s so bad that there are times of the year when campsites sell out faster than any other rooms on property. There are a few reasons for that: Fort Wilderness Campsites are the least expensive on-site “resort” reservation, each campsite accommodates many more guests than standard rooms (making it great for large parties staying in off-site vacation home rentals), and there’s no separate parking fee.
Regular readers of this blog might be totally unfamiliar with this problem and we sort of apologize for not covering it in the past. Okay, not really. As an avid camper and budget conscious consumer, this practice really grinds my gears. Even if I went on a lengthy diatribe about how bad of a practice booking a burner campsite is and offered choice words for those who exploit the loophole, it would invariably have negative ramifications, giving more people bad ideas. Many of you spite-readers already do the opposite of our advice, anyway! 😉
However, I have no problem mentioning it now, given that MagicBands are no longer complimentary with resort reservations, Extra Magic Hours are a thing of the past, FastPass+ is temporarily (?) suspended, and so on. The days of burner campsites being a widespread issue that shuts legit guests out are probably a thing of the past. (However, if all or most of those perks return, you better believe I’ll be scrubbing the preceding paragraphs from the internet in solidarity with the “Fort Fiends” out there.)
The point is that the degree of discounting we see for the Fort Wilderness Campsites going forward should provide insight into whether the burner campsite phenomenon was a significant issue, or something that was overblown online. Honestly, I’m not really sure. My guess is that it played some role in causing campsite prices to soar into obscene territory, and I hope that prices now trend back in the other direction. Knowing how Walt Disney World operates, I’m not holding my breath on that happening. Nevertheless, it is good to see both availability and deals for the Fort Wilderness Campsites!
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
What do you think of this Fort Wilderness Campsite deal for Spring 2021? Will you be booking? Thoughts on the “burner campsite” phenomenon? Have you camped at Fort Wilderness? What did you think of the experience? Anything else to add that we didn’t cover? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts/review? 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!
Why can’t I find availability for a campsite in SEPTEMBER???
Not sure. I see all kinds of availability, even including Labor Day.
What dates and site type are you looking for?
I had never heard of the burner site issue, but it does explain so much. I always felt like it had to be the most cram-packed RV park in the world because it seemed like everything was always booked up. We save and scrimped and camped in our travel trailer in 2015 and had reservations for the end of May and the beginning of June 202o, but alas, that was not to be.
With all the crazy work and school schedules, we have not been able to reschedule. We love it, but it is very expensive. With the number of perks being reduced, I might rethink staying here.
I have been waiting years for the day I can drive my RV to Florida and spend a couple weeks at Fort Wilderness to celebrate my retirement. I recently started pricing my first trip out for next March. I was blown away by the quotes that placed my campsite in the range of room rates at value resorts and far exceeded the cost of getting a room at Shades of Green (I’m an eligible Veteran). I have dreamed for staying at Fort Wilderness for 2 decades but not sure it can be justified if I can get other onsite accommodations for the same or less than a humble campsite. I can easily camp within 6 miles of WDW offsite for less than half the rate at Ft. Wilderness but I think I would still be dreaming of the Fort.
March – because it is spring break month – will have close to the highest rates all year – avg $196/night for a full hook up site . If you delay by a couple months, and come in May or June, it will be far more affordable at around $138/night – . Wait until September and it’s even less – $110/night. And as we see here, they are offering some discounts – we got one last November, and were able to see many of the holiday decorations and entertainment, and enjoyed mild weather and low crowds.
It IS very worth it! And when you can save tons by cooking your own food instead of paying the scandalous Disney restaurant prices, it’s even more worth it, plus you have your very own home away from home, rather than an impersonal hotel room where millions of other people have slept. When I stay in a hotel, I’m done in a week, and can’t wait to get back home. When we camp at Disney, I never want to leave!
Going back to the Fort since 2013 for the 50th Anniversary and my 58 birthday
We are tent camping at the Fort for our first time right now! It is great!! Prices are really bizarre though. I guess because it is Florida spring break, we paid $160ish before tax per night for the camp ground I’m a little ashamed to admit the price I paid, but we are having fun and our 3 kids are loving it. We have stayed in value resorts for less that But I’m glad my kids are getting a taste and loving the old school vibe here too
We stayed at the Fort last November with a discount! It was only for the first three weeks of the month, and was only 15%, but it was a pretty good savings in an already low rate time period. So good, we extended our stay from 12 to 22 nights!
Now I want to go back in May!
Hi Tom, thanks for the information about the new 20% discount offer at Ft. Wilderness. Unfortunately it’s only for tents and pop up trailers.
That is not correct. I have a Preferred RV hook up spot and I just called and they applied the discount to my reservation. Loved that they honor the promos on previously booked reservations!
I’m about to book a Full Hook Up site, as soon as my travel agent responds to my message! I see that all sites are available for the dates I am looking at!
If I’ve already booked a site for those dates, will they apply the discount if I give them a call?
I called and they had no problem applying it to our previously booked reservation. Love that!
Tom, I admire all your Disney photographs. But the shot of Fantasyland and castle in this post is truly outstanding — best ever. Thanks.
Exactly what I was thinking! I was getting mad about the “Fort Fiends” and suddenly “Wow, that’s beautiful!”
Thanks for the kind words about the photo.
Just to clarify, the Fort Fiends are the good guys (and gals). They’re a group of Fort Wilderness fans–definitely not the ones booking campsites and then not using them.
This is the best place to stay at Magic Kingdom in our families opinion. Everything you need is right here and it’s great to stay in the open air. We rented a canoe and went for a little tour around and saw a couple of alligators on the route on one of our visits – that was many years ago. Hope they can stop this “burner” issue.
We used RV Share dot com to stay at FW. We found a camper to rent (much like AirBnB) that would fit the site we had rented and it was delivered and set up at check-in time. At the end of our stay, they came and picked it up and took it away. We didn’t have to worry about dumping holding tanks or anything else. We took Magical Express and had a great split stay during the Christmas holidays when you can enjoy all the decorated campsites at the Fort. We even packed a couple of small Disney inflatables, some Christmas lights, and a 2 foot tree and decorations for the little camper. (Thanks for the baggage allowance, Southwest Airlines…)
Thanks for sharing your experience!
One more thought – we’ve seen many sites that were obviously “ghost campers” (never see a person, vehicle, outdoor chairs or grill, etc. just a tiny little tent set up) and wish Disney could figure out a way to address the problem. FW is getting more difficult to book due to increased RV sales, and the practice is so unfair (and incredibly selfish) for a family who really wants to camp there and can’t get a site! Also in reference to the wildlife question, we’ve seen lots of turkeys, armadillos, deer, squirrels, rabbits, hawks, and heard a bobcat late one evening while walking to the Settlement Trading Post. The CM working there said she’d heard it a few times (scared the wits out of me even though it could have been on the other side of the lake!). My husband likes to fish in the back canal behind the 300 loop, always on lookout for gators even with the rope fence everywhere.
One of our friends (in Central Florida) had a bobcat in their backyard the other day. Seeing one at Fort Wilderness would be awesome!
I camp every other weekend in the spring/summer and the practice happens in every State Park I’ve been to, someone comes in sets up a chair and pays he fees but does not use the site.
I belong to a Facebook group called “Walt’s Fort Wilderness Campers” whose members can answer any question about FW campsites, cabins, amenities, food, transportation, etc. (has a file section for reference). That group recommends Camper Rental Adventures and their customers leave glowing reviews. I believe she’ll rent or include a golf cart and approved firepit, if you want those. Another resource is WildernessPrincess.net – she describes each loop, site, and has a photo of each. We absolutely love FW (in our fifth wheel) because we can bring our fur baby and do our own cooking or pack a picnic lunch to take to the parks. The whole place just seems so removed from the hustle-bustle of the hotels (most of which we’d stayed in previously) and the parks. The site rental is getting very pricey, however for a slab of concrete, no housekeeping (well they do empty the trash and clean the comfort stations), no linens to collect and wash – especially around holidays. This morning we were fortunate to book a few days in April with the 20% discount. ….just wish it were available for our longer trip in June with the grandkids!
We love the Fort, but we decided to stay at Pop Century in a couple weeks because it was actually cheaper than camping! Plus we won’t have to haul our camper down from Ohio and de-winterize/winterize again. We plan to take your advice, though, and ferry there from MK to get a mobile order just so we can enjoy an afternoon of peace and tranquility. It really is a special place.
We used to love camping but haven’t done it in over two decades. How awful would tent camping be last week of August to July 4th? I know Disney keeps the mosquitoes away from the Parks and the other resorts but how about the campsite? Also how are the waits for the showers?
Tom you stated you’re not a camping authority but any suggestions of type of tent and equipment needed here for two fairly healthy SR citizens?
“How awful would tent camping be last week of August to July 4th?”
Pretty awful, in my opinion. I personally would not do it. Not sure I could sleep in that heat and humidity.
Sorry, no good tent recommendations from me, either. All of my gear is lightweight to an unnecessary degree for general purposes. I would recommend a cleaner and simpler design. None of those colossal cabins go up as easy as the manufacturers claim.
We use canvas tents to sleep in for 2 weeks every year in august in the heat and humidity. Being in canvas tents makes it much more comfortable and i actual have room for a 4 poster queen size bed, dressing table, and dining table for 4 inside my tent.
It’s killing me – every Tuesday they DON’T drop a summer discount for my August trip. Which is a split stay including camping in our trailer.
C’mon Disney, give me something!
Also, a note, there is a separate parking fee if you rent a cabin the same as if you rent a resort hotel room.
There is no parking fee for people with their own trailers.
The parking fee at the cabins was a real slap in the face, especially because each cabin has its own private parking space. I was so angry when they tacked that on the first time we stayed there.
Question about camping at Ft Wilderness Campgrounds – is there ever any threat from wildlife that make soft-side tent camping nerve wracking? My guess is no but curious if a random gator or bobcat might wander in to a campsite. And is it best to store food items in your car? Again my guess would be yes, just to keep the squirrels out. There don’t look to be any kind of food storage boxes alongside the campsite, correct?
I’ve never seen anything other than squirrels, snakes, peacocks, ducks, deer and armadillos at the Fort. I think as long as you pack your food in your car or solid locking(like rubbermaid) containers your should be fine.
Fort Wilderness is our favorite resort.
Let it be known that there are some great companies that will rent you a travel trailer and come in and set it up at your site in Fort Wilderness and remove it when you check out. Many of these companies also include or at least offer a golf cart rental for a price.
Usually this is cheaper than renting one of Disney’s Cabins and it also can give you some flexibility as the companies have different size trailers you can choose and you also are not limited to cabin loops in the Fort.
Feel free to share the names of the companies you’ve used and recommend!
Thanks for this info Fred. Think I will research more. If you have any specific companies you would like to mention that would be appreciated.
Tom, very interesting read esp. the burn issue. I never heard of that before. Amazing picture of the sword in the foreground of the castle. Maybe add that to your zoom background collection? Thanks as always for your continued updates and reports.
Yes, Fred, please.