Disney’s Fort Wilderness: Luxury Under the Stars!
Ah, the great outdoors! Rustling pines, twinkling stars, chirping crickets, and high speed internet.
Well, that’s how Disney does the great outdoors, anyway – and we think they’ve got it right! At Fort Wilderness, you can experience nature with your favorite indoor amenities, and of course, that signature Disney magic!
The Fort Wilderness camping (or should we say “glamping?”) experience is the most unique way to immerse yourself in the world of Disney. Pitch a tent, park your RV, or rent a cabin, then look up at the night sky and wish upon a star.
Fort Wilderness. . .Resort?
Staying at Fort Wilderness means camping in a forest nestled between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, but the accommodation is still considered a resort. Why? Well, there are two pretty good reasons. . .
While you might not have a memory foam mattress in your tent, the Fort Wilderness campgrounds still provide key tokens of luxury like complimentary Wi-Fi, transportation, laundry rooms, showers, pools, dining, and specialty recreation activities. Oh, and it’s pet-friendly! Really, at this point, the nice scenery is just a bonus.
Fort Wilderness is also considered a resort because you get the same perks as a Disney Resort Hotel guest. Perks include advanced dining reservations, discounted MagicBands (bracelets that act as your room key and entry to the parks), free transportation around the parks and to airports, and – coming this October – resort guests will also be treated to early theme park entry, getting a 30-minute head start in any park, every day of their stay!1
Because camping at the Fort is cheaper than hotel rates, it’s a great way to save some money without giving up those awesome perks. Fort Wilderness for the win!
Cozy Cabin in the Woods
There are several types of campsites to choose from, each varying in size to accommodate different kinds of campers, RVs, and tents. All sites are surrounded by beautiful scenery that offers privacy from fellow campers, and each one comes equipped with a charcoal grill, picnic table, cold water tap, and electrical hook-ups. Everything you need to survive outside in the 21st century!
If you aren’t a camping guru but still think Fort Wilderness sounds fun, Disney has you covered with their adorable cabins!
Each cabin is fully furnished in a cozy, rustic style, yet is spacious enough to comfortably sleeps six adults. With a full kitchen, full bath, living room, bedroom, and private patio, it’s truly a home away from home – except better: Housekeeping will do your dishes for you!! (Thanks, Lumiere and Cogsworth!) You can even order groceries and have the pantry stocked up before you arrive. Talk about living in the lap of luxury!
And any hotel worth its snuff has a swimming pool, right? Well, Fort Wilderness has two. Whether you’re in a cabin or a tent, you’re welcome to come make a splash!
The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool features a waterslide (Yipee!) and whirlpool spa. There’s also a play area for the kiddos with tot-sized slides.
Want some peace and quiet? Slip into the serene waters of the Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool. Also featuring a bubbling, therapeutic whirlpool spa, this area is geared toward the adults who just need to get away.
Sounds awesome, right? It’s why reservations for both cabins and campsites fill up so quickly. Protip: book your trip well in advance if at all possible!
Rustle Up Some Grub
While you can order fresh groceries at the cabins and have a frankfurter roast in front of your tent. . .sometimes food just tastes better when its been made for you. Thankfully there are some great dining options at Fort Wilderness! (And we’re not talking about foraging for mushrooms and berries.)
There are several restaurants where you can grab some good old-fashioned chuck wagon grub.
- P&J’s Southern Takeout. P&J’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Breakfast offerings include breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, muffins, oatmeal, and my personal favorite – cinnamon rolls. For lunch you can grab a slice of pizza, some BBQ, or a light salad. When dinner rolls around, P&J offers up their famous fried chicken dinner. Don’t forget chocolate cake for dessert! (Note: P&J’s also has a kids’ menu!)
- Meadow Snack Bar. Grab some light snacks in the great outdoors or go picnicking with a pulled pork sandwich, chips, and Mickey ice cream bar! Options for kiddos (like PB&J) are also served here.
- Crockett’s Tavern. Swing by the walk-up window or head into the bar to get some draft beer or a glass of wine. Oh, and definitely load up on those nachos and wings!
- The Chuck Wagon. The most popular classics are here: hotdogs, chili cheese dogs, chicken nuggets, and even corn dog nuggets. Yipee-tie-yay!
- Trail’s End Restaurant. Despite it’s name, Trail’s End is actually great place to begin your day! They serve a hearty breakfast skillet of brisket and eggs, crispy bacon, sausage, cheesy potato casserole, and Mickey waffles! (We all know Mickey waffles magically taste better than regular shaped waffles.) You can also get an oven-fresh pastry basket of warm sticky buns and mini-muffins. Mmm!
Of course, Trail’s End also lives up to its name as the perfect place to wind down your day, too. If you indulge in dinner here, be sure to save room! They have hushpuppies and cornbread, pecan-smoked brisket, rotisserie chicken andouille, and buttery-good corn on the cob. There’s also fresh salads full of mixed greens, chopped veggies, and cornbread croutons, all drizzled in mouth-watering bacon vinaigrette. That’s right – bacon-flavored salad. (It’s the best way to eat leaves.)
For dessert try the Covered Wagon Sundae – a generous helping of ice cream topped with brownies, cookies, and chocolate covered bacon. Need I say more?
(Note: Trail’s End has some great allergy-friendly options if you or someone in your family has a food allergy!)
- Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Unfortunately, this awesome dinner show is temporarily unavailable, but in the hopes it will be back really soon, we still want you to know about it! The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has been delighting Disney-goers for generations and is Fort Wilderness’ famous countrified dinner show. Watch the Pioneer Hall Players sing and dance in comedic, Wild West style while you chow down on all-you-can-eat fried chicken, BBQ pork ribs, baked beans, corn bread, and strawberry shortcake. When it comes to entertainment, dinner shows are definitely the way to go!
Sing-a-Long at Sundown (& Other Fun Things)
While you’ll likely be spending most of your day exploring the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT, there are also some fun activities right here at Fort Wilderness!
There are your typical camping activities like kayaking, trail exploring, and fishing, but as we know, Disney doesn’t do “typical” – they do magical.
So, of course, horseback riding has been wonderfully added to the mix of outdoor pastimes! Stroll on over to Tri-Circle-D Ranch to meet Cinderella‘s too-cute ponies and the noble steeds of Main Street U.S.A. The beautiful breeds here include Clydesdales, Appaloosas, Belgians, quarter horses, Shetland ponies, and more! And these sweet horses aren’t just for looks – saddle up and explore the trails with your new equine friend on a fun, 45-minute ride. There are even pony rides for the kiddos!
Wagon rides and carriage rides are also a staple of staying at Fort Wilderness. Wagon rides last 25 minutes and can hold a whole passel of people – up to 35 guests! It’s a great way to relax in the evening as the wagons travel along scenic trails at dusk. Carriage rides are a little more private, fitting up to 4 adults for a jaunt through the forest. Although temporarily unavailable, we can’t wait for these rides to giddy up again!
Of course, camping is about wild animals, so you might just see some chipmunks around the campfire – Chip ‘n’ Dale chipmunks, that is! These sweet-cheeked friends will join you and your family as you roast marshmallows over a crackling Fort Wilderness fire. Sing along to some campfire songs as the stars come out to play!
Once night has completely taken over the sky, share one last s’more with Chip ‘n’ Dale before heading over to the Seven Seas Lagoon. Here you’ll witness a cavalcade like no other – sparkling creatures parade across the shimmering waters of the lagoon every night in an Electric Water Pageant! It feels like Christmas every night at Fort Wilderness! Led by a bright, green sea dragon, each whimsically glowing creature is sure to bring a twinkle to your eye. (I especially love the turtle – he looks so happy!)
The Nitty Not-Too-Gritty
We definitely think Fort Wilderness is an awesome Disney lodging option – especially for Wilderness Explorers like Russell from Up! But even when you’re “glamping,” there are a few things you might want to keep in mind.
Because you’re in the great, big, beautiful outdoors, you’ll be exposed to the weather. Make sure you’re ready for some Florida rain, heat, or even chilly temperatures if you camp during winter. Electric heaters and small fans can make the difference between “glamp” and “camp.” And we all want to “glamp,” right?? (That’s what the animals do on my Disney-themed Animal Crossing island, LOL!)
Because the Fort is in the (relative) wilderness, there are indeed some non-domesticated critters about. Make sure your snacks are secure and your tent flap is closed – hungry opossums aren’t quite as cute as Mickey Mouse!
Still, we think the natural setting is part of what makes Fort Wilderness so magical. Every morning you can wake up to birdsong and watch fuzzy squirrels run and play. Armadillos amble along every once in a while, as do deer, ducks, and bunnies. It’s Animal Kingdom at your fingertips! And nothing is better than that.
“Glamping” at Fort Wilderness is definitely the most unique way to experience Disney – and it’s utterly magical. From the natural beauty to the Mickey waffles and glittering water pageant, this lodging experience will be as memorable as the Magic Kingdom itself.
Let’s gather round the campfire, and sing our campfire song,
Our C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G song. . .
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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