acampinglife - Tumblr blog

[acampinglife]

RV Camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

If you’re like me, you hear the word “Disney” and you automatically get filled with a sense of excitement and magic! I mean they pay attention to every tiny detail and always manage to create a sense of adventure and wonderment. So, of course, Disney’s Fort Wilderness is no exception.  After having spent some time there myself, I can say that it is definitely worth the trip. 

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opened in November 1971. The resort has campsites and air-conditioned Wilderness Cabins situated on 750 acres of lush forest of pine and cypress trees. You will most likely see plenty of wildlife such as rabbits, deer, armadillos, ducks, geese, and peacocks roaming the grounds.

The campground has private sites and features all the amenities of other campgrounds, with quite a few Disney extras.  It includes two heated pools that are open 24 hours a day, rental cabins, several restaurants and stores, a marina, playgrounds, tennis courts, horse and pony rides, a petting zoo, fishing, bike rentals, private carriage rides, and so much more.

To get you started, here are some tips to make sure you have a memorable stay at Fort Wilderness.

Be ready for the changing weather in Florida:

Since the campground is in Florida, it’s something the whole family can enjoy year-round. That being said, Florida’s weather can go from hot and humid to stormy—all in one day. Be ready for any type of weather by bringing shelter with bug netting (if you plan to eat outside), awning, and tarps for sudden downpours, and plenty of sunscreen. 

Have a pet? Bring them along!:

Fort Wilderness is very pet-friendly and has a leash-free dog park. If you need to board your pet, the Best Friends Pet Care facility will take care of them while you visit the theme parks. For more information on pet policy, check it out here.

Rates and Sites:

First of all, to enjoy this fabulous adventure...you need an RV! We can help you with that part. We have many different RVs for you to choose from to fit your needs. All of them offer a luxurious camping experience;  www.camperfunpass.com is where you start.  Fort Wilderness has campsites for all sizes of RVs. Keep in mind, even with all those campsites, there are no pull-thru spots. So if you have a larger camper or trailer, you will need to back in. 

The campground’s premium campsites are currently around $121 per night, versus a tent or pop-up camper site for around $78 per night. If you’re an annual passholder, you are eligible for significant discounts throughout the year. Availability varies and many times rates aren’t announced until three or four months in advance so keep an eye out.

Most sites are fairly secluded from one another by bushes and trees between sites. The campsites range in length from 25 to 60 feet.  Each site is about 25 feet wide and comes with a picnic table and charcoal grill.

All sites have electricity (20/30/50 amps) and city water. There are certain full hookup sites that also provide sewer. There are also partial hookup sites, primarily used by tent campers and those with tent trailers. When 

booking be sure to specify the RV’s length, if it has slide outs or awnings, and any other details about its size when making a reservation so the right sized campsite is assigned to you.

Things to bring:

Flashlight or lantern

Insect repellent

Charcoal and matches

Extension cord, rope or clothesline cord

Toolbox

Fire extinguisher

Hatchet/ax

Broom and dustpan

Trash bags

Outdoor rug

Water pressure regulator

Drinking water hose, gray water hose and holding container

Wheel chocks, leveling blocks

Roll of quarters for laundry, laundry detergent

And, of course, the keys!

Comfort Stations and Laundry Facilities:

There are a number of comfort stations located through the campground. The comfort stations are all air-conditioned and include private showers, restrooms, laundry rooms, phones, and ice machines. They are open 24 hours a day, with the exception of the laundry. The washers and dryers each cost $3. Vending machines for single-load laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach cost about $1. 

Getting around Fort Wilderness:

Unless you plan on walking endlessly all day to get to where you want to go in the campground, I highly recommend a golf cart, which we also rent out for your convenience. In case you forgot it’s...www.camperfunpass.com. Just a reminder, the campground is about 750 acres!

There are internal buses running within the campground to get you to the marina, the Trading Posts, pools, etc., but bus waits can be up to 20 minutes.

You gotta eat!:

Dining includes restaurants, dinner shows, and snack bars – all serving American food. Restaurant meals range from under $15 to $60 per person, based on the average Guest check, not including alcohol, tax and tip.

Crockett’s Tavern offers beverages and snacks such as pizza, quesadillas, etc.

Trail’s End Restaurant provides an all you can eat buffet for breakfast and dinner, a menu for lunch.

P and J’s Southern Take Out – carry-out items all day.

Chuck Wagon offers burgers, sandwiches, and salads to go.

Meadow Snack Bar offers salads, sandwiches, light snacks, and frozen treats to go.

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue an all-you-can-eat dinner show.

You won’t be bored with many more activities:

Tennis: Two lighted tennis courts with complimentary equipment available for resort guests at the Bike Barn, if you don’t want to bring your own. 

Archery Experience: Whether newbie or expert, an archery guide at the Bike Barn offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye!

Specialty Cruises: cruise around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon with the option of ending with a view of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks.

Tri-Circle-D Ranch – offers guided trail rides on horseback. There’s also pony rides for children at least 2 years old, weighing no more than 80 pounds and no taller than 48 inches. They must be able to hold on by themselves. 

Playgrounds -- Let the kiddos burn off some steam at outdoor activity areas located at Pioneer Hall, the Meadow Recreation area, Creekside Meadow and the Marina/Beach area.

Nightly Wagon Rides at Pioneer Hall. You can also book private carriage rides.

Bicycle, kayak, and canoe rentals.

Fishing in canals (free) or chartered largemouth bass fishing excursions on Bay Lake, which include a professional guide, refreshments (soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate & water), fishing gear and bait.

Horseshoes and shuffleboard, basketball and tetherball courts

Arcades – Davy Crockett Arcade at Pioneer Hall (near Settlement Depot) and Daniel Boone Arcade (near Meadow Trading Post).

Two heated outdoor swimming pools. 

Water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing.

Swamp Trail – 3/4 mile loop along the shore of Bay Lake

Fort Wilderness Exercise Trail – 2.3 mile paved and sand path

For more information on all these activities, click here. The address for Fort Wilderness is at 4510 N. Ft. Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000. Phone is: 407-824-2900; Fax is: 407-824-3508.

I hope this helps you plan a magical Disney trip to Fort Wilderness!  We know camping and RVs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us...we’re friendly!  www.camperfunpass.com or call us at 407-413-6854. Let’s plan your amazing adventure!