In 2008, my wife and I with her parents occupied a lot in Section 2000 of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (FWR). Right up front I will admit that I’m not a big fan of camping. But in the spirit of trying something new at Walt Disney World, I agreed to sleep in a small two-man tent for 10 days. This is my story.
Not much privacy
I do like the country, having grown up in small towns. I like trees not skyscrapers. FWR has trees in abundance, so I settled into the atmosphere quite easily. But once we had set up a trailer for the in-laws and a tent for the wife and myself, my analytical nature kicked in! What follows are my impressions of FWR grouped into three categories:
LOCATION: FWR is located closest to The Magic Kingdom up near the top of the WDW property. This makes for a long Bus ride when you visit the other three Parks and Downtown Disney. To add to the inconvenience, many campsites in FWR are far from the two main Bus Depots that take you off-site. So in effect, you get a long Bus ride before you get another long Bus ride.
But being somewhat isolated from the rest of the World wasn’t always a bad thing. The wife and her folks took longer to get up and around in the mornings, which gave me time to explore. And by explore, I mean take a leisurely Bus ride to Pioneer Hall for a coffee and heated cinnamon roll. Health fans could walk, run, or bicycle. The pace is much slower here than at most other Resorts, so if your vacation was meant to be relaxing, FWR should be for you!
Accommodations: We rented a small campsite with water and electricity. If you enjoy camping in groups, there is also a large area set aside just for that option. Larger sites are available for RV’s. And if you like to rough it in style and comfort, you can also rent a Cabin with all the amenities of home.
I found the sites to be a bit too barren for my taste. When I think of camping, I imagine being in the bush surrounded by nature, not by 100 other campers. For whatever reason, most of the areas in FWR were sparse of foliage and privacy, which was a big drawback. In fairness, we were there in February, but this alone wouldn’t account for the level of deforestation I saw. Our visit was years ago, so things may have grown in again by now.
Features: For those who travel with children, FWR should be ideal! Although you can’t swim at the beach, there are two pools (although not on par with any other Resort and without theming). Bike Rentals, Boating, a Campfire Program, Carriage Rides, Fishing Excursions, Wagon and Trail Rides, and Movie Night should keep anyone entertained.
And the Electrical Water Pageant floats right off shore every night. The Hoop De Do Musical Review dinner show is also a good time if you are willing to spend the extra money. Speaking of food, don’t miss the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at the Trail’s End Restaurant (pictured below)! During the Christmas season, you can tour the RV section of the Resort. These enthusiastic people decorate their Sites with inflatable characters and enough lights to be seen from Space! I believe Disney even schedules Golf Cart tours of the area.
Conclusion: The laid back feel of FWR is refreshing after having stayed in some of Disney’s other Resorts, where crowding and noise are all too present. And it has such nice little touches: The Lawnmower Tree; live Armadillos and Geckos everywhere; and pimped-out Golf Carts, to name but a few.
I would definitely stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Campground again
Disleelandia 