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Fort Wilderness: Camping in Disney’s magical woods

I enjoy both tent camping and RVs, and I usually stick to state parks and natural areas that allow me to enjoy an authentic Florida experience.

So it was with some reservation that I set out to review Disney’s Fort Wilderness for articles on the best campgrounds near Disney.

Could Disney deliver anything but commercialized fantasy?

A friend who took her Girl Scout troop to Fort Wilderness assured me they could. She said the campground had a lot to offer and suggested I give it a try.

I did, and my friend was right.

I was pleased with what I saw and enjoyed my stay, despite the high cost of a campsite. I was not uncomfortable or disappointed. Disney delivered.

Fort Wilderness Campground

Fort Wilderness campsite
My campsite at Fort Wilderness had a sand pad, paved driveway and dense vegetation. (Photo: Bob Rountree)

The Fort Wilderness Campground has been around since Disney World first opened in 1971, and it has undergone several expansions since, from the original 232 sites to 799 today.

Fort Wilderness is nestled in a 740-acre pine and cypress forest, across a lake about a mile east of the Magic Kingdom. Campsites are arranged in 19 loops around the centralized recreation area known as The Meadow, which includes a swimming complex, a campground store, bike-rental concession, tennis courts and an amphitheater for nightly Chip ‘n’ Dale campfire sing-a-longs.

There are basically two kinds sites with varying degrees of amenities, but the basic tent site where I stayed has a paved driveway backing up off the loop to a level, sand-based pad with a picnic table, grill, electrical box and water spigot. These sites will also accommodate RVs, but the prime RV pads are fully paved with full hookups and cable TV service. (You bring the cable, which is standard gear for RVers.)

The sand pads make it easy to pitch and stake a tent, and there were no embedded rocks to cause discomfort. Indeed, the surfaces were clean, smooth and comfortable. There is ample distance between sites — about 25 feet around my site. The sites are shady.

Fort Wilderness comfort station
Comfort station

Although the other sites in my loop were primarily tents and pop-ups, there were a few RVs scattered about, but not enough to disrupt the experience of tent camping. It appeared that my loop (and a couple of others) were geared primarily towards tent campers but could convert to RVs if they were needed.

An air-conditioned “comfort station” with rest rooms, private showers, a laundry, soda machine, pay phones and an ice machine was conveniently located at the entrance to my loop. The rest rooms are locked from midnight until 6 a.m., although your guest-card key allows access during those off-hours. The rest rooms were clean and well-maintained, as you would expect.

Camping and RV supplies, including charcoal, are available at two Trading Posts, one in the Meadow recreation area and the other in the Settlement near the marina.

fort wilderness swimming pool
The swimming pool at Fort Wilderness. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

The swimming pool in the Meadow, at the center of the campground, had a water slide and a splash park for small children, as well as a hot tub for adults off to the side.

Lifeguards were everywhere, and they were attentive, so I thought it quite safe for children.

The pool area is free to guests. There are also two lighted tennis courts in the pool area, as well as a snack bar and an arcade.

The beach on Bay Lake at Fort Wilderness
Watch fireworks from the Fort Wilderness beach on Bay Lake. (Photo: Bob Rountree)

Kayak, canoe and bicycle rentals are available at the Bike Barn in the Meadow Recreation Area, where you can also rent you can also rent fishing gear and bait for fishing in the lake. Guided bass fishing excursions are also available. The paddle trail is four miles long, although you can break away whenever your ready.

Another cool option is the Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, a tour of the back trails around the campground aboard a Segway personal transporter, available for booking at the marina.

Boat rentals are also available at the marina, including jet boats, fishing boats and pontoon boats, and you can even charter a cruise and serve food (for a price). Water skiing, personal watercraft tours, tubing, wake boarding and parasailing are also available at the marina.

Pony Rides at the Triple-Circle-D Ranch
Pony Rides at the Triple-Circle-D Ranch in Fort Wilderness. (Photo: Bob Rountree)

Horseback riding is featured at the Outpost Depot, near the entrance to the campground, and pony rides are available for children at the Triple-Circle D Ranch in the Settlement.

I walked around the back of the Triple-Circle-D to the horse barn, where the carriage horses are quartered. Press a button and listen to the 1907 Calliope, once used during parades in the Magic Kingdom.

Horse-drawn carriage rides are available every evening in the Settlement, across from the Trail’s End Restaurant, and throughout the campground are free sports areas, including basketball courts, volleyball and tether ball.

Carriage ride at Fort Wilderness
Carriage ride at Fort Wilderness. (Photo: Bob Rountree)

Perhaps my favorite amenity was the free boat ferry that transports guests to and from the Magic Kingdom across the lake. I saw it as an opportunity for a relaxing evening cruise before dinner.

We sailed from the marina dock at the campground, past the majestic Wilderness Lodge and around the Disney’s Contemporary Resort, under the monorail and across another lake to the docks at the Magic Kingdom. And then back.

The views were outstanding and the lakeshore largely undeveloped, offering a comfortable and scenic cruise to relax after a long day.

When nightfall approaches…

Chip 'n' Dale Campfire Circle
Chip ‘n’ Dale Campfire Circle and Sing-Along at Fort Wilderness. (Photo: Bob Rountree)

Adjacent to the swimming pool complex in The Meadow Recreation Area, an amphitheater is the venue for the nightly Chip ‘n’ Dale Campfire Sing-Along, followed by a different Disney movie on an outdoor screen, and it’s all free.

You will inevitably want to purchase marshmallows, s’mores or hot dogs to roast on the fire during the show.  A guitar-playing cowboy leads the crowd in campfire songs, accompanied by the entertaining antics of Disney characters Chip and Dale.

I skipped the campfire circle so I could enjoy the nightly Electric Boat Parade and the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks display, which can be seen across the lake from the Fort Wilderness beach, next to the marina.

The beach is deserted during the day (swimming is prohibited in the lake), but every lounge chair was full by nightfall. Bring a blanket to sit on the sand and enjoy the show.

Transportation

Shuttle bus is free at Fort Wilderness
Campground shuttle bus stop. (Photo by Bob Rountree)
Golf carts are common at Fort Wilderness
Golf carts are popular among campers. (Photo by Bob Rountree)
Ferry transports Fort Wilderness guests to the Magic Kingdom
The ferry from Fort Wilderness to the Magic Kingdom. (Photo by Bob Rountree)

Driving your car in the campground is discouraged, and the only parking within the campground is at your site.

Electric golf carts and bicycles are available for rent, and shuttle buses run frequent routes to each loop throughout the day. There are covered bus stops with the benches near every campground loop, and the buses are free.

I recommend bringing your own bicycles. Bike rentals are available only during the day, so you can’t keep them overnight at your campsite.

Most campsites are within walking distance of the Meadow Recreation Area.

The shuttle buses take you to the Settlement area, where you catch the free ferry to the Magic Kingdom, or go in the other direction to the Outpost Depot at the campground entrance, where you can transfer to buses that connect to all of Disney’s theme parks, resort areas and the Downtown Disney entertainment complex. All free.

Where to eat

Trail's End Restaurant buffet
Trail’s End Restaurant buffet

If you are camping with your family, chances are you’ve brought your own food to save money, and that would be my recommendation. Be sure to do your grocery shopping before you arrive.

The campground’s main restaurant is the Trail’s End for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is convenient to the marina, so if you are going to or coming from the Magic Kingdom by boat, you have to pass it.  

The restaurant had some terrific take-out options when I visited. I purchased a fried-chicken dinner (two breasts) with two sides and cornbread. It was quite good. Another tempting take-out option was the pizza.

A western-themed, slapstick vaudeville dinner show, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, is held at Pioneer Hall. Dinner is served family style, with three seatings on some evenings. This corny but entertaining show gets rave reviews on Yelp! Prices vary based on age and seating location, so call ahead for information and reservations. (407-WDW-DINE)

There is a snack bar at the pool in the Meadow, serving salads, hot dogs and sandwiches, and snacks, beer and wine are available at Crockett’s Tavern.

You are also welcome to travel to other Disney resorts for higher-end dining. The nearest resort is the Wilderness Lodge on the western edge of Fort Wilderness.

How much does it cost to camp?

Camping at Fort Wilderness is not cheap.

But when you consider all the amenities, costs of mid-priced motel rooms for a family near Disney, and the convenience of being inside the Disney complex, it seems reasonable.

Tent and pop-up campsites with partial hookups (water and electric) are $114 (Summer 2024). Premium RV sites with full hookups are $173-$200 (Summer 2024).

Cabin rentals start at $422 and up (Summer 2024). Each cabin is a spacious 500 square feet, sleeping six, with outside decks and grills. For more information, visit Disney’s web site.

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