If you prefer to “rough it” while visiting Walt Disney World then the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds is the place for you. Opened in November 1971 this beautiful piece of property consists of 700 acres on the shores of Bay Lake and hosts 799 campsites and 409 air-conditioned cabins. The campsites range from full hook-up services for a camper to tent sites and there are 15 comfort stations throughout the campgrounds that have private showers, restrooms and laundry facilities. The resort and campgrounds are dog friendly (just indicate when making arrangements that you will have a dog(s) with you).
The cabins will fit up to 6 adults and feature a full kitchen, living room with a double size sleeper sofa, eating area, full bathroom and one bedroom with a queen size bed and a set of bunk beds. There is also a deck with charcoal grill along the side of the cabin.
Camp sites range from empty tent spots to lots for even the largest RVs. Each campsite has water, electric, and cable hookups and some of the RV sites have sewage hookup. Disney does a good job of trying to make sure there is enough natural vegetation around the site so neighbors can't spy on one another.
There is an internal bus that runs throughout the resort to take you to the pools, trading post and restaurants. Many people will rent a golf cart (or bring their own) to keep at their site so they can get around easier.
The two trading posts on property sell everything from food, over the counter medicines, and clothing to camping supplies.
There are numerous options for eating including 3 quick-service locations (The Chuck Wagon, Meadow Snack Bar and P & J’s Southern Takeout), 2 sit-down restaurants (Crockett’s Tavern and Trail’s End Restaurant), and the long running Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Currently Trail’s End and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue are not open due to COVID-19 restrictions.
I have eaten at Trail’s End several times and the food is excellent! This is a buffet style meal with plenty of choices for everyone. Reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant does get busy. I really need to make a point to try Hoop-Dee-Doo as it comes highly recommended.
Activities abound at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds! There are archery lessons, trail riding, fishing, canoe and kayak rentals, boat rentals, playgrounds, bike rentals and jogging trails. There are two swimming pools and a white sand beach with loungers to enjoy the view of Bay Lake (there is no swimming allowed in Bay Lake). Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long is a really fun way to spend your evening including fun songs and 'smores. Some of the activities have a separate charge.
One of the coolest things about the resort and campgrounds is that the Tri-Circle D ranch is located on property. This is the stables for all the horses that Walt Disney World uses from the white ponies that pull Cinderella’s Carriage to the horses that pull the vehicles down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. You can visit the ranch and see the horses and the tributes to horses in Disney movies.
Transportation at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds consists of buses to the parks and Disney Springs and a boat that runs to the Magic Kingdom. The internal buses meet up with the Walt Disney World bus system at Reception Outpost which is where you first check in and get assigned your site. There is also a boat that runs between the resort/campgrounds, the Contemporary Resort and the Wilderness Lodge Resort.
Holidays are a fun time to visit the campgrounds as the guests take great pride in decorating their sites for Halloween and Christmas. I highly suggest visiting during these times and checking out the decorations.
Campsites are reasonably priced for Disney but do book up rather fast. The cabins are priced in the same category as the moderate resorts.
Special thanks to Megan Slocum for providing the photos for this post.