When we first decided to go camping I was more than excited, to say the least. Having never stayed in an RV, or on Disney property for that matter, I knew this was going to make for an interesting experience. The plans were set, so we confirmed our dates, rented our RV and packed our things. Pete and Walter were also along for the trip, but they were stayed in one of the Fort Wilderness Cabins, while I was on one of the premium campsites.
There are a total of 788 various campsites on property, which is a staggering 750 acres for you to explore. These campsites range from 25’ to 65’ in length, accommodating tents, trailers, and the mansions on wheels. You have additional space on the larger campsites for a vehicle, golf carts, table and chairs etc. While they do have some lights throughout the campground, you need to make sure you have your own property lighting (Tiki Lights, Mickey Lamp Post…) If you rent a camper, it probably has a “porch” light on it, so be sure to check that.
Like I said before, I had never stayed in an RV, let alone hooked one up to a campsite. This was something I wondered about before we got there, and let me just say it was so easy, and really anyone could handle it. The RV had a manual in it, so I got it out and started reading. Within 20 minutes we had it all hooked up (Fort Wilderness Campsite Hookups). Be sure you have all your RV accessories, like the sewage ring that seals the hose down on the drainpipe. We didn’t have one so we had to borrow one from out generous neighbors (Thank You!). If you are staying on a premium campsite with cable, you’ll need your own coax cable (10ft should be fine). Extension cords and flashlights are also nice to have around. Be sure to put a list together before you get there, because it might be dark when you arrive and you don’t want to be stuck in the dark with nothing hooked up missing half the things you need.
The campsites are quite nice actually. My loop was pretty much full the entire week I was there. Other than being backed right up to the road, it was very quiet and relaxing. At first, the busses driving by at night did get a little annoying. Be sure to look at the different loops on the campground map before booking your campsite. You’ll get a good idea of where everything is, and if possible request to be closer to the trading posts, or the pool. Loop 100 and 200 are going to be the closest to the main Trading Post, which also has the marina and petting zoo right there.
Once we got all hooked and settled in, we had some time to explore the surroundings and familiarize ourselves with the resort. Fort Wilderness Campground offers a bus system with stops all over the place, which run about every 15 min. The busses provide a great way to get around the campground, without having to rent a cart. I even hopped on a bus with my fishing pole and a little folding chair, and they took me right to the Trading Post where I sat and fished. This was great! These busses can get crowded at times, like after the Hoop De Doo Musical Revue. Other means of travel around the campground include, the gold cart (Teresa’s favorite), and bicycles that you can rent or bring from home.
Having your own transportation is almost essential for staying at the campground. Disney does ask that you only drive your vehicle when coming or going into the campground, and not for exploring. Since you can’t drive your vehicles to the Trading Post, or really anywhere else but to leave, I highly recommend renting a golf cart for the week. Disney knows they have you here and charges a little too much for these carts, in my opinion. A weekly rate is somewhere around $402, that’s a lot of money for an electric golf cart that goes 10mph. The daily rate is around $57. The maintenance and upkeep on these things can’t be anywhere what they’re making off these. You may not want to get a cart on the days your at the parks, but I highly recommend at least one day getting one and exploring this amazing campground. You’ll be glad you did. These can be picked up in the morning as early as 8:00-9:00am, and you don’t have to return it until 11:00am the following morning. They are open from 9am-5pm, and you must be 18 to rent, 16 to drive.
We ate quite a bit at the Trails End buffet, and the food there was consistently good. I thought for sure I’d get sick of it a lot sooner than I did, but it wasn’t until the end of the week that I really started getting tired of fried chicken and ribs. Buying food from the trading post can get rather expensive so grab your snacks and drinks before you get there. The only thing about the Trading Post is that they close way too early (10:00pm). The larger Trading Post is not by the marina, but more centrally located on the campgrounds.
All in all my camping experience was great. I didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do there, so I’ll definitely be going back to experience more of what camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground has to offer. Even if your not staying there I highly recommend going over one day and having brunch, then walking through the petting zoo and down by the marina. You’ll be glad you did.
Review By: William Perry
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