Disney World - Fort Wilderness, Florida
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Mickey and Minnie have welcomed visitors to sunny Orlando to experience the magic of Disney World for nearly 50 years. When visitors think of staying within the theme park, luxurious hotels and resorts typically come to mind, but did you know that there is also an expansive RV-friendly campground?
Fort Wilderness is not your typical Disney World Resort. Campers love staying here not only because it offers the most reasonable price point for within-World accommodations, but also because the summer camp feel of Fort Wilderness is a blast for parents and kids alike. There are so many activities within the campground that you may need to remind yourself to leave so you can actually visit the various theme parks.
Now, you may be wondering: can we still enjoy these activities if we don’t actually camp at the resort? The answer is: absolutely! The only amenity you will not be able to access will be the pools (which require an access wristband). Otherwise, swing by Fort Wilderness and immerse yourself in all of the outdoor camp fun.
If you’ve always admired Robin Hood, here’s your chance to hone your archery skills in honor of the famed marksman. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of proper bow and arrow technique from a knowledgeable instructor. After the educational portion, you’ll have the opportunity to fire a compound bow at a variety of targets.
If you’ve got kids in your group, you’ll be glad to know that children as young as seven can participate. The whole lesson/experience lasts about 75 minutes and reservations are a must (just like any activity in Disney World). Family members who prefer to watch are welcome to within the dedicated seating area.
Mosey on over to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch and step into the equestrian world. Kids will love the chance to see and pet Cinderella's ponies as well as many other horse breeds residing in the stables. With a little bit of training, adults and kids can ride horses and ponies throughout Fort Wilderness’ beautiful grounds.
If you prefer to let the experts handle the horses, that’s perfectly fine as well. There are a variety of wagon rides available that are great fun for your whole group to enjoy together. During the holiday season the wagons are even decorated like sleighs for an extra dose of Christmas magic.
Right near the Meadow Trading Post (the camp store), you’ll find a couple of your favorite Disney characters roasting a few marshmallows. Stop by and join Chip and Dale for a sing-a-long campfire experience with plenty of laughs and even more s’mores. If you don’t have ingredients for s’mores, you can easily buy them from the Chuckwagon, the campground’s resident food truck.
Disney resorts also have a ‘movies under the stars’ program. At Fort Wilderness, campers are welcome to enjoy campfires in conjunction with screenings of classic Disney films. You’ve likely never watched your favorite movies in an environment like this.
How are you on two wheels? No, not a bike or motorcycle. Take a unique approach to touring the grounds of Fort Wilderness on a Segway scooter. Although they may appear complicated, Segways are extremely stable and easily maneuverable, making them an excellent way to get around. Your two-hour tour will show you every nook and cranny of Fort Wildernesses natural beauty.
Feeling apprehensive about operating your Segway? Don’t worry! Every rider will have an approximately 30-minute instruction session to familiarize themselves and get comfortable with these awesome gadgets. You’ll also be provided helmets for extra safety.
Fort Wilderness has a winding network of small rivers and creeks that run through the grounds and ultimately connect to larger Bay Lake. This makes it a great location for a variety of water sports. If you really want to get cruising, motorized boats are available for rent. If paddling is more your thing, there are also plenty of canoes and kayaks.
If you’re an angler, there’s plenty of fish in these waters for you too! Guided bass fishing excursions are offered on bay lake and with your knowledgeable guide’s water wisdom, you’re bound to have a productive trip. To keep the fish population healthy, all fishing at Disney World is catch and release only.
There is a wide array of campsites available for your RV at Fort Wilderness. Choose from a basic site with electric and water only all the way up to a premium campsite with full hookups, a concrete pad, and barbeque. Apart from the obvious benefit of staying right inside the resort, additional amenities for campers include golf cart rental, childcare, Wi-Fi, laundry, tour buses, and ATMs.
Only nine miles to the southeast of Fort Wilderness, Sherwood Forest RV Resort is a nicely wooded campground with a little creek and pond. Nearly 100 RV campsites will offer your group the comfort of full hookup access. Do a little fishing, hop in the heated pool, or fire up the charcoal grill for nice on-site dinner. One particularly unique amenity is the onsite hair salon, just in case you need a trim.
Ten miles to the south of Fort Wilderness in Kissimmee, the Tropical Palms RV Resort is quite close to the Disney World campus and a great choice for groups with kids. Nearly 350 campsites offer full hookup access and close access to tons of campground fun. A major outdoor recreation area provides space and equipment for bocce ball, volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and more. Campground staff also put on fun events for families like live music, s’mores nights, pool games, movie nights, and craft hours.
The Orlando/Kissimmee KOA campground has tons of recreation activities and amenities on site for campers of all ages. In addition to the heated pool, rec center, and bike rentals, campers can take a thrilling turn getting launched into the air on the ‘jump pad.’ The campground is also just a mile away from the famed Medieval Times dinner theater, as well as mini golf, and the ‘Old Town’ shopping district. Oh, and before we forget, all RV campsites offer full hookups and the massive pull-through sites can accommodate rigs in excess of 100 feet.
About 16 miles to the west of Fort Wilderness, just off of Highway 27, Thousand Trails campground is a great off site choice. The campground is quite large with 845 sites available and plenty of full hookups. Unique amenities include a business center, a gym, restaurant, and camp store. For entertainment, campers will have difficulty deciding between the pool, mini golf, outdoor sports, fishing, biking, or boating.
Disney has got your dining options covered at Fort Wilderness. Six different dining facilities are located within the resort and you can find all three meals with ease. Most of the food is standard American fare with a little bit of southern influence (think ribs, fried chicken, biscuits, waffles, salmon etc.). If you have trouble deciding what you want, the Trail’s End Restaurant features a loaded buffet with tons of tasty dishes to choose from. Be prepared for the bill though, the convenience of these restaurants doesn’t come cheap.
If you want to keep the Disney party going, you can certainly venture to other resorts within Disney World for plenty of dining options. The attention to detail for the themes of these different resorts and their restaurants can be a whole lot of fun. Otherwise, downtown Orlando is just a little more than five miles away and has everything you could hope for in a major metropolitan area. Tons of seafood as well as Pakistani, Tex-Mex, Brazilian, southern comfort food, Italian, and so much more.
No matter where you stay, the magic of Fort Wilderness will quickly transport your group back to those summer camp days, all while making new memories as you explore its exciting grounds together. Make your next Disney World visit a little different and work a camping experience into the mix; you won’t regret it.