Did you know that there are multiple options for staying on Walt Disney World property? Of course, Disney is well-known for its beautiful on-site resort hotels. However, there are other options that tend to be lesser known. Did you know that you can camp at Walt Disney World? That’s right! At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you can sleep under the stars, cook food over a campfire, and enjoy many outdoor activities.
If you or someone else in your party loves to camp, you can have the best of both worlds by combining it with a Disney vacation. You’ll want to grab your hiking boots and your Minnie ears for this magical adventure.
Follow along with me in this article as I explore all of the different aspects of camping at Disney World. We visit Walt Disney World weekly and have toured all the offerings at the resort including the popular Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort!
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Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Understandably, Disney World may not seem like the place where you can actually go camping. However, as soon as you pull into Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you’ll think differently! Fort Wilderness is located on 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, which effortlessly provides you with the ultimate camping experience.
During your stay, you’ll be able to explore woodland trails, take part in recreational activities, enjoy great pool areas, and see wildlife. Keep a lookout for the deer, rabbits, ducks, and armadillos that call Fort Wilderness their home!
Campsite Options
If you’re traveling with a larger party, the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness are a great option for you! There are multiple campsites available, providing you with the option to camp however you choose to! Whether that’s in a tent, vehicle camper, pop-up camper, or RV, there’s a space for you at Fort Wilderness. Each of these campsite options are able to sleep up to 10 Guests.
- Tent or Pop-Up Campsite
- Room for a pop-up camper OR a camper van-type vehicle and up to 2 tents
- Accommodates equipment on a concrete pad up to 10 feet by 25 feet
- Preferred Campsite
- Room for and RV plus a small tent
- Accommodates equipment on a concrete pad up to 10 feet by 45 feet
- Sewage hook-up
- Close to the Marina
- Full Hook-Up Campsite
- Room for an RV plus a tent
- Accommodates equipment on a concrete pad up to 10 feet by 50 feet
- Sewage hook-up
- Premium Campsite
- Room for a larger style RV
- Accommodates equipment on a concrete pad up to 18 feet by 60 feet
- Sewage hook-up
- Premium Meadow Campsite
- Room for larger style RV
- Accommodates equipment on a concrete pad up to 18 feet by 60 feet
- Sewage hook-up
- Proximity to Meadow Trading Post, Meadow Recreation Area, Bike Barn, and Campfire Area
Camping in Comfort
If you want to enjoy the great outdoors, but you’d rather have more comfortable living arrangements, Disney’s Fort Wilderness also has cabins available! When you stay in the cabins, you’ll be able to enjoy many of the same amenities that you’ll find in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Yet, when you step outside, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful woodland setting of Fort Wilderness.
Currently, new cabins are being built for Disney Vacation Club Members. These cabins will be available for stays starting September 27, 2024.
Cabins at Fort Wilderness
- Wilderness Cabin
- 1 Queen Bed, 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa, and 1 Bunk Bed
- Sleeps up to 6 Adults
- Includes a kitchen with 2 counter -top burners, refrigerator, and microwave, as well as a patio.
- Disney Vacation Club 1-Bedroom Cabin (Available for stays starting September 27, 2024)
- 1 Queen Bed, 1 Queen-Size Pull-Down Bed, and 1 Bunk Bed
- Sleeps up to 6 Adults
- Includes a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and full-size oven/range, as well as a patio deck.
- A large convertible seating and sleeping area with a sofa and fold-down queen-size Inova bed
Things to Do at Fort Wilderness
One thing’s for certain, when you’re at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you’ll always have something fun to do! Far easily Disney’s most “outdoorsy” resort, Fort Wilderness has many recreational activities that Guests of all ages can enjoy.
Let’s take a look at all they have to offer!
- Arcades – Fort Wilderness has two arcades filled with a variety of video games, pinball games, and others such as basketball, air hockey, and ski ball. Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Arcade is located near the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool while the Davy Crockett’s Wilderness Arcade can be found at Pioneer Hall.
- Basketball Courts
- Bike Rentals – Enjoy a relaxing bike ride through the trails and meadows of Fort Wilderness. Both adult bikes and children’s bikes (some with training wheels) are available to rent.
- Canoe Rentals
- Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long – This is perhaps one of the most unique character experiences on Walt Disney World property. Not only do you get to meet Chip and Dale, you get to enjoy a campfire sing-a-long with them! This event is located at the Campground Theater every night from 7:30pm-9:30pm. Not only do you get to sing around the campfire, you can roast marshmallows too! S’mores kits are available to make the perfect campground snack.
- Electrical Water Pageant – Enjoy a glistening trail of sea creatures as they float through the water past the resort. This water pageant includes beautiful, sparkling lights as well as favorite Disney tunes. This is a sight you won’t want to miss!
- Fishing – Guided Bass Fishing Excursions can be booked and enjoyed on the waterways of Fort Wilderness. The option will be available to book a 2 or 4 hour excursion. If there’s availability, you can also book an additional hour in person at the marina. All excursions will include an experienced guide, a rod and reel, tackle, live and/or artificial bait, plus assorted Coca-Cola beverages. Guests who are 21 years of age or older may bring alcoholic beverages.
- Fort Wilderness Archery Experience – During this 75-minute session, Archery Guides will teach Guests how to use a compound bow. (Guests must be 7 years of age or older.)
- Jogging Trails
- Kayak Rentals
- Movies Under the Stars – When the sun goes down and the stars start shining, Guests can enjoy Disney movies outdoors!
- Playgrounds
- Pools
- Tri-Circle-D Ranch
- Holiday Sleigh Rides
- Horse Drawn Excursion
- Pony Rides
- Wagon Rides
- Volleyball
- Wilderness Back Trail Adventure – On this 2-hour adventure, you’ll be taken through a variety of beautiful scenic routes. You’ll control your vehicle (a Segway X2) while listening to a Cast Member in an electronic headset who will give you information and fun facts about the wonders that are around you.
Fort Wilderness Dining Options
When you and your fellow campers become famished, Fort Wilderness has plenty of options available where you can rustle up some grub! Of course this is camping, so it won’t be uncommon for Guests to bring their own food or have groceries delivered and cook right at their campsite! However, if you feel like letting someone else cook for a change, Fort Wilderness has you covered. This resort has a variety of dining locations including a snack stand, quick service restaurants, bar service food, and a musical dinner show!
Snacks
If you’re looking for a snack or a quick bite to eat, you can head to Meadow Snack Bar, Crockett’s Tavern, or The Chuck Wagon. Located at the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool, Meadow Snack Bar has a variety of snacks, light bites, and treats. On the menu, you’ll be able to find things such as Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, a Salad, Mickey Pretzels, a Veggie Cup, and Ice Cream! Savory snacks are available at Crockett’s Tavern. This menu includes items like Sliders, Burgers, Chicken Bites, a Sandwich, and Charcuterie Board. When you’re feeling hungry by the Campground Theater, you can head over to The Chuck Wagon! Here you’ll find Hot Dogs, Chips, Popcorn, Mickey Pretzels, a Veggie Cup, S’Mores Kits, and Ice Cream!
Quick Service
At Fort Wilderness, there is one Quick Service restaurant on property – Trail’s End Restaurant. This location is perfect when you’re looking for a quick meal at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For breakfast you can enjoy Mickey Waffles, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Bagel Sandwiches, Biscuit Sandwiches, or a Totcho Bowl! There is also a Harvest Platter for plant-based eaters. For lunch and dinner, you’ll be able to choose from family meals, family-size pizzas, salads, and other entrées. If you’re wanting a family meal, you’ll have the choice between the Barbequed Ribs Full-Slab Meal or the Fried Chicken 8-Piece Meal. Family-size pizzas are available as Pepperoni, Cheese, Smokehouse, or Vegetable. Other entrées include a Bacon Cheeseburger, Barbequed Pulled Pork, Chicken Breast Nuggets, Barbequed Ribs Half-Slab Meal, or the Settlement Skillet.
Table Service
When you dine at the Table Service restaurant at Fort Wilderness, you’ll get to enjoy dinner and a show! This meal takes place at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. During your all-you-care-to-enjoy meal, you’ll be delighted with a high-energy comedic musical revue that’s put on by the Pioneer Hall Players! Your hearty meal will include Fried Chicken, BBQ Pork Ribs, Tossed Green Salad, Cowboy Beans, Cornbread, Macaroni and Cheese, and Coleslaw. Even with all of this delicious food, you’ll want to make sure to save room for dessert! Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue’s Strawberry Shortcake is a delightful treat that’s loved by many!
You won’t want to miss out on a fantastic evening of music, laughs, and great food. If you’re interested in attending this dinner show, you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.
Extra Camping Fun
Disney wants your campsite and/or cabin to feel like your home away from home. For this reason, there are some additional fun opportunities at Fort Wilderness!
When you’re camping at Fort Wilderness, you’re allowed to decorate your campsite or cabin. Feel free to express yourself, your love of Disney, and make your camping experience truly you! Of course, if you choose to decorate, you need to make sure that your decorating is in abidance with the Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules as well as specific campsite stipulations. These rules are in place to make sure that everyone is able to stay safe while having a great time!
Another perk of staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is that the whole family can come along – even your dog! In order to have your dog stay with you, you’ll need to call (407) 939-5277. If you’re uncomfortable with leaving your furry friend alone at your campsite or cabin while you’re enjoying the Disney theme parks, you can utilize the Walt Disney World pet care services at Best Friends Pet Care. To learn more about their services, or to set up arrangements for your pet, you can call (877) 493-9738 or visit them online by clicking here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disney World does have a location where you can camp. Camping takes place at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. At this resort, you will have the option to stay at a campsite or in a cabin. There are a variety of campsites available which can accommodate tents, pop-up campers, vehicle campers, and RVs. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort also has many recreational activities available such as horseback riding, fishing, and archery.
Yes, camping at Disney World is worth it. You can fully experience the fun of camping as well as the magic of Disney when you stay at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. This resort spreads over a 750-acre forest area. It includes campsites, cabins, and many recreational activities. This resort option will be very much worth it to both avid campers and Disney lovers alike.
Disney's campground is called Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. At this resort, you have the option to stay at a campsite or cabin. Depending on which size campsite you choose, you can sleep in a tent, pop-up camper, vehicle camper, or RV. Spread over the 750-acre woodland area, there's a variety of trails as well as recreational activities to enjoy.
Yes, you can stay at Disney for 1 night. To book this stay, you will most likely need to book directly through Disney. There are many third party booking companies as well as travel agents that will not book a 1 night stay. However, it is allowed. If the business or agent you're working with won't book a single night for you, call Disney at (407) 934-7639 or head to their website to book your 1 night stay.
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