Camping at Disney World!?

By: April Lykins, Advisor

When you think of Disney World, many iconic visuals come to mind such as Mickey Ice Cream bars, meeting your favorite characters and riding the most incredible rides. Disney is huge, and in every corner there is something to see, smell and touch. You will often hear people suggest mid-day breaks and good rest each night for the day ahead. Where will you find this rest? No doubt there are some truly magical resorts in the area. Each of these resorts boast their own theme and keep the magic going well into bedtime. However, if you are an outdoor enthusiast or maybe you just enjoy a quieter space, you cannot miss Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campground!

A recent stay at the Ft. Wilderness Campground had me truly in awe. The grounds of the campground were so well kept. The sites had plenty of space for everything from tiny tents to huge houses on wheels. The comfort stations were always kept cleaned and stocked. The campground had golf carts for rent, two pools and even a riding stable with some beautiful horses. Most importantly, it offered a visual rest from the sights of Disney. Families, retirees and outdoor enthusiasts will love the nature of Ft. Wilderness. We saw many birds, squirrels and even a few deer during our stay. Disney lovers will enjoy its convenient transportation to all the theme parks.

Ft. Wilderness runs its own internal bus routes that take you to all the various places around the campground and to the two transportation centers that feed into the rest of the parks. The bus depot at the front of the campground is conveniently located on all the bus routes. It has ample seating and a covered area to wait for the buses. All the buses are clearly marked with their intended destination. From this front bus depot you can catch a ride to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs. There is an additional bus depot near the entrance for airport transfers. At the back of the campground, you will find the Settlement. This area has two restaurants and the transportation to Magic Kingdom. Here you can choose between taking a bus to Magic Kingdom or my personal favorite sailing on a boat to the entrance of the park!

Ft. Wilderness also has one of the best breakfast and dinners for your budget with no ticket or campsite reservation required. Simply ride the bus from any park and transfer to the Settlement or take the boat from Magic Kingdom and it's a short walk from the pier. Here you will find the Trails End Restaurant. This family style restaurant has a log cabin feel and some of the friendliest cast members around. Food is served in large skillets for both breakfast and lunch and it is unlimited! You can’t beat the value and the delicious Mickey waffles!

Don’t have your own camper? Maybe tent camping is not for you? Don’t worry! Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campground has some cute cabins equipped with kitchens, decks and ample space. If you want to really experience camping at the Ft., there are plenty of reputable companies in the area that offer a wide variety of RV’s. Many will deliver, set up, and even give you a crash course to RV living!

Overall, I think Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campground is a hidden gem! It offers a great place to break from all the sensory overload of the parks while still delivering great accommodations and service from some truly amazing cast members. Tent, RV, or Cabin you can’t go wrong on this uniquely YOU Disney travel experience!