veteran Disney campers...

[adambreakey]

I have never camped at Disney... I think my family and I would really enjoy it. My wife and daughter had never camped in their life until we went to Maine this past summer and spent a week camping way up in Northern Maine. They had a great time, and are interested in doing it again.

I am interested in tent camping there. How are the facilities. Do you feel like you are at a Disney campground, or does it feel like the local KOA? I haven't looked at the prices. I imagine you pay a bit of a premium, but what is the average cost? Best time of year?

Any insights, thoughts, etc that you care to share?

Thanks

adamb

[1HourAway]

Adam - Ft. Wilderness is great!

Of course, you know the weather in Florida! You need to go this time of year or you'll roast to death! Also the cooler months mean fewer bugs too!

The facilities are very nice and very clean! The bath houses are well maintained.

Every night they offer a sing-a-long at dusk. Followed by a marshmallow roast with a special visit from Chip-N-Dale! Then a Disney movie, just like a drive-in except with benches and bleachers. It is a lot of fun.

The campground has 2 pools. A petting zoo. Two trading posts. A marina for boat rentals. A bike barn. Canoe rentals, horseback riding. Everything you can imagine! It has two arcades too.

The Trail's End Buffeteria is probably the best value in the place. You eat the same food served at Hoop De Doo revue at a fraction of the cost! Ribs, fried chicken and so much more!

My Dkids favorite thing to do is to rent the golf carts! Everytime we have stayed we've ordered pizza late at night from Trail's End and gone to pick it up in the golf cart! They love that - think it's sooooo cool! Zipping around at night with hot pizza, heading back to our cabin.

Good times!

[adambreakey]

Wow 1hr - you make it sound great. I can really see my family enjoying a few days of camping at a place like that.

Thank you for your comments.

adamb

[BethBreakey]

Okay Adam - I want to camp (actually I dont really like to camp - but Ace made it sound like fun) --- I think that you guys should do it - and then if it is great and fabulous and all that - you need to do it again this summer -- you know -- when I am there!

[1HourAway]

Just an FYI!

If you plan on staying at Ft. Wilderness, either the homes or your own RV or tent, make sure you reserve a golf cart after making your reservations!

You have to call the bike barn at FtW. You can make them up to a year in advance.

In all my previous travels to FtW it was always a first come, first served type of thing.

Well, it had been 8 years since our last stay and they now take ressies for golf carts. We did not know that! We got there at noon Friday and were told there were no golf carts until Sunday!

Having a golf cart really cuts down on your travel time! If you want to take the boat to MK - either you walk to the marina or wait for a bus! If you have a cart - you drive to the marina park it - plug it into a charger, take the key and enjoy the day! Return, unplug and drive home! No waiting for busses etc.

[TrendyMagic]

I have never stayed there but really want to. Just to try it out. I have heard many great things about it. Let us know how any future visits are.

[Lou Mongello]

I would like to try it out as well. I know that for those who have stayed there, they usually rave about how much they love it. Sounds like it would be something fun for young kids to enjoy as well!

I have never stayed there but really want to. Just to try it out. I have heard many great things about it. Let us know how any future visits are.

[DSNYdad]

Camping sounds like so much fun at Ft Wilderness . I have a pop up and am planning a Feb '05 trip with my DW and two DD's(3&7). The extra benefits from camping are great

This is my first post here I followed someone over from another site (disneyecho)
Glad to be here

Steve aka DSNYdad

[iwannabeminnie]

Can you take your own golf cart? What about scooters?

[Princess Jas]

I love Fort Wilderness! If you never have the opportunity to camp there, at least go to the Camp Fire Sing Along while you are there (I still remember one of the songs and it has been about six years since I last went to it - (in a very southern accent) "Y'all come! Y'all come!" . If your family likes bike riding, take your bicycles - the terrain is very well suited for riding them there.

[brad9008]

yeah fort wilderness is a nice place to stay its peaceful and quiet and trails end is a nice place to eat at

[aurora&goofy]

hey riverview native, i'm right down the road from you!

anyway...camping at disney is awesome. there's so much to do whether you stay at the campgrounds or venture off and do other things. one thing my mom and i always did when we went camping is to hotel hop. and you can take a nature trail over to the wilderness lodge. the wilderness lodge has a hidden mickey scavenger hunt that you can do there. the campgrounds also have swimming pools and a beach. there's the hoop-dee-doo review and two other restaurants, or you can go to the general store and get some cook out supplies and cook at ur site.

[TrendyMagic]

I just camped here recently myself. It was very relaxing. Rode our bikes around from pool to pool. Just nice to relax and not worry about it all.