A Ft. Wilderness Day!

[HatboxHaint]

Thinking about a short stay at the Ft Wilderness cabins at the front of our trip. So the first day at WDW might be a Ft Wilderness day! I have made a 4pm Hoop-dee-doo reservation and then plan to do the Chip-N-Dale campfire and then maybe watch the Electrical Pageant. Let's assume I have a park ticket available for that day and since it's the first day MK in the morning 1st thing is tempting but would like to do activities at Ft Wilderness too, I think my kids would enjoy many of them. We are staying for 5 more days at BLT and will do MK several more times so I'm not worried too much about not getting in the park. We will check-out of the cabin the next day and check-in to BLT. We will have a car. I have 4 kids under 10.

My first question is would you forgo MK on the first day to do Ft. Wilderness activities like horse rides, canoe rides, archery etc, swim at the pool, etc?

My second question is what activities would you do and in what order? (Feel free to plan my day out for me!)

Thanks!!

 

[bama_ed]

Well you can certainly pay for activities like horse rides and archery (which are kinda pricey) but I would suggest:

- seeing the horses at the big barn down by HDDR. They get baths, new horseshoes, fed, etc. right in that area which is neat. Or look at them in their stalls.
- some of the younger ones might like a pony ride which is only $5/6 per kid (you the parent lead the tiny pony around the corral area - trust me, the pony knows where he's going).
- canoeing is good and not expensive
- you can rent fishing poles, buy bait, and fish in the pond and canals (catch and release). Not Bay Lake though.
- ride the boats off the pier to Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary for lunch or breakfast
- bike rentals (or walk from the cabins) to Wilderness Lodge along the Exercise Trail.
- swim and enjoy the loud thumping DJ kid music in the afternoon

In the pool area in the afternoon are lots of kids activities (most free) and I post the schedule every month on the Camping Board. See the days/stuff under "Poolside Activities":

http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...and-activities-schedule-is-available.3498053/

Roast marshmallows at the Chip & Dale Campfire Singalong before the movie. The Chuck Wagon (concession stand behind the bleachers) sells a kit to make S'mores for about $10 (with sticks) or you can get a cheaper simple marshmallow/stick combo.

You can tell I would say "forego" the Parks on that FW day. Kids will have a blast. Heck, I'm a big kid and could afford to stay anywhere on property and I go back to the Fort every time.

Bama Ed

Also it might help to rent a golf cart for one day ($65) to get around to all this in one day. But lots of folks navigate the Fort just fine without one.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Thanks and RTR!