Bonfire at FW campground & Sept hours

[scoutmontana]

I was reading about a bonfire at the Fort Wilderness campgrounds where Chip & Dale sing songs and sometimes they show a disney movie at dark. My travel book says it is free for all guest at Disney resorts.
Has anyone gone to this? Do you recommend it for a 3 yr old?

Also where can I find the park hours for september?
Thanks!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I can't answer all your questions but here goes:
Yes, I did this.... tried to do it -then it was SO cold that night (it was a freakishly cold night in Jan) that I had to leave before the show and they didn't sing either- they said it was too cold to bring out the guitar or something. LOL
So I did it again another night and this was a solo trip and I still had fun! I plan on doing this again with my children- and at almost 3, barely 6, and 9yrs old- I think they'll have a blast!

It's not sometimes they show a movie- it's always. They'll even tell you like 7 days in advance (sometimes more if you get a cooperative CM on the phone LOL) which shows on which nights. They have benches out with 2 places at the sides for bonfires which are set by them (they only did one of them when I went though- slow season ) They sell snacks there at a snack bar- including also smores kits which are cool. They come with graham crackers, hershey bars and a ziploc bag of marshmallows- plus 2 sticks (you can buy extra sticks very cheaply). It's enough for many smores- so one $5 kit is enough for a family!

Someone comes out and sings- I don't really think I saw Chip and Dale sing but they do come out after a few songs so maybe they are singing under there/singing along? Then Chip and Dale go around to the kids (or the kids come to them LOL) and then the movie is played once they leave- and everyone watches the movie and eats smores or just sits around the fire if it's cold/etc.

I fully expect that my kids will have a blast and that my youngest will probably conk out in the stroller..... unless she's interested in watching the entire movie. LOL

(one comment though- be sure you have lots of time to get there and plan on it taking awhile to get back to your resort also...... or wherever you are staying the night. Because even if you drive your own vehicle- you still have to take a bus inside there to get to the campground area and a bus back out to the front also..... and I not only took a LONG time getting a bus to the front and then a LONG time getting a bus to DTD so I could then take that bus to the resort- but I have read many others having this problem also. So my suggestion is go forewarned that it might take awhile- and maybe plan it on an evening when you are already doing something else at Ft Wilderness- there's a lot to do there! Hoop De Doo musical review/dinner, Trails End Buffet for dinner, I believe there is a petting zoo and a wagon ride of some sort- but I'm not sure of the times. Or perhaps you could take the boat over from MK and avoid the bus problem?)

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm not sure what you consider a "bonfire". My idea of a bonfire is a huge blaze, which you're not going to get here. Hope you aren't disappointed! It is fun, though, and a 3 year old would get a real kick out of it.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

We did Chip'n Dale's campfire sing-a-long last summer w/ 5½ and 7 y.o. There was a girl who was the "leader" ... can't recall her name at the moment ... she introduced Chip'n Dale and they circulated meeting and greeting ... we sang camfire songs ... our family favorite was "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" ... every time you sang a word being with a "b" you stood up or sat down depending on whether you were sitting or standing ... it was hilarious the entire audience was bobbing up and down ... we sang the song several times singing it faster each time. My grandkids still enjoy singing "My Bonnie" and bouncing up and down.

The campfire started at 8PM, followed by a movie ... we didn't stay for the movie as the grandkids were tuckered out after a full day at the parks and all the Bonnie bobbing.

Unfortunately it rain every evening after that so we didn't get to go back, but we would have if it hadn't rained.

Cheryl

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I just checked the Disney website and park hours aren't posted for September yet.

Here's the URL:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wa...ore/parkhours/parkhoursindex?id=ParkHoursRoot

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Ugh- why'd I say bonfire? LOL It's not bonfires.... it's campfires.

 

[Gillian]

September hours are typically short. It's a wonderful time of year to visit because the crowds are small & you can see everything without waiting!

Last year when we went -
MK 9 to 6
Epcot Future world 9 to 7
Epcot world showcase 11 to 9 (illuminations at 9)
AK 9-5
Studios 9-8 or 9 (with 1 showing of Fantasmic at close)

It gives you a lot of time to do stuff in the evenings, although a few nights it poured!!

As for the movie/campfire, I think it's a wonderful idea! There is a petting farm with pony rides ($3) near the Settlement area of FW. Closes early, so check!! Trail's end restaurant is also there ($16 for dinner buffet, good deal!). The campfire program is at the Meadows area, you'll need to take a bus. The parking lot is at the Outpost area. There are internal busses running from outpost to settlement & back. You can ask which also stops at the campfire.

Where are you staying? Will you have a car? There are several ways to get to FW, and the best depends on car vs no car & which resort. There are boats that runs to the MK & the contemporary, but the MK part will probably not be running past 7 or so. I've heard they go to the contemp until 10 most nights.

You'll probably want to post a question with your specifics on the transportation board. They'll help

 

[ScottJoy]

I took my two daughters to the Fort Wilderness campfire in October 2000, when they were 8 and 5, and we had a great time. I thought the complete s'mores kit was a good value, too, or you can bring your own ingredients.