Camping at Disney?

[wdisneyaholic]

HI,

Just found the camping section, I would Never have thought of camping at WDW until recently. Hubby and I are thinking of getting a camper. Has anyone camped at Disney and what are your thoughts? Does it still have the MAgic?

It really never occured to me of camping at Disney, I always just thought of booking the hotel etc. Can anyone let me know there experiences? We would be traveling with 3 small children.

Thanks

 

[Kermit]

Most people who post on this board have camped at FW and love it. FW is probably the best campground you will ever go to. (I only say probably because not everyone has the same tastes.) You can make a vacation out of just the campground without going to the parks. The convenient transportation to the parks is a huge bonus.

The campsites are generally well shaded and pretty big. There are plenty of restrooms (called comfort stations) that are clean and have nice showers. You can also wash your clothes and buy ice at the comfort stations.

There is lots to do for fun. You can ride bikes (rent them if you don't bring them), rent a canoe, go fishing, walk on the beach, swim, go to the gift shops, go to the petting farm, or attend the nightly singalong and movie with Chip and Dale. There are lots of other things to do; this is just the tip of the iceburg.

As for magic, my first trip to WDW was when I was in high school with my best friend's family. She was one of 4 girls, so between us and her parents, there were 7 of us in one small pop-up. I still had a blast and have been addicted to Disney ever since.

 

[Rhonda]

You definitely feel the "magic" at Fort Wilderness! There is so much to do! There is a campfire program every night - it starts with a singalong around a big campfire with Chip & Dale, then they show a full length Disney movie on the outdoor screen. It's free to WDW resort guests!

There are two trading posts that sell, along with groceries and camping essentials, Disney shirts and other clothes and lots of souvenirs!

There is a hayride every night at 6:30. There is a petting farm and blacksmith shop to visit - the kids love this! They can feed the goats!

The Trail's End Buffet serves all 3 meals at reasonable prices - and the food is very good! It's served in a fun, western-style restaurant.

You will have a wonderful time at FW! You won't want to stay anywhere else again!

 

[We4mickey]

We have been too many times to count. If it gives you any idea about how much we like it. Our 2 sons now 16 and 11 have told us that they will not go to DW if we don't stay at FW. I think that in itself says a lot about the campground. We love it. You can make a vacation just staying there and doing everything. It is something I would suggest trying at least once. I'm sure you will then try it again and again.

 

[sltrawick]

I just thought I would add my 2cents on FW. It's the ultimate place to camp. It's magical....IT'S DISNEY!
The sites are very well maintained. They sweep and blow off the campsite before you set up. Very clean. (it's like you are the first person to ever camp on that site).
We have been going to FW since my kids were little. They love it. We give them the 2 way radio's and off they go. There are playgrounds on just about every loop. They have 2 pools, tennis courts, volley ball, biking, canoeing, fishing, the beach, River Country is there. There is just too much stuff to name. We go for 10 days and we take just a couple of days to do nothing but hang around the campground. It's that big.
You must bring your bikes, but if you don't, they have golf carts to rent daily or weekly. Have a great time!

 

[Lisa P.]

If you are comparing it to other campgrounds, you will surely see the "magic." It's very green, naturally appealing, shady and restful - doesn't feel as if you are right in the middle of the bustle yet you don't forget you're at Disney. The "theme" is subtle and woodsy. The trading posts are charming and birds are everywhere! The bike paths are delightful. With most people at the parks during the day, it's especially relaxing. Watching the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach & marina of your resort is only possible at deluxe resorts, yet you can do that at FWC too. It's really a very lovely place to spend your vacation.

If you are comparing it to other Disney resort hotels, you won't note the obvious theme. There are no water slides or hot tubs (sadly). There is no campsite delivery of packages or pizzas. Those things must be picked up at a trading post/restaurant in the campground. Some of the transport buses do require a transfer to another bus, boat or monorail before you reach your destination park. The check-in is a drive-up, so no intricately detailed lobby. There is no regular sitdown restaurant (though the buffet meals at Trails End are quite tasty and a good value for a Disney buffet). Everything is very spread out - which adds to the camping restfulness and adds to the transportation time.

So compare it to camping anywhere else, and you will LOVE it. Compare it to the upscale services at the moderate and deluxe hotels, and you may appreciate it less. Depends on what you're seeking. We absolutely love it!