Fort Wilderness Campground @ Christmas time?

[TinkBride]

DH and I are arriving the Saturday after Thanksgiving and staying for a week. We have a full day plan of hotel hopping to see all the Christmas decorations, etc. while we are there. I know that the campers at Fort Wilderness tend to go all out with the decorations. But, before I find a day to make a trip to see the decor, I have a few questions:

1. Will there be a lot of decorations around the campsites the week after Thanksgiving? Or is that too early for people to start decorating?

2. Since DH and I are not staying at FW - will we be able to walk around and see the campsite decorations? Or will we not be able to get in since we are not camping there?

3. Will the campers mind if we are just walking around checking out their campsites? I don't want to be creepy stalker like, but I have heard numerous times that the campers love for people to stop by and check out their decorations.........is this true? Or will it be rude to do so?

4. Any suggestions for a walking route??

I dont want to offend anyone or make anyone uneasy if we are just randomnly wandering around FW to look at decorations. I have just heard so many great things, I would love to check it out if possible.

TIA!

 

[BradyBz12]

You can definitely visit the Fort and take a stroll and enjoy the decorations. Campers go all out to be sure and most love it when people stop by to admire their handiwork.

There should be a fair number of Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving, with more going up day by day.

The Fort is a pretty big place to walk, but some of the biggest displays aren't far from the marina area. MAP HERE

2 of the biggest displays by the "regulars" are on the 100 loop bordering the Settlement (there's a walking path that goes right by) and the end of the 700 loop - you'll see that one as soon as you exit the Settlement area.

You can hop a boat from MK or Poly or Contemp and walk from there, or take a bus to the Fort from DTD or any of the parks to the Fort. That will drop you at the Outpost (front) area and then take an interior bus down to the Settlement/marina.

If you're walking through the Fort at night, a flashlight would be a good idea.

Have fun!

 

[Trackey79]

DH and I are arriving the Saturday after Thanksgiving and staying for a week. We have a full day plan of hotel hopping to see all the Christmas decorations, etc. while we are there. I know that the campers at Fort Wilderness tend to go all out with the decorations. But, before I find a day to make a trip to see the decor, I have a few questions:

1. Will there be a lot of decorations around the campsites the week after Thanksgiving? Or is that too early for people to start decorating?

2. Since DH and I are not staying at FW - will we be able to walk around and see the campsite decorations? Or will we not be able to get in since we are not camping there?

3. Will the campers mind if we are just walking around checking out their campsites? I don't want to be creepy stalker like, but I have heard numerous times that the campers love for people to stop by and check out their decorations.........is this true? Or will it be rude to do so?

4. Any suggestions for a walking route??

I dont want to offend anyone or make anyone uneasy if we are just randomnly wandering around FW to look at decorations. I have just heard so many great things, I would love to check it out if possible.

TIA!

Thus far we have only been to the Fort once in Nov in 2007 (our second Nov trip is right around the corner) and it was during the week of Veterans' Day. But even that early we were able to see quite a few decorations. I am hoping for the same this year as we will be back for the Veterans' Day week. Hope this helps.

 

[trasor]

When we went last Dec., we rented a golf cart there and drove around the campsites. I would definitely try to go at night to get the full affect. There is one restaurant and 2 dinner shows at Fort Wilderness if you want to spend an evening there. The rental fee was $59.00. Whether you walk or ride, it is definitely something to see.

 

[RocklandRVers]

Nobody will mind you walking around and looking. Its why we decorate!!

You are going to find the Fort to be like one big happy neighborhood where people decorate their homes away from home some very elaborately with walk through set ups. Some hand out candy and will be there to wish you Merry Christmas. We love it and it why we will spend our Christmas there again this year. Can't wait!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Would I be pushing my luck for a good amount of decorations on Nov 14? when do the regulars with the bigger stuff show up (castle show guy?!). Truing to decide if we should do Chip and Dale or campsite tour!

 

[TinkBride]

When we went last Dec., we rented a golf cart there and drove around the campsites. I would definitely try to go at night to get the full affect. There is one restaurant and 2 dinner shows at Fort Wilderness if you want to spend an evening there. The rental fee was $59.00. Whether you walk or ride, it is definitely something to see.

Ooohh I did not even think about renting a golf cart! excellent idea!!

 

[BradyBz12]

Would I be pushing my luck for a good amount of decorations on Nov 14? when do the regulars with the bigger stuff show up (castle show guy?!).

Ok amount, yes. "Good" amount... probably not so much.

We left 11/20 last year and 100 and 700 displays were pretty much done (or at least huge by then), but the guy on 1600 (the one Shan calls the "overachiever") was only partway through his display with more going up each night.

IIRC from another thread Dave the Castle Guy isn't going to be there until the 2nd week of December-ish.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Thanks for your response Brady!

 

[LarryJ]

DH and I are arriving the Saturday after Thanksgiving and staying for a week. We have a full day plan of hotel hopping to see all the Christmas decorations, etc. while we are there. I know that the campers at Fort Wilderness tend to go all out with the decorations. But, before I find a day to make a trip to see the decor, I have a few questions:

1. Will there be a lot of decorations around the campsites the week after Thanksgiving? Or is that too early for people to start decorating?

2. Since DH and I are not staying at FW - will we be able to walk around and see the campsite decorations? Or will we not be able to get in since we are not camping there?

3. Will the campers mind if we are just walking around checking out their campsites? I don't want to be creepy stalker like, but I have heard numerous times that the campers love for people to stop by and check out their decorations.........is this true? Or will it be rude to do so?

4. Any suggestions for a walking route??

I dont want to offend anyone or make anyone uneasy if we are just randomnly wandering around FW to look at decorations. I have just heard so many great things, I would love to check it out if possible.

TIA!

When we stay over Xmas we also like to resort hop to see all the decorations and there is no way you are going to see even 50% and probably around 25% in one day. Renting a GC just for FW and driving around all the sites will take a good hour or two if you include renting the cart and returning it and to see just the MK resorts (CR, Poly, GF) will take you a good 2 or 3 hours and then add another hour for just the AKL and another for WL and you now have hit 1/3 of the some 20 odd WDW resorts in about 7 hours which includes getting to each resort and you haven't even had lunch or have time for that.

If you have to limit the resorts here are the ones I would do in order of interest:

FW
GF
Poly
AKL
WL
CR

If you have never visited them All Star Sports/Music/Movies and Pop Century are good just for the normal decor.

Larry