Ft. Wilderness campfire question..

[MJwritestuff]

Thanks to the great posts here, I think we'll do the campfire.
Seeing as this is our second visit in two years, I don't want the "magic" to completely gone, so I'm trying to do as many new things as possible and concentrate on relaxing this time to appreciate it all, rather than our commando visit last year!

My questions: We'll be staying at the Poly with dd7 and twin b/g just turning 9. Is it difficult and time consuming to get to Ft. Wilderness? We'll have a car, but I hate to use it if we don't have to. I love the campfire idea and would like to go if they have it in November. Do you sit on the ground? Take blankets?

Also, my girls are horse freaks - is there any horseback riding there that is more than just a led-pony ride?

I had also read wonderful things about the Disney Wilderness Preserve about an hour away with a buggy ride for $7.00. Anyone ever do this?

Thanks all for your help - if these boards weren't so addictive, I'd be getting some cleaning done right now! (I'm going to need to wean myself off slowly...)

- MJ

 

[melk]

I'll try and answer some of your questions.
If you are staying at the Poly I think I would take the monorail to the Contemporary and then the boat launch over to Fort Wilderness. If you take your car you have to park at the main reception outpost (not sure if that's what it's called) and then take a bus to the campfire program. You can't drive your car right to it. Either way would probably take about the same amount of time, it's up to you.

You don't have to sit on the ground at the campfire. They have bleachers and benches. You may want a blanket if the weather is cool. Don't forget to bring your marshmallows...if not they have everything there to buy for marshmallow roasting, making smores, drinks, etc. And it's reasonable!!

As for the horseback riding, they do offer it, but I'm not sure how old your children have to be. Someone else may be able to help you on that. Ditto for the buggy ride. We've never done that. We have done the hayride. That was okay.

We usually go over by boat to FW and have dinner at the Trail's End buffet (I think it's one of WDW's best kept secrets). We usually check out the petting farm, do the pony rides (my kids are younger) and explore FW before the campfire. But you will love it. It's one of our families favorite things to do! You may want to bring a flashlight, it is pretty dark there and watch out for the armadillos!!

Have a great time!

 

[melk]

One more thing I forgot to post. Check out the camping board before you go. Someone there usually posts the movies for the month so you can plan ahead of time which night you want to see the movie. They also do a sing-a-long before the movie begins and you can just go to that if you want to.

 

[MJwritestuff]

Well, any post that mentions armadillos is a winner! I'll let my kids discover those on their own - they are actually looking forward to seeing the lizards again, so I can't imagine what kind of a froth seeing an armadillo will toss them into!(We have half a roll of film of lizards from last year!)

Thank you for the advice - now we'll be sure not to miss it, and we'll leave the car and take the monorail then boat.

Thanks! MJ

 

[mathgeek]

Just another thought, you could also make a stop at WL along the way (there is a boat from MK or the Contemporary that stops there) and see the geyser and search for hidden Mickey's inside (you can ask for a list of hints at guest services). Then there is a bus from WL that takes you almost directly to the campfire at FW. I did this last month and found the campfire, sing-a-long, and movie to be one of WDW's best kept secrets.