FW touring on resort day

[kayteekt]

Had asked this over on the FW board but hadn't gotten a response...thought I'd try here.

Looking to spend part of our resort day at the Fort. Thought we'd do a meal at trails end. Then explore a little. Have some questions and thought I'd go go straight to the experts Any insight much appreciated!

Our trip is end of October. Literally... checking out the 30th. Group is 4 adults, 3 kids (girls 5 & 8, boy is 4)
#1 - Would like to tour the cabins/campgrounds a bit to check out the Halloween decorations. Will have a car, should we drive over? Or can we walk through a bit to view? DH prefers to do Disney transport. We've never been to FW so I'm just not sure how big and how it's laid out.
#2 - when is the Halloween golf cart parade? Do they do more than 1, i would love love love to see but not sure of the schedule
#3 - what meal is best at trails end? Since it's part of our resort/pool day i would want to do either breakfast and stay a few hours or an early dinner and sight see afterwards.
#4 lastly, i think we'd enjoy the wagon or carriage ride...where do you go to sign up for that and youdo it there, right...not in advance? What is the differencebetween the two. Price wise i think it would becomparable. Is the wagon ride more of an actual tour with guide telling history, etc? (That does appeal to me more).

Anything else to do while visiting? I saw the pony rides, but need to keep cost moderate. Any tips welcome.Thanks!

 

[bama_ed]

kayteekt,

I can help you with that. First let me say that I see your previous, similar post was on the Resorts board in the big FW thread (it looks like each resort has a mega-thread). But there is an entire board dedicated to Fort Wilderness cabins and camping (and visiting) which is here http://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/ there are a lot of good folks over there who can help answer your questions.

Let me warn you that Halloween is a VERY busy time at the Fort. But it is one of the best. All the campsites are full and on 10/31 (late in the day) kids can trick or treat around the camping loops (the cabins don't get much foot traffic). On 10/31 you would not be able to drive over and park at FW - too many cars. Any other day you might. Or you might be redirected over to Wilderness Lodge to park there and bus over. Or that could be your first choice. Or wherever you're staying, take Disney transportation to the MK and then take the direct boat from MK to the Fort.

I'm not sure how long Halloween decorations stay out into early November as people pack up, take the decorations down, and go home.

Breakfast at Trails End is a buffet only. Good value but still with 3 kids can get pricey. Dinner is also a buffet, also a good value. Lunch is table service off a menu and gets mixed reviews. Trails End also has a take-out menu and on the menu is a 8-piece fried chicken dinner with 2 sides (mash potatoes, mac and cheese, etc.) and cornbread. It's about $25 and we get it with an upcharge of a few bucks for all breast pieces. Couple that with drinks and TE will provide paper plates and plastic knife/fork/spoon on request and you have an affordable dinner you can eat on the picnic tables on the side porch of TE or at the tables down by the nearby beach/boat dock.

FW is a mile long. They have a campfire singalong with Chip & Dale every night before the nightly movie and you can roast marshmallows over the fire. C&D circulate among the crowd (each takes one side of the assembly) and they will pose for pix, sign autographs, etc. No need to line up - they will come around all the seats and bleachers.

The bus and wagon rides are in the late afternoon and evenings and you can load up down by Trails End along the fence opposite the restaurant. The wagon loads on the end by the bathrooms and ticket/concierge windows and the carriage down by the dock and Settlement Trading Post. I can't say if you get a narration of any kind. They ride through some loops and you can see the campers and decorations and such.

There is a good map of the Fort here in post 9 which also shows the 3 internal bus lines (to save you some walking): http://www.disboards.com/threads/fort-wilderness-resort-information-a-work-in-progress.3502095/

Here is last October's movie and activity list which shows the golf cart parade time and trick-or-treat time:





Of course there is no guarantee in advance of the schedule of Halloween events until this calendar comes out around the first of October but it will likely be similar to this. But you are welcome to come over and visit.

Bama Ed

 

[kayteekt]

kayteekt,

I can help you with that. First let me say that I see your previous, similar post was on the Resorts board in the big FW thread (it looks like each resort has a mega-thread). But there is an entire board dedicated to Fort Wilderness cabins and camping (and visiting) which is here http://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/ there are a lot of good folks over there who can help answer your questions.

Let me warn you that Halloween is a VERY busy time at the Fort. But it is one of the best. All the campsites are full and on 10/31 (late in the day) kids can trick or treat around the camping loops (the cabins don't get much foot traffic). On 10/31 you would not be able to drive over and park at FW - too many cars. Any other day you might. Or you might be redirected over to Wilderness Lodge to park there and bus over. Or that could be your first choice. Or wherever you're staying, take Disney transportation to the MK and then take the direct boat from MK to the Fort.

I'm not sure how long Halloween decorations stay out into early November as people pack up, take the decorations down, and go home.

Breakfast at Trails End is a buffet only. Good value but still with 3 kids can get pricey. Dinner is also a buffet, also a good value. Lunch is table service off a menu and gets mixed reviews. Trails End also has a take-out menu and on the menu is a 8-piece fried chicken dinner with 2 sides (mash potatoes, mac and cheese, etc.) and cornbread. It's about $25 and we get it with an upcharge of a few bucks for all breast pieces. Couple that with drinks and TE will provide paper plates and plastic knife/fork/spoon on request and you have an affordable dinner you can eat on the picnic tables on the side porch of TE or at the tables down by the nearby beach/boat dock.

FW is a mile long. They have a campfire singalong with Chip & Dale every night before the nightly movie and you can roast marshmallows over the fire. C&D circulate among the crowd (each takes one side of the assembly) and they will pose for pix, sign autographs, etc. No need to line up - they will come around all the seats and bleachers.

The bus and wagon rides are in the late afternoon and evenings and you can load up down by Trails End along the fence opposite the restaurant. The wagon loads on the end by the bathrooms and ticket/concierge windows and the carriage down by the dock and Settlement Trading Post. I can't say if you get a narration of any kind. They ride through some loops and you can see the campers and decorations and such.

There is a good map of the Fort here in post 9 which also shows the 3 internal bus lines (to save you some walking): http://www.disboards.com/threads/fort-wilderness-resort-information-a-work-in-progress.3502095/

Here is last October's movie and activity list which shows the golf cart parade time and trick-or-treat time:

View attachment 185116

View attachment 185117

Of course there is no guarantee in advance of the schedule of Halloween events until this calendar comes out around the first of October but it will likely be similar to this. But you are welcome to come over and visit.

Bama Ed

Thanks so much for the info. Didn't think about trying that other thread, will def check out!
Good to see last years schedule. Looks like we'll prob miss the halloween activities, we're checking out on the 30th and our resort day will be either the 28th or 29th.
Thanks again!

 

[lpizzuro123]

This is a great idea. Would love to get to Ft Wilderness and do the wagon ride, have dinner at Trails End and then try to catch Wishes.

We will be in WDW the last week of October and first week of November. I can get dinner reservations for either 11/30, 11/31 or 11/2. Do you think the decorations would still be there on 11/2?