Halloween campsites at Fort Wilderness

[Voguevamp]

Hi there,

I'm going to be in WDW the weekend before Halloween. I've heard great things about the fan-made Halloween campsites and wanted to check them out. Does anyone know how late at night they are "open?" I wanted to come by late, but don't want all the lights and effects to be turned off, etc.

Also does anyone know when the Halloween golf cart parade is?

Thanks!

 

[bama_ed]

Hiya Voguevamp.

With regards to the golf cart parade, it is traditionally on the day before Halloween, Oct 30, around 5-530pm. (I participated in the 2017 parade). The carts queue up between the horse ride corrals up near the check-in area and the start of the camping loops and then ride slowly straight down the main road past The Meadow Trading Post (the ground zero of the parade, judges, etc.) down to the T-intersection by loops 100/400/700. From there people in the parade either ride back to their sites or pull over to watch the carts behind them. So you can stand or sit along the route or bring a folding chair and enjoy the parade. Once the October Recreation Calendar is put out around Oct 1, it will be posted on the Camping Forum and we will know the date/time for certain.

Decorations are up to each campsite guest and some folks cut them off before they turn in to sleep so I would say dusk-sunset or soon thereafter is the time to see decorations. If you do come by late you run the risk of them being turned off although many folks do leave them on.

Bama Ed

 

[Voguevamp]

Thanks so much this was super helpful!

 

[tltay2005]

Thanks so much this was super helpful!

We have been (and going again this year) and what Ed says about the parade is correct, it has always been on the 30th. As for the site decorations, most leave them on until late (10pm - midnight) and some even all night. I think there will be plenty for you to see

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Hi, I thought the Halloween golf cart parade had been starting at 4PM recently? Or is that only true for the Christmas one?

 

[bama_ed]

Hi, I thought the Halloween golf cart parade had been starting at 4PM recently? Or is that only true for the Christmas one?

I don't recall Christmas off hand but here was the calendar of activities from last year (2018).

But you never know until the October 2019 calendar comes out.

Bama Ed

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Oh, I see. I think the Halloween golf cart parade started at 4PM in 2017. Maybe the start time can change from one year to the next.

 

[bama_ed]

Oh, I see. I think the Halloween golf cart parade started at 4PM in 2017. Maybe the start time can change from one year to the next.

Right. That's why we tell people to wait until the October calendar comes out. People have tried to time ADRs, FP's, etc. around the times on LAST years' calendar and like you say, there can be minor, even major, changes to the schedule of Halloween events.

Bama Ed

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Right. That's why we tell people to wait until the October calendar comes out. People have tried to time ADRs, FP's, etc. around the times on LAST years' calendar and like you say, there can be minor, even major, changes to the schedule of Halloween events.

Bama Ed

Oops. I'd already timed my ADRs, FPs, etc. around the 2017 start time, not knowing it had changed last year, as I wasn't there for that one. Well, if this year's parade start time is not what I'd guessed, I'm going to have to re-arrange a bunch of my plans for that day.

 

[bama_ed]

Well, not to belabor the point, but like I said, I was in the 2017 Halloween parade. And we were lined up and ready to start at 4pm IIRC. But we didn't start rolling until about 420pm.

Why?

Because Chip & Dale were LATE getting there. They rolled past us in the horse drawn wagon that leads the parade down the street at 419pm coming up from behind us. They got to the front then OFF we went.

So even if a time is scheduled, hey, we're all on vacation. No rush.

But yes, you'll have to wait till the October calendar comes out to know for sure. But it is a lot of fun to see. And after the parade is over, the top 3 choices of the judges (one for best Fort theme, one for best Disney them, one for ??) were parked on the grass in front of Trails End porch for an hour or so and people could vote for best overall in person.

And they had all the carved pumpkins out for viewing...

It'll be fun.

Bama Ed