My Photo Walk around Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge (about 100 photos)

[nbodyhome]

For anyone interested, I added a Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge section to the Disney walks on my site (well, the Boardwalk was my first and only one so far). I have 100 or so photos between FW and WL, most at FW.

I've probably walked FW for a couple of hundred miles or so over the last few years! It's one of my favorite places there.

 

[CCIntrigue]

These photos are wonderful, especially for anyone who hasn't been to FW and wants a good overview. They took forever to download on my dialup, but they were worth every minute! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[nbodyhome]

I am sorry it took so long to download! My husband had told me to keep the photos small, which I did - and I divided it into 2 reports, I just wanted to make sure everyone could see them!

I really do love Fort Wilderness - I may do an evening walk for the site sometime, where I can get deer and armadillos (and/or maybe one for the Halloween and/or Christmas, with all the decorations in the loops). I have a lot of different walks I plan to do, but I started with my two favorite and most walked (the Boardwalk and the FW/WL loop).

Thanks again! A lot of people seem overwhelmed by FW, and I hope it helps them too. It's a great place to walk and ride a bike, and not that far between many areas.

 

[Mickster]

Wow! Loved your pictures. I was there on the 15th too. What a lot of fun!

 

[Sweedee]

We have been IN Ft. Wilderness, but have never stayed there. Our first trip is in the fall, and we are looking forward to it. Thanks for taking the time to familiarize us a little!

 

[CCIntrigue]

I am sorry it took so long to download!

No apology necessary! I just wanted to let anyone else who has dialup know that they are well worth the wait. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining. Will look forward to seeing more of your photos!

 

[Shannone1]

For anyone interested, I added a Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge section to the Disney walks on my site (well, the Boardwalk was my first and only one so far). I have 100 or so photos between FW and WL, most at FW.

I've probably walked FW for a couple of hundred miles or so over the last few years! It's one of my favorite places there.

Thanks Denise...that was great !!

We are headed there over Easter for our first trip and seeing all those pictures really got me excited all over again !! Do you have any pictures of your site...or other sites ?? I'd like to get an idea of the size of the campsites.

 

[pezheadval]

I love your pics! Makes me feel like I'm there!

 

[nbodyhome]

Thanks everyone! And CC Intrigue - I didn't think you were complaining, I just felt bad!

As far as a site - I didn't stay there that day (I have stayed there, but I am local and much of the time I go there to walk, to have something to eat, to do the wagon ride, etc.) It does look like one of the posters above has a picture of a site. They are a pretty good size, the tent sites have enough room for a car and a tent. The last time I stayed there, it was only for a night - I decided not to put the tent up, I just slept in the car.

 

[Mickster]

I can post a picture or two of where we were - once I clear up some space on my laptop!

 

[swillis]

That was very nice...felt like I was on a personal walking tour with you Thanks!

 

[CCIntrigue]

My signature photo is site 1903. Oops - thought I was responding to a private message, but it ended up here, and I don't know how to delete it. Sorry.

 

[nbodyhome]

That looks like a really nice RV! It's interesting to see how long (months) some RV'ers stay, bringing their satellite dishes and decorations and such.

 

[CottontailCurl]

For anyone interested, I added a Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge section to the Disney walks on my site (well, the Boardwalk was my first and only one so far). I have 100 or so photos between FW and WL, most at FW.
I've probably walked FW for a couple of hundred miles or so over the last few years! It's one of my favorite places there.

Wow, that was an awesome photo journal of your walk!! I've always felt that if I lived near Disney, I'd be in 'mall walker's paradise'! I only imagined a couple turns around world showcase, but that FW/WL treck would definitely do it for me!!

I don't think people realize how little walking it takes to get through and around Fort Wilderness. One morning we were going to breakfast at Trail's End and leaving from the 800 loop (that's 2 loops up and across from the Meadow's Trading Post) and I said we should walk it, it's just right up the road. My husband said no way, I'll take the bus. We timed it at 7 minutes (that's with a daughter stopping to check out lizards and other critters ). We were checked in, enjoying our breakfast drinks and waiting at Trail's End for at least 5 minutes before they showed up.

(As an aside, I'd like to direct everyone's attention back to Luke's nameplate; I looked at it and my first thought was 'we could safely tow him!' I've definitely been looking at too many GVW and DVW . That pony weighs the same as a pop-up but has no bunk end, Luke you slacker!!
http://www.denisesfitnessblog.com/images/129.jpg)

Thanks Denise for taking us with you!! I'm bookmarking your web page.

 

[nbodyhome]

Thanks so much (and for the pm, I just sent you - well, almost a whole book back!) FW really isn't that big. At my 3mph or so walking (I'm not a fast walker), I could get to the WL from the FW parking lot in about 40 minutes.

I remember being surprised being at the Settlement area a few years back, wandering some loops with a friend to see Christmas lights - and 10 or so minutes later we were at the Meadows! I'd never realized it was so close, it feels further by bus. Now it's one of my favorite walking areas at Disney. I can't wait for Halloween and Christmas there again!

And Luke is my favorite horse!

Oh - where is the old swamp trail? I haven't found that yet! I also found it interesting to find some cypress trees by the beach (there are so many at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, so it was cool to see them at Disney too).

 

[CottontailCurl]

Oh - where is the old swamp trail? I haven't found that yet! I also found it interesting to find some cypress trees by the beach (there are so many at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, so it was cool to see them at Disney too).

Here's a thread about it, post number 24 gives you directions to it; http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1324512.

Some of the campsites have cypress trees on them, there are alot of them on the edges of and in and around the loops. I love them because of the reminder of Fort Wilderness' swampy beginnings. On our last trip, one of our bus drivers said that FW goes back to nature during very heavy rains and becomes a bowl filled with the rains.

 

[Krisj]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them.

 

[nbodyhome]

Thanks for the information on the swamp trail, I didn't see the part with directions. I actually was right there on Sunday - I saw the swamp trail sign, I followed the path back as I've done before (not as far), but I'm not sure where the part with the swamp is yet! Darn, I guess I'll have to go back. Maybe that will be part III of FW! (on a day where I can photograph some more wildlife too).

I didn't even know what a cypress tree was until recently, being at the Disney Wilderness Preserve in December. I plan to do a walk there also, it's really a beautiful place, I loved sitting by the water (and walking the trail).

 

[chief19spixi]

wow great photos!! thanks for sharing!!

 

[nbodyhome]

You are welcome! I'll be adding more walks in the upcoming months. I plan to add the swamp walk (with a credit back to here, because I thought I'd already done it - I didn't follow the sign far enough, I can't wait to see it!) and to get photos of deer on the FW/WL path. Then I'm on to other areas of Disney. Epcot, Downtown Disney/Saratoga, Monorail Resorts, Pop, etc. I love to walk at Disney, so it's really fun to share that. I used to live less than 10 miles away, and I'm closer to 40 now - so I can only go a few times a month instead of a few times a week now.

I do love Fort Wilderness, and so many people are apprehensive of it - it's not so daunting once you've walked it.

I will say - I was on a path near the swamp walk area, and I think it ended (or else I just got nervous being back there by myself, I like to be where I know someone can hear me scream!) The main path to the WL is VERY travelled. I don't see as many people on the path behind the trading post, though I have seen a few. Someone on RADP mentioned the swamp walk too, but I know I've not seen it because of the photos here.