Spending a day at Fort Wilderness

goofy4wdw2

DIS Veteran
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Aug 10, 2004
Messages
1,334
We are doing a resort only trip in April. Staying at Saratoga Springs. We’re planning to do things we don’t usually make time for and Fort Wilderness is one of them. If you had a day to spend visiting FW, what would you do and/or what’s not to miss? If you’ve done the Archery Experience, do you recommend it? Thanks!
 
We are doing a resort only trip in April. Staying at Saratoga Springs. We’re planning to do things we don’t usually make time for and Fort Wilderness is one of them. If you had a day to spend visiting FW, what would you do and/or what’s not to miss? If you’ve done the Archery Experience, do you recommend it? Thanks!
We love going to Ft. Wilderness for a day!

1. Rent a bike
2. Go on a trail ride
3. Go to the campfire
4. Hoop De Doo Review!
 
Walk or as mentioned tent a bike or golf cart for a day and go looping, spend some time going into the camping areas and seeing all the nice rigs and, going in April I’m sure there will be campers that have Easter decorations out.

Make a ADR for Trails End, it is a nice buffet with home style foods, (fried chicken, brisket, ribs and all the fixings). Then spend some time at the beach and watch the MK fireworks, you will only be able to see the higher ones and they pipe the sound in. Stay for the electric water parade.

There are lots of things to do at the Fort and that is why some many people love staying there.
 
Walk or as mentioned tent a bike or golf cart for a day and go looping, spend some time going into the camping areas and seeing all the nice rigs and, going in April I’m sure there will be campers that have Easter decorations out.

Make a ADR for Trails End, it is a nice buffet with home style foods, (fried chicken, brisket, ribs and all the fixings). Then spend some time at the beach and watch the MK fireworks, you will only be able to see the higher ones and they pipe the sound in. Stay for the electric water parade.

There are lots of things to do at the Fort and that is why some many people love staying there.

Since you seem to be a Ft expert, can you (or anyone!) please help me figure out my day. We are staying at Pop, but will like to try spending a non park day there. The things on my to do list are pony rides, Trails End (maybe, or is there a good quick service??) and the campfire (and maybe more??). When we park the car can we just walk to all these places or are they far apart? I have never been to the Ft and am unfamilar with the set up. Also, would the timing to do those things work? Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks OP for starting the thread! :)
 

Since you seem to be a Ft expert, can you (or anyone!) please help me figure out my day. We are staying at Pop, but will like to try spending a non park day there. The things on my to do list are pony rides, Trails End (maybe, or is there a good quick service??) and the campfire (and maybe more??). When we park the car can we just walk to all these places or are they far apart? I have never been to the Ft and am unfamilar with the set up. Also, would the timing to do those things work? Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks OP for starting the thread! :)

First thing first, the Fort is huge. It is one mile from the Outpost (check in area) to the Settlement, ( pony rides, Trails End and boats to MK, WL, and Cont.). If you are in good health walking will not be an issue. ( I can walk from the front, all the camping loops and down to the Settlement in an hour, and I’m almost 50).

If walking isn’t your thing or you have health issues, there is an internal bus system that goes to all these places, you can’t drive your car, there is no parking.

When you come in the gate park in the parking lot and head over to the bus stop. There you can get one of three internal busses. The marquee will say yellow, orange or purple. Yellow will be the quickest. The busses will announce what stop they are coming to. If you take the yellow bus you will want to get off when they announce 1500, meadows pool and trading post. There you will find bike rentals, archery canoe rental and the Segway tour (advance reservations for archery and Segway tour) and the campfire and singalong with Chip and Dale. If you want to do the pony rides and go to Trails End stay on the bus until it gets to the Settlement depot.
Trails End will be the big building down the path on tour left. The pony rides will also be on your left.

The is quick service at the Meadows pool, probably the same things they serve at every pool. Right next to Trails End is P&J’s another quick serve, selling pizza and fried chicken and other items.

Horse back riding is at the Outpost right behind the bus stop.

Don’t let the bus situation detour you from visiting. There are 2 of each bus running in opposite directions so if you miss one you may have to wait about 10 minutes for the next. If you get off at the Meadows pool or stay for the campfire, the marquee will tell you where the bus is going, yellow Outpost (parking lot), yellow Settlement ( Trails End boat to MK).

Sorry for the long post, hope this helps.
 
First thing first, the Fort is huge. It is one mile from the Outpost (check in area) to the Settlement, ( pony rides, Trails End and boats to MK, WL, and Cont.). If you are in good health walking will not be an issue. ( I can walk from the front, all the camping loops and down to the Settlement in an hour, and I’m almost 50).

If walking isn’t your thing or you have health issues, there is an internal bus system that goes to all these places, you can’t drive your car, there is no parking.

When you come in the gate park in the parking lot and head over to the bus stop. There you can get one of three internal busses. The marquee will say yellow, orange or purple. Yellow will be the quickest. The busses will announce what stop they are coming to. If you take the yellow bus you will want to get off when they announce 1500, meadows pool and trading post. There you will find bike rentals, archery canoe rental and the Segway tour (advance reservations for archery and Segway tour) and the campfire and singalong with Chip and Dale. If you want to do the pony rides and go to Trails End stay on the bus until it gets to the Settlement depot.
Trails End will be the big building down the path on tour left. The pony rides will also be on your left.

The is quick service at the Meadows pool, probably the same things they serve at every pool. Right next to Trails End is P&J’s another quick serve, selling pizza and fried chicken and other items.

Horse back riding is at the Outpost right behind the bus stop.

Don’t let the bus situation detour you from visiting. There are 2 of each bus running in opposite directions so if you miss one you may have to wait about 10 minutes for the next. If you get off at the Meadows pool or stay for the campfire, the marquee will tell you where the bus is going, yellow Outpost (parking lot), yellow Settlement ( Trails End boat to MK).

Sorry for the long post, hope this helps.

Oh my goodness, thank you so much!!!! This was super helpful and informative! :thanks:
 
My daughter and husband did the archery experience when she was 10 years old. They enjoyed it. It was a fun introduction for people who've never tried archery before.
 
I loved the Segway tour. Lots of fun and got to see stuff not open to the public.
 












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