What's your favorite part.........

[Hollyann]

Hi there! DH and I are considering purchasing a camper (in a year or two - saving pennies!) and I'm thrilled about Fort Wilderness. Believe it or not, I didn't even know it existed! I've checked out the web pages and lurked through this entire site.

Would you be so kind as to tell me your favorite things about Fort Wilderness and some of your best times/stories? I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks!

 

[MrKTI]

While there are lots of things to do at FW, we just like to drive around in our golf cart and look for people we know, or just see all the different types of camping units.

You can meet quite a variety of folks, like any other campground, but here they all have a least one thing in common.

Fun to see all the Disney 'special effects' too. Some are pretty cool and creative.

Works on a bike too, of course ...

John

 

[Memph1s]

Our favorite part of FW is sight seeing and exploring the campground. There is just so much to see and do. Our first time at the fort just blew us away. FW is like no other campground we have ever seen. How many campgrounds have you ever heard of that have 2 swimming pools, tennis, basketball, volleyball, tetherball, shuffle boards, horseshoes, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, power boats, pontoon boats, a marina, a beach, 2 horse stables, restaurants, a bar, 2 arcades, 2 shops, bikes, golf carts, fishing, petting zoo, hay ride, horse drawn carriage, nature trails and an outdoor theater with campfire sing-a-long. Not to mention all the golf courses, four theme parks and two water parks right next door.

I would also suggest you not wait a year or two until you get a camper. FW is a great place to tent camp. The comfort stations have central air and heat. They have washers and dryers. There is a large utility sink in the laundry room with hot and cold running water were you can do dishes just like at home. We have a popup now but started camping at FW in a 20 + year-old tent. Most of the equipment you need to tent camp will be needed in your camper anyway. Since the campsites have electricity you can bring a lot of the conveniences from home. We used to bring fans, lights, toaster, electric griddle, TV, radio, and in the summer I even rigged a A/C in the tent. But in the milder months a simple tent and good air-mattress is about all you need to have a great time at the fort. Often you can find great deals on camping equipment at garage sales and only pay pennies on the dollar.

 

[wildernessfamily]

I love so many things about Fort Wilderness but let me start with a few great memories: Watching the fireworks and Electrical light parade at the beach/marina area, the campfire singalong, going with extended family as all family members can find something they like to do even if it is just relaxing after a day at the park, being able to have our pet on site. That is just a FEW.

 

[Hollyann]

Thanks everyone! I'm SO encouraged. I hope to hear much more about Ft. Wilderness.

Memph1s - I talked to DH about tent camping as we already have our gear. He's open to that and it would be a great opportunity to visit the site.

He's excited about having a RV and camping/RVing all over, where as I am excited about camping on Disney. I think we'll be able to have a great time doing both!

Hope to hear from more of you and maybe see you at Fort Wilderness one day!

 

[welovemickey]

Our favorite part of FW is just being there! It is by far the nicest campground we've ever been to. We love the peaceful atmosphere. Our children love the freedom of riding their bikes and scooters around.

Don't wait for a camper . . . you'd enjoy it just as much in a tent!

 

[swilshire]

We stayed there in a tent a couple of times when my two oldest were small (they're 18 and 16 now). I loved it. My DH was less enthusiastic.

He stills throws our last visit up to me. Just mentioned it a few days ago. I believe it was in October. There had been an Encephalitus (sp?) outbreak that year and all the evening activities were cancelled. And it rained most of the week and was pretty cool.

In driving around the area, my husband figured out pretty quickly that all of the off-site hotels (with TVs and bathrooms as he continuously pointed out) were cheaper than our campground fee. We haven't been back since.

I still think it's a terrific place for kids and would stay in the cabins if I could afford it, but we've moved into timesharing and never looked back.

Sheila

 

[cavecricket]

My family has been camping there since 1979? or 1980? ... I just recently started staying at the hotels with my BF but the fam still camps, I must say while the hotels are nice, you tend to feel cooped up and like your wasting time if you decide to do a day at the resort, whereas the campgrounds have a certain something about them i cant explain it ( maybe its because i have been camping there my whole life) but I never feel like Im wasting time....I love feeding the ducks and chasing lizards, canoing and getting the golf cart!!! Trails end is the best, you cant beat their buffet prices, the petting zoo, the comfort stations are always super clean and well stocked. The campfire singalong and movie are also a favorite, and the view of the water parade is tops!!!

the only thing i would change are the pools, the are really nothing special like the other resorts. no slides or hot tubs and no themes like the value resorts. also no snack bar, they used to have one way back in the day but they did away with it. they do play background music and have a small arcade for kids.

almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PenskeSth1]

We have been staying at FW since 1986.. What I enjoy most is that the campground is so peaceful. I enjoy sitting under the awning watching people go by and also hit the electric light parade nightly..

The kids enjoy the pool and campfire sing-a-long..I enjoy that to but just until the singing is done and we have cooked a few marshmallows...

DH, Kids, and I all enjoy riding around on the golf cart..We like going the month of Christmas when everyone has their sites all decorated...

 

[LTUDawg]

If you like to camp, you'll love FW. We have (DW and 3 kids) family camped all over, starting in tents, our used TT and now a 5er. We have also been to WDW many times in the resorts. Once we combined the two, that was great!

That said, if you don't like camping you probably won't appreciate FW. But for my money I can"t think of a better time. See ya'll at Christmas!

 

[windsong]

There is a a lot to love about FW. I live in my 5th wheel full time so when I'm camped there, I'm home!

One thing I really like is the relaxed atmosphere after spending a day in the parks. Like someone said you don't feel cooped up, like in a motel room. You have your choice of eating out or eating in without too much bother. You are not sleeping in beds a thousand other people have slept in.

I like ordering nachos or wings from Trails End and eating in the rockers on the porch watching people go by.

I like walking down or taking the bus to the marina and hopping on a ferry to the MK and taking the ferry back at night. I love taking the ferry to the CT and hoping on the monorail and going to O'Hana's for dinner.

I love FW....I wish they had a yearly rate!

 

[duranfan]

I'm in my early 30s, been going to Ft. W since I was a baby.

I can not even estimate the time my family and friends have stayed over there.

My family is now on our 3rd generation of Ft W camper with the arrival of my nieces and nephews who LOVE Disney of course.

People in general are nice at Ft W. Its very relaxing. I love going down to Bay Lake on the white sandy beach.

Theres alot of things I miss from Ft. Wilderness "past'. They use to have trams and honestly a lot of people use to 'ride' them at night at camper grounds. Many of the drivers were wanna be comedians! lol Well now we rent golf carts to 'cruise' FT W.

Also, the original train was fun. I bet no one here remembers in the early 70s they use to have an antique truck circle the loops in the mornings with groceries.
Also, the game room in whats now Crockett's tavern has SO big compared to the little room its in now. Course, theres the game room at the pool.
Let me say this, IF you have family and kids you will create memories that last forever.

 

[TomM]

I'm with the rest of the people, FW is the greatest campground. Just arriving and setting up is a pleasue and exciting! It would be worth it just to camp there and never go to a park. Unless it's in the backcountry of a wilderness place, you can't beat camping at FW.