Fort Wilderness & My Trailer
by - Written: Feb 28 '07 (Updated Mar 05 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location, no fail hook-ups, clean
Cons: sites are a bit tight for camper plus vehicle, pay for wi-fi
The Bottom Line: Great location for a Disney vacation that actually includes some peace & quiet
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| GuisBuild's Full Review: Fort Wilderness Campground |
I generally don't write a review on a product or service if so many reviews have been written. Very fine, excellent reviews to be sure. Yet during our recent excursion down south we came to realize that unless one is reading something very recent when planning a trip, the information gathered may simply be out of date.
So here goes....Ford Wilderness
Located just a few waves away from Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness represents Disney's only venture into catering to the RV set. It is a wooded area, close to everything Disney yet with a feeling of 'remoteness' that lends itself to a true (though relatively pampered) camping experience.
Our experience centers around time spent in January 2007 with a 35' fifth wheel trailer, one four legged creature who thinks he's a child, and three actually children who sometimes behave like four legged creatures. Myself and my long-suffering wife rounded out our travel group.
For the RV-er
Each camping site at Fort Wilderness comes complete with paved area, picnic table & some form of wooded cover. That is to say, though our neighbors were about 10 feet from the side of our camper, there is enough tree coverage to make us feel a bit more alone. A sandy area with charcoal grill completed the actual site, found on a paved loop with trailers and motorhomes of varying sizes on both sides of the loop.
The downsides are lack of pull-throughs (as of this writing there are only two in the whole campground) and tight quarters when parking the extra vehicle each site is permited in addition to a camper.
Available hook-ups included water, sewer, electric & cable. Hook-ups varied based upon camper's needs/wants. In our particular case we went for the whole enchilada and experienced no problems with any services. In addition, we found ourselves on the (only) pet loop, keeping company with other animal owners who responsibly kept their canines on leashes and picked up after their furry friends - a task made easier by occasional stations with plastic bags for cleaning up.
Comfort stations are scattered throughout the campground, with our loop happening to have one conveniently located about a stone's throw from our site. Inside the stations were very clean bathrooms and showers, laundry facilities with multiple washers and dryers, vending machines and ice machines. These were accessible 24hrs a day, with our key cards (we got one of those even if we didn't have a traditional room) providing added security during later hours.
Other features regardless of whether one is camping in the traditional sense, or staying in a furnished cabin, included:
Golf Cart Rental - four seaters are available for rent and use around the campground only
Fitness buffs will find biking and jogging/walking trails which are well maintained, paved, and quite scenic.
Pools - there were two pools - both of which claimed to be heated to bathwater, but rather felt like they had topped off at about 65 degrees...in addition, during this "off season" the pool side snack areas were closed (in spite of the fact that we were in the mid 70s for temps)
Restaurant - there is now but one true restaurant at Fort Wilderness, namely Trail's End, a rustic-styled sit down restaurant with a breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet filled with camp-inspired food. Crockett's Tavern shares space with the restaurant but really consists only of one long bar with stools for drink ordering. If campers plan ahead, a nightly musical review/dinner show is put on next door to the restaurant.
Those visiting during prime times will also find Mickey's Backyard BBQ in full swing at night.
Stores - two stores are located at the campground, both selling assorted souvenirs and staples campers may have forgotten. They also serve as post offices and package pick up areas.
Recreation - besides pool and trails, a marina is in place which provides for boat rentals (and the take off point to the Magic Kingdom), a bike barn is present for rentals, and a petting barn of sorts has a few farm animals children can meet and greet. Horseback riding is available as well as carriage rides - all for a price.
Location
While campers at Disney may not have quite the "oomph" factor as those staying in the more pricey resorts, the family spirit found here makes a Disney vacation feel more about the family and less about the Mouse. Don't get me wrong, Mickey certainly has his place, but the feeling of escape and solitude we gained each night as we left a park and headed to Fort Wilderness really settled children (and adults) down a bit. Our location meant we could view Magic Kingdom fireworks each night, sit outdoors and watch a Disney movie on a big screen near a campfire (each night!), and sit on our own beach and watch a boat parade each evening.
Our pro list, after this trip, far out-weighed any cons and we are already planning next year's excursion. While it may not be the cheapest campground around, the atmosphere was worth the extra funds we may have spent. The facilities were clean, there were no hook-up hassles, and the customer service was excellent.
Next year we will simply come prepared with more quarters for the laundry facility, and a little more patience when parking the camper.
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Please note...I have purposely not included prices as these are updated at Disney each year. We paid non-peak rates for a full-hook up site ($55).
UPDATE: note that this is as of 2008 - a con that became more of an issue for us is the cost of internet service. In light of the fact that we are talking of Disney free wireless internet should be expected the way it has become the norm in so many smaller, mom&pop campgrounds. Expect a charge for wi-fi and expect to travel to a store location to get within range.
Recommended:
Yes
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