We are Disney annual passholders, so we tend to visit Disney pretty often. We decided to spend a week at Ft. Wilderness Campground this summer because it only made sense! Not only do we have the option of the parks, but Ft. Wilderness and the surrounding Orlando area offer so much for families!
If you decide to visit Disney for any amount of time, the first thing you need to do is download the My Disney Experience app. This is how you make meal reservations, complete mobile food orders, and check out the wait times on rides at the park.
Meals are always one of the first things I plan for our trips. I have learned over the years of camping that simple is best. We are lucky to have a Blackstone griddle where we make the majority of our meals. I try to think on the go for breakfast, sandwiches and easy items for lunch, and prep as much as I can for dinner meals. For fajitas, I use the already cut up Publix pre-packed veggies. For pizza on the grill, we use already made crusts. SIMPLE is better! However, there are PLENTY of places on Disney property to enjoy meals.
If you would rather eat out, there are plenty of options on Disney property! You can book dining 60 days in advance. The good places fill up quick! Disney is just starting to do character dining again. The only places that provide character dining right now are Topolino's Terrace, Tusker House, Chef Mickey's, and Garden Grill. I know this list is changing daily so make sure you check before you reserve. We were lucky enough to get a lunch reservation at Tusker House. Everything is family style rather than buffet. The food was really yummy. We had a salad, bread plate, mac and cheese, and plate of different meats. You can ask for more if you are still hungry too! After the meal we had a little desert plate. However, the best part was seeing William light up with the characters! They are still keeping their distance, but make sure to show the kids their love!
If we are going into the parks, we make sure to get there right when they open. It is way less crowded, and you can hit your favorite rides. We did 6 rides at Magic Kingdom in the first two hours in opened, and left around noon when the crowds came in. If you would rather not travel to the parks, there are still tons of activities for kids right at the Fort. If you head up to the Tri-Circle Ranch at the front of the Fort, you can reserve a time for horseback riding. If you are looking to cool off, there are two pools that are perfect for the afternoon when the parks are too busy. The pool at the cabins tends to be a little quieter. However, the Meadow pool has a great splash area and slide for kids. We bring our own adult beverages in a little cooler, and stand back while William runs and slides like a maniac! There is also a little snack bar there for food and drinks. Speaking of food- there are two places to eat on site at Ft. Wilderness, P&J's and Trail's End. P&J's can be ordered on the My Disney Experience app. You can reserve a pick up time and grab and go. I have found times aren't alway accurate at busy times (7-8pm for dinner). The other food option is Trail's End. This is a family style restaurant that just opened back up. You will need to make reservations.
There are different options for transportation around the Fort. You cannot get to the Settlement area (restaurants and trading post shop) or the Meadow (pool and trading post shop) by car. There is a bus that travels to the different loops, Meadow and Settlement areas. You can also walk, ride a bike (bring your own or rent one at the Bike Barn), and my personal favorite- ride a golf cart! If you want to reserve a golf cart, do so FAR in advance. They fill up quick! The number to reserve is 407-824-2742. One of my favorite activities at the Fort, is to go loopin'. This is just driving around to check out everyone else's decorations and setup.
Ft. Wilderness is easily one of our favorite campgrounds. It provides the perfect combination of relaxation, activities, and of course, Disney magic! If you are ready to take the plunge to take your first trip to the Fort, feel free to send me a message at flipflopdreamsllc@gmail.com. Not only do I have tons of tips and tricks, but I can point you in the direction of an experienced travel company to help book and plan your vacation for free, and if you don't have a camper, we have a rental one that we deliver to Disney's Ft. Wilderness resort. Happy Glamping and Happy Disney!
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