Fort Wilderness (Walt Disney World)

[Tim5055]

Many have said that Fort Wilderness (FW) is the standard by which all commercial campgrounds should be judged.  I do agree with this!  The campground boasts over 700 camping sites with a wonderful canopy of trees throughout.  With swimming pools, arcades, marina (sorry you can't bring your own boat) and activities galore there is something for every camper.  With so many sites, the campground is divided into individual camping loops of 30 or 40 sites. Each loop has both a number (i.e. the 1900 loop) and a name (i.e. Conestoga Trail).  It is hard to imagine the size and scope of FW until you have been there.
 
Reservations at FW are easy to make as Disney has a large full time reservations center which handles reservations for thousands of rooms on the WDW property.  No toll free call here, 1 407-W-DISNEY (1-407-934-7639) is central reservations.  FW has 3 levels of sites, partial hook up (electric & water), full hook up (water, sewer & electric) and preferred sites which are "closer to the action" and also have cable TV hook ups as well as the WSE. You can request a loop, but it is not guaranteed.  
 
If you plan on bringing a pet like we do, you only have the choice of full or preferred as there are no partial hook up sites that allow pets.  Pets are restricted to the 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900 loops which are all full hook up.  As of summer 2003, all  preferred loops currently accepts pets.  An on site kennel is available to watch your pet anytime you will need the service.  The kennel is open 7:30 AM to 10 PM with reasonable prices.  If you are staying at FW boarding for a day is $6, overnight is $9.  If you return home after 10 PM and want your fur kids in the pop-up with you just stop by the front desk of FW and they will send someone to the kennel with you to get your pet.  Do not be confused, pop-up campers CAN have pets, they just can not leave them  unattended in tents and pop-ups due to the possibility of escape through the canvas.

The full hook up sites provide a full length concrete parking pad for the tow vehicle and camper.  Behind that is a compacted sand/gravel pad on which you will find a full sized picnic table.  Also on each site is a charcoal grill.  You are allowed a camping vehicle and 1 tent on the site, so the kids can have a tent to themselves.  Most sites are under a full canopy of trees with bushes shielding you from adjoining sites.  While you will still see your neighbors, you are not in a field like many campgrounds, you are truly in the woods.  Conveniently spaced around each loop are trash cans and recycling containers (aluminum, glass and plastic).  The loops are lighted at night by soft low to the ground lights allowing you to actually see the stars at night.  My biggest disappointment at FW is the rule against campfires at each site as we do love to have one.  I do understand that it would be a lot of smoke for 4 or 5 hundred campfires to be burning at the same time.
 
Bath houses, know as "Comfort Stations" are well placed around FW, with 2 loops usually sharing 1 comfort station.  They are air conditioned, have private hot showers, laundry facilities ice machines ($2 a bag) and phones.  In several trips to FW I have never found them anything but clean.  While they can get busy during the morning rush, I usually shower at off hours and was usually alone.

[Unregistered]

this is a great campground.it is however so large you really cant walk to the pools or campfire area from some sights so bring a bike.or you can rent one there.i also didnt care for the small rock base on the campsites. it is not dirty but it gets everywhere.all in all a really great campground and much cheaper than any other disney resort.

[2manytoyz]

The cleanliness of the bath houses still amazes me.  With the sandy campsites, the stuff gets tracked almost everywhere.  Yet when you go into the bath houses, they are spotless, even the mat inside the door is clean.  At no time have I ever caught someone cleaning it, but it looks like they just left.  I think they have elves that scrub everything the second someone leaves!

Take YOUR OWN bikes!!!  They were $10 or $12 per bike per day when we went.  Four adults, that adds up quickly.  Paid more for the bikes than we did for the campsite (FL resident discount in the off season).  Learned our lesson.  We always take our own bikes there now, or rent a golf cart.  If you want a golf cart, reserve it when you reserve the campsite.  Otherwise, you'll be one of the many standing in line, hoping someone is going to return one.  So many people waste hours waiting for a silly golf cart!

They do have an excellent bus system within the park.  By using the courtesy phones, you can call ahead for reservations to their restaurants, or buy movie tickets over the phone.  The bus at the campground will also take you to downtown Disney.  Very nice if you want a vacation rather than the usual camping trip.

Good time of the year to go... very little rain, cool weather (NOT cold), very few bugs...

http://www.2manytoyz.com/wdw.html

[Sltrawick]

I have always said that Fort Wilderness is my all time favorite park.  We try and go at least once a year and camp.   LOVE IT!