Fort Wilderness campground

[msuclan]

After reading some of the posts about how wonderful Fort Wildnerness is I have decided to take the kids next Spring Break.  I am so excited!

I have a couple of questions:  Am I allowed to request certain campsites or am I assigned a campsite when I get there?  Do I need to reserve right away?  If I can choose a campsite what are the best ones as far as not being right on top of other sites?  I don't necessarily need to be in the thick of things.

I'll be driving from North East Ohio and I expect I'll take two  nights to get down there.  Anyone else made that drive?  What are some good campgrounds that we could stop at on our way?

I appreciate the help!

Karen

[lam1317]

just got back from ft wilderness it was great you can request any area but one thing make sure you reserve a golf cart. i didnt and couldnt get one for love or money. i never seen so many carts.it was alot of fun make sure you use the
wilderness lodge pool alot better than the camp pool.

[cndlzrus]

After reading some of the posts about how wonderful Fort Wildnerness is I have decided to take the kids next Spring Break.  I am so excited!

I have a couple of questions:  Am I allowed to request certain campsites or am I assigned a campsite when I get there?  Do I need to reserve right away?  If I can choose a campsite what are the best ones as far as not being right on top of other sites?  I don't necessarily need to be in the thick of things.

I'll be driving from North East Ohio and I expect I'll take two  nights to get down there.  Anyone else made that drive?  What are some good campgrounds that we could stop at on our way?

I appreciate the help!

Karen

We are 30 miles from the Ohio border and Toledo... It takes us aobut 5 and 1/2 hours drive time...  My suggesstion to you is once you get in Michigan you take 75 to 275 which eventually turns into 96 to 23... best way to Michigan upnorth right now.. road construction on 75 will not be done until November.  And it keeps you out of Detroit.    If you are need of stopping there are some good camping on the way to Michigan.. Maumee Bay in Ohio off of Rt 2, or Monroe MI has a good State Park for an overnight... Sterling..  Then you would have a 6 hour drive north.   Otherwise the next camping area is around Brighton MI.

[fallsrider]

We are 30 miles from the Ohio border and Toledo... It takes us aobut 5 and 1/2 hours drive time...

Uh, I think you're confused...I'm pretty certain they are talking about Fort Wilderness at Disney World in Florida.   :p

[aw738]

For anyone that is considering pool hopping check this website. They are unofficial Walt Disney World experts.

Allears.net search results

[fourgonefishn]

After reading some of the posts about how wonderful Fort Wildnerness is I have decided to take the kids next Spring Break.  I am so excited!

I have a couple of questions:  Am I allowed to request certain campsites or am I assigned a campsite when I get there?  Do I need to reserve right away?  If I can choose a campsite what are the best ones as far as not being right on top of other sites?  I don't necessarily need to be in the thick of things.

I'll be driving from North East Ohio and I expect I'll take two  nights to get down there.  Anyone else made that drive?  What are some good campgrounds that we could stop at on our way?

I appreciate the help!

Karen

 Try this web address: DISboards.com, then scroll down to camping at disney. We where going in late Oct. but, have since cancelled due to illness. Going to try again next year!

[cndlzrus]

Uh, I think you're confused...I'm pretty certain they are talking about Fort Wilderness at Disney World in Florida.   :p

:eyecrazy:   thinking Wilderness State park...  :confused:   its a great camping place too.

[msuclan]

:eyecrazy:   thinking Wilderness State park...  :confused:   its a great camping place too.

Brenda,

I've been to Wilderness State Park, too.  I totally agree; it's a great campground right on Lake Michigan!

Thanks anyway!

karen

[msuclan]

Try this web address: DISboards.com, then scroll down to camping at disney. We where going in late Oct. but, have since cancelled due to illness. Going to try again next year!

Great website!  Thanks!  I spent hours this morning!

Karen

[Tim5055]

OK, Karen I'll try to help out a little.  First of all I maintain a Web Page on Fort Wilderness - Fort Wilderness Fun Facts and Information. I bet it will answer almost anything you come up with.

Here are your current answers.

Am I allowed to request certain campsites or am I assigned a campsite when I get there?

Most folks just choose a "level of service' (more on that later) and let Disney assign a site based on that level of service.  You can request a loop or even specific site, but nothing is guaranteed

Do I need to reserve right away?

Always reserve FW as soon as you know your dates.   The Disney reservation system will allow reservations up to 500 days in advance, so book 500 days from your check OUT date.

If I can choose a campsite what are the best ones as far as not being right on top of other sites?  I don't necessarily need to be in the thick of things.

Best is a relative term, the site yo like may be very different from what I want.  Every loop has a mixture of large and smaller sites, so no loop is really better for site size.  FW has always been good about having bushes between sites, but lately that have been doing utility upgrades and doing a major cleaning, so much of the understory has been removed in some areas..

Now, you also need to decide what level of service.  There are 3 levels of campsites at Fort Wilderness:

Standard, which includes electric and water.

Full Hook Up, which includes electric, water and sewer (most of them are this way).

Preferred, which includes electric, water, sewer and cable TV.  As of the summer of 2005 high speed internet access was added to the preferred loops.  for an additional charge per night.    The preferred sites are also in loops situated closer to the settlement which includes the marina, beach, restaurant, and many other activities.  

The preferred and 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.  On the standard sites you will find a smaller concrete pad and larger sand/gravel pad.  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.

Pet sites are available in the full hook up loops and preferred, but not partial.  Pets can not be left unattended in tents or pop ups.

[msuclan]

Thanks for the info!  You have a very informative site.

A dumb question:  What does sewer mean?  Is it a place to drain grey and black water right at your site?

Thanks, Karen

[fallsrider]

A dumb question:  What does sewer mean?  Is it a place to drain grey and black water right at your site?

That's not a dumb question. I'm sure you know many things that I am clueless about. We all have to learn things.

You are correct. Sewer simply means there is pipe that sticks up out of the ground just a little at each site, with a removable cap. You can put a standard RV sewer line in it to drain your gray and black water tanks into, or you can buy a plug that fits down into the opening and lets you attach a garden hose to drain gray water if you don't have black water.

[CajunCamper]

Here's my 2 cents on the topic.

We took our two boys to Disney when our oldest was 9 and our youngest was 4. It was one of the best family vacations we have had. We stayed at Fort Wilderness in the 2000 loop. I found the 2000 loop to be just what we wanted. We had water and electric hook ups and our site was plenty big enough.  The bath houses are the nicest I've ever seen. The 2000 loop is also on the edge of the campground away from most of the attractions in the campground thus giving us a nice quiet site without a lot of hustle and bustle. Most of the sites there were occupied with pop ups tents and small trailers. We were just a short bike ride or bus ride from all the attractions in the campground. You can't go wrong staying in Fort Wilderness. I would advise doing your grocery shopping off of the Disney property. Just outside of the Disney entrance you will find very nice grocery stores with "normal" prices. If you get caught, the two stores in the campground has lots of supplies, but you pay for it.

Enjoy your trip

CajunCamper