For ScottandGrace - Fort Wilderness - Walt Disney World Resort

I've seen ScottandGrace post a few times that they can't get enough of Fort Wilderness... I just came across a few pictures from our trip last August and thought they and others might enjoy them. These were taken about 7:00 am near the end of August.



We requested a site on the outside of loop 1100 (Possum Path) and when we arrived we were given site 1110 which is actually on the inside of the loop. That worked out for the best anyway as there had been a lot of rain before we arrived and the outside sites had a lot of standing water between them.

Here are two shots of our site... one from each side. As you can see, we had very few neighbors. I think there were only 3 sites occupied in our loop by the time we left!!





For those of you who are not familiar with the campground, I'll start the photos near the entrance (Outpost area) and continue to the marina at Bay Lake (Settlement area).

This is a picture of the Reception building. If staying in a cabin, you would check-in here. Those with RV's, may also check-in here but it is probably more convenient to stay in your vehicle and use one of the the check-in booths. The security guard will normally direct you to a lane.


The Outpost area is also where you will catch buses to Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. This is the Outpost bus stop...




The Outpost is also where you would come for a Trail Ride...


Also at the Outpost is a kennel for anyone travelling with a pet and may have the need to board if for a time. However, I believe this kennel will be closing once construction of the new kennel across from Port Orleans Riverside is complete.

The middle section of Fort Wilderness is know as the Meadow area. This area includes a trading post (store), pool, snack bar, rental barn (bikes, canoes, etc), tennis courts, playground, and outdoor theatre for the nightly sing-a-long with Chip and Dale and movie.

Here are a couple of shots from the front of the Meadow Trading Post...




... and one from the rear looking across the stream


The pool area remodel was completed in May 2009 and now includes a slide, a kids splash area, and hot tub to compliment the large pool and kids wading pool that were already there...







Here is a view of the campfire area where you can see the movie screen to the left...


On the morning we took the pictures, we saw a group on the Segway Tour that covers Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge...


The last area of Fort Wilderness is referred to as the Settlement area. This area includes Pioneer Hall (home to the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show), Trails End Restaurant, Crockett's Tavern, Settlement Trading Post, Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables, FW Marina, and Mickey's Back Yard BBQ Pavilion.

Here is a view of a path within the Settlement area


... and a view from the marina looking back toward Trails End


The entrance to Mickey's Back Yard BBQ...


This is a view of the back side of the Tri-Circle-D stables. The horses you see in the Magic Kingdom are kept here as well as the horses you see at other resorts for carriage rides. There are also pony rides available here.


Pioneer Hall...


Trails End...


The last photo I have is of the Fort Wilderness Marina. In this photo, you can see the boat the will take you to Magic Kingdom. There is also a second boat that circulates between Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, an the Contemporary Resort. You can also rent Sea Raycers or pontoon boats here. The beach area is also a great spot to watch the "Wishes" fireworks display each night from the Magic Kingdom. The music from the show is played while the firewoks display is on. You can also watch the Electrical Water Pageant from here too.


I have stayed here many times and think it is the best... once you stay here, it will be the campground that you compare all others to

Nice write up, thanks for sharing. One of these days we will get there....

This is great Jeff!

I hope we can get back down there some day. We went 3 years ago when our oldest son was in show choir; Disney holds a national show choir competition on the stage clear back at the back side of the lagoon at Epcot every year. That year, his group was good enough to go...and WON!! But we did the hotel package then and the whole trip was a whirl-wind experience. No time to enjoy hardly anything, too busy chaperoning teenagers.
Pulling the Cat down the next time will be the ONLY option.

TC

Great pics, We have been three times (two in Fort Wilderness with our old Motorhome). Would love to take the 'Cat down there.
Jim

Great photo journal.

But where is the picture of :


The lawn mower in the tree ?

I guess its still there.

My little tram is getting closer to the other side, can't wait , we'll be there in June.

Admin wrote:The lawn mower in the tree ?

I guess its still there.

It's still there but I think it's only about 6 feet tall now.

For those who are wondering about the lawnmower tree, here is a picture from April 2008 (taken by lisa8200 from Disboards) showing the tree cut off higher than what I think it is now.


Here is a close up of what is left of the lawnmower...

Now thats a cool pic......


And also for those that don't know, its now a power push more, its an old "reel" mower. the kind with a long blades on a round frame. Probably looked a lot like one of these.

Thanks for the pics, we have reservations for the end of October. I will have to tell the wife to look at your pics so she can get her Disney Fix!!!!! If she had her way, we would be there every month.

Nice write up! We plan on going back to Disney in few years and hopefully we will be able to drag the Wildcat out there. The boys should be old enough to handle the 14 hour trip by then.

Jeff,
Great photos, thanks for posting. Makes me want to make reservations right now, even though we were there in January.

The first time I saw the lawnmower tree was probably 1985 or 1986 - there was more mower showing then.

Tater

Scruffy and Tater wrote:Jeff,
Great photos, thanks for posting. Makes me want to make reservations right now, even though we were there in January.

Tater, I know what you mean. We were down during the kid's March Break, but we stayed at Port Orleans as it just doesn't make sense to pull the Cat down and back when we only have 10 days including travel time. However, we did spent 2 afternoons at the Fort just wandering around the campground and feeling happy we were "home". It was a great escape from the heavy crowds and we also managed to eat 3 meals at Trails End

We'll be back down at Christmas staying at Coronado Springs, but you can bet we'll make a few trips back to Fort Wilderness... I can't wait!!

Being retired and not having kids, we can be very flexible. It's one of the good things about getting old.

This year, unfortunately, we had to cancel our spring trip. Right now we should be on the road or already at Fort Wilderness. If all goes well, we should be able to make our fall trip.... maybe two fall trips.

We just can't get enough of Fort Wilderness.

For those who are unfamiliar with Fort Wilderness and would like to see more photos or you just enjoy a daily fix of FW photos, here is a link to a Fort Wilderness Photo of the Day thread.

Photo of the Day - I started with entries from last June, but there are many pages before that for you to browse through.

There is also a lot of information on this Camping at Disney World site for those who may be considering a trip.