Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
It was about 300 miles away from our location.
History of the park
Fort Wilderness opened in 1971 alongside Walt Disney World itself, designed as a rustic, family-friendly escape just steps away from the magic. It’s one of Disney’s original resorts, spread out over 700 acres of pine and cypress forest along Bay Lake. Over the years it has become a destination in its own right — part campground, part resort, and part piece of Disney history.
Campground information
Fort Wilderness is enormous compared to most parks we visit — more than 800 campsitesplus cabins, spread across multiple loops.
- Sites are paved, level, and can handle everything from tents to Class A motorhomes.
- Full hookups are standard: water, electric, sewer, and cable.
- Comfort stations are spotless and well-stocked — classic Disney service.
- Transportation is plentiful with internal buses and ferries to Magic Kingdom.
- Along with buses to Disney Springs and the other parks
- The real magic, though, comes from how well the campground blends wilderness charm with Disney convenience.
Campsite
We stayed in the 1500 loop, which offered a peaceful and shaded spot tucked into the Fort Wilderness magic. Our site was fully paved and came equipped with water, power, and cable hookups — perfect for our setup at the time. Since this trip took place in early 2025, we were still traveling in our homemade camper, which was a dry camper, so we didn’t need sewer connections. And honestly, we didn’t miss them!
The nearby comfort station — just a short walk from our site — more than made up for it. In true Disney fashion, the bath facilities were absolutely spotless. We’ve visited our fair share of campgrounds over the years, and these were hands down the cleanest, most well-maintained ones we’ve ever used. Sparkling showers, plenty of hot water, and even air conditioning — it felt more like a resort than a campground restroom.
One of the best perks of our location was how close we were to the Meadow Outpost. Just a short stroll away, this central hub is where you’ll find a little bit of everything: a swimming pool, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, a gift shop, and a well-stocked general store with all the camping basics you might need (and a few things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them on the shelf!).
The Meadow is also home to the famous Bike Barn — the heart of outdoor recreation at the Fort. From here, you can rent bikes, canoes, or kayaks to explore the grounds by land or water. For those looking for a bit of frontier-style fun, the archery range is also nearby, offering a unique experience that’s fun for both kids and adults.
Of course, one of the real highlights was the golf carting culture. Monty and Gadget became pros at “looping” — cruising around the campground in the cart, and noses in the wind. They loved checking out the elaborate holiday decorations still on display at many campsites just after Christmas and were equally fascinated when we rode past the brand-new cabin installations. The golf carting quickly became part of our daily routine, and honestly, we think the Shibas would’ve voted it the best attraction in all of Walt Disney World.
Evenings were a treat. We made our way over to the Chip ‘n’ Dale Campfire Sing-Along, which is fully dog-friendly. Monty and Gadget tagged along, joining other four-legged campers as the songs and s’mores got rolling. There’s something special about singing Disney classics with your dogs at your side and Chip & Dale hamming it up around the fire. We’re still waiting “on a word” (if you’ve been, you know the inside joke).
The Fort also has some of the best dog facilities we’ve ever seen: two large, lighted dog parks — one for small dogs and one for large — each with shaded seating and plenty of golf cart parking nearby. It made morning and evening playtime easy and fun. Beyond the dog parks, the resort itself is very dog-friendly, with pups welcome almost everywhere except the main resort buildings and the Tri-Circle-D Ranch area (understandable — no one wants to spook the horses).
And if you’re a night owl, Fort Wilderness has a hidden gem that feels like pure Disney history: the Electrical Water Pageant. This opening-day classic from 1971 still floats across Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon each night, with its glowing sea creatures and patriotic finale. Watching it glide past the Fort’s shoreline after the Magic Kingdom fireworks was the perfect, peaceful way to cap the day while rocking on the porch of Crockett’s Tavern.
Things to do
Fort Wilderness is packed with activities — it’s almost overwhelming:
- Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue: This is a must. We had the early seating, which worked perfectly for wrapping dinner up before the evening activities. The food is served family-style with “all you care to enjoy” portions — fried chicken, ribs, cornbread, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and more. And as always, the servers kept bringing “more chicken!” The meal also comes with bottomless drinks, including a small but welcome selection of beer and wine. The humor is corny in the best way, the music is catchy, and by the time the washboards come out, you’ll be clapping along whether you planned to or not.
- Golf Cart Cruising: It’s the best way to explore the campground, check out decorated sites, and shuttle Monty and Gadget in true Disney style.
- The Campfire Sing-Along with Chip & Dale: S’mores, sing-alongs, and meet-and-greets — a Disney twist on the classic campground campfire.
- Magic Kingdom Day: We met up with Tim’s brother, sister-in-law, and nephew for a full day in the park. From rope drop to fireworks, it was everything you hope a Magic Kingdom day with family will be — even better when you know the golf cart is waiting to take you “home” after.
Weather & atmosphere
It was Marathon Weekend during our stay, which meant the resort was buzzing with runners and spectators. The weather stayed cold, which made evenings by the fire even cozier — though we were glad for the extra blankets back at the camper.
Overall thoughts
Fort Wilderness isn’t just a campground — it’s an experience. Where else can you golf cart with your dogs in the morning, spend the afternoon in Magic Kingdom, and end the night singing with Chip and Dale under the stars?
It’s Disney magic, but with pine trees, fire rings, wagging tails, and a light-up parade on the water. For us, the highlight was sharing it with family — watching Tim’s nephew take it all in at the Magic Kingdom, and then winding down together back at camp.
Camping with the Innies Score
Location: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴 - prime Disney real estate, easy Magic Kingdom access by boat
Hiking/Walking Trails: 🦴🦴🦴 - pleasant, shaded walks, though this isn’t a hiking park
Bath House: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴 - some of the cleanest and nicest we’ve ever seen
Campsite Amenities: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴 - full hookups, paved, level, spacious
Surrounding Activities/Attractions: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴 - Disney parks, Hoop-Dee-Doo, Chip & Dale campfire, golf carting, and the Electrical Water Pageant
Final Score: 23/25
Innies Picks 🏕️
- Favorite Site Feature: The 1500 loop — peaceful, shaded, and close to the Meadow Outpost.
- Must-See Spot: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
- Best Disney Touch: Chip & Dale’s Campfire Sing-Along (dog-friendly!).
- Evening Vibes: Firelight, sing-alongs, the distant sound of fireworks… and the glow of the Electrical Water Pageant drifting by.
- Shiba Treat: Golf cart “looping” around the park — Monty and Gadget loved riding along to inspect the brand-new cabin installations and check out the holiday campsite decorations left up just after Christmas. 🐾
- Family Highlight: A day in the Magic Kingdom with Tim’s brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.
Pro Tips 💡
- Book early — this campground fills up fast, especially on race weekends and holidays.
- Rent a golf cart or bring your own — it’s part of the culture here.
- Plan for Hoop-Dee-Doo — reservations are a must, and worth every penny.
- Bundle up if you’re here in January — Florida can get chilly during Marathon Weekend.
- Leave time to just enjoy the Fort itself — you don’t have to hit the parks every day.
- Don’t miss the Electrical Water Pageant — head down to the beach after fireworks for a bit of opening-day Disney magic.
That’s a wrap on our Fort Wilderness adventure. Between golf carts, campfires, Hoop-Dee-Doo, and a Shiba-approved dog park, this is a campground experience unlike any other.
More trails, more stories, and probably more Shiba chipmunk patrols coming soon.
More soon from the road—
Tim, Kristen, Monty & Gadget 🐾🐾
P.S. Next time we return to the Fort, it’ll be in our new camper — and during Marathon Weekend once again, but this time with us out on the course (Minus the Shibas). Will our review change when we trade golf cart “looping” for race day running? Stay tuned. 🏃♂️✨
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