Did you know that Disney World offers fully functional campgrounds for you, your children, and even the family dog? Camping at Disney World might sound like just another way Disney is trying to make money off its guests. After all, the Fort Wilderness Resort doesn’t offer a fully authentic camping experience. All campsites include electricity and water, and for an extra fee you can even get high-speed Internet access. Buildings are air-conditioned and you can easily access Disney World itself.
Despite these detractions from the pure camping experience, Disney Fort Wilderness Resort is well worth the money they charge for you to camp there. The campsite is set upon some truly beautiful land: a forest full of pine trees, water canals, and hiking trails that look like the real thing. There are even deer, rabbits, and ducks wandering around the campgrounds.
Camping at Disney World has several advantages. First of all, it is completely safe. You won’t encounter bears or other wild animals in the middle of the night, nor will you run into strangers living in the woods for nefarious purposes. So the kids will get the camping experience they desire while you have peace of mind. It also has modern conveniences, so you will not have to find places to use the bathroom or use tree leaves as toilet paper.
The campsites are situated in a forest full of pine and cypress trees and there are log cabins or other rustic-looking buildings on site. Camping at Disney is also safer than camping at a traditional campsite. There are no dangerous wild animals at Fort Wilderness Resort; you will never have to start a fire to scare away wolves, bears, or other predators. The only other people you will encounter are other paying guests, and Disney staff is located on the campgrounds in case of emergency.
Camping activities include hiking, exploring, fishing, and swimming, but if you tire of these, there is still plenty to do. Fort Wilderness offers horse and wagon rides and archery ranges in addition to traditional camping activities, and every evening a Disney movie is screened on the campsite.
Disney Fort Wilderness offers horse and wagon rides, bike rentals, swimming, fishing, archery, and even an outdoor movie every night.
The campground is located close to Disney World itself, and Disney offers complimentary transportation between the campsite and all areas of the Disney World Theme Park, including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, and Water Parks. If you have a dog, you can bring him or her to selected areas of the campsite. Your dog will enjoy walking through the campgrounds and will have an air-conditioned place to sleep. Cats are presumably also welcome on the campsite, although most cats are not leash trained so this may not be a good idea.
Disney Fort Wilderness charges a nominal fee for pet privileges as well as for high-speed Internet access. With so much to do, however, you probably won’t have time for the Internet. Camping at Disney is truly an opportunity for the whole family to get away from their regular routines and just relax. There are private bathroom and shower facilities on site, as well as laundry facilities. Some campsites are being renovated this year; check with Disney for availability.
While you’re in the area, you may want to explore some of the other camping opportunities in Florida.