Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Review: Is It the Right Resort for Your Family?
If you've been considering Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, chances are you've heard people rave about it. After spending seven nights in one of the new cabins with my family of five, I can absolutely see why.
Fort Wilderness is unlike any other Disney resort. Instead of feeling like a traditional hotel, it feels like you're staying in a peaceful campground tucked away in the middle of Walt Disney World. You're surrounded by towering pine trees, wildlife, campsites, cabins, and endless outdoor activities, yet you're still just a relaxing boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.
What surprised me most wasn't just how much there was to do, it was how quickly we settled into a slower pace. Instead of feeling like we needed to squeeze every minute out of our park days, we actually looked forward to heading back to the resort each afternoon.
That said, I don't think Fort Wilderness is the perfect fit for every family, and that's okay.
As a travel advisor, one of the biggest things I tell my clients is that there isn't a single "best" Disney resort. The right resort depends on how your family likes to vacation. Some families want to spend every waking minute in the parks. Others enjoy slowing down, taking midday breaks, and making memories at the resort just as much as they do inside the parks.
After spending a full week here, I can honestly say Fort Wilderness is one of the most unique places we've ever stayed at Walt Disney World. Here's my honest review—what we loved, what I'd do differently, and who I think this resort is truly perfect for.
Our Cabins
We stayed in one of the new Disney Vacation Club cabins, and overall, I thought it was a great option for our family of five.
The cabin sleeps up to six guests and includes:
A private bedroom with a queen bed and a set of bunk beds
A Murphy bed in the living room that folds down each night
A full kitchen with a refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, stove, coffee maker, and plenty of dishes and cookware
A full bathroom
A second vanity and sink located just outside the bathroom
A covered front porch with a table, benches, and rocking chairs.
We made breakfast some mornings and kept milk, fruit, yogurt, and plenty of snacks stocked in the refrigerator, which made traveling with three young kids so much easier.
A Few Honest Thoughts
While I really liked the cabin, there were a couple of things I noticed that are worth mentioning.
First, the cabin definitely felt smaller than Disney's traditional one bedroom villas. There was plenty of room for our family of five, but not a lot of extra storage. We found ourselves getting creative with where we kept our suitcases and ended up using parts of the living room and kitchen for overflow throughout the week.
The layout worked well for us, but if you're someone who likes to unpack everything and have a designated place for every bag, you'll probably notice the limited storage.
One thing that surprised me was that the cabins don't have an in-unit washer and dryer. Since we were staying for seven nights with three young kids, I definitely missed having one. Thankfully, complimentary laundry facilities are located throughout the resort, so doing a load of laundry was easy enough, I just had to remember to bring my own detergent.
None of these things would stop me from staying here again. They're simply details I think are helpful to know before you arrive. If you've stayed in one of Disney's larger villas before, you'll probably notice the difference. But if you're coming from a standard Disney hotel room, the cabin still offers significantly more space and flexibility.
This Resort Is the Vacation
One thing became very clear during our stay, Fort Wilderness isn't a resort where you simply sleep between park days.
The resort is part of the vacation.
Instead of feeling guilty about leaving the parks for a midday break, we actually looked forward to getting back to the resort. Whether we were cooling off at the pool, taking naps, or simply relaxing on the porch while the kids played outside, it gave us a chance to slow down and recharge before heading back out for the evening.
The atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else at Walt Disney World. We saw wild turkeys wandering through the resort almost every day, took evening golf cart rides through the campsites, and found ourselves enjoying the little moments just as much as the big ones.
It never felt rushed. In fact, some of our favorite memories weren't made in the parks at all. They were made back at the resort.
If your family enjoys spending time together outside of the theme parks, Fort Wilderness is hard to beat. It offers a completely different pace than most Disney vacations, and for us, that ended up being one of its biggest strengths.
The Pools
Our kids absolutely loved the Meadow Swimmin' Pool, and it quickly became one of our favorite places to spend our midday breaks.
The recently renovated pool area includes:
A 67-foot waterslide
A large splash pad and water play area for younger children
A hot tub
Plenty of lounge chairs and shaded seating
With three kids, including a toddler, it was nice having something that everyone could enjoy.
Even in the middle of summer, we never felt like the pool was overwhelmingly crowded. We had no trouble finding chairs, and it became the perfect place to cool off before heading back to the parks for the evening.
Fort Wilderness also has a second pool, the Wilderness Swimmin' Pool, which is a little quieter if you're looking for a more relaxing atmosphere.
For our family, the Meadow Swimmin' Pool was the clear favorite and one more reason we actually looked forward to returning to the resort each afternoon.
Tri-Circle-D Ranch & Outdoor Activities
Tri-Circle-D Ranch is home to the horses that pull Cinderella's carriage and the Main Street, U.S.A. trolley in Magic Kingdom, along with many of Disney's other working horses. Walking through the barns and seeing them up close was a fun experience.
One of the highlights for our family was the pony rides. At the time of our visit, pony rides were $10 for one loop or $15 for two loops and our kids absolutely loved every second of it. It was one of those simple experiences that ended up being a really special memory.
For older kids and adults, Fort Wilderness also offers guided horseback trail rides (for guests ages 9 and older), fishing excursions, archery, canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals, wagon rides, and plenty of opportunities to explore the resort.
We would've loved to do the horseback trail ride ourselves, but our kids weren't old enough yet, so it's definitely something we'd like to come back and experience in the future.
One thing I appreciated about Fort Wilderness is that there are activities for every pace. Whether your family wants to spend the day riding bikes, fishing, exploring the ranch, or simply enjoying the outdoors, there's always something to do without ever stepping into a theme park.
That's what makes this resort feel so different. It isn't just a place to stay, it's a destination all on its own.
Rent the Golf Cart
If there's one piece of advice I'd give anyone considering Fort Wilderness, it's this:
Budget for the golf cart.
Is it absolutely necessary? No.
Would I stay here without one? Probably not.
Fort Wilderness is one of Disney's largest resorts, and while Disney provides an internal bus system, we found ourselves using our golf cart constantly. It quickly became our primary way of getting around the resort.
More than that, it became part of the experience.
We'd drive through the resort admiring the creatively decorated campsites and cabins. Some guests go all out with lights, inflatables, themed displays, and more.
The biggest downside, of course, is the cost. Our four-passenger golf cart added about $550 to our week-long vacation, so it's definitely something to factor into your budget.
For us, though, it was worth every penny. It wasn't just transportation, it made exploring the resort easier, more convenient, and a lot more fun. If you're planning to spend several days at Fort Wilderness, I think renting a golf cart is one of the best investments you can make.
Transportation
If I had to pick the biggest downside to staying at Fort Wilderness, it would be the transportation.
Because the resort is so large, getting around often involves more than one step. We usually drove our golf cart to the marina or a main bus stop before continuing to our final destination.
For Magic Kingdom, though, the boat was one of our favorite parts of the trip. It was peaceful, scenic, and a relaxing way to start and end the day.
For EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, we used Disney's buses. During our stay, rides generally took 20–30 minutes, and some routes also stopped at Disney's Wilderness Lodge before continuing to the parks.
Whether you're combining a golf cart with a boat or a bus, transportation simply takes a little longer here than at many other Disney resorts.
For our family, that wasn't a dealbreaker. We intentionally built resort time into our vacation, so the extra travel time never felt inconvenient. But if your goal is to rope drop every park, stay until closing, and maximize every minute in the parks, I'd probably recommend a resort with more direct transportation.
Dining
Fort Wilderness doesn't have many dining options like some of Disney's Deluxe Resorts, but we never felt like we were missing anything.
Trail's End became our go-to for quick, convenient meals, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner just a short golf cart ride from our cabin.
The resort is also home to the legendary Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, one of Disney's longest running dinner shows.
If you've never experienced Hoop-Dee-Doo, though, I absolutely think it's worth adding to your vacation at least once. It's a classic Disney experience that's full of great food, music, comedy, and audience participation.
Since we had a full kitchen in the cabin, we also found ourselves eating breakfast there several mornings before heading to the parks. It saved both time and money, and having that flexibility was another reason the cabin worked so well for our family.
Evening Entertainment
One of my favorite parts of staying at Fort Wilderness was how much there was to do after the parks.
Every evening, guests can gather for Chip & Dale's Campfire Sing-Along, where families roast marshmallows, sing, and enjoy a laid-back atmosphere that's completely different from the energy of the parks. Marshmallow roasting kits are available for purchase, or you can bring your own.
After the campfire, Disney shows a complimentary Movie Under the Stars, making it the perfect way to wind down before heading back to your cabin.
Fort Wilderness is also one of the best places to watch the Electrical Water Pageant, a floating nighttime parade that travels across Bay Lake each evening. We caught the tail end of it one night after returning from the parks. It was a little late for our family's schedule, but it was still fun to experience a piece of Disney history that's been entertaining guests for decades.
Those quieter moments ended up being some of my favorite memories from the trip. They reminded me that a Disney vacation doesn't always have to be about checking off the next ride—sometimes it's about slowing down enough to enjoy the little things.
Little Things We Loved
Some of the little details ended up becoming some of our favorite memories.
Multiple playgrounds scattered throughout the resort
Clementine Beach overlooking Bay Lake
Complimentary laundry facilities (just bring your own detergent)
Driving the golf cart at night
The peaceful atmosphere that felt completely different from the busy parks
Who I Think This Resort is Perfect For
After spending a week here, I realized Fort Wilderness isn't about whether it's a "good" resort—it's about whether it's the right resort for your family's vacation style.
I would absolutely recommend Fort Wilderness if you:
Enjoy spending time at your resort instead of viewing it as just a place to sleep
Plan to take midday breaks between park visits
Love the outdoors and appreciate a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere
Are traveling with younger children who enjoy playgrounds, pools, and open space to explore
Want more room than a standard Disney hotel room offers
Like having a full kitchen to prepare breakfast, snacks, or simple meals
Want a Disney vacation that feels different from the typical hotel experience
For families who enjoy slowing down and making memories both inside and outside the parks, I think Fort Wilderness is one of the most unique resorts Walt Disney World has to offer.
Who I Wouldn't Recommend It For
As much as we loved Fort Wilderness, I don't think it's the right fit for every family and that's okay.
If your goal is to rope drop every park, stay until closing, and spend as little time as possible at your resort, I'd probably recommend looking at a different Disney resort.
Fort Wilderness may not be the best choice if you:
Want the fastest, most convenient transportation to every park
Don't plan to spend much time enjoying your resort
Prefer being within walking distance of dining, shopping, or the parks
Don't want the added expense of renting a golf cart
Like a more traditional hotel experience
There's nothing wrong with vacationing that way. In fact, for some families, that's exactly what a Disney trip should look like.
But Fort Wilderness is different.
It's a resort that's meant to be experienced. The quiet mornings, afternoons by the pool, evenings around the campfire, golf cart rides through the campsites, and time spent exploring the property are all part of what makes it so special.
If you're only planning to sleep there each night, I don't think you'll get the full value of everything Fort Wilderness has to offer.
Final Thoughts
After spending a full week at Fort Wilderness, I completely understand why so many families return year after year. It's peaceful without feeling boring, offers plenty to do, and delivers a Disney experience that's unlike anywhere else at Walt Disney World. Between the relaxing boat rides to Magic Kingdom, afternoons at the pool, evenings around the campfire, and exploring the resort by golf cart, Fort Wilderness became so much more than just our hotel, it became one of the highlights of our vacation.
Would we stay here again? Absolutely.
Would I recommend it to every client? No and I think that's what makes my answer more valuable.
As a travel advisor, I don't believe there's one "best" Disney resort. There's only the resort that's the best fit for your family's vacation style. If you love spending time at your resort, enjoy a slower pace, and want your hotel to be part of the experience instead of just a place to sleep, I think Fort Wilderness is one of the most rewarding places you can stay.
If, instead, your goal is to spend every possible minute in the parks, I'd probably recommend a different resort with more convenient transportation.
For us, Fort Wilderness was exactly what we needed. It gave us a different kind of Disney vacation, one where the memories weren't just made in the parks, but throughout the resort itself. And that's exactly why I understand why so many families return year after year.
About the Author
This article was written by Jamie Bohn, travel agent with Triple the Magic Travel Co. From theme parks and cruises to all-inclusive resorts and family vacations, she is passionate about helping clients create unforgettable travel experiences without the stress of planning it all themselves.
Ready to start planning your next adventure? Contact Jamie today for personalized vacation planning services at no additional cost to you.
Email: jamiebohntravel@gmail.com
Instagram: @jamiebohntravel
Request a Quote: Walt Disney World Quote
