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Location
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Magic Kingdom Resort Area
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Category
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Campground & Moderate Resort
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Theme
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Campground and Cabins throughout dense woods. Log cabin style buildings giving a frontier feeling - despite the RV's
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Central Building
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Services split between Outpost, Meadowland and Settlement.
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Resort Layout
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The Campground is divided into three main sections
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Outpost: Located at the entrance to the resort, at the southern end of the property. Registration (check in/out, Guest services, Front desk, etc), Main parking lot, Trail Blaze Coral, Golf Cart rental and Kennel are found here.
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Meadowlands: Located in the center of the campground. Meadowland Trading Post, 'people-powered' rentals, Campfire program, Main pool, Chuck Wagon snack bar, playground, arcade, tennis courts, other activities.
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Settlement: Located at the north end of the property, furthest from Outpost. Trail's End buffeteria, Hoop De Do Musical Revue in Pioneer Hall, Settlement Trading Post, Tri-Circle D, Marina, beach, trails, Mickey's Backyard BBQ/pavilion, and Arcade.
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Campsites and cabins organized into ‘Loops’ – Cabins to the Southwest (loops 2100-2800) and Campsites to the North and Northeast (loops 100-2000).
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Facts & History
| Opening Year |
1971 |
| History |
Fort Wilderness Campground opened with the rest of Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971. Carved out of the native woods south of Bay Lake, the campground was, and is, like being in another place altogether. Yet, it's still very Disney. There aren't row after unsightly row of pop-ups and RV's; 'Loops' are nestled in the trees for campers to set up their remote home. Sometime after it's opening, the campgrounds were expanded and "well equipped, air conditioned trailers" were available to rent. These single-wide "Wilderness Homes" did proved all the amenities of home, but without any themeing. In 1996? the old trailers were replaced with log cabin style trailers. Sure, they're still single-wides, but with log siding, wood floors, country decor and the peaked roof they're everything you could want in a woodland retreat. |
| Old-time steam trains chugged through the woods of the Fort Wilderness Campground for the first time in 1973. A form of interior transportation for campers, they were eventually decommissioned in 1977. Parts of the track can still be seen around the campground. |
| In late 1975, construction began on River Country, a Disney version of an old-fashioned swimming hole, on the edge of Bay Lake in the Fort Wilderness Campground. It was the original water park, and for years it brought watery fun to Walt Disney World guests. But, after the opening of Typhoon lagoon attendance started waning, and the opening of Blizzard Beach drove in the last nail. In November 2001, River Country shuttered it doors and in January 2005 it was closed permanently. |
| Starting in 2008, Ft. Wilderness is getting a much needed and long overdue refurbishment. All campsites are getting some level of attention; from adding cable TV and high-speed internet access to larger pads for today's super-sized RV's. A dog park was added for the campground's four-legged guests. In 2009, the Meadow Swimmin' Pool will receive many upgrades such as a water slide, children's water play zone and other modern amenities. |
| Design |
Imagineers designed the campground to blend in with the native environment. Support buildings were all constructed to give a frontier atmosphere to the grounds. |
| Christmastime |
Country themed ornaments and trim decorate many areas of the resort. |
| Starting around Thanksgiving, many campers are there for quite a while (some until after the new year!). Many of them decorate their campsites and RV's with lights, inflatable's and other festive decor. It's a nice evening riding or strolling looking at the lights. |
Types of rooms
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Partial hook-up campsites
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RV’s not allowed. Tents and Pop-ups are. Non-Preferred Sites have Water, power. Picnic table and grill. Located farther from the Pioneer Hall/marina area.
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RV’s not allowed. Tents and Pop-ups are. Preferred Sites have Water, power and high-speed internet access (for a fee) and cable TV access. Picnic table and grill. Located near the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall and marina areas.
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Full hook-up campsites
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Non-preferred sites have no cable hookup; Do have water, power and sewer. Picnic table and grill. Located farther from the Pioneer Hall/marina area.
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Preferred sites include a cable TV hookup, water, power, sewer and high-speed internet access (for a fee). Picnic table and grill. Located near the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall and marina areas.
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Premium
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Premium Sites are for Big Rigs. Include cable TV hookup, water, power, sewer, high-speed internet access (for a fee). Plus picnic tables, BBQ grill. Located near the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall and marina areas.
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Number of campsites per loop: 100 loop - 25; 200 loop - 37; 300 loop - 63; 400 loop - 33; 500 loop - 56; 600 loop - 22; 700 loop - 35; 800 loop - 74; 900 loop - 32; 1000 loop - 23; 1100 loop - 24; 1200 loop - 22; 1300 loop - 34; 1400 loop - 61; 1500 loop - 21; 1600 loop - 46; 1700 loop - 41; 1800 loop - 32; 1900 loop - 38; 2000 loop - 69. |
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Wilderness Cabins
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504 Sq Ft. Actually, just mobile homes with very nice siding and interiors. Inside have wood paneling, 'timber' style ceilings and rustic furnishings and decor. All Cabins have full kitchen, dining area and living room as an open floor plan. There is a full-size Murphy bed in the Living Room that is very comfortable. Several cabinets available for clothes, etc. A love-seat couch and small-scale table and 2 chairs. There is a TV with VCR/DVD player. Kitchen table has 3 chairs and a bench seat. Kitchen has full size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, & blender. A fair number of cooking/serving tools available and dinnerware. Small & normal size coffee makers. No food-stuffs, including salt & pepper, sugar, etc - except single serving packets of coffee for small size maker. Soaps and dish towels available. Hall Closet has broom, mop and pak-and-play crib. Bathroom is standard, with single vanity, toilet and tub/shower. Ample counter space and some shelves for toiletries. Lots and lots of towels under vanity and hanging. Bedroom at the end of the hallway has a full bed and bunk beds. Very small set of four drawers & TV, small hanging space and small counter with mirror and blow-dryer. An iron and ironing board are also found in the hanging space along with a small in-wall safe. It's a small room, but it works out fine. There is also another exterior door here, but no key-access from outside. It's more designed for egress. This is the only carpeted room. Wood Floors throughout rest of cabin, with a rug in the living room. Phone with voicemail and wireless high-speed internet (for a fee). Outside is a deck with picnic table, charcoal grill and garden hose. There is sufficient space between cabins so you don't hear your neighbors. Each cabin also has it's own parking spot - for your car and/or the rented golf cart (there is an outlet for charging the cart).
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Number of cabins per loop: 2100 loop - 44 cabins; 2200 loop - 44 cabins; 2300 loop - 30 cabins; 2400 loop - 49 cabins; 2500 loop - 33 cabins; 2600 loop - 65 cabins; 2700 loop - 72 cabins; 2800 loop - 70 cabins. |
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Creekside Meadow
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Available for groups of 20 or more. Large meadow for pitching tents. Picnic tables and grills.
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Handicapped
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Same as Wilderness Cabins but with wheelchair accessible ramps, doorways and Roll-in bathrooms.
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Additional fee for each person over 2 people per Cabin. No charge for children under 17 staying with adults.
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All Disney resorts are smoke free. Smoking allowed in designated locations.
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Room amenities
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All Cabins come with daily maid service. See Cabin description above for complete amenities.
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High-speed internet for a fee.
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Bed boards/rails and high chair available by request
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15 Comfort Stations are located at all campsite loops. They are all air conditioned and have private showers, restrooms, laundry rooms, pay and house phone and ice machines. They are open 24 hours a day, with the exception of the laundry. The comfort station doors have card key security locks that are activated from midnight to 6 a.m.
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Registration
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Check in
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For the campsites is 1 p.m.
For the Cabins is 3 p.m.
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Check out
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by 11am
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Late check out
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Can be requested the night before check-out, but rarely given.
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Registration
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For Cabins, you’ll park and go into the Outpost Registration building.
For Campsites, there are ‘toll booths’ for you to pull up to, camper and all for check-in. If your campsite is not ready, they will direct you to the main parking lot.
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Early arrival
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Be sure to Check-in at the Registration desk upon arrival, the room may be ready early, or at the very least they'll give a phone number you can call from any house phone in WDW to get you're room number - therefore you don’t have to go back to the registration desk.
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Express Check out
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Upon arrival you can leave a credit card on your room account. It can then be used to make charges to your room during your stay. And then, the morning you leave, an itemized bill will be on your door handle/car window. If there are any problems, then you can contact the Front Desk - otherwise you're all set and can leave without going back to Registration.
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Magical Express
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For those of you flying into Orlando Intl Airport, Disney is making it even easier to get to their World. You’re given special tags to put on your luggage. Then when you arrive in Orlando, just get on the Magical Express bus – they’ll take you to your resort to check in. You go off and have fun, and you’re bags show up in your room later that day. Before your departure, you'll get a letter saying when you should be at the lobby to check your bags and catch your bus to the airport.
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What you get at check in
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Resort Map: shows entire Ft Wilderness campground, with complete bus route information.
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Resort ‘newsletter’, Gazette, includes dining, shopping, and recreation info for the resort. Also has other important resort information and phone numbers.
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"Your Guide to the Magic" with dining, shopping, recreation and WDW property map
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WDW Theme Park times Guide
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| Recreation Guide for Ft. Wilderness Resort & Campground |
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Key to the World -- your room key not only opens your room, but is also your early entry ID, charge-to-room card, and perhaps your theme park ticket – Don’t Loose It
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If you drove, then you’ll get a parking pass – use it or your room key to park for free at the theme parks, and also to get through the security gate back at your resort.
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What to ask for
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Wild About Safety coloring book for kids (or big kids)
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Theme Park maps
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Resort amenities
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Lobby Concierge
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Your source for tickets, dining priority seating, dinner shows, recreation reservations, fishing or fireworks cruises, and other information. Located at Outpost and Settlement.
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Business Services
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Fax & other limited services through front desk
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Bell Services
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For cabin dwellers without cars, Bell Services will take you to your cabin and pick you up and take you to the Registration building when it's time to leave. From there you can get shuttle/taxi service.
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Valet Parking
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Not available at this resort.
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| Electric Golf Cart Rental |
Daily rentals available. Great way to get around the Campgrounds. Reservations a must - call the Bike Barn at 407-824-2742. Pick up and Drop off at the Outpost. |
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Airline Check-in
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On the day of your flight you can print out your boarding passes for select airlines. Located inside Registration lobby.
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Laundry
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Laundry facilities are located at each comfort station and at the Wilderness Swimmin' pool by the Cabins.
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Fitness Center
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Not available at this resort.
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Salon
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Not available at this resort.
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Child Care
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Not at this resort. Call "Kid's Night Out" 407-828-0920
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Misc Services
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ATM, Pre-paid phone cards, Stamps & postal box are located at Outpost and Settlement.
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Wifi
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Located at Reception Outpost, Meadowland and at Trail’s End.
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Ice & Vending Machines
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Ice available at Meadowland Trading Post and Comfort Stations. Vending at Wilderness Swimmin' Pool.
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Wheelchair rental
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As a guest of the resort, you can request a length-of-stay wheelchair rental. A refundable deposit is given at Lobby Concierge and you are given use of a push-style wheelchair for the length of your stay. Available on a first-come first-serve basis.
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Pets
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Ft Wilderness is the only Pet Friendly resort at Walt Disney World. There is a Kennel for boarding your pet, but they are also allowed in certain Campsite Loops.
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Waggin’ Trails Dog Park is a recent addition to Ft Wilderness. In Loop 300, there is an off-the-leash Dog Park. There are water stations and picnic tables for humans. Please clean up after your own pooch! There are also Dog Runs in certain Loops.
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Recreation
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Pools
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Meadow Swimmin’ pool & kiddie pool located at Meadowlands. Enhanced pool with slide to be constructed.
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Wilderness Swimmin' Pool pool located by Cabins
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Towel’s available at both pools.
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| Life jackets available free of charge. Located at Meadow Swimmin' Pool. |
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Beach
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There is no swimming in the river or Bay Lake. Beach located at the Settlement.
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Arcade
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Davy Crockett Wilderness Arcade found at the Settlement behind Trail's End Buffeteria.
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Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Arcade at the Meadowlands by the pool.
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Rentals & Sports
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From the Meadowlands Bike Barn:
Bikes, canoes & kayaks, fishing gear, tennis.
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From the Settlement Marina:
Powered boats, surrey bikes. Water mice and pontoon boats are available.
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Horse trials: Make reservations to ride a horse around the Ft Wilderness trails. Located at the Trail Blaze Coral at the Outpost. Check-in is at the Kennel.
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Basketball, tether ball, volleyball, playgrounds: locations found throughout the campground; consult the map for locations.
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Shuffle board, hop-scotch, horse shoes are found at the Meadowlands, shuffle board equipment available for free.
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| Wilderness Back Trail Segway tour. 2 hour tour - learn to ride a Segway X2 and zip around the Wilderness. Reservations a must. |
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Archery Class available at Meadowlands. Inquire at Bike Barn
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Playground
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Located throughout the resort, consult map for locations.
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Jogging/Hiking trails
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Wooded trials extend all throughout the campgrounds and also lead over to the Wilderness Lodge. Inquire at Bike Barn.
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Children’s activities
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Inquire with Meadowlands pool staff.
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| Caricatures |
Located at Settlement |
| Hair wraps |
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Temporary tattoos
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Not available at this resort
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Pressed penny machines
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Located at Settlement and Meadowland.
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Disney cartoons & movies
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At the Outpost Registration building, they play Disney movies and cartoons all throughout the day. It's a small building though.
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Campfire program: nightly at 6:30pm at the Meadowlands. You can make S'mores by the fire, watch a Disney movie on the big screen and sing-along with Chip N Dale. And it's all FREE ('xept your s'more fixins). Anyone can come and have fun. If it rains, a limited event is held under the cover by the pool.
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Other Entertainment
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Hay rides, carriage rides: Nightly hay and carriage rides around the property are offered from the Settlement. Reservations are recommended for the carriage rides
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Tri-Circle D, Petting farm, pony rides: All found at the Settlement. Visit the horses and ponies used throughout WDW. Talk with their keepers or visit the blacksmith (when he's there). The petting farm next door is open until dusk. Feed the goats, cow, donkey, sheep, pigs and other barnyard animals. Pony rides are offered for the little ones during the day for a few dollars.
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The Electrical Water Pageant makes its way over to the beach each night around 9:40pm.
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Dining
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Trail’s End Buffeteria
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Best deal on property. Really good buffet, at reasonable prices. The CM's are always happy to see you and greet you with a smile. Found at the Settlement. They also offer a very nice carry-out menu.
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Breakfast 7:30am-11:00am
Lunch 11:30pm-2:00pm
Dinner 4:30pm-9:30 (sun-thurs); 10:00pm (fri-sat)
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| Crockett's Tavern
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Full bar. Located inside Trail's End Buffeteria at the Settlement. |
| 4:00pm-10:00pm |
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Chuck Wagon
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Snack bar located by the Campfire field at the Meadowlands. Snacks, S’more kits, drinks.
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Open nightly for Campfire program.
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Meadow Snack bar
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Usual snack bar fair, along with burgers, hot dogs and pizza. Located at Meadow Swimmin’ pool.
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11:00am-5:00pm Seasonal!
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Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque
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Found at the Pavilion behind Trail's End at the Settlement. One price, all you can eat. Usual BBQ food - chicken, hot dogs, ribs, etc. Country band, line dancing with instructor and Mickey & friends of course.
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Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Seasonal
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Pioneer Hall - Hoop De Do Musical Revue
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Longest running dinner show at WDW. You can make your reservations up to 2 years in advance, and it's a good idea to make them as soon as possible! All you can eat served family style. A cast of 6 put on a rompin' stompin' family fun show.
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Daily: 5:00pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm
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Refillable Mug
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Available for purchase and use at Trail’s End take-out, and Meadowlands Trading Post.
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Shopping
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Settlement Trading Post
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Found at the Settlement. The smaller of the two stores. Has a nice selection of food, snacks, drinks & candy. The usual assortment of WDW items and Ft Wilderness logo items.
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Meadowlands Trading Post
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The larger of the two, found at the Meadowlands. A larger selection of the same goods. Plenty of s'more fixin's as well. Better grocery selection.
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Package Pick-up
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Packages sent to the resort from the Theme Parks can be picked up at the Settlement Trading Post.
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Transportation
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Monorail
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Not available at this resort
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Buses
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Very good, detailed maps of the all bus stops, internal routes and where to pick up Theme/Water Park buses are available at Every bus stop and are handed out at Check-in. The key to a stress-free stay is to take the time to understand these routes and use them to your advantage.
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Internal: Three bus routes take guests throughout the campground.
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Purple: stops at all Cabin loops. Travels from Outpost to Settlement and visa versa.
Orange: stops at some campsite loops and all Cabin loops. Stops at Meadowlands. Travels from Outpost to Settlement and visa versa.
Yellow: stops at most campsite loops. Stops near Meadowlands. Travels from Outpost to Settlement and visa versa.
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External routes stop at Settlement and Outpost
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Outpost bus depot: All internal buses stop here. Transfer to Epcot, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach, Disney's Hollywood Studios or Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon buses here.
Settlement bus depot: All internal buses stop here. Transfer to Wilderness Lodge buses here.
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Boat
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Boat dock located at The Settlement
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Marina/Boat Launch: Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom available here.
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Boats also ferry guests between Ft. Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary from here.
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| Pros |
The atmosphere of the resort is very calm and relaxing. Despite the number of cabins and campsites, the 'Wilderness' of the property remains and is fantastic.
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The cabins are the best deal for long stays or if you want/need two rooms or a kitchen. I could move in today. They're very comfortable and homey.
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The shear number of activities at this resort makes it a destination in and of itself. The kids (young and old) will never be bored.
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Just about everything at this resort is affordable.
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The staff has always been really great and helpful.
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Consider getting a Golf Cart rental. It makes getting around easy and is really nice after a long day at the parks.
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Cons
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The size of the campgrounds makes getting around a bit more difficult. If you're in a big hurry and go Commando style, all the buses could get frustrating. If you're not in a huge hurry, then it's really not that bad. If you have your car with you, then the pressure's off.
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Depending on your location, the walk to the bus stop can be a long one. If that's a concern, but sure to request a smaller loop when making your reservations.
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The Golf Cart rentals are expensive. That said, best money I ever spent!
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Other info
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My last stay was
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December 7-9, 2007
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Number of times I’ve stayed here
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6
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Address & phone
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4510 N. Ft. Wilderness Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Main: (407) 824-2900
Fax: (407) 824-3508.
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