Tackling Disney World in an RV

There’s no better way to enjoy the happiest place on earth than to bring your RV along with you. Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is an official Disney resort with all the usual perks. Even better, you can experience the magic of Disney while sleeping in the comfort of your RV. You’ll find additional Florida RV parks throughout the region.

Stay at the Fort

Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is the very best place to stay for several reasons. For starters, as part of the Disney World resort properties in Florida, guests get access to something known as extra magic hours. That means you can enter selected parks an hour early or stay an hour late. This option helps you make the most of your time in the parks. As a resort guest, you can also book dining reservations up to 180 days before your arrival date. This is critical if you’re hoping to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the famous castle or Beauty & the Beast’s Be Our Guest restaurant.

Another great reason to stay at Fort Wilderness is that you can make your Fast Pass reservations up to 60 days before your arrival. Disney’s Fast Pass service allows you to reserve access to select rides, shows, and character greetings in advance. Those who aren’t staying at Disney resorts can’t make their Fast Pass reservations until 30 days out, so by staying at Fort Wilderness, you get a whole month’s jump on the competition for the most popular attractions. Fast Passes help increase your chance of getting on the rides that are most important for your family.

Free transportation to all of the Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, resorts, and Disney Springs is another terrific benefit of staying at Fort Wilderness. You can leave your vehicle at the campsite and save on parking as well as the hassle of traffic. Buses regularly depart from Fort Wilderness to destinations throughout Disney World. In addition, there are boats from the Fort’s marina to the Magic Kingdom and all resorts located on the Seven Seas Lagoon such as the Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary Resort. Fort Wilderness is fairly large so many guests use the internal bus system, rent a golf cart, or use their bikes to get around the campground.

Spend Time at the Campground

The best part about staying at Fort Wilderness is that you don’t have to leave to get the Disney experience. The campground is fully themed and offers all the amenities of other Disney resorts. Join Disney characters Chip ‘n Dale for a campfire sing-along every night of the week followed by an outdoor movie. Bring your hot dogs and marshmallows to roast over two large campfires or purchase them from the RV food truck.

The campground has two swimming pools, one of which also has organized activities, a splash pad, water slide, music, and a snack bar. Located adjacent to that pool is the Bike Barn where you can rent bicycles, fishing gear, and even kayaks if you didn’t bring yours along. Of course, you can bring your gear and enjoy free catch and release fishing on the canals or ride along miles of paths that crisscross the Fort.

There are plenty of recreational opportunities at the Fort’s marina as well. Known as the Settlement area, there are a couple of restaurants, a musical dinner show, an arcade, playground, and boat rentals. You can also enjoy fireworks and a floating parade, Electrical Water Pageant, from the beach each night.

Save, Relax, and Take a Break from the Crowds

One of the best things about staying at Fort Wilderness is that you can save money and calories by eating at your RV for many meals. For example, eat breakfast before leaving for your early magic hour at one of the parks. Then come back to the campground for lunch and a little relaxation. This will allow you to avoid the greatest mid-day crowds. You can always head back to the parks in the afternoon or evening feeling refreshed.

Bring Your Pets

One great thing about RV travel is the ability to take your pets along for the ride, and Fort Wilderness is no exception. The campground is pet-friendly with numerous places to walk your dog and even a couple of off-leash dog parks. If you plan to spend a long day away from the campground, you can book a reservation for your dog at the Best Friends Pet Care which offers doggy daycare and overnight boarding right on Disney property.

Plan ahead

We all know Disney World is a popular place and Fort Wilderness is no exception. You can make reservations up to 499 days in advance, and you may need to if you want to spend Christmas vacation there. If you don’t want to plan that far in advance, pay a visit during the off-season or keep checking back for cancellations.

Choose the Right Site

When making your reservations, be aware that there are 4 different site types depending on what type of RV you have and where you want to be located in the campground. Prices range by time of year and site. They are listed from least to most expensive below:

• Tent or Pop-Up – These are the smallest sites, and the only ones that don’t have sewer. They are perfect for pop-up campers or small Class-B/Vans.
• Full Hook-up – These sites accommodate equipment on a concrete pad up to 10 feet by 50 feet.
• Preferred – These are the same as full hook-ups except they are located adjacent to the marina area.
• Premium – These are the largest sites with a concrete pad up to 18 feet by 60 feet.
• Meadows Premium – These are premium sites located by the Meadows recreation area including the campfire program and the large pool.

The campground also has 15 comfort stations, which include private showers, restrooms, laundry rooms, and ice machines. With 800+ sites distributed among 21 camping loops covering 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, there is something that will appeal to any type of camper. While you can’t reserve specific campsites, you can request particular loops depending on how close (or far) you want to be to the action.

If you’re looking to maximize your time outdoors, our Florida RV parks finder is a great resource for finding your perfect campground.