How You Can Camp at Disney World

Having a hard time deciding where to stay on your next Disney World trip? You’re not alone!

There are so many options when it comes to hotels at Disney World. Want to be close to Magic Kingdom? A Monorail resort is probably for you. On a budget but still want to stay on Disney World property? Consider a value hotel like Pop Century. But did you know that there’s a great option for people who love to camp at Disney World?

Yes, you can really CAMP at Disney World! We’re talking all about Disney’s Fort Wilderness and how to have a unique camping experience at this resort.

What Is Fort Wilderness?

If you’ve heard of Disney World hotels, you’ve probably heard of the classics like Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort…but what is Fort Wilderness?

Fort Wilderness is part of the Magic Kingdom resort area and offers both campsites and cabins to stay in. It’s not as close to the park as those Monorail resorts and you are just far enough away to feel like you’re out camping and not near one of the biggest theme parks in the country!

There are many different “room types” to choose from — you can go as simple as a tent or pop-up campsite or as extravagant as a premium campsite with an RV hook-up!

There are bus stops all throughout the resort and they can take you to the theme parks. You can also head towards the water and take a boat over to Magic Kingdom.

This is a pet-friendly resort, so you’ll be able to bring your little companions with you for $5 per night. Although you are camping, this is still a resort, so you’ll find plenty of activities, entertainment, and restaurants.

What Can You Do at Fort Wilderness?

So what all does Fort Wilderness offer? Let’s break it down.

Restaurants

There are actually a few choices when it comes to eating at Fort Wilderness. The main quick service dining location is P & J’s Southern Takeout which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If you can’t tell from the name of the restaurant, you’ll find southern comfort food like fried chicken, ribs, burgers, and more on the menu!

In the evenings, you can visit Crockett’s Tavern near Pioneer Hall!

This spot offers some appetizers or cocktails with Moonshine.

You can also grab dinner at The Chuck Wagon, which is a food truck that offers things like salads and burgers.

You can even find corn dog nuggets here!

If you’re chilling at the pool, the Meadow Snack Bar has a few snacks and drinks to grab while you’re swimming.

There are no traditional table service restaurants at Fort Wilderness.

Entertainment

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is one of the biggest draws to Fort Wilderness! It is a dinner show that has been around for years and has been a consistent fan-favorite.

This is the closest you’ll get to a sit-down meal here AND you get a show with it!

Activities

Want to go swimming? The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and the Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool are available to resort guests. The Meadow pool has a waterslide, however it will be closed for refurbishment from January 2023 to April 2023.

Golf carts are also available to rent here! If you don’t want to wait on the Disney bus to pick you up, travel by golf cart to get to where you need to go around the resort.

There are also some unique activities you won’t find at any other Disney World hotel including archery, horseback riding, and canoeing!

You’ll also find the Meadow Trading Post and Settlement Trading Post stores where you can grab some souvenirs!

While you are camping here, you are allowed to make your campsite feel like home. That’s why Disney allows you to decorate! If you’re there around the holidays, be sure to check out all of the lights and fun decor — guests here go ALL. OUT.

How Much Does It Cost?

So how much does it cost to stay at Fort Wilderness in Disney World? Well, it all depends on the type of campsite or cabin you want to stay in. Note that these prices change constantly.

Here’s a look at pricing for January 2023 — a regular tent or pop-up campsite is $85, a full hook-up campsite is $113, and the preferred campsite (which is closer to the marina) is $120 per night.

If you need room for a large RV, there is a premium campsite that costs $131 and a premium meadow campsite (located near the main area with food, shops, and activities) costs $141.

While this resort is more affordable than most Disney hotels, the prices also increase significantly around the holidays. Below are prices for the week before Christmas in 2023. Tent campsite for $172, a full hook-up site for $209, and a preferred campsite for $223. 

Around the holidays, a premium campsite can cost $240 and a premium meadow campsite can cost $276.

If staying in a tent or RV is not your jam, there are also cabins available at a higher price! They each sleep 6 adults and during an off season like January 2023, a cabin could cost around $398. This is much more expensive than the campsites, but you do get your own private cabin.

However, if you stay in a cabin the week before Christmas, it will cost almost double at $752.

We usually recommend this resort for anyone who wants to stay on Disney World property and get the benefits like Early Theme Park Entry and free transportation, but not spend their entire budget on the hotel alone. However, the prices (especially for the cabins) get pretty high around the holidays.

So if you’re looking to camp in Disney World (or are starting to consider it after seeing the low prices), be sure to check out Fort Wilderness! There is so much to see and do and it is one of the most unique options in all of Disney World.

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Would you consider camping at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!