Of the thousands of people you’ll find at Fort Wilderness every day, many of them are not actually spending the night there under the stars. Some have arrived by boat from the Contemporary Resort – for breakfast at Trail’s End or to visit the horse barn. Others make their way to the Fort via bus, Minnie Van, or personal transportation. They are there to see the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show (which just celebrated 45 years), take a trail ride or a bike ride, shop for a Fort Wilderness pin in the Settlement Trading Post, or just explore. Afterwards, they head on back to another Disney resort, their Florida homes, or off-property hotels.
To be clear, Walt Disney World does not discourage visits to Fort Wilderness by day guests. However, some specific campground amenities – primarily the two swimming pools – are limited to overnight guests, just as they would be at other resorts.
How to Get There
For day guests, parking is only allowed at the Outpost area if you have a confirmed reservation for something, such as dining or activities (horseback riding, Segway Tours, archery). With such a reservation, your parking will be free, and then you can take the bus into the Fort Wilderness Meadows or Settlement Area.
An alternate (and easy) route is to take the monorail to the Contemporary Resort and the blue flag boat to Fort Wilderness, or the green flag boat directly from the Magic Kingdom. This is really a pleasant ride across Bay Lake. You can also hire a Minnie Van for a fast and direct ride to the Outpost or all the way into the Settlement Area of the Fort.
If you only have two hours or less
There is a seemingly-endless list of things you could do for an hour or two. But, depending on the time of the year and the ages of the people in your party, here are a few ideas for the best ways to spend two hours.
- Biscuits & Bridle. Eat brunch at Trail’s End Buffet on the weekend (or breakfast on weekdays). You’ll need a reservation ahead of time. Walk over to the horse barn and visit the majestic horses and the white ponies who pull Cinderella’s castle. Stroll over to the Settlement Trading Post and pick up a souvenir or two.
- Cowboy Romance. Take a horse and carriage ride. The 25-minute ride will give you a nice look at the wildlife and a few of the loops in the Fort. At $55 for four people, this is a Disney bargain. Reserve up to 180 days in advance by calling (407) 939-7529. Have a snack and/or a beverage at Crockett’s Tavern afterwards.
- Tour De Wilderness. Segway Tours are offered each morning at 8:30 and 11:00 at Fort Wilderness for ages 16 and above. The tour guide (cast member) provides interesting information and trivia along the way. Normally, bikes are available for rental as well (at the Bike Barn in Fort Wilderness). However, these have been temporarily suspended as the bike trail is currently closed due to construction.
- Cheap Date. Simply take in the scenery around the Settlement Area and visit the horse barn. Combine this short visit with a boat ride over to the Wilderness Lodge to watch the geyser go off at the top of the hour.
If you have several hours
- Wild West Adventure. Consider renting a golf cart for the day ($63) and fully exploring the Fort. This is particularly fun during the weeks before Halloween and Christmas to see all of the decorated campsites in the loops. Be sure to make golf cart reservations well ahead of time by calling (407) 824-2742. Make time for a canoe ride, a trail ride, or archery lessons – or a combination of all. Pick up the fried chicken meal from PJ’s Takeout, and eat it at the nearby picnic tables (or drive the golf cart over to the Meadows area to eat). Take a boat ride over to Wilderness Lodge for an afternoon beverage at Geyser Point.
- Starry Nights. Arrive at the Fort via boat, and take an evening stroll to explore the Meadows area. Relax on the porch at the Meadows Trading Post, and then head to the evening Campfire Sing-a-Long and Movie (starts at 8 pm in the summer; a little earlier in the winter). Grab a bite to eat at the retro food truck, and roast some marshmallows. Alternatively, skip the movie part and head to the beach to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks (9:15 pm) and the Electrical Water Pageant (9:45 pm).
- Hoop Dee Fun. Take in the 6:15 pm Hoop Dee Doo show (make reservations way in advance), followed by an 8:30 pm Wagon Ride (reservations recommended). Round out the evening with a little relaxation in the porch rocking chairs in front of Davy Crockett’s Tavern.
