Okay, it’s really, really a laid-back place. So much that I seriously had to think and rethink my approach to this article. There’s been a bit of annoying buzz about going-straight-to-hell rulebreakers in a Facebook group or two lately, particularly from some wanna-be Fort police. The real Fort rangers are known to be super chill – often overlooking transgressions reported by some of the fussier campers. After all, it’s Disney World, a private property, and the magic would kind of disappear if you felt like someone was waiting to catch you doing something wrong.
A big caveat – there are some offenses that can get you sent packing (soliciting business on property, swimming over to old Discovery Island, carrying a gun). But we’re focusing on some rules that may merit a friendly reminder or at least reveal your plebian status as unstudied first-timer.
Driving Golf Carts one Way
Traffic in each loop goes in a counter-clock direction. It’s really during busier times that this becomes a serious safety concern. And even when you are moving in the proper direction, you’ll find that the many free-range children riding their bikes and trikes are probably not. Oh, and yes, your kid is supposed to be 16 to drive that cart. You’ll see many who are not, but again, be mindful of potential liability and use common sense. (See: Fort Wilderness Official Vehicle Regulations)
keep beverage out of pool
Lifeguards are a blatant exception to the accommodating cast member who turns a blind eye. Their tans and shiny teeth distract you from those hawk eyes that see all. You can take your cooler to the pool, but you can’t carry that beverage (even cola) in the water or sitting along the edge. I’ve been called out at least twice on this one. And Santa still put a gift or two in my stocking.
Put the fish back
Oh the joy of a couple of hours spent fishing in the canals of Fort Wilderness or in a boat on Bay Lake. You’ll feel just like Huck Finn. Just know that you’re not going to be able to swagger back to your campsite with that 7-pound bass. At WDW, he gets to swim to a ripe old age, and I bet the Fort and Bay Lake likely have some of the world’s oldest fish.
Be mindful of parking in your campsite
Try to get your vehicles all the way in your space, particularly if you are in some of the tighter loops (100-300). Not an easy feat, I know. But just a foot or two can make all the difference in whether or not someone is able to back that 40-footer in (there’s no pull-through sites at Fort Wilderness).
No dogs in tents
To me, the greatest improvement at the Fort over the last few years is that pets are now allowed in all loops. However, tents and soft-sided trailers are the exception because the yowling may interrupt the peace of your neighbors. Of course, these are your same neighbors who are otherwise oblivious to the sounds of boat horns, busses and fireworks. So, this doesn’t currently seem to be heavily enforced, but it would stress me out having to worry about it. Check out some of the area RV rental places if you don’t have your own travel trailer. Some of the smaller ones are relatively inexpensive.
Keep your blow-up Mickeys, pirate ships, and tiki villages at least 3 feet from road
This one is THE RULE of 2019, as it absolutely was overlooked in the past, with décor joyfully spilling beyond any boundaries. But new campground bosses bring new ways of doing things. Walk-throughs, such as the much-loved and elaborate haunted mansion, are no more. Bottom line – folks should be able to enjoy all of your décor without stepping on to your campsite.
No drones
This is when I really miss the 70s when drones were allowed. Wait, you and I didn’t have drones in the 70s. But wouldn’t it be a blast to take Fort Wilderness photos from above!? No can do. This one is a federal law as WDW has been a no-fly zone since 2003. WDW itself has received a temporary waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration for entertainment purposes (Orlando Sentinel, 2016). No tomfoolery on this one at all.
No skateboards or hoverboards
There aren’t a lot of campgrounds that ban skateboards and such, but it’s just the sheer volume of heavy pedestrian traffic that likely prompted this one.
Don’t go for a swim in the creek or the lake
We all miss the days when the Fort had a true swimming beach, but the alligator population has risen exponentially in the last few decades. Frankly, I wouldn’t dare swim in any pond or lake in Florida anymore, rules or not.
What to Do if You See Someone Breaking a Rule
Lots of choices here, and this brings us to perhaps the most important rule or Fort Wilderness norm of all. Most of the time, Let It Go. Let it be. Don’t be blown by every wind. Hakuna Matata.
It’s easy-peezy to go and meet your neighbor, and nicely ask her if she could move her truck over just a few inches. It shouldn’t be impossible to refrain from yelling at a passerby. And if someone is in real danger, help them for heaven’s sakes. If a travel agent is soliciting business or selling their shirts on property, then yeah, maybe that mess needs to be reported. But if you feel an obsessive need to put up your own roadblock to check the IDs of 15-year-old golf cart drivers, then maybe get a job as a prison warden or an IRS investigator.
