(Cover Photo Courtesy Disney)
Let’s start off with a confession. Tent camping at Fort Wilderness or anywhere else was my vacation of choice in my 20s and 30s. My career gave me more than enough chances to sleep in even the nicest of hoteled boxes. Yet, many of those comfortable stays are only vaguely memorable.
It’s those crazy camping trips and particularly the tent ones that are forever etched in my bleached memory.
For example, that 1990s family trip traipsing across Tennessee “looking for Elvis.” This includes one night when four of us braved a horrific storm in a tent at a campground near the old Opryland Amusement Park. Then there’s that Boy Scout troop night where we cuddled up on some rural Georgia farm in 30-degree weather. And I can still smell the sunrise sausage gravy cooking at our wayfaring stranger’s tent in Cloudland Canyon, sometime around 1995. One thing led to another, and we became friends with the breakfast chefs, still keeping up with them 25 years later. Grand, good times.
These days, however, I prefer my RV, and haven’t actually slept in a tent in maybe eight years. Yet, we still often bring one along for our adventurers who would like to have a little extra sleeping space or fresh air. Tent camping at Fort Wilderness is like camping anywhere else – except when it’s not. I would say it can be one place where you can be an exceptionally happy camper with little to no previous experience in the woods.
Here’s what I would tell my inexperienced 24-year-old self about tent camping in Fort Wilderness.
It’s All About the Loops
With more than 800 campsites, there’s a lot of decisions for a Disney camper to make. I knew nothing about loops back in the day. I showed up and dutifully went to my assigned site. Of the 21 camping loops, two of them are partial hook-ups, meaning that they will be the lowest in price (and smallest). These are loops 1500 and 2000. Of these, I prefer 1500 because of its extremely superb proximity to the Meadows Recreation area (pool, campfire show). Others like Loop 2000 because the sites tend to be larger.
Tents can also be used on Full Hook-up sites and Preferred sites. These cost more and have a tent pad in addition to the concrete pad. Premium and Meadows Premium sites are not desirable for tents because they are fully concreted.
Ideally, you’ll want to know which loop you want, and then request it by faxing (407)824-3508 about 10 days prior to arrival. Once you check into the Fort, you may want to have an idea of your favorite sites (see them all here). If one of your preferred ones is not taken, you can be reassigned.
Don’t do it for the bargain
Generally, tent camping at the Fort isn’t the bargain that it was 20 or more years ago. Sites start around $75 a night and exceed $140 during peak times. Often, just $10 or $20 more will get you a climate-controlled room with beds in a Value Resort. The big exception here is if you are a Disney camper with a crowd. You can sleep 10 people on a tent site, and most will easily fit two 8×8 tents, along with a “living area” (table and canopy tent).
It’s going to rain a Whole lot
Sure, River Country has been long closed, but you’ll be able to create your own muddy splash pad on any given afternoon if you don’t have the right set up.
Make sure you are keeping your sleeping area above ground with cots or air mattresses. Depending on the quality of your tent, you may also may want a large tarp that you can tie over the trees to go over the entire area.
You’ll have to leave your best friend behind
So the great thing about Fort Wilderness these days is that you can now bring your pets along to any loop. This is quite a change from the past. The caveat is that they can’t stay in a tent or pop-up where they would disturb other campers. And that might be a problem for you.
Best Friends Pet Resort is just down the road, and our dogs love this place. It’s like the Magic Kingdom for pets.
have a plan for your stuff if you want to keep
There’s a lot of people at the Fort, but I feel much safer there than I do at most campgrounds. However, theft of bicycles and other valuables is not as rare of an event as we would like. Consider locking valuables (laptops, purses, and giant diamond rings) in your vehicle when you’re away. A tough, hard-sided cooler is also a necessity for keeping the squirrels and other wild friends away from your food.
the comfort stations (bathrooms, laundry) are kind of magical
The rustic exterior belies the polished and ultra clean interior. Each comfort station has enough restrooms and showers that we have rarely have to wait. Even though we have facilities in our RV, we almost always use the comfort stations at Fort Wilderness instead. Laundry facilities are also plentiful and accept credit cards only. And most importantly, the laundry room is the best place in the Fort to take shelter from a serious storm.
did I mention the weather?
In the winter months (primarily December, January, and February), an electric blanket usually works well for staying warm enough.
turn up the silence with a fan
If sleep interests you, then a fan is a must-have. In addition to its cooling properties, it can give you that soothing dose of white noise. And you’ll need it. Let’s assume your neighbors behaved and didn’t bring a barking dog. You can count on another neighbor having a crying baby or at least the sounds of busses and a late-night shindig or two.
remember the boy scout motto
Be prepared. As a start-up family back in the day, I think our first tent was a hand-me-down. What you’ll need at Fort Wilderness is space because this is a place where it’s pretty amazing to hang out around the campsite. For a few ideas, below is my tent camping wishlist. As a disclosure: I’m an Amazon Associate, and earn a small commission on items you purchase from these links to support expenses of running this site.
Practical but fun tent (above). This Timber Ridge tent is sturdy and large enough to sleep 8, but how cute is the log-cabin theme? This looks like a cool one to add to go along with our RV.
- Two identical tents is a nice alternative. When you have more than one family and need some privacy, I like to set up two with the living area in between them. There are some decent basic tents available at big-box stores (Coleman brand is acceptable), but if you can afford it, an investment in something that can withstand the heavy rains of Florida may be worth it. I like the durability and looks of the Kodiak Flex-Bows.
- Disc-o-beds are fantabulous bunkable cots that can also turn into seating areas. They are sturdy, holding up to 500 pounds, but also fold up, taking up very little precious packing space.
- In addition to a crockpot or Instapot, I like a portable electric double-burner for cooking. Even when we’re in the RV, I bring one along to cook outside.
- Worried about spiders, snakes, bears and other untamed creatures? They are there, and typically won’t bother you. A quartino of wine or two usually works well to alleviate these worries. And your best box wine will fit in perfectly here.
Don’t let air travel be a barrier
Of course, you can pack a super-light tent and be minimalistic. Or you can just rent a tent from Walt Disney World. Once restricted to only group campers, WDW now rents tents and cots at a fairly reasonable cost. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about setting them up or taking them down. That’s part of the deal. To inquire or reserve, call Group Camping at (407)929-7807.
