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Disney World at 50: You Grew Up at Fort Wilderness in the 80s if You Remember These

Published on by thewildernessprincess

Going back to Fort Wilderness still reminds me of those first ten years of my life when it seemed that childhood would last forever. So much has changed as the years fade into decades and I’m suddenly way older than my mother used to be. Still, the feeling at Fort Wilderness never changes. But you know that you were a kid at our beloved Disney campground in the Reagan years if you share these sublime memories.

LOVESHACK, BABY

Before moderate and value resorts came around, these trailer homes (cover picture) were the best deal on property.  For just $70 a night (early in the decade), you could eat your Count Chocula cereal in a Disney-fied trailer sleeping six. Extra points if your mom had a mini-van.

Taking the tram to river country

In the early 80s, we were still hoping for a return of the oh-so-famous steam train, having no idea it had forever bitten the dust. But the trams were another one of the “special rides” of delight. Besides, walking back to our loops from River Country was way too tiring because River Country was not a lazy-river place. The flumes were fast and furious and just stayin’ alive took some serious energy.


learning that a surrey looked way more fun than it was

Wouldn’t pedaling two people on four wheels be twice as fun as a bicycle ride? Turns out these 80s Fort rentals were hard to pedal, didn’t go fast, and looked like something that Pee-Wee Herman would drive.

Fort Wilderness surrey bikes

going with your mom to pick up a deli sandwich and a pack of virginia slims at the meadows trading post

Back when there were only about 200 Subway restaurants in America, going to the Trading Post to have your sandwich custom-made was quite a treat. But along with the sale of tobacco and make-your-own pizza at Trail’s End, the delis disappeared in the 1990s.

meadows trading

Playing tetherball with your loop friends while your folks were at the top of the world

Back in those days, the Top of the World was big-time stuff. Mom and Dad would get all dressed up (bring out the Clairol hot rollers) for grown-up nightlife just across Bay Lake. Definitely Love Boat style entertainment – one of the regular events was a Broadway Revue. There were sometimes big stars there (more so in the 70s), but what mattered is that it left us with another night to free range at the Fort. Unsupervised.

Kazoos from Melvin the Moose Breakfast show

Did you really go to Fort Wilderness in the 80s if you didn’t see Melvin the Moose?

In 1986, Pioneer Hall became the spot for a quirky new breakfast show, originally called the “Rise and Shine, Get Up and Go” show. Kind of like Hoop Dee Doo meets 1980s Chuck-E-Cheese. Along with two live performers,  puppet Melvin the Moose was brought over from Magic Kingdom’s Country Bear Jamboree. The sing-along ended with every kid (and grown-up) obnoxiously playing her souvenir kazoo to the tune of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”

On a delicious note – this breakfast may have been the first sighting of the now ubiquitous chocolate chip muffins at Disney World.

being unwillingly forced to go with your mom to see the BRAND NEW grand floridian

There she was, in her Member’s Only jacket, saying this new monstrosity was the most spectacular hotel in the world. If we took enough pictures then maybe that meant we were rich enough to belong.  What moms didn’t realize is that it really looked and felt more like like a super fancy old folks home. Forget the French cuisine – take me back to the ol’ fishin’ hole puh-leeze. Or at least for a pool-hop at the Polynesian.

 

1980s fort wilderness pool

wake me up before you go-go to the new Meadows pool

Prior to the mid-1980s, you could only find summer relief at River Country or in the Bay Lake swimming area. Finally in 1985, Fort Wilderness added two real swimming pools and tennis courts. And suddenly the loops near the Meadows were more coveted than those near the Settlement. (My favorite is Loop 900 and fits the larger RVs we rent).

Clearly, these concrete ponds were extremely humble compared to those at other resorts and River Country. Nevertheless, it was as refreshing as a Sun Country wine cooler to jump into the sparkling chlorinated water and get all that Bay Lake jungle juice off of you.

Fort Wilderness Pool 1980s

 

Key Dates at Fort Wilderness in the 1980s

February 1980 – Fort Wilderness Railroad takes its last ride.

1981 – The Gaitlin Brothers perform at Pioneer Hall for a television special celebrating Wald Disney World’s 10th anniversary.

1983 – Rumors of a second campground (still waiting on this one) are published in the Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel.

March 16, 1986 – Melvin the Moose Breakfast Show Premieres at Pioneer Hall.

1985 – Meadows pool and tennis courts and Wilderness pool open.

1987 – The world’s last known Dusky Seaside Sparrow died at the now-defunct Discovery Island.

Related: You Grew Up Camping in the 70s at Fort Wilderness if You Remember These