January Blues: Five Fab Places to Glamp in the Southeast After New Year’s

Published on December 20, 2019December 20, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

All the merriment and celebration of December suddenly give way to the cold, lifeless reality of January. It’s time to pay the bills, fully engage at the office, and lose 10 or more pounds. According to PsychCentral (2018), January 24 is the most depressing day of the year. For me, getting through these very-real January Blues requires more than knowing that sunshine and daffodils are just a few weeks away. A healing weekend in the woods is clearly in order. Here are five fabulous places for a January glamp in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. Continue reading “January Blues: Five Fab Places to Glamp in the Southeast After New Year’s” →

Tillamook Buttered Suppertime Potatoes

Published on December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

Every now and again, I venture away from my beloved mashed potatoes, which is go-to comfort food. Now, this recipe is about as southern as it gets, a suppertime staple of my Great-Aunt Eula who grew up on the tobacco farms of South Georgia. Its simplicity, with just five ingredients, is mighty deceiving. It wants for nothing more, and is another example of how we have overcomplicated our meals, at the expense of both time and money. Continue reading “Tillamook Buttered Suppertime Potatoes” →

Seven Fort Wilderness Trends We’d Like to Leave Behind in 2020

Published on December 11, 2019December 12, 2019 by thewildernessprincess1 Comment

Overall, 2019 was another grand one at the Fort. In spite of rising site prices and rapid change, the wild, free pioneer spirit remained. A few crackdowns on larger decorative structures didn’t put a damper on Halloween, and the new barn is being built right next to the old one (contrary to one rumor). Fort Wilderness remains my all-time favorite place to camp. Still, there’s a few things we wouldn’t mind vanishing with the winter winds. Continue reading “Seven Fort Wilderness Trends We’d Like to Leave Behind in 2020” →

33 Tweets that Sum up a Wild 2019 at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Published on December 7, 2019December 23, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

So, yes many changes came to Disney’s Fort Wilderness this year, but its essential natural magic remained untouched. The circle of life brought the shuttering of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, but the birth of a new Cinderella pony. Here’s a look at 33 tweets over the last year that sum up the enchantment, the worries, the crazy, and the joy. Continue reading “33 Tweets that Sum up a Wild 2019 at Disney’s Fort Wilderness” →

Rules and Norms at Fort Wilderness: Are You on Santa’s Naughty List?

Published on December 1, 2019December 20, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

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. Continue reading “Rules and Norms at Fort Wilderness: Are You on Santa’s Naughty List?” →

20 Wild-Side Christmas Gifts for Fort Wilderness Campers

Published on November 25, 2019December 12, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

As one with decades of experience accumulating and later discarding things I didn’t really need, I’ve spent quite a bit of time curating the perfect Disney camper list. These run the gamut of budget friendly to a little indulgent, but I’ve avoided sheer extravagance (brand new Airstreams and Disney annual passes, for example). Please note that I am an Amazon affiliate, and will earn a small commission on any Amazon items that you purchase through these links. This helps to slightly tame the expense of maintaining this site.

Active Life LED Bike Fairy Lights with Batteries

When I was a kid, this would have been at the top of my list. I remember how proud of was of the little plastic ones with zero lights that turned into some sort of rainbow the faster I went. I’m loving the stylishness of these (lots of different colors), but really the practicality of the safety and visibility. Looping just got a whole lot brighter. Note that one set is for one wheel – I would want two sets in two different colors. [Affiliate link.] Continue reading “20 Wild-Side Christmas Gifts for Fort Wilderness Campers” →

12 Random Acts of Kindness for Holiday Magic at Fort Wilderness

Published on November 13, 2019November 13, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

Since the movie, Pay it Forward (2000), inspired thousands to perform random acts of kindness, many have discovered the surprising bliss that comes from giving to strangers. With Fort Wilderness at its most crowded (and expensive) during the holidays, levels of impatience rise accordingly. Yet the most magical moments of the day at the campground are not always the appearance of Chip and Dale at the campfire. Or even the early morning, foggy boat ride to the Happiest Place on Earth. Rather it is the new friend we made at the tavern. The gentle man from New Jersey who helped us with our RV electrical short. Or the child who shared her Mickey float with our fussy kid at the Meadows. These are the people and the moments that stay forever etched in our hearts. Continue reading “12 Random Acts of Kindness for Holiday Magic at Fort Wilderness” →

Thanksgiving to Go-Go: Where to Order Down-Home Turkey Dinner in Orlando

Published on November 7, 2019January 5, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

Maybe you couldn’t snag that Trail’s End reservation (Fort Wilderness) or perhaps you just want your own Hallmark-style family meal without the toil. Going out to eat has become a pricey affair for this food holiday, with over-the-top buffets requiring $50 to $120 a head. And sure, these may come with shrimp ravioli, fresh oysters, and sweet potato tiramisu, but if you are like me, you are wanting turkey and dressing with the countrified fixings, along with a little pecan pie or banana pudding. Continue reading “Thanksgiving to Go-Go: Where to Order Down-Home Turkey Dinner in Orlando” →

Second Wife’s Southern Pecan Pie

Published on November 5, 2019June 28, 2021 by thewildernessprincess

My late father was a bit of a cowboy, and had been to the altar three times before he passed away at the age of 38. Now his second wife (my step-mother) was probably the kindest and most traditionally wonderful of the three wives. A school teacher. A Sunday school teacher. A beauty queen. A whole lot like Cinderella herself. Every Christmas she baked dozens of pecan pies, and hand delivered them to everyone she knew. She grew up among pecan orchards in Georgia, and had perfected the art. Yet, no one’s pies could ever measure up to hers. This drove the Third Wife particularly crazy – she was fiercely jealous of the Second Wife and had convinced herself that it that pecan pie that kept Cowboy Daddy looking back over his shoulder. Continue reading “Second Wife’s Southern Pecan Pie” →

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

Published on October 31, 2019 by thewildernessprincess

Oh, how time brings such a rose-colored filter to days gone by. The further we get away from our younger days in the sun, the more the darker memories seem to fade. And such are our memories of those innocent-yet-wild times at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. One thing is certain – if you remember most of these, then you were there – and are one of the lucky. Continue reading “Timewarp: You Grew Up Camping at Fort Wilderness in the 70s if You Remember These” →