hurricane disney world

Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Scary Weather at Fort Wilderness – What to Know and Where to Go

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(Updated from 2019). With Tropical Storm Nicole  currently on the path to the Orlando area (around Thursday), it’s time to review what to kinda-sorta expect at Fort Wilderness.  As for me, I’d be looking at Plan B right now, but that’s because I find even a heavy thunderstorm to be a bloody terror.

(11/9  update) After a bit of back and forth, Fort Wilderness (and Treehouse villas) is evacuating as tropical storm nicole approaches WDW. It is set to arrive in the orlando area Thursday morning with gusty winds, heavy rain, and isolated tornados. Theme parks will close early today. Guests are being relocated to other disney resorts.

My stepmother, a solid Southern Baptist, used to tell me that those that were afraid of storms were afraid of going to hell. This didn’t help me much at the time (bless her heart), as every bolt of lightning turned into micro-second images of the devil himself. And when I was even younger, I used to beg the family to drive to Florida when a tornado was approaching. Continue reading “Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Scary Weather at Fort Wilderness – What to Know and Where to Go” →

fort wilderness decorations

8 Things to Know About Decorating Your Campsite at Fort Wilderness

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One of the most magical things about Fort Wilderness is how campers and glampers go totally bonzo when it comes to decorations. You’ll read folks complaining about rising site prices in various groups (such as our Mouse Glamping Society), but then note that many people have thousands invested in their multiple inflatables, homemade haunted mansions, and life-sized Cinderella coaches. Continue reading “8 Things to Know About Decorating Your Campsite at Fort Wilderness” →

peach cobbler recipe

Nothing Says August in the South Like Georgia Peach Cobbler

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Just as soon as those peaches start to ripen in the summer months in the South, you can almost smell the peach cobblers rising in the ovens. Waiting nearby is a bucket of homemade or Mayfield vanilla ice cream. The thing is Georgia’s best dessert is also it’s the easiest. Continue reading “Nothing Says August in the South Like Georgia Peach Cobbler” →

Fort wilderness reservations

Getting Holiday Reservations at Fort Wilderness Has Changed: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

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Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort has recently significantly changed policies regarding reservations during its most popular times. These now appear to include Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Continue reading “Getting Holiday Reservations at Fort Wilderness Has Changed: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” →

chip dale singalong

Nightly Magic Returns to Fort Wilderness: Tips for Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Show

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Earlier this week, our favorite chipmunks finally returned to the nightly Campfire Show at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Some had almost given up hope that Fort activities would ever rebound post-covid, but lately the enchanted swampland is once again filled with song and dance. Continue reading “Nightly Magic Returns to Fort Wilderness: Tips for Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Show” →

Class A Fort Wilderness

Fort Wilderness by the Month and 2023 Crowd Calendar

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Even though it can feel as though getting a reservation at Disney’s Fort Wilderness is nearly impossible, this is only true for a few weeks of the year. As Disney has shifted its pricing models, no longer is summer necessarily among the most crowded times. In fact, the Fort can be astonishingly quiet (except for weekends) in the last weekdays of July. And Fort crowds do not necessarily correlate to park crowds. For example, there are snowbirds who spend weeks in Fort Wilderness in the winter. Likewise, the Fort has become (somewhat unfortunately) one of the hottest places to be in all of Florida on Halloween. Continue reading “Fort Wilderness by the Month and 2023 Crowd Calendar” →

Hoop Dee Doo Revival Doesn’t Miss a Beat After Two-Year Hiatus

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(Above Photo, Courtesy Disney)

In a world weary of uncertainty and confusion, the much-anticipated return of the Hoop Dee Doo Revue on June 23 brought a whoppin’ dose of comfort, joy, and old-fashioned shenanigans to its opening-night guests. A beloved mainstay since the earliest days of Fort Wilderness (June 1974), the vaudeville-style dinner show closed abruptly in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Continue reading “Hoop Dee Doo Revival Doesn’t Miss a Beat After Two-Year Hiatus” →

avocado toast

Midsummer Garden Avocado Toast

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Dreamy, long summer nights bring a hypnotic quality to the hours and brings us closer to the land.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the summer bounty of our gardens brimming with tomatoes, herbs, squash and watermelon. Other than a classic tomato sandwich, there’s nothing I crave more in late June and July than fresh avocado toast. Continue reading “Midsummer Garden Avocado Toast” →

Fort Wilderness Sign

2023 Fort Wilderness Camping Rates and Categories (Analysis and Rate Tables)

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Since 2020, Fort Wilderness has had five categories of loops. In addition to the Tent loops, Full hook-up loops, and Preferred loops, the Premium loops were split into two categories. This newest category is called Meadows Premium. These are not a new loops. Continue reading “2023 Fort Wilderness Camping Rates and Categories (Analysis and Rate Tables)” →

hicksville trailer palace

Have You HEARD about the Hicksville Trailer Palace?

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When “trailer” and “palace” are in the same phrase, I’m SOLD.  This outlandish California resort, consisting of 11 Instagram-heaven trailer rentals just made big news. Yep,  it was revealed in court that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shacked up at the Hicksville Trailer Palace during a hot (as in heated) getaway a few years ago. But you don’t have to be a Disney film star to afford this experience.

Continue reading “Have You HEARD about the Hicksville Trailer Palace?” →