The Wilderness Princess

Chocolate Chip’ndale S’Mores Pie: Our Favorite Camping Dessert

Published on August 25, 2020August 25, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

Inspired by late summer nights and campfire memories, this double chocolate pie is fool-proof but nostalgically decadent. And absolutely no wandering firepit required.

Of course, there’s no evening campfire show and marshmallow roasting at Fort Wilderness this year. The smells of crackling timbers has been replaced by the occasional whiffs of hand sanitizer. This pie lovingly forgives all of that, without all the messy. Continue reading “Chocolate Chip’ndale S’Mores Pie: Our Favorite Camping Dessert” →

We Rented an RV for our Fort Wilderness Stay and Here’s What Happened

Published on August 9, 2020September 5, 2020 by thewildernessprincess2 Comments

Even though we have our own travel trailer, in July we decided to leave the old girl behind, We wanted to simplify. And try first-hand the experience of renting an RV. In considering the additional cost of renting, we calculated that this was somewhat offset by the savings in gas by not pulling a trailer for nearly 800 miles round-trip. Continue reading “We Rented an RV for our Fort Wilderness Stay and Here’s What Happened” →

The Good, the Bad, and the Magical: Why We’re Extending Our Fort Stay During COVID

Published on July 30, 2020July 31, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

We made our reservations for July 2020 way back in 2019 – you know back during that last semi-normal year of our lives. Canceling was always on our minds, perhaps up until the last minute. But we needed the break, and were going to Disney’s Fort Wilderness for the first time without pulling our own camper (we rented a beauty from Kissimmee Orlando RV Rental). But here’s the thing: Continue reading “The Good, the Bad, and the Magical: Why We’re Extending Our Fort Stay During COVID” →

Back to the Fort: The Curious Summer of 2020 at Disney World’s Campground

Published on June 27, 2020July 30, 2020 by thewildernessprincess1 Comment

You knew it had to be Fort Wilderness that would open up first. Afterall, camping IS social distancing and open air. What we didn’t know is that it would welcome guests three weeks before Disney World theme parks would unlock their pearly gates. After a three-month hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns, Disney’s Fort Wilderness proudly stepped ahead of all other WDW resorts to reopen on June 22.

And for the first time in decades, Fort Wilderness is once again in the limelight. Yep, the oft-forgotten stepsister is once again the belle of the ball. Continue reading “Back to the Fort: The Curious Summer of 2020 at Disney World’s Campground” →

Disney Announces Plans for Fort Wilderness Reopening for June

Published on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

After a two-month closure due to COVID-19, Walt Disney World announced plans to reopen the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground on June 22, 2020. This comes in concert with the long-awaited news of park reopenings beginning on July 11. Reopening plans are contingent on the final approval (expected) of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Continue reading “Disney Announces Plans for Fort Wilderness Reopening for June” →

What Could Fort Wilderness Look Like in 2021?

Published on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

Now that most of us realize that the impact of COVID-19 is more than that of a seasonal flu, we also know that the future will likely look quite different from the past. Clearly, this is a play in which the final act is unwritten. But looking at the approaches that businesses, hospitality, universities and even Disney Shanghai are taking in reopening reveal some clues.

As Disney Chairman Bob Iger said in April, “Let’s prepare for a world where our customers demand that we scrutinize everybody. Even if it creates a little bit of hardship . . .” Continue reading “What Could Fort Wilderness Look Like in 2021?” →

Pirate’s Gold: Bacon-Wrapped Artichoke Hearts with Lemon-Dijon Aioli

Published on April 11, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

Okay, ye pantry hoarders of Spring 2020, here’s our version of Pirate’s Gold. With just two ingredients, there’s no need to pilfer and plunder to make this lavish but simple starter. Add on the bonus treasure aioli, and that’s another three ingredients. And because I seem to have about 8 packs of bacon right now, I’m adding this to my otherwise carb-overloaded Easter menu. (See Clementine’s Potato Salad) Continue reading “Pirate’s Gold: Bacon-Wrapped Artichoke Hearts with Lemon-Dijon Aioli” →

Potatoes Au Gratin for the Disney-Distanced Soul and Remembering the Empress Lilly

Published on April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 by thewildernessprincess1 Comment

One of the bright spots of Lockdown 2020 is the joy of cooking things we might not have otherwise. I’m trying to make a Disney recipe at least every other day. And this one has turned out to be a serious surprise favorite. Now, I’ve always thought of potatoes au gratin as rather forgettable. Looking kind of pretty, but never quite living up to their promise Continue reading “Potatoes Au Gratin for the Disney-Distanced Soul and Remembering the Empress Lilly” →

A Delectable Disney Classic: Tony’s Town Square Lasagna

Published on March 30, 2020October 27, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

When Tony’s on Main Street first opened in the Magic Kingdom in 1989, I was thrilled as Italian food is among my favorites. But somehow on our 1990 trip, we didn’t make it there. Not even once. This only added to its mythology to me as an exclusive, impossibly romantic restaurant with old-school Italian grandmothers laboring in love over handmade pasta. Continue reading “A Delectable Disney Classic: Tony’s Town Square Lasagna” →

Easy Disney Cooking: Kona Cafe Hawaiian Pasta Salad

Published on March 22, 2020March 30, 2020 by thewildernessprincess

Now that we’re all cooking about five meals a day during Staycation 2020, this favorite pasta salad emerged this week as one the kids can make. I’m not sure that it was even on the menu at Disney’s Kona Cafe, but it showed up as a side dish during lunch for many years. We have a beloved tradition of eating at Kona Cafe on our first day of arrival, and I would start craving this by the time we were crossing I-10. Of course, this was all before they made those most dreadful menu changes. Hey, at least the sticky wings are back. Continue reading “Easy Disney Cooking: Kona Cafe Hawaiian Pasta Salad” →