Last month we looked at ways to deeply enjoy those non-park days at Disney’s Fort Wilderness without spending hardly any money at all. This bucket list has a few similarities to the budget edition, but all of these have a cost, with some being quite substantial. If you do all sixteen of these, you will have spent enough money to buy a small used travel trailer.
#1. show off your gourmet s’mores to chip and Dale.
We included a non-gourmet version of this one one on the budget list, as it is so unique to Fort Wilderness. Chip and Dale visit the Meadows campfire area every night at around 7 pm (cooler months) or 8 pm (warmer months). The highlight is a sing-along and campfire followed by a movie. S’mores fixings are available at a cost, but you’re going to bring you own deluxe ingredients. Instead of Hershey’s, consider Godiva, Teuscher (world’s best?), or a fine belgian chocolate. For the marshmallows, there are some old-fashioned, handmade ones on Etsy. Even better, order these bourbon-infused ones at Orlando-based mouth.com. Cost: $35-$45
#2. take a trail ride on the wild side
Fort Wilderness is where a lot of people ride a horse for the first time, and my daughter was among them. You’ll saddle up at the Tri Circle D Ranch on the Outpost end of Fort Wilderness on some fairly large horses. The 45-minute ride will take you through some wooded trails on Fort Wilderness property. Rides are at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm. Try to make reservations in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. Cost: ~ $185 for family of four (must be at least nine years old to ride)
#3. strut your stuff with a 3K fun run at the fort
Grab your tutu or Halloween accouterments and get ready for the race. At Fort Wilderness, the fun runs typically occur on July 3 or around Halloween. Sometimes, they are free, but other times there has been a cost of around $15 per person. Swag sometimes includes logo water bottles, special pins, or Fort Wilderness keychains. Can’t wait for the holiday? All-Star Resorts have an 8 am run every other Tuesday. Cost: $60 for family of four
#4. Do a family golf cart scavenger hunt.
Fort Wilderness is the perfect place for a scavenger hunt, and the list could go on forever. Here is the first in a series that I’ve created that you can print. For the deluxe version, let’s go ahead and rent two golf carts for the day. And the winning team obviously needs Fort Wilderness t-shirts from the Settlement Trading Post. Cost: $120 for golf carts + $70 for prizes.
#5.release your inner nerd on the segway tour of fort wilderness
This is a lot of fun for families whose kids have grown into full-blown teens and are getting restless with family vacations. The Wilderness Back Trail Adventure lasts about two hours, and includes 30 minutes of instruction and practice. All riders must be at least 16 years old. You’ll likely see some areas of the Fort that you haven’t before, but note that construction on the new DVC means the route will be a bit different during 2019-2020 or longer. Tours start in the mornings at 830 am. To reserve, call (407) 939-8687. Cost: ~ $340 for a family of four
#6. get your holiday spirit on with a private horse-drawn sleigh ride (Late November-December).
These sell out fairly quickly as they are very popular during the holidays. A 25-minute ride will take you through several loops wildly decorated for the holiday by campers. It’s kind of romantic and can be a little chilly, so prepare to bundle and cuddle up. Riders also get a special Disney pin. $84 for a group of 2-4 people.
#8. ride a boat to wilderness lodge and gET a massage
Okay, a massage is on my bucket list whether I’m going to Disney World, the beach, or just to the grocery store. I really need one every day, so this is not a splurge. It’s almost more important than food. The closest one currently to Fort Wilderness is at its sister property, Wilderness Lodge. And the name, Sturdy Branches Health Club, is simply delightful. Call (407) 939-7727 to make an appointment well in advance. Cost: ~$140
#9 Party on wheels with a family-sized golf cart through every loop during holiday time.
Fort campers really go all out in decorating for the holidays at Fort Wilderness. Whether you are admiring or gawking, looping in a golf cart can become quite a party in itself. It’s even better if you rent a six-seater (The Fort only has 4-seaters). One place to rent a six-seater in Orlando is from Golf Cart Rental Orlando. Cost: $385 per week
#10 be chauffeured from fort wilderness for a private VIP tour of the parks
You know that great feeling when you are doing laundry and you find $38 in your pocket? Well, I think that some people find like $1400 in their pockets, or even $7000 in the Chanel purse they were using last month. So, if you are in the latter situation and are kind of wanting to go to the parks, here’s a way to do it. Book the private VIP tour. You will be picked up at your cabin, RV, or tent and taken to any of the parks and rides of your desire. You’ll have fast passes for everything, the best seats for parades and shows, and will be parking in a special spot right by the entrance. Reserve by calling (407) 939-7529. Cost: approximately $3000++ for seven hours (for up to 10 people) + park admission.
#11 find a place at Fort Wilderness to take a family picture, and use a professional disney photographer for the shoot. Make it an annual tradition.
One of our favorite family traditions is to take a picture in the same place each year. We started doing this long before we had smart phones, so we were lugging around our heavy camera. What I did not know until recently is that you can hire a professional Disney photographer to come to the resort of your choice. They will take pictures for about 20 minutes, and provide you with high-resolution photos on a digital drive (copyright-release included!) Cost: ~$240
#12 splurge on a fireworks cruise on the grand I Yacht with a butler
If it were a major anniversary or something (and it will be this year), this is something I would love to do. The Grand I is a yacht that can hold you and up to 15 of your guests. For an additional charge, you can order a private dinner and a butler. Reserve by calling (407) 939-7529. Cost: ~$800 for two hours (you can do just one hour) + ~$400 for dinner for four + butler
#13 make friends with another family in your loop, and invite them over for a WAGYU steak dinner that you grill.
Good food and camping can bring out the best in people, introverts and conspiracy-theorists included. Let’s take it to the next level, and instead of sharing tips on hooking up the sewer, let’s invite the neighbors over for some top-dollar Wagyu steaks. Accompany with twice-baked potatoes, wine and bourbon. Cost for 4 kids and 4 adults: ~$500.
#14 go fishing.
While fishing has been much more limited at Fort Wilderness since 2016, one may still fish at the dock near the bike barn and at the creek near the group campsite area. It’s catch and release, but fishing is really about the quiet journey anyway. Fishing gear is available for rent at the Fort Wilderness bike barn. Cost: ~$30-$40
#15 See the Hoop DEE DO Musical review
This nightly show, which has been running since the very early days of Fort Wilderness, is the epitome of the Disney camping experience. It’s a corny live musical, with lots of audience participation, and a pretty-damn good family-style meal. I like to do this at least once every 3-5 years. Cost: ~$300 for family of four (price varies by time and season).
#16 just chill with a few drinks on the rocking chairs at sunset
Make time to do nothing but people watch. There are rocking chairs outside of Trail’s End and also at the Settlement Trading Post. Enjoy Moonshine Margaritas and Luna Coladas from Crockett’s Tavern. Cost: $30+ for two rounds of drinks per person