Amenities at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: The Outpost and Meadow
By Dave Shute
(For the first page of this review of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, click here.)
AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS RESORT: THE OUTPOST AND MEADOW
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has three different ways to stay–in a cabin, a group campsite, or a regular campsite.
All three share the resort’s amenities—such as a beach, marina, dining areas, stores, stables, movie and sing-along theater, bike rental area, pools, boat docks for transport to the Magic Kingdom (and to two other Disney Resorts—the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary Resort), bus stops for everything else, etc., on more than 700 acres.
There’s three areas to keep in mind at Fort Wilderness, the Outpost, at the lower right of the map and circled in purply-blue; the Meadow, in the center of the map and circled in yellow; and the Settlement, at the top left of the map and circled in red.
THE OUTPOST AT DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS RESORT
The Outpost area is mostly about logistics, but also has one amenity.
This is where you enter Fort Wilderness to check in. Those with rigs can do drive-through check in.
If you are entering via Disney’s Magical Express, check in is inside in an apparently difficult to photograph space. This is also where you can get help with dining reservations, tickets and such.
Check-in time is 1p for the campsites and 3p for the cabins. If you are early, or have extra cars, toy trailers, etc., there’s a small parking lot here. This is also where you would park if you are driving in to see Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.
Just outside the check in building is an area where you pick up your golf cart if you rented one.
A little north is the Outpost bus stop. You’ll get to know this very well, as this is the only stop for the buses that take you to all the parks except the Magic Kingdom, and also to Downtown Disney. (You get to the Magic Kingdom via boat from the Settlement.)
The internal buses that go into Fort Wilderness itself also depart from here. These internal buses run on several routes. All go to the Settlement and Hoop-Dee-Doo; for your campsite or cabin, check the bus route map posted here to select the one that will drop you off at the closest point.
There’s also parking here for those with golf carts.
The only amenity in the Outpost area is trail rides.
Most of the fun at Fort Wilderness is in the two more northern areas, the Meadow and the Settlement. The rest of this page covers the Meadow; the Settlement is covered here.
THE MEADOW AREA AT DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS RESORT
The Meadow area in the center of Fort Wilderness has a shop, bike and boat rentals, an outdoor theater with a fun evening program and the main Fort Wilderness pool and recreation complex.
I’ll come back to the pool area in detail later in this review.
In this Meadow area you’ll also find one of the two stores at Fort Wilderness (the other is in the Settlement).
These two shops have a varied selection of Disney stuff, camping supplies, and a strong assortment of food. (The Settlement shop is thinner on camping gear and food.)
You’ll also find here bulk ice, candy, and a refillable mug station…
…and S’more supplies!
Shopping is made tougher by the lack of parking spots. There’s a few outside the store…
…and a few more across the street.
Behind the store and to the left is a place where you can rent bikes, canoes, kayaks and such.
The menu of offerings (click to enlarge…some of these leave from the marina at the Settlement).
Kayaks and canoes on the bank, dreaming they’ll be rented.
Fishing.
Canoeing.
Beyond the Bike Barn is an open-air theater. In the evenings, there’s an extensive campfire program here:
S’mores–Disney will sell you the supplies or you can bring your own…
…a sing-along–which frankly I found a little lame…
…the chance to meet Chip or Dale (they split the crowd between them)–love the expression on the little boy’s face…
…Me and Chip…
…and then a Disney movie.
The main pool and recreation area is here too, but as noted above I cover that in more detail later in this review.
THE SETTLEMENT AREA AT DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS RESORT
This review continues here!
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS
- Overview of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Amenities at Fort Wilderness: The Outpost and The Meadow
- Amenities at Fort Wilderness: The Settlement
- The Pools at Fort Wilderness
OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- Where to stay–the Basics
- Where first-timers should stay
- Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!
4 comments
Would a ranger/mule be acceptable in lieu of a golf cart?
Misty, they don’t allow ATVs. See this –scroll down to “Unauthorized Vehicles”
Hi! I just read your review of the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and I have to thank you because it is super detailed and provided me with lots of information. I booked a cabin for April 16th, Easter Sunday for our small family of 3, husband, 7 yeard old daugther and me (Mom). We’ll be staying for a week. This resort appealed to me because I like being close to nature and I’m looking forward to the outdoor activities, I also avoid hotels that feel like hotels (if you know what I mean), being in a closed building is not my idea of a good, relaxing vacation. Even though I’m happy with my decision, I’m concerned about transportation and not getting to the parks on time. I’m usually at the parks before they open to make good use of time before lines start getting huge. My question is if I could just use my car to go to the parks and if I do I would have to pay for parking. I would really appreciate if you answer this question, and also if you have additional tips on getting around the resort. Thanks a lot and God bless!
Hi Liz, and thanks for your thanks!!
You can use your car, but should do so only for AK, HS and Epcot. Because of how parking is set up at MK, you will want to take the boat to MK. Parking at the parks is free to those staying in a WDW resort like the Fort.
Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem