Difference Between Campsites At Fort Wilderness | Features


You’re ready to pull the trigger on your next vacation, and the kids are begging to go to Disney. The good news is that you can still save money by camping at their Fort Wilderness resort, but how do you know which campsite to reserve?

Fort Wilderness tent and pop-up sites come with a small concrete pad. Full hook-ups have water, sewer, and electricity with a 10′ x 50′ concrete pad. Preferred and premium sites have all utilities, cable, and larger concrete pads for bigger RVs. Premium meadow is close to amenities.

Before you decide what campsite to book for your next trip to Fort Wilderness, here is what you need to know about each of their options.

What are the Fort Wilderness Camping Sites?

If you’re planning your next trip to Disney, why not combine your two favorite things: Mickey Mouse and camping?

Fort Wilderness is the way to go if you want to save money on the cost of hotels and lodging while you enjoy the theme park.

The good news is that there are technically five different types of campsites you can choose from, but they all have a few things in common.

First, they all have access to the amenities offered at Fort Wilderness.

While you’ll be roughing it, the accommodations at Fort Wilderness are much more in line with glamping than simple tent camping in the middle of the wilderness.

No matter what, you’ll still have views of the forest and be close to Cinderella’s castle.

Fort Wilderness also comes equipped with their Meadow Swimmin’ Pool, complete with a water slide for the kids and a spa for the adults.

In the evenings, you can enjoy the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and dine while you watch. Lastly, Fort Wilderness is great for the whole family – including your four-legged kids.

You can keep up to two dogs at your campsite at a time and must call ahead of time to let them know you’ll be traveling with Fido.

The good news is that they also have daycare and pet services to make your stay with your dogs as convenient as possible while you explore the best of what Disney has to offer.

They’ll charge you an extra fee for these services, but it may be worth not having to worry about your dog while on vacation. Now, it’s time to examine the five types of campsites offered at Fort Wilderness.

1. Tent and Pop-Up Campsites

You want to combine the best of the Magical Kingdom at Disney with the joys of being in nature.

If you’re determined to stay in a tent to save money on your weekend getaway to the most magical place on earth, then the tent loops or pop-up loops might be the best fit for your camping style.

Their tent or pop-up campsites are, as you might guess, perfect for pop-up campers and vans. Each campsite can easily accommodate two tents, so you can put your kids in their own separate sleeping area.

They also feature a concrete pad, though it’s much smaller than you’ll find in the preferred and premium campsites. Equipment can be stored on this concrete pad that runs from 10 feet long to 25 feet wide.

Tent and Pop-Up Campsites

2. Full Hook-Ups

The second step up at Fort Wilderness is the full hook-up campsite. These are great for families or campers who have an RV but still want to pitch a tent to get the full experience.

Only a handful of these types of campsites are found at the park. Remember that while these are designed for RV hook-ups, they don’t have full concrete pads.

Campers will find a sandy area behind the concrete pad designed for tents, spare rooms, or other activities. The concrete pad measures 10’ x 50’.

Like the preferred campgrounds, it has many amenities, including electric, water, and sewer hook-ups.

If you want to be in the center of everything at Fort Wilderness, then a full hook-up might not be the right fit.

These sites tend to be far away from the campground’s amenities, such as the pool and the marina. 

3. Preferred Campsites

If you want a magical experience at Disney, one of the best ways to achieve your goal is to reserve one of the preferred campsites at Fort Wilderness.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how well stacked the features are in these campsites.

Preferred campsite status means you get access to all of the amenities you might find at one of the Disney hotels: cable, water, sewer, and electric.

Not to mention, you also get picnic tables for dining and grills for cooking. This means you won’t have to pack much to thoroughly enjoy a stay at one of these prime locations.

Campers who prefer to rough it in the most magical place on earth often like the preferred sites the best. They tend to be closer to the marina and Pioneer Hall than the campground tent and pop-up areas.

Remember that the preferred loops may not be large enough to park your camper if you have a particularly large motor coach.

These sites tend to be a bit more crowded and have narrow paths that make parking a large camper challenging.  

4. Premium Campsites

The good news is that there is still one major upgrade, even from the preferred campsites. You’ll still get all the great amenities in the preferred sections, like cable, water, sewer, electric, picnic tables, and grills.

The major difference is that the sites are larger and have 18’x 60′ concrete pads designed to fit a large camping rig.

If you prefer a smaller campsite and don’t need to park a large camping rig, then preferred campgrounds are likely sufficient for you and can save you some money.

5. Premium Meadow Campsites

Along with the premium campsite, they also have premium meadow campsites for those who want a little bit more from their Disney experience.

These campsites are designed for complete comfort right in the center of all the action.

On these loops, you’ll find that your temporary home away from home is close to the trading post, recreation area, bike barn, and campfire area.

Fort Wilderness is located on over 750 acres of forest, and these meadow campsites are the ideal blend of the best of what nature has to offer.

You’ll enjoy all of the amenities of glamping, the beauty of the pine and cypress forest, and entertainment all at your fingertips when you make your reservations for these prime camping sites on your next trip.

Premium Meadow Campsites

Final Thoughts

No matter what draws you to Disney, Fort Wilderness is one of the best places to get the magic of a Disney experience with the comforts of camping in the wilderness.

The arrangements are more like glamping, but there’s still something to be said for being surrounded by their pine and cypress trees.

Whether you want a tent campsite or one of the premium meadow sites, you’ll love your next Disney vacation here.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with his pet bunny when not out in the woods, exploring the infinite beauty of mother nature.

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