What’s it like to say at The Cabins at Fort Wilderness, Disney Vacation Club’s newest resort property

I was maybe eight or nine years old when I first visited Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in the early ’80s, and my overriding memory is of running around like Davy Crockett in a coonskin cap washer while my parents sipped a drink by the campfire. Most of the other details of that vacation are long gone, but not Fort Wilderness. It’s the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression.

This childhood memory is one of the reasons I jumped at the chance to return to Fort Wilderness this month for the official grand opening of the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, the newest Disney Vacation property Club (DVC). We wouldn’t be staying in a tent or campervan this time. We would enjoy a rustic-chic cabin with modern amenities nestled in 750 acres of cypress and pine trees. It would be glamping, Disney style.

So, how was your stay at the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort? Here’s everything you need to know before booking.

Reimagining the original cabins of Fort Wilderness

You may already be familiar with the original Fort Wilderness cabins, which slept six people and had an old-fashioned log cabin-style exterior. The new Disney Vacation Club cabins will be rolled out in stages, gradually replacing older models with a total of 350 cabins. For the grand opening, approximately 35 DVC cabins are ready to welcome guests, some of which are specially designed to accommodate guests with reduced mobility.

The first thing that caught my eye about the new cabins when I arrived was their design. They are elegant and contemporary while maintaining a wooded and authentic appearance. An adjoining deck with an outdoor grill, picnic table, and chairs leads directly to the cabin’s main living area, which consists of a living room and a fully equipped kitchen. The driveway has enough space for one car and one golf cart to get around the resort.

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The fully equipped kitchen includes a refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker, dishwasher, utensils, plates and glasses, and a dining area that seats four to six people. It flows into the living room, which has a sofa bed that sleeps two, a 55-inch TV, and a few additional chairs. Wall art throughout the cabin gives a Disney flair to the activities available at the campground, including archery and horseback riding.

Directly off the living room is the bedroom, which sleeps two adults in a queen bed and two children in full-size bunk beds that extend to the high ceilings. Each bunk has its own reading light and thoughtful features like a charging port for phones and tablets. The room also has a 55-inch television and plenty of storage space for clothes and luggage.

The cabins are equipped with a full bathroom with shower; some also have a second sink and a mirror outside the bathroom.

Dinner at Fort Wilderness Cabins

With well-equipped kitchens and dining areas, cooking and dining is easy in the chalets. Two small convenience store-style outposts inside the campground sell kid-friendly staples like pancake mix, eggs, butter, orange juice, bagels and cream cheese . We usually cooked breakfast in the cabins and had lunch and dinner elsewhere, but you could easily have three meals a day if that suited you.

The two main restaurants in Fort Wilderness are Crockett’s Tavern and Trail’s End, the latter serving staples like pizza, burgers, and sandwiches and salads to go. The Meadow Snack Bar and Chuck Wagon food truck mean you’re never far from a bite to eat.

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No trip to Fort Wilderness is complete without a dinner show at the Hoop-Dee-Doo musical revue, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary today. The two-hour show, which runs three times a day (at 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.), is equal parts singing, dancing, comedy and family meals – think fried chicken, barbecue ribs and bread corn. When I say this show is fun for all ages, I’m not exaggerating. My two very skeptical teenagers were all smiles when the famous strawberry shortcake was served for dessert.

Fort Wilderness’ location near Magic Kingdom also makes it easy to enjoy the restaurants at Disney’s original Florida theme park. One evening we ventured to the Magic Kingdom to make evening reservations at Be Our Guest, the The beauty and the Beast– a themed culinary experience. Note that theme park tickets are required to enter the parks for any reason.

Pools and other amenities at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

There are two pools to choose from when staying at the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Meadow Swimmin’ Pool is the more active of the two and perfect if you have energetic children who love to swim. Its eye-catching 67-foot-long corkscrew waterslide is fun for older kids and adults; an adjacent water play area is perfect for little ones.

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My family spent most of our pool time at the quieter Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool, a full-size leisure pool with an adjacent hot tub. It’s right next to the first collection of new cabins, which made it convenient for a quick swim at any time of the day or evening.

Because Fort Wilderness is a campground, you can also expect other camp-type activities. My family tried their hand at archery lessons and horseback riding through the campground’s wooded trails. Other options include fishing in the lagoon, canoe and kayak rentals, campfire singing, and movies under the stars.

Proximity to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opened about a month after Magic Kingdom in 1971, and its location is very convenient for visiting the most magical place on Earth. Actually getting there is part of the fun, because you arrive at Magic Kingdom by boat.

Fort Wilderness backs onto Bay Lake, directly across from Magic Kingdom, and you can take a free water taxi or ferry directly to and from the resort. Boats run every 15 to 30 minutes. Buses are also available if you prefer to stay on land; the bus also connects to other Disney parks.

Getting Around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

The most important thing to know about Fort Wilderness is that it’s a huge place, really huge. It would take you about 30-40 minutes to walk from one end of the campsite to the other (in each direction). We rented a golf cart which made getting around easy.

There was plenty of golf cart parking everywhere we went. Bike rentals are also available for getting around, but given Florida’s heat and unpredictable weather, golf carts seemed the most reliable option.

What you need to know about the Disney Vacation Club

The cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are the 17th resort under the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) umbrella, a flexible timeshare program that allows members to purchase points to use at Disney properties and on Disney vacations at worldwide. If you’re not a DVC member, you can still book a stay at the cabins through the Disney World website. To learn more about Disney Vacation Club, be sure to read FamilyVacationist’s complete guide to Disney Vacation Club.

A convenient alternative to traditional Disney World hotels

Just a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort cabins offer all the amenities of a Disney World hotel with a rustic vacation rental twist. There are so many things to do in Fort Wilderness that you could stay here for several days and never venture into the parks without getting bored, but the central location makes a trip to the parks easy and convenient.

For me, staying in the new chalets was a great way to reconnect with happy times from my childhood while creating new memories with my own family. It was exactly what I needed.

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