Fort Wilderness in Disney 2/10 - 2//17/2016 Part I

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opened in November 1971. The resort has 799 campsites and 409 air-conditioned Wilderness Cabins residing on more than 700 acres of lush vegetation and surrounded by pine and cypress trees. It is not unusual to see wildlife such as rabbits, deer, armadillos, ducks, geese, and peacocks roaming the grounds. All I saw were wild turkeys and tree rats. I'm staying in (premium) Loop 800 where there are 74 campsites. 



Plans were made last year with my cousins' daughter, Cheri, and husband, David, to meet for the experience. They are regular visitors to Disney. So, with them, I was able to enjoy the dining amenities within the Ft. Wilderness area. Fortunately, we were able to get adjacent sites, 852 & 854. 

The sites are spacious with "premium" sites affording the big boys plenty of room for their Class A's and huge 5th wheels (25' to 60').  After RVs leave by 11 am, I watched the staff come along and begin leaf blowing and hosing down the concrete pads, picking up debris, and removing ashes from pedestal grills that are provided on each site. All sites are in clean condition for the next visitors who are allowed in after 1:00 pm

 

Cheri, David, and Norma

And Winnie right next door

Although they were booked for only 4 days (I'm staying 7 days), they came well stocked for meals......breakfasts with mimosas and Mickey Mouse waffles made with a Mickey Mouse waffle griddle. A very nice way to start the day.

 

Cheers from Mickey Mouse's home.
In Cheri's "home away from home",
everything is Mickey Mouse.

Another breakfast toast from David
and I to you.

Our dinners included trips to:

Trail's End Restaurant   All you can eat buffet; large selections and tasty

Whispering Canyon Cafe  in the Wilderness Lodge. I had delicious cod on top of diced sweet potatoes and other veggies. Very loud and don't ask for ketchup. 

A short walk to the end of Jack Rabbit Run enabled us to catch the Orange Bus that brought us right to the area for dining and fireworks. A very convenient and efficient system. Some photos that captured the moments.

Carlo, over from Newport Richey, FL,
spent the day with us and is now on
the Wall of Fame.

David, Cheri, and Norma off to visit Disney

The dock at Bay Lake. No boats running on what,
for us, was the coldest day of their 4-day stay.

One of two lines waiting to get into the

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, a dinner show.

Beautiful horses taking a break from taking
visitors clip-clopping around Ft. Wilderness
in carriages.

Inside the Wilderness Lodge where the
Wilderness Cafe is located. Everything you see
is wood...

...no doubt a frightening thought for
any firefighter

Norma and Cheri seeing to it that the old man
doesn't wander off alone and
gets back for his curfew.

A very calm Bay Lake. We sat with blankets
on the sandy beach and waited for the show.

The Musical Boat Parade 9:45 pm

15 minutes of great fireworks
at 10 pm

Interesting lighting in front of one
of the campsites.

Yes, one camper had their pet pig.
That's P-I-G; a huge black hog kept
fenced in right outside their RV.

Yes, we had visitors. Don't know if
they wanted to eat or be eaten.

Not fearing humans they came right up to

the table. When disturbed, they flew into

neighboring pine trees.  I counted 8 of them

that settled in for the night in the high branches

across the street.  All females.

So ended Norma's, Cheri's, and David's 4 day stay and Part I of my Ft. Wilderness blog. The poor dears had that "W" thing hanging over their heads. To them I thank for arranging and coordinating our site locations, for providing me with good company and fun breakfasts. I thank Vicki and George who came by to visit, meet, and chat with members of my family on one day and Kathy and Ray for visiting the next day.

Part II of the Ft. Wilderness blog will describe my last day and visit with Tricia and Craig who will stop by from nearby Celebration. Crockett's Tavern will be our destination for dinner.