It’s no secret that Disney World is getting more and more expensive as time goes on. And, although it isn’t just at Disney World where folks are feeling the squeeze, many people are looking for ways to save at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Walt Disney World
Disney World hotels come with a TON of perks — but they can also come at a price. So, what if we told you there was a way to stay at a Disney World resort for even CHEAPER than the price of a Value Hotel? It’s true — but it just might prove to be our most controversial tip yet.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground probably isn’t what you think of when you think of a Disney World hotel, but this “resort” has quite the cult following, and those who make the trip find the time it takes to get there to be worthwhile. There are a few different options when it comes to staying here — you can rent one of the cabins (which are in the process of being refurbished) or stay at one of the many campsites!
Welcome to Fort Wilderness
Yep, you read that correctly — campsites. You’ll find premium, preferred, and standard full-hookup campsites. But, if you really want to save some dough, you can also opt for tent camping! Starting at an average rate of $115 per night, a Tent or Pop-up Campsite at Fort Wilderness includes room for a pop-up camper or a camper van-type vehicle, and up to 2 tents. It can also accommodate equipment on a concrete pad up to 10 feet by 25 feet.
©Disney
On the flip side, the average nightly rate at a Value Resort like All-Star Movies is around $190 per night. So, is camping at Disney World worth the money you can save? We turned to the experts — Disney Adults — to find out.
Yes, It’s Worth It
Fort Wilderness has a fan club and they’re pretty darn passionate! Obviously, the biggest pro is the low cost of staying at a Disney World resort that comes with amenities like stellar dining, themed pools, and plenty of activities. The campsites come with access to restrooms with full showers that are quite private and roomy, too.
Fort Wilderness
Another advantage is that while the official check-in is 3PM just like other Disney hotels, housekeeping doesn’t have to come “clean up” the rooms or anything — other than placing a pinecone Mickey on the ground — so you can typically show up to your campsite and start setting up your tent even earlier.
©Disney
And, if you happen to visit around Halloween or Christmas, you’ll get to check out the famous Fort Wilderness golf cart parades! Not to mention all the incredible decorations that other campers put up to celebrate the holidays. Some people really go all out.
AT-AT golf cart
The biggest downside is how hot it can be — so we recommended going during fall or winter for hopefully cooler temperatures and some serious excitement.
Nope, Absolutely Not
Speaking of those hot temperatures, plenty of folks would much rather shell out a little extra dough if it meant they got to sleep in an actual, you know, bed. Which, honestly, we can’t really blame them for. Florida certainly isn’t bug-free and you might even have to contend with a snake or two — it is the outdoors after all.
©Disney
And, like we mentioned before — it gets HOT in Florida, and not just hot, but humid. Imagine waking up inside a tent that has basically turned into a greenhouse thanks to all that moisture in the air. Sure, you can bring an extension cord and plug in a fan, but most of the time we’re already sweaty and tired enough from a park day and don’t need to add a tent into the mix.
©Disney
But, if you’re not an avid camper to begin with — of course you’re probably not going to be into camping at Disney World. Even if it is, you know, at Disney World.
It Depends!
It seems like the general consensus is camping at Disney World is totally worth it — if you like camping already and maybe aren’t planning on spending much (if any) time at the theme parks. If you do want to stay at Fort Wilderness and still go to the parks, consider renting an RV or booking one of the cabins instead!
Horses!
Of course, camping certainly isn’t for everyone — and if you’re planning to spend any significant amount of time in the parks, coming back to an actual bed and hotel room (or cabin!) probably sounds much better than camping in a tent with no air conditioning. But, hey, we’re not here to tell you how to party.
©Disney
But, if camping in a cabin sounds more your speed, look out for over 350 refreshed cabins opening at Fort Wilderness soon. The new design features sleek, modern cabins, which Disney explained are “inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting, while also paying homage to the resort’s unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling.” The cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature one bedroom, one bathroom, a living room, a full kitchen, and a private patio. Some cabins are also dog-friendly and you can check out our full tour of one of these cabins at the link below.
NEW Fort Wilderness Cabins!
We’re always on the hunt for the latest ways to help you save when you’re at Disney World — even if it means roughing it in a tent! Don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest travel tips, updates, and more news from Disney World.
We Got an Exclusive Look at the NEW Fort Wilderness Cabins in Disney World!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you ever tent-camped at Fort Wilderness? Tell us in the comments.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
What is interpark transportation like from Ft Wilderness? Boats and buses to all parks and Disney Springs?
Hi Robert, there is an internal bus route that will take you around Fort Wilderness, and buses that will take you to the theme parks. The bus times are probably on par with the resorts with large bus loops, but many people use the bus transpo at Ft. Wilderness very happily. I will admit, IMO, it’s ideal to have a car or at least a golf cart at Ft. Wilderness, but a bus stop is rarely very far away. It’s mostly a matter of the bus routes and logistics and TIME to get where you want to go. You can also take a boat to Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge – after getting to the Settlement outpost by bus or golf cart (or otherwise what is probably a very long walk).
We have never tent-camped, but for us, we consider the cabins the perfect Disney resort stay. We haven’t seen the new cabins yet (perhaps obviously) but we are eager to give them a chance. The theming looks delightful and there seems to have been huge improvements in the clothing storage space in the bedroom.
The wilderness campground has full access to Disney Transportation including all inter-park routes . Boats to the Wilderness Lodge, Comtemorary Resort and the Magic Kingdome about every 15 minutes from the beach/doce area near Pioneer Hall. Bus transportation to all the other parks and Disney springs depart approx. ever 20 minutes so getting around should not be a problem, except during one of the peak times of 8-10am and 7-9 pm when guests are on the move changing venues for the evening. Never stayed at the campground, but stayed at the Wilderness Villas/Copper creek many times. Love it there, be sure to go to the Hoop-ti-do-Review Dinner show. Lots of fun.
I’ll admit I liked Ft. Wilderness when I visited last year. It has a beautiful nature Mark Twain type vibe, however the possibility that I can get my wife to stay there in a tent… Cabin, maybe. Just down the hall from the pool and the hot tub, certainly.