A trip to Disney World was supposed to be a fun getaway for one family, but a freak accident on Disney property scarred one young Guest for life.
For most people, the idea of stepping away from the responsibilities of school or work and jetting off on vacation evokes feelings of excitement and anticipation. And if it’s a vacation to the parks at the Walt Disney World Resort, that excitement and anticipation often turns into absolute elation and sheer joy. Some people, however, simply don’t have the words “Disney World” written on their lists of the top five places they’d like to visit on their next vacation.
Those who don’t fancy a Disney trip are often among a group of people who just don’t think of going to see Mickey Mouse and ride Space Mountain as the hallmarks of a great vacation. A few of them, however, had a less-than-magical experience at the parks and don’t relish the thought of returning.
That’s exactly what happened to a young man who now has no interest in vacations involving theme parks whatsoever. Years ago, according to the young man’s older brother, his family visited the Walt Disney World Resort and stayed on property at Disney’s Fort Wilderness campgrounds. One night during their stay, the family attended an activity around a campfire with other guests, during which they made s’mores. The young man has never forgotten what happened to him that evening during the planned activities.
“I’ll never forget the year we stayed at Chip and Dale’s campground area (or whatever the campgrounds are called), and my younger brother at age 7 or 8 [ate] almost nothing but dairy the entire day–on a hot Florida day–and threw up non-stop for a half hour at the [Hoop-Dee-Doo] Musical Review dinner and show.
Then later, after getting all cleaned up, getting his shirt set on fire by our younger sister at the s’mores night after [she set] her marshmallow on fire and [freaked] out. And I wonder why my poor brother doesn’t like theme park vacations.”
The boy was already having a less-than-magical night, as he had been sick and began vomiting during the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, but once he was feeling somewhat better, things only got worse, as his own sister actually caught his clothes on fire during what should have been a fun evening for the family and other guests who had gathered around the campfire to make s’mores.
Because of the scary happening at Fort Wilderness, it’s understandable that the now-older younger brother doesn’t feel that elation and joy at the thought of a trip to the Central Florida Disney Parks–or to any theme parks, for that matter. It seems pretty safe to say that his experience as a seven- or eight-year-old boy ignited a fear in him that hasn’t been extinguished.
Over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, there are two locations that will be opening their doors once again to feed hungry patrons with mouthwatering delights. On July 27, Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern reopen with refreshing new looks and delicious bites Guests are definitely going to want to try.
From sleeping under the stars to exploring the woodland trails, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground reminds us how beautiful it is to experience the magic of the great outdoors together. These new menus at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern complement the resort’s signature laid-back style and offer the dining flexibility our Guests are looking for, no matter how they plan to enjoy their day at Walt Disney World.
Upon reopening, both dining locations will have a fresh, new look that enhances the resort’s quaint charm and honors its heritage at the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, with warm wooden furnishings, beamed ceilings, and rustic accents.
Now, onto Trail’s End Restaurant. This spot has been reimagined to a quick-service restaurant filled with tasty items to fill our bellies. Whether Guests are looking for family-sized entrees and sides to bring back to their cabin or campsite, or freshly prepared individual-sized entrees to feast on inside the restaurant’s casual seating area, there are plenty of tasty options to choose from.
The refreshed marketplace concept now includes an on-stage pizza station where you can satisfy your appetite with a slice or the entire pie. There will be two new options available. A smokehouse-style pizza topped with house-smoked brisket, sausage, and pepperoni and a delicious roasted vegetable pie. And yes, classic pepperoni and cheese are still available.
In addition to these tasty offerings the Market-style Selections are filled with a variety of items with all the fixin’s to fit your fancy. Before heading back to your campsite, mosey on up to the Hot Grab and Go section where you can pick from the proteins. This area features pecan-smoked whole chicken or brisket, and a rack of pork ribs. And, of course, no trip to Fort Wilderness is complete without fried chicken! Sides will be available by the pound including macaroni & cheese, plant-based cowboy beans, and mashed potatoes.
These aren’t the only bites to be had. Guests can order classics like cheeseburgers, plant-based vegetable burgers, chicken nuggets, and french fries. For some comfort food, the Homestyle Meals feature cornbread, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes with gravy and yaour choice of half a slab of barbecued ribs or two pieces of fried chicken. Guests can also treat themselves to hand-scooped ice cream and specialty coffees, like the Wilderness Latte with flavors of chocolate and hazelnut.
To keep refreshed, there are also a variety of beverages and snacks on the go, like the new Chicken Wrap featuring the new house-made blueberry BBQ sauce or the returning favorite Pioneer Berry Salad.
The true star of the show is the lineup of new and returning sweets to be featured in the market, a house-made bakery. The pastry team dusted off old favorite recipes from years past like the Banana Pudding, Carrot Cake Cupcake, Blueberry Bread Pudding, and the legendary Strawberry Shortcake from Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, which will be available in a single serve portion! The plant-based Lemon-Blueberry Trifle is filled with layers of lemon curd, fresh blueberries, and whipped ‘cream.’
Also new, the pastry team has created some brand-new recipes that are sure to please (and become instant favorites) like the Fort Fruity Cookie featuring fruity cereal and white chocolate chips or the Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcake. Since no camping trip is complete without roasting marshmallows over the campfire, there will be two sweets inspired by those classic flavors – the S’more Cupcake and the S’mores Cookie.
Next, let’s head over to Crockett’s Tavern, which has been refreshed as a lounge with expanded seating, both indoors and outside, to give you a beautiful view of Bay Lake. Conveniently located near Trail’s End Restaurant, this Guest favorite has been enhanced with a collection of elevated lounge-style snacks to accompany the array of new and returning beverages and specialty cocktails.
This reimagined menu was designed by our talented culinary team with new bites and sips paying tribute to the heritage of the resort and its inspiration from the American frontier. But don’t worry, there will still be a ‘to-go’ window for those looking for a libation or mocktail to enjoy before experiencing the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue!
If Guests love trying different flavors, then they’re in luck because new to the menu is A Trio of Sliders. This features a pulled pork slider with BBQ sauce and coleslaw, brisket slider with Carolina BBQ and pickled onions, and a buffalo chicken slider with house-made blue cheese dressing and dill pickles served with seasoned french fries.
The new Chicken Bites are going to satisfy taste buds. Pick a favorite sauce among buffalo, garlic-parmesan, or blueberry BBQ. These bites are also served with celery, house-made ranch, blue cheese, and seasoned french fries. Fun fact – the new blueberry BBQ sauce was developed by Chef Julie Hrywnak and the culinary team. The can’t-miss Charcuterie Board addition features a selection of meats and cheeses with house-made bread and butter pickles, tomato jam, cornbread crostini, and sesame lavash.
Some delicious new plant-based offerings include the Crispy Cauliflower paired with a tasty garlic aïoli. This fan-favorite from the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue plant-based menu is also gluten/wheat friendly! Also be sure to try the plant-based fried green tomato sliders featuring a southern remoulade and citrus greens served with seasoned french fries.
For a sweet finish, the Trailblazin’ Dessert Trio is sure to please. This delightful dish features a s’more with chocolate pudding, graham cracker crumbs, and house-made marshmallow, a strawberry shortcake with strawberries and whipped cream, and a banana pudding with vanilla wafers, whipped cream, and a banana chip.
For those looking for an adult beverage to accompany their meal, Crockett’s Tavern has multiple options to choose from with their heritage cocktail program curated by Guest Experience Managers Hunter Bernreuter and Eric Borgsmiller to pay homage to the resort’s over 50-year history. Inspired by the Fort Wilderness Railroad that once ran throughout the resort, the All Aboard! Moonshine Cocktail Flight is a sampling of our favorite moonshine cocktails featuring the Gullywhumper, Blackberry Lightning, and Spiced Appleberry Shine.
The Bear-y Buckle combines Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, pure cane sugar, lemon juice, bitters, Fever-Tree Ginger Beer, and muddled blackberries for a touch a sweetness in this cocktail. The team is pleased to be serving Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, which honors the world’s first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green.
If you’ve ever wanted to try America’s first spirit, Laird’s Applejack Brandy, then the Camper’s Coupe is for you. This sip features Laird’s Applejack Brandy, orange and lemon juices, and a hint of maple syrup.
Those who prefer bright and refreshing flavors will love the Meadows Cup. Settle in and enjoy this twist on a classic cocktail with Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur Cup, Hendrick’s Gin, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, and strawberry.
Any old fashioned fans out there? Our barkeep will be serving up a rotating selection of old fashioned cocktails to wet your whistle. The summer version will be a Clementine Old Fashioned with Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters, and cane syrup garnished with a clementine wheel and Luxardo cherry. This sip is a nod to Clementine Beach at the resort.
Tequila fans will be pleased to try two beverages on the menu. A nod to one of the historic camping loops at Fort Wilderness, the Quail Trail Paloma serves up Teremana Blanco Tequila with Hella Cocktail Co. Smoked Chili Bitters, grapefruit soda, and a chili-lime rim. And, of course, you’ll still be able to enjoy your porch sippin’ favorite – the Moonshine Margarita with Ole Smoky White Lightnin’ Moonshine, Triple Sec Liqueur, sweet-and-sour mix, and lime juice.
We hope Guests are ready for all these exciting and delicious updates coming to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground! There is no limit to the fun, and tasty, adventures to be had at Disney Parks.
According to an article published by Yahoo.com, a mom and dad welcomed a bouncing baby boy at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. It’s unclear if this was their intention, but Miriam and Andy took their RV on a last-minute trip to Walt Disney World, and that was all she wrote.
After only two days at the Resort, Miriam gave birth to her son in the camper on Disney property. All indications suggest that the baby, mom, and dad are doing well. Talk about pixie dust, right? It seems as if Miriam works closely with other birthing mothers, as she had this to say:
“Of all births I have attended as a birth worker, without biases, I can say this one was the coolest.”
Miriam also went on to say that she craved corndog nuggets from Casey’s Corner at Magic Kingdom after giving birth. We’re confident that having a baby in an RV would work up the appetite. It’s good that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is relatively close to Magic Kingdom, and they have stroller rentals. Miriam and Andy are going to need them.
If you’re unfamiliar, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is considered a deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World, while the cabins are considered moderate. There are RV spaces that can be rented for campers as well. The Resort sits south of Bay Lake, making it an excellent location for Guests who wish to visit Magic Kingdom.
The worst part of visiting Walt Disney World is having to leave the Disney bubble and return to reality at the end of your trip. Even though most Disney trips are action-packed and exhausting, it is still so hard to leave the theme Park and go back to normal life. Some Disney Guests love the Parks so much that they even move to Anaheim or Central Florida so they can be close to Disney at all times. Still, there is nothing that compares to an on-property Disney vacation. This brings up an interesting question, if money was no object, how long could you really vacation at Walt Disney World Resort? For one woman, her Disney vacation lasted over twenty years.
Vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort is not cheap. Park tickets, food, merchandise, and accommodations all cost a lot of Disney property. Walt Disney World Resort has lots of different hotels to choose from when planning a trip. There are three tiers of Disney Resort Hotel at Walt Disney World; Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Even at the Value Disney Resort, the rooms are not cheap and will run you hundreds of dollars a night.
If you were trying to stay at Walt Disney World Resort for an extended amount of time, you might be interested in staying at the cheapest accommodation on the property, Fort Wilderness. Here, you can rent a tent campsite for $76-$105 or an RV site for around $150-$250. While these prices are still expensive, some Disney fans do pay the premium to stay on property for an extended amount of time.
Technically, the longest you can book a room or campsite for is 30 continuous days. However, one woman has continued to extend her camping “vacation” and lived at Walt Disney World Resort full-time. A Reddit user shared the story of this woman.
According to the commenter, the woman has lived at the Fort Wilderness Campground on Disney World Property for nearly 20 years. She even went as far as to try and sue the Walt Disney Company when they wanted to kick her out during the Covid pandemic. Another commenter followed up this wild story with an update that the woman has been evicted from Fort Wilderness Resort and is also no longer a travel agent.
It has been just about two years since the Walt Disney World Resort reopened after its forced pandemic closure, and the theme parks are nearly back to the way they were before the pandemic. Masks are no longer required, multiple dining buffets are back or coming back, and character meet and greets are back to normal. While many things have returned to Disney World, there are a number of things that Guests have anxiously been waiting on for years, and now, we can announce one of them is coming back very soon.
One of the more overlooked Resort hotels at Walt Disney World is Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. At Fort Wilderness, Guests can not only stay in their own RV if they want, but they can also book a gorgeous room that makes them feel like they are in the heart of frontier living. While it may not be considered one of the most popular Resorts for some Guests, it does have some of the most popular dining and activity spots on Disney property.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness is home to both the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Chip ‘n Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long. Disney had shared a few weeks ago that the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue will return on June 23, but had remained quiet on the Chip ‘n Dale Sing-A-Long. Until now. Disney has finally revealed that the Campfire Sing-A-Long will return in less than two weeks, on July 6!
If you are unfamiliar with Chip ‘n Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, here is more information on the fun event from the Walt Disney World website:
S’More Fun
Roast marshmallows, sing songs and share hugs with Chip ‘n’ Dale!
Bring your own marshmallows and sticks, or purchase a s’mores kit from the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. After you enjoy the gooey goodness, croon along to old-time favorites led by a guitar-playing cowboy, as Chip ‘n Dale visit for photos, autographs, smiles and fun.
Campground Cinema
After the cowboy sing-along, cozy up for a classic Disney movie in a theater under the stars.
As night falls, the fun moves toward the giant screen, where cowpokes of all ages can delight in a favorite Disney movie shown in the fresh evening air. Bring camping chairs and blankets or sit on the benches provided.
The campfire sing-along and outdoor movie are complimentary and held nightly as weather permits. Movies and entertainment are subject to cancellation or change at any time and without notice.
If you have any questions about Chip ‘n Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, you can call Disney by calling them, chatting with them on the Walt Disney World Resort website, or messaging them on the My Disney Experience app.
