Disney’s Fort Wilderness Photo Walk 2012 – From Outpost to Settlement (including Meadows Complex)

Hi everyone!

This is my Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground Photo Walk with over 200 photos, which will take us from the Outpost (where the parking lot is) to the Settlement, where you can find Pioneer Hall. We’ll stop along the way at the Meadows Complex to see the pool and recreation options!

My next photo walk planned is from the Settlement to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. So far we have these new photo walks up in 2012: Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Epcot, Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside. If you like the walks, please share them! 

Before we start the timed portion of the walk, we’ll take a look at the Fort Wilderness Reception Outpost. It is small and cozy, with a fireplace and seating.

 

 

We are heading towards the Outpost Bus Depot, which is also next to the trail riding at Tri Circle D Ranch.

 

The timed portion of our walk starts here, behind the Outpost Bus Depot. We are starting at 9:08am. I took the photos a few days back, and timed it this morning – the photos and timing are never done at the same time. I also found my time a few minutes longer than normal (I’m breaking in new shoes!) We are heading past the golf cart parking, and towards the Settlement.

 

We turn right at the road at 9:09am, just one minute after we start. We will be walking along sidewalks the whole way, crossing the road a few times.

You never know if you might see deer.

 

We are walking straight on the sidewalk. There are lights here for the evening, but I’d recommend a flashlight for better light if walking at night.

This crossing is along the path, but it’s mostly used by Cast Members in golf carts. It’s not a major road. That said, while Fort Wilderness is extremely friendly to pedestrians, golf carts and bicyclists – but you do want to take care at all crossings.

We pass Peacock Pass at 9:12am. I do have one interesting Fort Wilderness story that happened around this location. After the hurricanes in 2004, I headed to Fort Wilderness one day to go to Trails End for breakfast. It wasn’t unusual not to see too many cars or buses, it was really early. But as I walked through the resort, I didn’t see anyone except a few Cast Members on golf carts – and nobody said anything to me. I finally was able to flag down a CM who said the Fort was closed for – I think a few weeks? – as they fixed it from the storms. So that day, I was the only guest there (that I know of!) Although I am not sure if they blocked guests from coming over from the Wilderness Lodge.

 

Looking to the right, you can see RV’s parked here:

 

 

We’ll be walking across the road to get to that sidewalk, and then turning right. This is not the only way to get to the Settlement, but it is the one I take most often. We arrive here at 9:18am.

Along the way, you can see guests camping:

We are walking straight now, towards the Meadows Complex. There are many things I love about Fort Wilderness, but one is that walking here – and staying here –  is like being in a friendly neighborhood. Unlike elsewhere in life, there isn’t that awkwardness about whether you should say “hi” as you pass people by. Usually, others will say it first!

 

A newer Dog Park is also on the way, after the Meadows. There is no longer a kennel at Fort Wilderness, but many guests do stay here with their dogs.

The Meadows Recreation area is coming up on our left. There is so much to do here! Swimming, arcade, canoe rentals, tennis, archery, and the Campfire Program – that is just part of the fun. Check out previous stories I’ve done on the Archery and Segway tour (both from several years ago)!

We arrive here at 9:22am, and stopping the timed portion of the tour so we can look around. We are walking over the bridge on our left.

 

Tennis:

 

Volleyball:

 

There is a pool, spa, tennis court entrance, and much more right here. The pool area was upgraded a couple of years back with a great slide, kids aquatic area and jacuzzi! The barrel on the slide is from River Country (I still miss that park!)

 

The children’s Aquatic Play Area didn’t yet have it’s water features turned on for the day. When I started the walk, it was very cool out – about 60 degrees. That is why nobody is in the pool! I prefer that for my photos.

 

Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Arcade is on the small side for a game room.

 

The Meadow Snack Bar was not yet open:

 

 

Shuffleboard:

I highly recommend the Campfire Program! It is the original campfire program on Walt Disney World property. This nightly event includes a campfire singalong while guests toast marshmallows, a Chip and Dale visit, and a Disney film. Guests can purchase everything they need for s’mores here if they don’t have it already.

 

Canoes and the Bike Barn, where guests rent bikes, canoes and more.

 

This is a beautiful and peaceful area:

 

Bikes ready to be rented:

 

Water ready for canoes:

There are two trading posts at Fort Wilderness: The Meadows Trading Post, and The Settlement Trading Post. This one is the larger of the two.

Hopscotch:

 

Resort specific merchandise here had ended a couple of years ago, but fortunately returned with a vengeance during the Christmas season (and I was told that more is still coming). We already have a t-shirt and koozie, but we don’t stop with that.

 

Mickey Mouse sits atop the display here, and a fireplace with checkers is nearby. Guests can buy food items including s’more fixings, along with apparel, drinks, and much more.

We are back outside:

The children’s Aquatic Play Area has now been turned on:

 

Segway Tour information:

Playground:

It can be a little tricky to get back out to the road, but just head past the pool and tennis courts (you can also go to the Settlement by heading out the Meadows Trading Post in the front of the store and taking a right).

We are back out to our original location, and we had arrived here at 9:22am, which is when we are starting again. After getting off the bridge, we turn left.

 

 

We arrive at Little Bear Path at 9:25am:

 

Heading straight:

We pass by the Dog Park at 9:28am, and I walked over (not timed) to get a few photos.

There is also a playground here:

 

We are only a few minutes from the Settlement now as we head straight.

 

We arrive at Whispering Pines at 9:33am:

We are now arriving at the Settlement, walking across the street and making a quick left (you can walk straight also).

We are now turning right into the Settlement, toward Pioneer Hall.

 

One of my favorite activities at Fort Wilderness is the wagon ride. Many years ago, I was on the fireworks wagon ride – Disney pipes in the music for the guests on the ride as the wagon sits on the beach. During the Tinker Bell segment, I saw the first firefly I’d ever seen in Florida! I have seen some more fireflies at Fort Wilderness since then – not many, but it was a perfect moment for “Tinker Bell” to appear!

Pioneer Hall, Trail’s End, and Crockett’s Tavern are here, and this is the end of the timed portion of the walk – it’s 9:36am (32 minutes after we started, though I’m usually a bit faster).

Remember when peacocks used to roam around? One white peacock would often be on the roof and making tons of noise!

 

 

We are now walking towards the Settlement Trading Post – we will be looking around the Settlement, without timing this portion. We also pass by the area where guests can take carriage rides at night (not to be confused with wagon rides).

A new Fort Wilderness blanket:

 

Back outside, we head to the right, and over to Fort Wilderness Landing. Guests can rent boats, or take  Disney boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

 

 

Golf cart parking:

The Lawnmower Tree:

Another playground:

We are walking towards the Pavilion where the Backyard BBQ is held (see our review from Halloween here).

There used to be a really great petting zoo here – it once included Minnie Moo, who died many years ago. A few years back, it switched to just pony rides. I miss the old petting zoo, there used to be a donkey who loved nothing but endless scratching!

The Tri-Circle-D Ranch here is available for guests who would like to view the horses that are used on Walt Disney World property. There is a caliope which you can listen to, and displays and pictures that have to do with horses and Walt Disney.

Frosty the horse helps pull Cinderella’s carriage:

 

Brochures:

 

Blacksmith Shop:

 

Pony:

And I wanted to add a picture of the cabins – there are a few that are close to the Settlement, most are not. Before I share that, I want to mention that Fort Wilderness is amazing during the holidays! Some guests stay here for months at a time, and you can find decorations during all holidays – although Halloween and Christmas are the most incredible decorating time periods. But one guest (who is there at least 5 or 6 months) had these Mardi Gras decorations up:

 

Here are the cabins:

 

And there is a nice walking path nearby, we might explore that soon too! It’s much more quiet than other areas of Fort Wilderness.

 

I hope you enjoyed this walking tour of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground! If you do happen to stay here, you can rent a golf cart to see even more of the resort (or view it on foot).