Welcome “home” … and welcome to the great outdoors! Disney Vacation Club invited me and the Disney Parks Blog crew to preview The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: A Disney Vacation Club Resort – and I discovered the perfect stay for creature comforts amid truly authentic wilderness experiences.
As a regular camper at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, I love to hit the trail. And as a Disney Vacation Club Member since 2013, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy my membership. From castle views at Bay Lake Tower to zebras strutting at Kidani Village: Where you stay with Disney Vacation Club can open your world to new experiences.
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort add a whole new level of adventure to the Disney Vacation Club collection of resorts. Horseback riding, fishing excursions, campfires, archery, and more await just outside your finely appointed getaway among the woodlands.
Down Home Entertainment Close-by
Our media preview day at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort started at Pioneer Hall, just a golf cart ride from the new Disney Vacation Club cabins. On stage, a rootin’ tootin’ musical presentation reminded us of the good times that can be witnessed here each evening during the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. More than a show, Hoop-Dee-Doo includes a lot of audience participation, so practice a rollickin’ “Yee-haw” for your big moment.
Chip ‘n’ Dale, wearing their campground best, offered up hugs and photos at the media preview before sending us off to explore the campground. Guests can catch the pair nightly at the Chip ‘n’ Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long at the Meadow Trading Post area to enjoy s’mores (and help with the songs you forgot the words to).
Get Hooked Up with a Fishing Expert
Next the Disney Parks Blog crew headed toward the marina, just steps from Pioneer Hall. There we were greeted by Kevin, our fishing excursion guide and fisherman extraordinaire. The fishing guides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Campground are dedicated to one thing: Make sure everyone in the boat has a great time — make that a great time catching lots of fish.
It would be an understatement to say that our crew has little experience with a rod and reel, but Kevin knew all the best spots on Bay Lake, baited the hooks, and shared all his best tips for reeling in the big one. By the end, we’d all caught some fish and some smiles.
Let’s Turn Glamping Up a Notch
After about an hour on the water, we were ready to visit the new cabins for some much-needed rest and relaxation. This is where it became clear that the cabins provide a spectacular retreat for those who take advantage of all that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has to offer – once you’ve been out in the woods or on the water, you’re more than ready to be treated to a sophisticated oasis right in the heart of the campground.
The spacious new Disney Vacation Club cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort sleep up to six guests, with an open layout that joins upscale indoor style with a spacious outdoor deck area. Upon arrival, we basked not only in the A/C, but also in all of the incredible Disney details, some of which you’d need to be a super fan to catch.
These cabins feature many of the comforts of “home” that Disney Vacation Club Members have come to know and love. One in particular caught my eye — the kitchen includes a full-sized oven, perfect for campers who love to bake traditional family favorites during the holiday season. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort visitors know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the coziest times to camp, and if you’ve ever tried to cook a ham in an RV, you’d be eyeballing this oven, too.
Modern Design with Rustic Inspiration
We were joined in the cabin by a few friends who could offer behind-the-scenes insight into the creation of the new Disney Vacation Club cabins.
Suzanne Szak, senior interior designer with Walt Disney Imagineering clued us into some of the hidden Mickeys, character details, and superfan easter eggs sprinkled throughout.
On the inspiration for the new feel of the interior, Suzanne said, “Much of the design aspect came from Tri-Circle-D Ranch, which is a more refined, woodsy feel. So, we still have the wood on the ceiling, floor, and furniture, but it’s a lighter wood, a more refined cut with the touch of the black metal accents throughout which you’ll also see at Tri-Circle-D.”
Cesar Avila, Senior Manager, Marketing & Sales Strategy for Disney Vacation Club shared with us that the new cabins bring a private, tailored experience to guests. “It’s really all about bringing many of the comforts of ‘home’ to the great outdoors.”
Cesar pointed out some of the design aspects that larger families will appreciate: Two bathroom sinks, deck space that joins the living room via large windows, a dedicated parking space right in front of your cabin, and the separate bedroom.
The new cabins feature more room for sleeping. While the previous cabins provided a queen bed, a double bed in a pull-out couch, and bunk beds, the new cabins offer two queen beds, one of which is a plush murphy bed, and bunks. As a Disney Vacation Club Member with a family of five (and growing), I was all ears. In this thoughtful design, Disney Vacation Club has kept larger families in mind.
A Short Trot to Tri-Circle-D Ranch
The outdoors is ideal to unplug and unwind – and after resting at the cabin, we were recharged, refreshed, and ready to tackle our next adventure at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. It was time to check out that inspirational design aesthetic that Suzanne had alluded to over at Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Upon entering the open-air barn, those modern-yet-rustic details we recognized in the cabin were all around us. Softly colored lumber and metal accents housed the state-of-the-art stables built only around five years ago. A few horses with big personalities were in the front stables, horses who work right on Main Street, U.S.A.
Amid the stars, the stable also houses an exhibit all about Walt’s love of horses and even the Dragon Calliope circus wagon that was once pulled by horses at Disneyland. Tri-Circle-D Ranch has about 100 horses in total, with about half of those residing at the front of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort at the Trail Blaze Corral. There you’ll find horses ready to take guests on a guided trail ride.
Recreation at the Meadow
There are just too many outdoor adventures to do in one day at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, but we took a quick look at some activities that could inspire another session of rest and relaxation back at the cabin.
Among our finds at the Meadow Trading Post area were bike and kayak rentals, mining for gems, and the archery experience. Of course, there’s also swimming at the sprawling Meadow Pool, where a water tower from a little place called Disney’s River Country has found a new home atop the water slide (a keen eye will also catch a nod to River Country in the new Disney Vacation Club cabins).
Explore The Cabins at Fort Wilderness
I can’t wait to bring my family to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to experience everything that the campground has to offer, and then fully recharge in a cabin built to help us rest up for our next adventure. Sales and bookings for The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are now open, so it’s just about time to start planning that next trip.
To learn more about Disney Vacation Club visit DisneyVacationClub.com. Members may also call their Disney Vacation Club Guide^. Your assigned Guide may change based on state licensing regulations.
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Membership requires purchasing a deeded ownership interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort, typically priced at $23,500 to $60,100 (subject to change). All accommodations are subject to availability. Fixtures and furnishings are subject to change. Images may show accommodations, amenities, or activities that are not part of the ownership interest and may require an additional cost.
^Your assigned Disney Vacation Club Guide may change based on state licensing regulations