Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
If you like caravanning and you’re a fan of Disney, then this one’s for you.
I recently went to Disney’s Fort Wilderness and it’s pretty spectacular. To be clear, this isn’t a theme park in the sense of Thorpe Park, with a defined area and a parking space. It’s more akin to a large town or small city.
The different theme parks at Disney World, Florida require separate transport to get between them. There’s so many things to do, from Downtown Disney with its restaurants, shops and nightclubs, to golf courses and waterparks. On top of this, there are some very expensive Disney resorts, where you can stay within Disney World and access easy transport to all the attractions.
If money is no object, then being accommodated within one of these resorts is the most convenient and hassle-free way of experiencing Disney World. For the rest of us, there’s one of the most incredible campsites I’ve ever seen: Fort Wilderness.
An affordable alternative
Compared to Disney’s hotel accommodation, the campsite is affordable. However, depending on the time of year, prices will vary. You should also be aware of additional costs on top of the pitch, such as golf car rental to get around.
The site is on par with some of the largest sites I’ve seen in Europe, but incredibly well organised and properly well laid out. There are buses laid on to take you between the pitches, on-site facilities and various theme parks.
On-site amenities
It’s a 750-acre site set within a pine forest and I saw all kinds of wildlife there. The facilities are second to none, with plenty of recreation options inside the campsite, including pools with waterslides. It’s pet-friendly, so your dog can come too, if they’re travelling in the US with you.
Being Disney, decorating your pitch is encouraged, so there are lights and inflatable characters at every turn. I was there at Christmas and I didn’t see a single set-up that wasn’t complete with festoon lighting and recognisable faces from the franchise.
Working out the details
A 50-foot by ten-foot pitch (they do things bigger in America) can be priced between $82 (£67) and $200, depending on your needs. These can vary from having a simple tent to a caravan with electric hook-up. The time of year will also affect pricing, with a premium charged during the US school holidays. Going out of season is around 40 per cent cheaper.
If you want to explore Disney for a few days, everything is accessible from the Fort Wilderness Resort campsite. There’s a bus that goes directly to Epcot or a boat to the Magic Kingdom, as well as bars, restaurants and swimming pools on site. It’s also worth it to see how the Americans go all out decorating a campsite!
Photo credit: Unsplash/Kin Li