Fort Wilderness Christmas

We’ve proclaimed our love for Fort Wilderness many times. It’s such a unique destination at Walt Disney World and one that we highly recommend experiencing if you get the chance. And what’s even better than Fort Wilderness? Fort Wilderness at Christmas! Read on to find out about all the things you can do for Christmas at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.

So what’s the hype about Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Christmastime? Well, for starters, it’s really a unique way to spend the holidays at the merriest place on Earth. And it’s one of our favorite things to do at Walt Disney World without a Park Ticket. Fort Wilderness really is a destination all its own, and the same can be said about it at Christmastime. Fort Wilderness always has so much to see and do, and Christmastime is no different. And what’s even better is that it’s so easy to travel to Wilderness Lodge from Fort Wilderness that you can easily experience the beauty of both! We love that this offers a more relaxed way to vacation than a traditional trip to Walt Disney World at Christmas. 

What activities are available at Fort Wilderness at Christmas? Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has lots of fun activities during Christmastime. They offer holiday activities you can’t find anywhere else on the property. And it’s a great way to get away from the holiday crowds at Walt Disney World! 

Stay at Fort Wilderness at Christmastime

We think the best way to experience Fort Wilderness during the holiday season is by staying there! You’ll have access to everything at your fingertips. The atmosphere truly is a warm, welcoming, and festive feeling of home away from home.  We have stayed here several times, and love it more each time! You can choose to stay in the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, bring or rent an RV that’s allready set up for you. Or bring a tent for a more traditional campground experience. 

The Cabins at Fort Wilderness are our favorite place to stay here, but they can be pricey and also can be difficult to get at this time. We highly recommend reserving yours early if possible because they tend to sell out pretty quickly.  And if you do decide to stay there, you can get in on the holiday fun by decorating your own campsite, which is one of our favorite things about Fort Wilderness at Christmas! 

Fort Wilderness Holiday Cookie Hunt

Want to solve a mystery this holiday season? Disney’s Fort Wilderness hosts a Cookie Hunt scavenger hunt throughout the resort grounds from mid- December through the end of the year. Check out the Holiday Activities guide for details. Offered 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM you can grab a Clue Guide at the Bike Barn. The mystery? The Hoop dee Doo Revue players, have taken the cookies from the bakery and scattered across the campgrounds. It’s your job to find them, and help the resort “reclaim it’s holiday cheer”! Guests and visitors alike can play this game, just head to the bike barn to get a clue sheet to get started!  

Book a Holiday Sleigh Ride at Fort Wilderness 

Holiday “sleigh” rides are available at Fort Wilderness starting December 1 and last until December 30.  These are basically a horse-drawn carriage ride that takes you throughout the Campground while you sit back and relax. Sleigh rides are $80+tax for a 25-minute ride. Sleighs can accommodate up to four adults or two adults and three children. Reservations can be made by calling (407)WDW-PLAY.  You can find out more information about Holiday Sleigh Rides here! 

See the Christmas Decorations at Fort Wilderness

Sure the Grand Floridian has the Christmas Gingerbread House, but if that’s a little too fancy for you, that’s ok! Fort Wilderness has super fun, rustic decor, perfect for the setting of this resort.  From Wagon Wheels on the Christmas tree to pinecones to wooden ornaments, the decor matches this resort perfectly and we love seeing all of the little details.  We love the gingham bows that can be found all over the property. It brings a little bit of country charm! 

Visit the Guest-Decorated Campsites 

One of the best parts about visiting Fort Wilderness for Christmas is the magic all of the other campers bring! Other guests at the campground set up the most magical decorations. Many campers even go all out and decorate their golf carts and we always love seeing what they come up with.  The guests of Fort Wilderness are really what make it so special and festive!

Rent a Golf Cart at Fort Wilderness 

We love grabbing some hot chocolate, bundling up, and driving around at night to see all of the beautiful displays. Disney has recently gotten a lot more strict about renting golf carts at Fort Wilderness and now requires you to have a reservation before they will let you reserve a golf cart from them. If you do rent a golf cart from Fort Wilderness, we recommend calling as early as possible to make sure you can get one! They tend to go pretty quickly, especially during the holiday season.

Golf carts can be reserved 365 days in advance, so we recommend reserving one as soon as you have a reservation. You can always cancel if plans change! Golf carts currently cost around $63 + tax (subject to change) and can be reserved by calling (407)824-2742. But you can also take a bus over to the campground and walk around to see the lights! There are many internal buses that will take you around the campground, and you can explore on foot if you’re not able to get a golf cart reservation. 

Take part in the Golf Cart Decorating Contest! 

You can bring lights, ornaments and whatever else you can think of to decorate your Fort Wilderness Resort Golf Cart. Then head to the main office to learn all the details for the week of your stay or visit. The Holiday Golf Cart Extravaganza contest takes place on December 24th, typically around 1:30 PM. Judges choose the best decorated golf carts, and guests are able to vote to0 later in the day between 4:30- 6:00 PM. Winners are announced  at the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing A Long. 

Candy Cane Count Contest

Usually offered the week before Christmas, you can try your hand at Candy Cane counting. Just head to the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn, and take your best guess. If you’re staying through December 24th, the Winner is announced at the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long Christmas Eve. 

Settlement Tree Lightning Ceremony

 If you’re staying, or visiting Disney’s Fort Wilderness the week leading up to Christmas, you can see the Settlement Tree Lightning Ceremony, every evening leading up to Christmas Eve. Starting at 5:00 PM you can take part in photo opportunities, holiday themed crafts, and then stick around for the 5:30 PM lighting of the Christmas Tree. 

Campsite Christmas Decorating Contest

Fort Wilderness hosts an annual site decorating contest for all the campers at the resort. You can get involved if you’re staying there. Just sign up your campsite at the Bike Barn, (Before December 23, at 5 PM) and then head to the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long on Christmas Eve to hear the winners announced! 

Winter Wonderland Games and Crafts

Head to the campfire area near the Meadows for carnival style games, crafts, holiday photo ops, and more. Typically 4:30 PM- 6:30 PM.

Chip and Dale’s Holiday Campfire Sing A Long

It just wouldn’t be Christmas at Disney’s Fort Wilderness without Chip and Dale. Luckily you can head to the campfire at 6:30 PM and roast your marshmallows before the show. The sing along starts at 7:00 PM, and winners to the holiday competitions are announced at the end of the show!

Movie Under the Stars Holiday Movies

Throughout December you can enjoy Christmas movies each night at the resort. Just head to the outdoor movie area, in the same place as the sing along, for a festive film each night of your stay. Movies start at 7:40 PM and the movie schedule can be found at the main desk. 

Take the Boat to Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World is considered by many as one of the best Disney resorts at Christmastime. The cozy lodge feeling, the homey decorations, and the warm atmosphere all lend to an idyllic holiday setting. We highly recommend visiting if you’re able just to soak it all up! And if you’re staying at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, getting to Wilderness Lodge is a breeze. You can grab the boat that goes between the two resorts, or get the bus- it’s about a 5-10 minute bus ride. Plus, it’s hardly ever full and the wait is usually quite short. 

We love that Wilderness Lodge is so easy to get to from Fort Wilderness as it makes for the perfect excuse to grab holiday goodies, enjoy the decorations, and check out the holiday merch. 

Christmas at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground consistently make our list of top resorts to visit during the holiday season at Walt Disney World. With so many unique offerings, we think it’s well worth the extra effort. And whether you stay at Fort Wilderness or just visit it, you’re in for a treat! Have you stayed at Fort Wilderness during the holiday season before? Let us know what you think!