Fort Wilderness Cabins Make For A Perfect Family Vacation

Fort Wilderness Cabins Make For A Perfect Family Vacation

I have talked about how great Fort Wilderness is, and it’s a place I spent many happy vacations as a kid. One thing that wasn’t so great about those vacation was the two days we spent in the car each way as we towed our camper from Upstate NY to Disney and back. Do I understand why my parents did it? Of COURSE – it was a HUGE money saver, as we didn’t have to pay for airfare and could eat many of our meals at the campsite, and the cost of renting a campsite is nothing compared to that of a resort or hotel.

While I was on those vacations, I always wondered what it would be like to stay in one of the Fort Wilderness Cabins – a great alternative to those who want a ‘home away from home’ but don’t want to tow their camper across the country to get it.

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January 2013 Fort Wilderness Movie Schedule

January 2013 Fort Wilderness Movie Schedule

You’ve heard me share about how much I love the Campfire and Outdoor movie at Fort Wilderness!  I know all the Walt Disney World Resorts have a nightly movie, but there’s just something special about the movie at Fort Wilderness.  If you have dining reservations at Trail’s End or the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, you may want to stay in the area and enjoy a movie.  If you are staying at Fort Wilderness, you definitely want to include the outdoor movie to your vacation plans!

Here is the line up for January 2013.

January 1 - High School Musical
January 2 - The Emperor’s New Groove
January 3 - WALL-E
January 4 - Brave 
January 5 - Enchanted 
January 6 - The Aristocats
January 7 - The Great Mouse Detective

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Planning an “Off Day” at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Planning an Off Day at Disneys Fort Wilderness

So many people travel to Walt Disney World and never experience any of the fun Fort Wilderness has to offer.  Since 1971, the Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort have been accommodating guests on over 700 acres of wooded trails.  This camping resort offers campsites for tents, pop ups and RVs and has cabins for those who don’t want to “rough it!”  But, there are so many other things to do here than “camp!”  Below, you will find a listing of the restaurant options, things to do around the resort and even seasonal activities.  If you are needing to plan a day off during your WDW vacation, I highly suggest taking a bus or boat to Fort Wilderness and spending the day having fun with your family!

Restaurants:

  • Trail’s End Restaurant- Enjoy a buffet for breakfast or dinner and an a la carte lunch.  This restaurant features pioneer style food (fried chicken, ribs, roasted meats, veggies, salad bar, soup, cobbler, and ice cream) in a rustic log cabin style decor.
  • Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue- This is a dinner show featuring western dancing, singing, skits and vaudeville comedy in Pioneer Hall.  You can also enjoy an all you can eat feast of American favorites: friend chicken, ribs, vegetables. baked beans, corn bread and strawberry shortcake.  Reservations are suggested and pre payment is required.
  • Mickey’s Backyard BBQ- Enjoy an outdoor picnic with Mickey Mouse and friends in the covered open air Pavilion at Fort Wilderness.  Participate in line dancing, singing to a country-western band and playing kid friendly games.  Enjoy a buffet of BBQ ribs, smoked chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob, watermelon and more.  Due to inclement weather, this may be cancelled.
  • Crockett’s Tavern- This is an outpost lounge serving pizza, nachos and more from a full service bar.

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“Signature” Restaurants – Are They Worth It? Part 3

Signature Restaurants   Are They Worth It? Part 3

In the final part of this 3-part series (Check out Part 1 and Part 2!), I’m taking a look at the rest of Walt Disney World’s 2-Table Service Credit Dining Options to answer the question, Are They Worth It?

The Restaurants I am reveiwing this week aren’t *technically* Signature Restaurants, BUT they are unique, special experiences that are more expensive than your regular sit down restaurants, and they all will cost you 2 Table Service Credits on the Disney Dining Plan. One nice thing about these is that unlike other Signature Restaurants, with the 2-credit character meal and dinner shows, gratuities are included, which makes things even easier on you when it comes time to pay!

So, Here We Go:

Cinderella’s Royal Table – Dine in none other than Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and be treated like royalty! Cinderalla greets you as you enter the castle, and yout get to pose for a picture with her. Bonus – the picture package is included with the meal! Breakfast is an all you care to eat assortment of standard Disney breakfast items including pastries, eggs, meats, and french toast, while lunch and dinner include a prix fixe menu of options like prime rib, fish, and steak. While you eat, the princesses work the room for pictures and autographs. Reservations for this can be really hard to get, so I recommend that you are flexible when it comes to what time you want to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Survey Says? If you have a Disney Princess fan in your party, I say book it! It’s a unique experience, I did it once and probably wouldn’t do it again, but it is fun and the food is high quality, plus once you go you can say you have been IN Cinderella’s Castle (which is pretty cool!)

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ – One of two Dinner Entertainment options at Fort Wilderness, this is your chance to party with Mickey, Minnie and friends as you dine on delicious (all you can eat!) picnic favorites like ribs, hamburgers and hot dogs, and corn on the cob. Enjoy live country western music, line dancing, and fun for kids, and you may even get a chance to dance with the Mouse himself! One difference to make note of for this character experience is that the characters don’t come around to all the tables, but rather they interact with guests on the dance floor. The BBQ is seasonal, and runs Thursday and Saturday nights from March – December, and is held outdoors
Survey Says? If you are a big fan of picnic food and fun, then you should look into joining the fun at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ! It’s a great time, but don’t expect the character interaction you would normally get at other character meals (since they don’t come around to all the tables)

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show – Disney’s Polynesian Resort is the perfect setting for this luau-themed dinner show, which offers up all you care to eat fare like Polynesian-style rice, roast chicken, and best of all (at least for those of us over 21!) – unlimited beer and wine are included! The entertainment includes fire and knife dancers as well as music and dance, and the chance for your little ones to learn how to hula dance (I did it when I was little, it was a lot of fun!).
Survery Says: This is my favorite of the dinner show experiences, I love the food and the atmosphere, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue – Head over to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground for this rousing Wild West themed show, which features comedy, song, dance, and even some audience participation! While you are laughing and clapping along to the music, enjoy all you can eat fried chicken, ribs, baked beans, strawberry shortcake, and once again – all you can drink beer/wine/sangria for those guests over 21.
Survey Says: This really is a fun, entertaining show, when I was a kid I didn’t much care for it, but it has grown on me in my adult years (perhaps it’s the free sangria that has helped with that?), the jokes are funny and it’s over the top for sure, but it’s a good time, and a great way to spend an evening

Hopefully these posts have inspired you to book some Advance Dining Reservations or ADR’s for some Signature or Dinner Show Dining Experiences. These are some of the best food, drink, and entertainment options available at Walt Disney World, so I highly recommend you check some of them out on your next trip to WDW

Signature Restaurants   Are They Worth It? Part 3

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Top 5 Attraction Names at Disney World

Top 5 Attraction Names at Disney World

The Imagineering doesn’t stop at ride mechanics or theming triumphs. It continues with music, lighting, location, and: Names!

Yes, what would a Walt Disney World attraction be without a cool name? Well, just another amusement park ride, really. But Walt’s sense of whimsy is alive and well in every attraction, and I’d like to share with you just five of my favorite Attraction Names at Disney World:

No.5: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

It’s fun. It’s frivolous. There’s whooping and hollering. And it rhymes! The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue serves up ribs and fried chicken along with gags and groaners for all ages. The name evokes the riotous Wild West when bawdy music halls entertained patrons with song, dance, and comedy.

This is one attraction that leaves you yelling its name for hours after the show ends!

No. 4: Boutiki

Boutiki is located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and is one of my favorite places to shop at WDW. But the best part of this retail
experience is the name and the sign outside. Two Tiki Gods have decided to arbitrarily rename the Boutique to better reflect their nature. The result? One of the best play on words in the entire World!

Top 5 Attraction Names at Disney World

No. 3: Mickey’s Philharmagic

Another play on words, this time combining the Philharmonic Orchestra with Disney Magic. Mickey Mouse has played the role of Conductor in a number of Shorts over the years, and he reprises his role in Mickey’s Philharmagic. But Donald Duck wants some of the attention, so things go a little wrong!

But I think the best part of this attraction is the name. It gets you in the mood right from the get go! And who doesn’t need a little
Philharmagic in their day, eh?

No. 2: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

This one rates so high on my list because I just love The Twilight Zone TV series (all 156 episodes)! Rod Serling was a genius and his story telling makes a perfect fit for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a creepy reproduction of a 30’s-style hotel which just happens to have one of the best thrill rides inside it!

The theming is amazing and the atmosphere second-to-none, with some of the most entertaining Cast Members of any WDW attraction. I can’t explain why I love the name so much, but it just helps to set your hairs on end even before you get to the lobby!

Top 5 Attraction Names at Disney World

No.1: Fantasmic!

This show has its fans and its detractors, but for spectacle, Fantasmic! has no apology to make. A dramatic mix of fireworks,
fountains, lasers, and Disney characters, it lets us take a peek into the dreams of Mickey Mouse himself.

But again, my favorite part of this attraction is the name: Fantasmic! When someone asks me how I am, I answer “Fantasmic!” Now, only my Disney friends know what I’m saying, but it still sounds cool to those who don’t.

So what’s in a name? Sometimes it can be everything. The mood, theme, intent, and achievement of an attraction. The name can evoke emotional resonance before an attraction, and recall to mind the experience afterwards.

And what might your favorite Attraction Names at WDW be?

Top 5 Attraction Names at Disney World

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