How to Camp in Disney

Wikimedia Commons

Camping can be good family fun, as can a trip to a Disney theme park. A good way to keep costs down is to combine them into one trip. As neither Euro Disney nor Disneyland in California have their own official campgrounds, the only place for Disney camping is in Disney World in Florida.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Camp stove and/or charcoal Cooler or portable refrigerator Electronic entertainment devices Sporting equipment Bug repellent
Camp stove and/or charcoal
Cooler or portable refrigerator
Electronic entertainment devices
Sporting equipment
Bug repellent

Step 1

Make a reservation with Fort Wilderness at Disney World as far in advance as you can, especially if you plan to camp out of an RV or trailer. Hotels around Disney World are expensive, which makes camping at Fort Wilderness -- especially RV/Trailer camping -- a popular budget alternative for a Disney World vacation. If you show up at peak season without a reservation, you will likely be turned away and forced to relocate some distance from the Disney theme parks.

Step 2

Think about saving more money by going during the value seasons. If you have some flexibility about when to go, this is a great idea. Keep in mind that Florida stays relatively warm during the winter, with the average January low only 49 F. During 2009, these value seasons were January 1 to February 12 and August 8 to November 18.

Step 3

Factor into your budget admission to the theme parks, which are not covered with your campground fees. You must purchase those passes separately.

Step 4

Plan on cooking out a lot while you are there. While Fort Wilderness does have its own eateries, even the cheapest of these was "$14.99 and under" in 2009. Imagine every meal at theme park prices, and the virtues of camp cooking shine. You can make good use of a camp stove and charcoal grill at Fort Wilderness. Plus, even the tent sites have electrical outlets, so you can use portable refrigerators for food storage.

Step 5

Bring electronic devices. As even the tents-only campsites have electrical outlets, there is no reason to leave the laptop, battery charger, iPod speakers or anything else at home. For an additional fee, you can even access high-speed Internet.

Step 6

Bring your fishing pole, basketball, tennis racket or even bicycle. The campground has a swimming pool, sporting courts and lake access with beach, as well as hiking, running and biking trails.

Step 7

Use bug repellent. Just because Fort Wilderness is a Disney campground and is packed with facilities does not mean it is bug-proof. Mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks are just as problematic there as at any other campsite in Florida.

Tips & Warnings

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Editor's Pick

Backcountry Camping Tips

You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
More Backcountry Camping...
Popular Article

Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
More Beach Camping...
Featured Video

Common Sense Hiking Tips

The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
More Camping Basics...