Travel and Leisure – Scoop Central

Some children are obsessed with the idea of camping. They want to sleep under the stars, fight off wild animals by starting a fire, and generally “rough it”. Parents who may not share this enthusiasm for camping often try to distract their children by allowing them to “camp” in the backyard or sleep over at a friend’s house instead.  However consider camping at Disney World as an alternative!

Now there is another option: a safe, modern camping environment at Disney World. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort offers campsites just ten miles from the Magic Kingdom, complete with water canals, ducks, deer, and rabbits, and forest trails. Unlike traditional campsites, Disney also offers cable television, air conditioning, and even high speed Internet. Pets are allowed in some parts of the campgrounds.

There are hook-ups for tents and RV’s, and log-cabin style buildings dot the premises.  Camping at Disney World has several advantages. First of all, it is completely safe. You won’t encounter bears or other wild animals in the middle of the night, nor will you run into strangers living in the woods for nefarious purposes. So the kids will get the camping experience they desire while you have peace of mind. It also has modern conveniences, so you will not have to find places to use the bathroom or use tree leaves as toilet paper.

Finally, the outdoor atmosphere at Disney is beautiful. The campsites are situated in a forest full of pine and cypress trees and there are log cabins or other rustic-looking buildings on site. Best of all, camping at Disney World is not expensive; you can rent your campsite for as little as $43 per night plus tax.  Of course, take warning to avoid shock: Florida will soak you on the taxes.

If your children are camping purists, they might object to the Disney campsites because you have modern conveniences such as electricity and water. However, there is so much to do on the campgrounds that they will probably completely forget about this issue.

As a Disney World Resort guest, you are also entitled to complimentary transportation to and from all Disney Theme Park locations. In addition to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, you and your children could visit the Animal Kingdom or any of the Disney World Water Parks.  You can also visit two golf courses and other Disney World Resort Hotels.

If you have a dog, you can bring him or her to selected areas of the campsite. Your dog will enjoy walking through the campgrounds and will have an air-conditioned place to sleep. Cats are presumably also welcome on the campsite, although most cats are not leash trained so this may not be a good idea.

Disney Fort Wilderness charges a nominal fee for pet privileges as well as for high-speed  Internet access. With so much to do, however, you probably won’t have time for the Internet.  Camping at Disney is truly an opportunity for the whole family to get away from their  regular routines and just relax.  There are private bathroom and shower facilities on site, as well as laundry facilities. Some campsites are being renovated this year; check with Disney for availability.

Camping in Florida can be a quite varied experience.  You might want to extend your vacation in order to really get into the wild or even spend some time at a beautiful beach.