Which Activities Should You Try at Fort Wildnerness?

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort have officially opened. If you’ve seen any of our or DVC Fan’s social media posts, you know that we’re all over the new Cabins. 

As longtime DVC members, many of us are familiar with the Fort Wilderness area. However, I realize that some of you are exploring the area in detail for the first time. So, which activities should you try at Fort Wilderness? Here are several suggestions…

Visit the Tri-Circle-D Ranch 

Let’s be clear about something. The people who enjoy Fort Wilderness the most are the ones who love the great outdoors. 

Disney has created a mini-dude ranch that is just a boat ride from Magic Kingdom. Fans of the cowboy life may become lifelong loyalists of Fort Wilderness. 

The highlight of this experience is a trip to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, where you can play with the horses. These are the same noble steeds who appear on Main Street, U.S.A. The ranch is their home, and you can watch them frolic in their natural environment. If you bring kids to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, they may never want to leave. It’s such a magical place. 

Go Horseback Riding

As part of the experience, Disney allows guests to ride horseback on a Fort Wilderness Trail. For $65 per guest, you can pick your pony and ride along the rustic trails. I’ll stress that it’s extremely safe. The kids must wear helmets, and Cast Members have trained the horses to walk slowly.

The one caveat here is that as Fort Wilderness construction continues – remember that only some of the Cabins have been rebuilt thus far – Disney has closed horseback riding on weekdays. It’s just a temporary move, and the activity remains available on weekends. 

Take the Segway Tour

Of course, some people don’t love horseback riding. I grew up next to a farm, and the experience was definitely not for me. Well, Disney has thought of everyone by offering a different kind of ride.

Guests may take the Segway Tour instead. For $90 per person, you can drive a Segway X2, a more modern form of transportation than horseback riding. As this video shows, it’s a scenic way to explore Fort Wilderness.

Eat at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Did you know that the longest-running Disney dinner show recently celebrated its 50th anniversary? Management invited back the Cast Members who invented the whole thing. Remarkably, they were just interns in 1974, yet their creation has stood the test of time.

At the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you’ll enjoy bottomless plates of fried chicken, pork ribs, and cornbread you can eat. Then, you’ll finish with the legendary Strawberry Shortcake. All the while, Cast Members sing and dance their way through the recently updated story. 

Some estimates suggest Disney has performed Hoop-Dee-Doo more than 40,000 times for over 10 million guests. Every self-respecting DVC member should try this meal at some point. And if you already have, now is the time to try it again since Disney just upgraded the tech!

Practice Archery

Many of us want to be Hawkeye, Katniss, or Legolas, the archer supreme who somehow saves the day while using just a bow and arrow. At Fort Wilderness, you can live out this fantasy by taking archery lessons. 

You’ll find an archery training facility onsite. For the cost of $45, anyone ages seven and up can learn how to wield a compound bow. And don’t worry! As you can see, it’s perfectly safe:

Try Some Moonshine 

I live in Tennessee, and I’ve become something of a Secret Santa legend over the years. That’s because I used to live a few blocks away from an Ole Smoky Moonshine vendor. I’d package the bottled Apple Pie and send it to friends, who would spend some of their holidays admiring the southern spirits. 

True moonshine is a rarity, and I know that it seems like an unlikely item to find at Disney. Surprisingly, Crockett’s Tavern at Fort Wilderness sells Ole Smoky White Lightnin’ Moonshine, though. After a few sips, you may forget your name and social security number.

For the adventurous sorts, I’d recommend the All Aboard! Moonshine Cocktail Flight. For $18, you can sample three different kinds of the good stuff. As an FYI, one of these drinks, the Spiced Appleberry Shine, includes Apple Pie, the drink made famous on FX’s Justified. 

Watch a Parade

This suggestion’s a bit niche and more of a bucket list item. I say this because you’ll only have the opportunity to watch a Fort Wilderness parade on specific holidays and other events. 

When you are staying at July 4th or Halloween or even at Walt Disney World at the time, you should make a beeline to Fort Wilderness. You’ll discover a delightful golf cart parade that embraces the Disney lifestyle. Here are videos from the recent July 4th parade:

Some loyal Disney fan has dressed up their golf cart to look like a monorail tram! This is the type of silly fun you can expect at Fort Wilderness parades. So, make sure to attend one someday.