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RVing Is Right Up Mickey's Alley
 In the 1900s, the Orlando area was known for its cattle farms, and then later
for its orange groves. In the late 1960s, after several freezes devastated the
fruit crop, local leaders began looking for to bring other business to the area
that would not be so directly affected by Mother Nature. (There are no reports
that those same leaders are now looking for new businesses again after this
year's three hurricanes.)
Cypress Gardens was already operating at this
time, and it was drawing a million people a year with its lush gardens and
lavish water skiing shows-and it was a relatively small entertainment park.
While visiting the area, Roy Disney toured Cypress Gardens and soon convinced
Brother Walt to build a theme park in Florida.
Today, Orlando is the theme
park capitol of the United States and Disney World is its acknowledged monarch
with four theme parks and two water parks.
For three decades, Disney's Fort
Wilderness Resort and Campground has been a vacation haven for Walt Disney World
guests who crave natural, rustic charm amidst the "most magical place on Earth."
(The telephone operators at Disney World end phone calls with, "Have a magical
day!") Since its opening in 1971, the resort has earned recognition by guests
and accolades throughout the camping industry for its accommodations, recreation
and dining.
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground encompasses 700
acres, has 784 campsites and 406 Wilderness Cabins. Recreation includes
horseback riding, canoeing, tennis, two swimming pools, a marina, bike rentals,
a nature trail, a petting farm, pony rides. You can relax on white sand beaches
and ride in antique horse-drawn carriages. There is a lake for water sports and
fishing, and no fishing license is required. In the 1960s, the lake was stocked
with 70,000 bass, and since then 12-pounders have been pulled out.
The
campsites feature wide, paved pads with a coquina rock bed, charcoal grill,
picnic table and hook-ups for water, electricity, sewer and cable. Campsites are
secluded from adjoining sites by trees and other natural surroundings and are
conveniently located near air-conditioned comfort stations with restrooms,
private showers, laundry facilities and ice dispensers.
But that's only the
beginning of the entertainment for RVers:
- A nightly campfire sing-along and
marshmallow roast with Disney characters is followed by Disney movies in a
theater under the stars.
- The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review is a foot
stompin', hand clappin', western vaudeville review-style dinner show featuring a
troupe of six Wild West performers who entertain with corny jokes and folk
songs.
- Old-fashioned, horse-drawn wagon rides provide a scenic tour
through the forest trails and depart nightly at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
- Mickey's
Backyard BBQ is a character dining experience with live music and line dancing.
 Dori and Robert Askew of Acworth, Ga., may not hold the world record for
RVing Disney, but they are certainly in the running for the title. They travel
to Disney World every year, sometimes twice a year. They have stayed at Fort
Wilderness at least twelve times, and they love it there.
"We go back every
year because the campground is so clean and the people are so friendly," Dori
said.
The Askews favorite thing to do there-in addition to visiting all of
Disney's parks-is the Hoop-Dee-Doo. They go every time because they love the
show. Dori warns that it is always sold out so you need to make reservations in
advance, either at check-in or before you arrive. The cost is $50.22 for adults
and $25.43 for children 3-11. The price includes the show, the all-you-can-eat
meal, tax and tip.
The Askews also keep going back year after year because of
the variety of activities. In addition to those mentioned above, you can rent
boats for the lake or canoe through the swamps where you see alligators, snakes,
wild turkey and swamp birds.
The Askews also make a vacation out of the free
day passes to other Disney parks that come with Disney tickets. With a 4-day
pass, you get a free 1-day pass to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Blizzard Beach
Water Park, Downtown Disney®, Pleasure Island or Disney's Wide World of Sports®
Complex. With a 5-day pass, you get two days to these parks, a 6-day pass gets
you three days, and a 7-day pass gets you four days. And you can hop from park
to park during the same day.
Dori explained that many people don't realize
that their passes to these other theme parks are good even after the Disney part
of the ticket has been used. You probably know Disney tickets never expire;
likewise, neither do these passes The Askews sometimes make a vacation out of
just these free day passes when they go to Disney.
Barbara and Bill Dobo of
Wrightsville Beach, N.C., have the Askews beat-they've been to Disney World 50
times. Not long ago they decided to renew their wedding vows there.
With
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, couples can declare their love (or re-declare it)
on a palm-fringed hillside or in Victorian splendor with the Cinderella Castle
in the background. Couples can ride in Cinderella's glass coach, have a white
dove release, or a visit from Disney characters.
For Barbara and Bill, their
50th wedding anniversary celebration at Disney was a dream come true.
Originally, they exchanged vows in a modest ceremony in Maryland with little
fanfare. So, for their big anniversary, they chartered a plane and hosted 60 of
their closest friends and family at Disney for an elegant vow renewal with
parties, park hopping and celebrations.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for all of us," said Barbie Dobo, the couple's daughter. "My mother
looked like a fairy-tale princess in her gown, and my father was definitely the
prince."
Festivities included a private party at the Haunted Mansion in the
Magic Kingdom, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, and a '50s themed party to
commemorate the anniversary milestone. The event culminated with a traditional
candlelight ceremony at Disney's Wedding Pavilion. The children and
grandchildren also took part at the formal wedding party.
If you'd like to
make or renew your vows there, a four-night package for two starts at $3,300 and
includes: an on-site wedding coordinator; an official to perform the wedding
ceremony; fresh-flower bouquet for the bride or boutonniere for the groom;
violinist, flautist or guitarist for the ceremony and cake-cutting; a two-tier
wedding cake, limousine service, plus two Ultimate Park Hopper tickets to Disney
theme parks. Considering the price of weddings these days, this is a deal.
Before you head to Disney, be aware that you can get discount tickets to the
park-if you know where to go. Regular admission is $58.31 for a 1-day, 1-park
pass. For four days, it is $215.13 for adults-if purchased 24 hours in advance.
Tickets cost more at the gate. Call 407-934-7639 to get them early.
If you
want a discount, visit www.orlandoinfo.com/tickets/. Click on "Walt Disney World
Resort" at the top of the left-hand column. There are discounts for all the
different day passes. As an example, a 4-Day Park Hopper® PLUS Ticket is $186
and includes: four days of unlimited admission to the Magic Kingdom® Park,
Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, use of park
transportation,and one admission to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Blizzard Beach
Water Park, Downtown Disney®, Pleasure Island or Disney's Wide World of Sports®
Complex. There are also special rates for 5-, 6- and 7-day passes.
You can
also get discounts for the Orlando area with the Orlando Magicard®. It offers
savings (usually 10% or a few dollars off) on a variety of area attractions,
accommodations, restaurants, golf, activities and shops. The card is offered
free of charge by the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. You can print it
off at www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/
offers.cfm or order one from the
website.
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is located in the
Magic Kingdom resort area on the banks of Bay Lake. Convenient boat
transportation to Magic Kingdom and motorcoach transportation to all Walt Disney
World Resort destinations, including Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's
Animal Kingdom, is provided.
For more information or reservations, call
407-W-DISNEY or go online at disneyworld.com.
For information about Disney
weddings, visit www.disneyweddings.com
or call 407-828-3400.
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