Fun at Fort Wilderness Campground

I am having difficulty giving this post a title. . . Is it "How to Celebrate a Birthday" or "Fun at Fort Wilderness Campground" or "Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue?" Since I'm not sure, I am waiting until the end to select the appropriate title.

Anyway, almost one year ago we were celebrating Todd's Birthday at the most magical place on earth and on the day, the very day of the big day, we headed to Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in the late afternoon. It had taken us 5 trips to the World to finally discover this hidden gem.

As we exited the bus, and were making our way to Pioneer Hall, we passed the stables and a sign advertising pony rides. We checked our watches and sure enough, had time to investigate before our Advanced Dining Reservations (commonly known as ADR's) for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. This is when we met Snickers, a lovely pony, that the boy rode on the trail. See Photo below.

Next, we explored the Trading Post, a shop at Fort Wilderness. Our favorite spot was the rocking chairs on the porch just outside Crockett's Tavern. There were wooden building blocks strewn on the porch for the kiddies and we enjoyed relaxing here for a few moments prior to dinner and the show.

Then it was time for us to check in for our ADR, get our photo taken, and listen for the dinner bell to call us to dinner. We had stage side seats and there was cornbread and butter waiting for us on the table. Our server soon brought us salad and the rest of our meal.

There are three things that stand out at the meal for Hoop-Dee-Doo:
1. That the food comes to you in large metal pails. There's nothing that says it is OK to eat with your fingers than food proudly displayed in a large metal pail.
2. That your server gets in the act of the show and desert is delivered to your table in time with the music and as part of the show. (You'll just have to experience it for yourself.)
3. The show. . .full of audience participation, an engaging story, and pure entertainment coming from Walt Disney World Resort's longest running live entertainment venue.

When we exited Pioneer Hall after dinner and the show, a horse-drawn wagon was waiting to take interested guests on a tour of Fort Wilderness. We paid the small fare and climbed aboard. What a great way to tour the resort. When the wagon ride ended, we walked to the pier and boarded a boat to the Magic Kingdom which was lit up in the night sky.

We are going back to Fort Wilderness on our next trip to the World to try Mickey's Backyard BBQ. We'll let you know how that goes. . .

Oh, for the title--I'm going with "Fun at Fort Wilderness Campground."

Todd was chosen to be a part of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review!

Riding Snickers the pony.

Playing the washboard with Six Bits Slocum.

Todd's finale as Davy Crockett's angel.