Between the Meadow Trading Post and the 1400 loop is the location of the nightly campfire program. This program features a sing along, and usually an appearance by Chip and Dale. Immediately after the campfire are showings of Disney movies. I particularly remember seeing Song of the South here in the late 1980s. Another of my favorite nighttime activities was going to the beach to see the Electrical Water Pageant. This parade on Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon was the forerunner to the Main Street Electrical Parade, and makes stops off the shore of each of the hotels on the lake and lagoon. On each trip, I saw the parade most every night that we weren't in one of the parks, unless a good movie was showing at the campfire program.

Fireworks as seen from Fort Wilderness

More fireworks

Immediately following the Electrical Water Pageant (unless it was running slightly behind schedule) were the Magic Kingdom fireworks. The fireworks are clearly visible from the Fort Wilderness beach, and the music from the Magic Kingdom is even broadcast over a speaker at the beach. The Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks always offered a fantastic ending to every day spent at Fort Wilderness.

One of the floats from the Electrical Water Pageant

Wildlife abounds at Fort Wilderness. Several mornings when I would get up before dawn to go take a shower, chickens would be sleeping in the middle of the road. Of course, there were birds, lizards, and such, and we would occasionally see an armadillo running around after dark.

There were always so many little touches that made staying at Fort Wilderness exciting. From the topiaries around the trading posts to the interesting log architecture of all the buildings. Beside one of the pathways that leads from the beach is the Lawnmower Tree, which is a tree that grew up around an old push lawnmower. The last time I looked, the mower was barely visible, as it had been almost completely engulfed by the tree trunk.

A topiary near the Settlement Trading Post

To be such a relaxing place, Fort Wilderness sure does offer a lot to do. Swim in the pool or the lake. Rent a bicycle and explore the campground. Rent a boat and explore the lake. Rent a canoe and explore the canals. Go fishing in the canals, or take a fishing excursion. Walk through the swamp trail or the exercise trail. Go horseback riding. Play tennis, volleyball, basketball, or tetherball. Visit the petting farm. See the Hoop-De-Doo Revue dinner show at Pioneer Hall. See the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks. But with all this stuff going on every day, there is still a relaxed feel to the place. One of my favorite memories was one rainy day; I went over to the Meadow Trading Post, bought a newspaper, and sat in a rocking chair on the trading post porch, just reading my paper, watching the rain. Now who says you can't relax at Walt Disney World?

- Story and Photos by Steve Burns
Posted

Steve is a three-time Disney Store National Trivia finalist and webmaster of BurnsLand, home of Steve's Disney Railroad Adventures.

E-mail Steve at steve@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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