It is on Halloween and people come from all around, campers, other resorts, locals. We gave out almost 500 pieces of candy last year.
Is it possible to see our resort's Recreation Calendar online/in advance of our trip or is it only once we check in? We are staying at Saratoga Springs. Also considering ToT at Disney Springs. Does each store essentially offer a ToT?Well yeah, sorta, kinda.
KPSmithSr is correct, of course, but the issue is bigger than just handing out candy.
The main issue is people who want to drive to Fort Wilderness and park to do the ToT at FW will be turned away as they have done the last few years. The Fort parking lot is not big enough to handle half of Orlando who wants to come experience Halloween at the Fort (I'm not kidding). So it's a matter of handling cars/parking/traffic. Past years are proof of that experience.
My advice for WDW resort guests who want to visit FW is take a boat from the Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort/Wilderness Lodge. Try to get to the Fort before dusk/sundown on Halloween. I handed out candy on Halloween 2017 in loop 100 (close to the beach on Bay Lake) and it was a busy blur for two hours IIRC.
My advice for non-WDW resort guests is to enjoy the Halloween activities at Disney Springs. And don't assume you can park at Disney Springs and bus over to Fort Wilderness - Disney in the past has put CM with Magic Band scanners at the DS bus stop for the Fort to check who is getting on the FW bus.
Remember - although Trick or Treating is a much-beloved Fort Wilderness tradition, it is NOT a DISNEY offering. CAMPERS put it on - offering the candy. It is you and me and those who are staying at the Fort offering a special memory. We aren't there to offer a free alternative for all of WDW to the MNSS parties at MK.
And for what it's worth, all the resorts offer some ToT candy on Halloween usually at the WDW resort lobby concierge desk or somewhere. The past year's Recreation Calendars are a good indicator as will this coming year's calendars. So the Fort is not the only resort for Halloween.
Honestly, the Fort is more hastle than it's worth for off-site folks at Halloween.
Bama Ed
Is it possible to see our resort's Recreation Calendar online/in advance of our trip or is it only once we check in? We are staying at Saratoga Springs. Also considering ToT at Disney Springs. Does each store essentially offer a ToT?
Thank you! No ToT listed at Saratoga unfortunately. I called and they said there is nothing planned as of yet. Hopefully when it gets closer. Shame Disney Springs doesn't ToT. We would have done dinner and shopped there if they did. Seems a missed opportunityDeanna,
This is a website to check that lists ALL the Disney resorts including DVC recreation calendars.
https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/p/recreational-calendars.html
At the moment it is still showing September (here on the morning of October 3) but it will get updated soon. There are other URL's you can check too if Google is your friend.
Disney Springs does not have the ToT around stores that I am aware of. Here is the DIS write-up of Halloween time at DS:
https://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/halloween.htm#disneysprings
Saratoga Springs is listed on the first link (scroll down thru the resorts to get to it). Obviously people checking in now won't have the info in a timely fashion but it should be up in a few days in time for most people's arrivals (Hopefully yours). And even once you arrive, check at your resort's front desk for things that may not be on the calendar just-in-case.
Bama Ed
EDIT - and same day this afternoon, October got put up.
Thank you! No ToT listed at Saratoga unfortunately. I called and they said there is nothing planned as of yet. Hopefully when it gets closer. Shame Disney Springs doesn't ToT. We would have done dinner and shopped there if they did. Seems a missed opportunity
I've kinda been selling the campground ToT to my friend's 8 yr old daughter, but we're not staying at FW, but at AK. But I don't want to be inconsiderate or disrespectful to the campers who are offering trick or treating. I have a reservation at Trail's end 2 hrs before and will just be taking the boat from MK, so not parking. As you folks are the campers, do you find it rude to have non-campers there trick or treating? Is there anything we can do to not be inconsiderate and 'pay back' the cool decorations and candy you're offering?
Thanks for the comments Ed - very much appreciate it. I'd hope my child is well mannered, but they get caught up in the moment and I'll be super vigilant!Cynner,
If you have an ADR at Trails End then you are welcome at Fort Wilderness. The Mouse will welcome anyone who comes with confirmed plans to spend money. Every kid going out for ToT in a costume looks the same in that respect.
.......
Bama Ed
Is there anything we can do to not be inconsiderate and 'pay back' the cool decorations and candy you're offering?
You are quite welcome, Cynner.
And thank you for asking. It's a rare question that we don't often get.
Ed
I've kinda been selling the campground ToT to my friend's 8 yr old daughter, but we're not staying at FW, but at AK. But I don't want to be inconsiderate or disrespectful to the campers who are offering trick or treating. I have a reservation at Trail's end 2 hrs before and will just be taking the boat from MK, so not parking. As you folks are the campers, do you find it rude to have non-campers there trick or treating? Is there anything we can do to not be inconsiderate and 'pay back' the cool decorations and candy you're offering?