USA - Chickery's Travels

Celebrate Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Campground is a terrific place to enjoy Halloween! I love camping at Fort Wilderness, but it can be tricky to get reservations at Halloween. However, the best part is, that you can go over and participate in the activities even if you aren’t camping there.

Please note that there is no parking if you’re not a guest, but there are a couple of ways to get there. You can ride the bus from any Disney resort or Disney Springs (parking is free there). If you’re at the Magic Kingdom you can ride the boat over.

If you want to know more about the campground in general, read my full review of Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Campground here. There’s even a video.

Decorations

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. My boys and I always had a tradition of decorating the house. One year we even created a haunted house in our garage for the trick-or-treaters. This is probably why I love all the decorations around Fort Wilderness. The campers really get into the Halloween spirit and decorate their campsites and golf carts.

One of the most fun (and free) things to do at Fort Wilderness any time of year is called “looping.” That means walking or riding a bike (or golf cart) around the different loops to see how folks have personalized their spaces. And let me tell you, they go all out for Halloween.

Here are just a few examples.

Fort Wilderness Halloween Decor Fifth Wheel

Fort Wilderness Halloween Decor Cemetery

Activities

In addition to the usual activities at Fort Wilderness that I discussed in my full campground review (see link above), there are a ton of Halloween-specific activities!

Movies

Activities at Fort Wilderness for October 2019

Watch animated classics all month long! Movies are shown outdoors every Sunday evening. Some of the Halloween-themed films include Hocus Pocus and Tower of Terror, and my personal favorite, Nightmare Before Christmas.

Halloween Eve – October 30th

The day before Halloween activities are kicked into high gear with pumpkin decorating and my personal favorite, the golf cart parade. I’m always amazed by guests’ creativity! Next, head over to the Halloween beach bash for a costume contest, the hilarious family mummy wrap, and a screen of the Nightmare Before Christmas! Stick around the beach afterwards to watch the fireworks followed by the Halloween Glow Dance Party.

Halloween Fun – October 31st

Start your Halloween day off right with a fun run to make up for all the candy you’ll eat later. In the afternoon is the pet parade and finally, Camp or Treat in the evening.

Here’s the full schedule of events for October 2019:

Don't miss out on all the not so spooky fun at Disney's Fort Wilderness

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

This is a special event at the Magic Kingdom, and I don’t recommend you try to attend on Halloween or you’ll miss all the fun at Fort Wilderness. Instead, I recommend going early (the party starts in August) or on Nov 1st. It is important to note that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is NOT included with park admission. You buy a separate ticket, but the cool thing is that even though the party starts at 7 p.m., you can get into the Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m. with your party ticket. So spend the day at Fort Wilderness, have fun at the pool, and then head over to the Magic Kingdom via the free boat ride. Many people, young and old, wear costumes and can even trick-or-treat around the park. There are 14 different places handing out free candy! There are several special shows and events with rare characters that aren’t available outside of the party. I think the “Boo-To-You” parade led by the headless horseman makes it worth the price!

See why you should celebrate halloween at Walt Disney World's Fort Wilderness campground. There are so many fun and not so scary Halloween activities for young and old. Have Halloween fun at the campground and the Magic Kingdom!

9:00 pm by Julie Chickery

Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, Virginia)

If you have access to military bases and are looking for a place to stay when visiting the Washington DC area, this campground is for you! From the superb amenities and campsites to the unrivaled location by the Potomac River and the unique exploration opportunities in Accotink Wildlife Refuge; all topped off with easy access to the wonders of Washington DC – this is one camping destination that truly checks all the boxes.

Campground Amenities and Sites

Fort Belvoir Travel Camp offers a myriad of amazing amenities and beautiful campsites that will make your stay a truly unforgettable experience. has 52 large, full hook-up (water, power, sewer) RV sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There is also a row of back-in sites overlooking the Potomac River. It is pricey for a military campground at $50 a night, but you have to consider the location.

In addition to the diverse lodging options, recreational facilities such as picnic areas, fire pits, and playgrounds allow you to bond with nature and fellow campers. For those seeking adventure, hiking and biking trails, as well as opportunities for fishing, this campground provides the perfect gateway to exciting outdoor activities.

A Riverside Haven on the Potomac

What truly sets Fort Belvoir Travel Camp apart is its prime riverside location on the Potomac River. This beautiful spot offers campers the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the river and savor the tranquil atmosphere that only riverside locations can provide.

For days you want to relax and enjoy the base, there is plenty to do within walking distance of the campground. This includes a park, dog runs, two fishing piers, and access Accotink Wildlife Refuge hiking trails. Outdoor Recreation offers additional services including firewood, bait, ice, ice cream, equipment rental, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and boating. The base also has a brand-new exchange and commissary complex.

Excursions to Washington DC

The cherry on top of all these incredible offerings is Fort Belvoir Travel Camp’s proximity to the nation’s capital, Washington DC. Located a mere 22 miles from downtown DC, and just 7 miles from the Metro (Blue Line) which provides easy and traffic-free access to D.C. Fort Belvoir provides an excellent base for exploring the numerous historical, cultural, and educational attractions that the city is famous for.

Whether you choose to visit iconic sites such as the White House, the Washington Monument, or the National Mall, or delve into the fascinating world of the Smithsonian museums – a trip to Washington DC is an enriching experience for everyone, especially veterans. The great thing about visiting Washington DC is that you can on entertainment with a multitude of budget-friendly options. Read our article on Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.

Reservations

One of the great things about this campground is that you can make reservations up to 1 year in advance. If you make cancellations or changes within one week (7 Days) of your check-in, you will get a full refund. For additional information, please check the Fort Belvoir MWR website.

Resources

A great source of information for the Fort Belvoir campground and others is the website US Military Campgrounds and RV Parks. It provides a wealth of information including which gate to enter the installation, as well as reviews.

We plan to post reviews of all the campgrounds we stay at from now on, so please subscribe to get updates. To see a recent review of the MacDill AFB Campground in Tampa, FL click here.

Learn about this terrific military campground outside of Washington DC. Fort Belvoir travel camp is the perfect launching point for visiting the nation's capital. Located in northern Virginia along the Potomac River with access to hiking trails.

11:14 pm by Julie Chickery

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

We’ve been attending the International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center for years. Learn more about the pros and cons of this annual event.

Epcot Food and Wine Entrance

Pros – Food & Wine

Each year Disney Chefs and special guest culinary artists serve up the best gastronomic treats you can imagine.

Here’s a sampling of what we enjoyed on our last visit:

Flavors from Fire! Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue and Orlando Brewery Smokin’ Blackwater Porter
Coastal Eats – Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream
Earth Eats – Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce with Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay Gogi “Goldie”, California
Islands of the Caribbean – Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions
Ireland – Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread with Twinings Pumpkin Chai Tea and Caramel Shake
Belgium – 2 Belgian Waffles: one with Warm Chocolate Ganache and one with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream; Stella Artois Hard Cidre
Greece – Loaded Greek “Nachos”: Pita Chips, Meatless Sausage Crumbles, and Vegan Tzatziki and Bougatsa: Warm Phyllo Dough Strudel with Sweet Vanilla Custard, Lemon Honey Syrup and Cinnamon

We both agreed that Greece had our favorite food–both the loaded Greek pita nachos and the bougasta. On the drink side, my favorite was the Twinings Pumpkin Chai Tea and Caramel Shake from Ireland, and Sean’s was the Stella Artois Hard Cidre from Belgium.

For a full list of the booths, check out the Disney Food Blog.

Cons – Weather

We went in early October and couldn’t believe how hot it still was! The high was 89, and the weather app said it “felt like” 100 with the humidity. It felt hotter than that to me. We skipped Future World and went straight to the World Showcase. By the time we were halfway around the World Showcase, we were so hot that we just didn’t want to see or eat anymore. My recommendation would be to go as late in the season as possible.

Click here to listen to our podcast episode where we discuss this festival in more detail, as well as our visit to the Fort Wilderness Campground.

Click here to learn about other festivals we love at Walt Disney World.

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Don't miss the best annual event at Disney World, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. With delectable treats and great wine (and beer as well as non-alocoholic drinks) from around the world, this festival has something for everyone.

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