A Visit to Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
You probably don’t often associate a trip to Walt Disney World with visiting a horse stable or taking a pony ride. Nevertheless, at Disney’s Tri-Circle-D Ranch, you can do both. Tri-Circle-D Ranch comprises two stables at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. One stable near the resort’s front entrance, the Trail Blaze Corral, offers trail rides. However, the primary stable that guests can tour is located near the Settlement.
Below, we’ll walk through the Settlement stable and discuss a few reasons to visit the ranch during your vacation. As someone who visits Fort Wilderness regularly, I always enjoy stopping in to say hi to the horses and often wonder how many people don’t even know this place exists.
A new barn was constructed for the Tri-Circle-D Ranch between 2019 and 2020. It was a much-needed improvement. The barn is open to the public daily between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Tri-Circle D Ranch houses over 90 horses. Some of these horses make appearances at Magic Kingdom on Main Street, U.S.A., participating in parades or pulling the horse-drawn trolley. Others are used throughout the resorts for carriage rides and weddings. You might see any of the following breeds during your visit: Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, Quarter Horses, and Shetland Ponies.
Shetland ponies pull Cinderella’s coach for weddings or during the Christmas parade. They also provide pony rides at the Settlement stable.
Anyone can visit the stables during operating hours.
Here is a look at the barn entrance. Note the Mickey at the top.
You can walk up to the rope in front of the stalls to see the horses.
The next horse is named Red. The photo below shows the ropes, which keep guests from getting too close. You cannot walk up and pet the horses.
Each stall lists the horse’s name and breed. Here we have Porter, a Percheron.
Grady, here, is a fine horse indeed.
Below is a Shetland pony named Moose. Shetlands are the kind of ponies that pull Cinderella’s carriage.
Inside the barn, you’ll also find a tribute to Walt Disney and his love for horses. The pictures detail how horses are used in the Disney Parks.
Some photos show Walt Disney with a few horses.
It’s always nice to see photos of Walt Disney. He was a pretty cool guy.
Speaking of Walt Disney, his Dragon Calliope is on display at the main stable. He bought this piece in the 1950s for the Mickey Mouse Club Circus Parade at Disneyland Park.
It’s a neat piece. However, I can’t recall ever seeing it used in the parks. That would surely be something to see.
Next door to the Calliope, you can see inside the Harness Room. Here’s where all the different horse harnesses are stored.
I should have asked what they do with the large green box in the middle.
Pony rides are also available at the stable near the Settlement. However, don’t confuse them with trail riding, which is available at the Outpost stable at the opposite end of Fort Wilderness.
Pony rides are available to guests under 48″ tall and weighing less than 80 lbs. The price is $10.00 for one lap or $15.00 for two laps. (These prices were last updated for 2024.) All riders must be at least three years old.
Trail rides cost $65.00 per person for a 45-minute ride. You must be over 48″ tall and weigh less than 250 lbs. Reservations are available 60 days in advance. You can book one here on Disney’s site. If you’re visiting during the holidays, you might enjoy a special sleigh ride at Fort Wilderness.
Overall, a trip to Tri-Circle-D Ranch is fun and different. It’s also perfect for anyone interested in horses or who would enjoy participating in the horse-riding activities available to guests. That said, there’s plenty to do during a week-long vacation at Walt Disney World.
For some, it might not be worth the effort if you’re visiting for the first time or have a hectic vacation schedule. We didn’t start visiting Fort Wilderness until we had been to the parks many times. So, keep those things in mind when planning a visit to the resort or ranch. For more details about the resort, you might like the following:
To learn more about the resorts, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation options at Disney World is one of our top resources.
For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.
In the Comments
What are your thoughts about Tri-Circle-D Ranch? Have you visited before? Might this interest anyone in your family? Leave your thoughts and questions below in the comments.
Amber. Please tell me the name of the horse used most frequently by the Headless Horseman in the Boo parade.
A cast member told me last year, but at 75, I cannot remember 😞
Hi, sorry but I am not sure. Off the top of my head, no pun intended, it might be a Percheron.