Christmas at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (2023 Photo Report)

We recently stopped by Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground to check out the holiday decorations at The Settlement. If you are visiting Fort Wilderness by boat, it will dock at this end of the resort. The Settlement is home to Pioneer Hall, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Trail’s End, Crockett’s Tavern, and the Settlement Trading Post.

This entire area has gorgeous holiday decorations, true to the resort’s campground aesthetic. So, I thought I would take a few photos in the spirit of the holiday. This will be a short, mainly photo post. Toward the end, I’ll leave a few directions on how to get to Fort Wilderness if you’re visiting over the holiday season. It’s an excellent place to escape the crowds, and the campground is as magical as the rest of Walt Disney World.

📝 This post is related to the holiday season in 2023. For our most recent updates, see our 2025 Christmas Guide. Or for a general overview, explore our entire Christmas coverage of Walt Disney World.

a Christmas Tree outside at Fort Wilderness campground

We’ll start with the Settlement Trading Post, one of two gift shops at Fort Wilderness.

the Settlement Trading Post sign wrapped in festive garland

the Settlement Trading Post with Christmas decor

a wreath suspended from chains at Fort Wilderness

garland over the entrance of the Trading Post at Disney's Fort Wilderness

red and white checked ribbons and bows decorate the garland

wreaths with outdoorsy decorations like small trees and pine cones

The resort’s Christmas tree sits between the Settlement Trading Post, Trail’s End, and Crockett’s Tavern.

The Settlement area of Fort Wilderness decorated for Christmas

It’s a gorgeous tree that’s worth closer inspection.

the main Christmas tree at Disney's Fort Wilderness with potted plants and poinsettias surrounding it

a red oil lamp decoration in the Fort Wilderness Christmas tree

a wagon wheel decoration in the Christmas tree

a black leather boot Christmas ornament in the Fort Wilderness tree

a red bandana print bow in the Christmas tree at Disney's Fort Wilderness

a rocking horse ornament wearing a bandana in the tree at the Settlement of Fort Wilderness at Disney World

Crockett’s Tavern had decorations in front of the walk-up window.

a bow of garland in front of the walk up bar at Fort Wilderness

closeup of the bow and bird decorations in the garland

All the buildings on this end of the resort had festive red and green decorations.

a view from the porch of the Settlement looking out to the Christmas tree at Fort Wilderness

the Christmas tree sits near the playground at Fort Wilderness

a red star among two red robin ornaments in the Christmas decor

a wreath with horseshoes and other Christmas decor at Fort Wilderness

a wreath with a brown, red, and black bow

the entrance of Trail's End at Fort Wilderness with Christmas decorations

Pioneer Hall looked splendid!

Pioneer Hall decorated with exquisite garland

a closeup of the holiday decor on Pioneer Hall

a star with a rope in garland at Fort Wilderness campground

Final Thoughts

I had hoped to return and tour the rest of the resort before the end of the season. But time has passed, and we’ll be traveling for the next few weeks. We’ll have a few more Christmas photo posts next week, followed by more updates, and then new resort coverage after the holidays when we’ve completed our travels. You can preview our resort coverage in our guide to Disney’s Fort Wilderness. If you would like to visit Fort Wilderness to see the holiday decorations, you can:

Take a boat or bus from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness.
Take a bus from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness.
After 3:00 p.m., take a boat from Disney’s Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness.

You can always take a bus from another theme park or Disney Springs to Fort Wilderness. But that bus will drop you off at The Outpost, on the opposite end of the resort. So you’ll need to take another bus from The Outpost to reach The Settlement. It’s almost always quicker to take one of the routes listed above. (See Disney’s Fort Wilderness Transportation Guide)

For more Christmas Resort Tours at Disney World, you might enjoy:

More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.

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In the Comments

I hope you enjoyed these holiday photos of Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Have you ever visited the resort during Christmas? Do you have a favorite? Let us know below in the comments.