Looking for a fun, family-friendly, relaxed, and free (yep, I said free) activity involving characters at Walt Disney World? If so, make your way over to the Fort Wilderness Campground for a Campfire Sing-Along with Chip and Dale! This nightly event is free of charge, and includes entertainment, a chance to meet Chip and Dale, and even a Disney movie! It starts around 7pm in the fall and winter seasons, and 8 pm in the spring and summer and is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area of the campground. In the event of rain, the sing-along is still held on the porch of the Meadow Trading Post. To get exact times and the movie listing for the night you are planning on going you can call the Fort Wilderness Campground at 407-824-3200. Or, if you are staying at Fort Wilderness Campground, the times and movie listings will be posted at all of the comfort stations.
The program starts with the campfires being lit, then a Cast Member dressed up as a cowboy leads the group in a sing-and-dance-along. You will definitely know most of the songs and dances – think Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance – so you can just jump right in and sing along! During this time the hosts, Chip and Dale, make their way around the area, posing for pictures and signing autographs. The whole sing-along lasts about 40 minutes, and then as soon as it is dark enough they start the movie on the big screen. Seating is available in bleachers or on benches, and there is also plenty of room to lie out a blanket or set up your own camp chairs.
Of course, while all of the signing and dancing and posing is going on, families are up roasting marshmallows and making s’mores at one of the two campfires. You can bring your own supplies, or buy them right there at the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. They sell roasting sticks, bags of marshmallows, Hershey’s Chocolate Bars, and even a whole s’mores kit (which includes 2 roasting sticks), so your family can be all set for a around $10. Other snacks such as pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and drinks are available as well.
To get to the Sing-along, first you will have to get to the Fort Wilderness Campground. You can either drive your car and park at the front parking lot or take Disney Transportation (to the front bus stop or the dock if you are taking a boat from the Magic Kingdom). From there you will have to get onto another internal resort bus that will take you to the Campfire. There are 3 routes within the campground, so you will need to take either the Yellow or Orange bus from the front stop. But you can just ask the bus driver if you are not sure. All of these bus trips take time, so be sure to leave enough travel time from your resort or theme park so you arrive on time. A few other tips– bring bug spray and a flashlight if you have one. The Fort Wilderness Campground is in the woods, so there can be mosquitoes, and it gets pretty dark there at night especially after the movie is over, and you still have to walk back to the bus stop.
If you have younger children, I recommend trying out the Campfire Sing-Along with Chip and Dale – both because it is an inexpensive way to see some Disney Characters and because it offers a low-key alternative to the often over-stimulating theme parks. Even if you don’t stay for the movie, it is a fun-filled evening that is reminiscent of the ‘good old days’ of scout camp or fall bon-fires and marshmallow roasts. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with melted chocolate on a graham cracker!!
About the Author: Cheryl is a Disney Vacation Planner. A family vacation is all about creating lifelong memories, and she believes every family deserves an amazing vacation experience, created especially for them. As a Disney College of Knowledge graduate, Cheryl will help you create the perfect magical experience for you and your family. There are so many options available – accommodations, dining, tours, activities – she will work with you to tailor each to fit your family’s needs and desires. She can handle every detail, from dining reservations to day-to-day itineraries, and take the stress out of planning so you can just enjoy your vacation – all for no additional cost.
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