I am fortunate enough to say I’ve stayed in every Disney resort, most several times. So my list of new things to do at Walt Disney World is small and ever-dwindling. That’s why I’m over-the-moon excited to say I’m doing something new on my next trip: I’m going to stay in an RV at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground!

You may be wondering why I haven’t done this before. I mean, Fort Wilderness has been around since 1971 and it’s been welcoming RVs, pop-ups, and campers since the beginning. I have been tent camping at Fort Wilderness (you can read about that experience here) and I have stayed in a Wilderness Cabin there as well. But an RV? It’s simple — I don’t have an RV. We’re tent campers, and we do it regularly — usually 2-3 times a year.

So how am I able to do this? Would you believe you can RENT an RV? I had no idea until recently. I’ve always known you could rent tents, but not RVs. Disney doesn’t rent the RVs themselves, rather outside companies offer them — much the same way you can rent a stroller or an ECV! Who knew!

As it turns out, there are now several companies that will rent you an RV and/or a camper for Fort Wilderness. The rates are quite reasonable (more on that later), and they deliver and pickup, too. We’re getting an RV from Florida Camper Rental. Why them? Not only did they contact me (I wouldn’t have known this was an option otherwise), but they seem to have the best combination of nice looking RVs, included items, and service for our needs. They include a bunch of things inside the RV that some of the other rental places charge extra for, such as bed linens, pillows, towels, dishes, utensils, pots, pans, grilling tools, paper towels, etc. They even include camping chairs, a camping table, and a patio mat! Oh, and I’m told they make the beds for us, too. Apparently all we need to do is book our campsite, book the RV, and show up with ourselves and our clothing!

Being RV newbies, we’ve decided to go with a large, comfortable RV and we’ve chosen a 34-foot Keystone Avalanche with triple slide out RV. It’s a fifth wheel (meaning no cab) and it looks AMAZING! Here’s a picture of the inside of the RV:

Isn’t that gorgeous? I’ve never camped in such style. I mean, it’s got Corian countertops, a walk-in pantry closet, and two flat-screen TVs with surround sound. Yeah, we won’t exactly be roughing it … which is a GOOD thing! You can see the full list of what this RV offers (heat, A/C, toilet, shower, sinks, appliances) at http://www.floridacamperrental.com/fort-wilderness-travel-trailer-rentals

And — bonus! — this RV combined with a preferred loop at Fort Wilderness is less money than a deluxe resort room. I’m going in peak season, so all the prices are a bit higher right now. A preferred loop for my peak season dates is $137 (rack rate). The RV is $145 (though you can get them as low as $85). The least expensive deluxe during the same time is $486 (rack rate from disneyworld.com). You do the math! And if you went with a less expensive RV and stayed in a full hookup loop, it would even be less money than a Disney moderate resort. Of course, it’s a little hard to compare these two things — camping in an RV is really quite different than staying in a hotel room with housekeeping, after all. But if you’re into camping, or want to try something new, this is a great alternative.

My plan for this trip is to re-explore Fort Wilderness, which has SO much to offer. We’ll rent a golf cart, roast marshmallows at the free campfire and sing-along, go horseback riding (if I can convince Alexander to try it), attend the Hoop-De-Doo, shoot some arrows at the archery range, and cruise about in water mice. Well, that’s a lot, and there’s even more to do at Fort Wilderness. We’ll see how much we manage to squeeze in.

If anyone has tips for me, or can tell me what’s it like to stay in an RV, I’d love to hear it!

PassPorter’s Fort Wilderness articles:

• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground by Kim McCain
• Fort Wilderness: A Resort Full of Adventure by Rob Sielert
• Fort Wilderness: A Resort Review by Cheryl Pendry
• Fort Wilderness Q&A by PassPorter Message Board Members