A Very Trailer Camp Christmas - Disney's Fort Wilderness

In Australia, the caravan park traditionally scored the best piece of holiday real estate. Usually absolute beach front, with a large grassy park adjacent and just a skip from the wharf where the freshest prawns were offered, to be eaten whilst dodging pelicans and seagulls.

Parks Beach, Coffs Harbour: I can smell the fish and chips of my childhood

But in more recent times when discussing holidays in my household, mention anything to do with caravans, campervans, Britzvans or motor homes and I usually get a response somewhat like Niles Crane:

Niles: "I'm sorry, Frasier. I am not a Winnebago person. Whenever I see one on the highway, I look into the driver's eyes, hoping to see something that would explain why in God's name they would ever want to do something like this. All I see is a death stare under the brim of a hat made out of Miller Lite cans."

And perhaps in my own dotage I am tending to view campervans in rather the same light as this chap (NSFW):

Yet, some people in this world are still enamoured with the dream of the open road and the freedom to call anywhere home ..... until they drive that behemeth to WDW.

Like snowbirds escaping the northern winter, Winnebagos flockulate in Central Florida around the prime territory that is Disney's Fort Wilderness  and there the Winnebago will be stationary for several months over the holiday season. Like all Disney resorts Fort Wilderness is kept in great condition and there are plenty of diversions for all the family. swimming pools, bikes, kayaks, playgrounds, campfires with toasty marshmellows and chipmonk singalongs, boats, horses, restaurants and shops all with that rustic, wooden, campground setting.

Squirrel!

In many ways it is a half decent lifestyle: pleasant weather, happy friendly surrounds, plenty of entertainment to access  .....or even become the entertainment.

Over the holiday season (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year) Disney decorates all the resorts in traditional decorations, but at Fort Wilderness Disney cannot compete with the motorhome occupants in decorating the camp. So being inventive they sell viewing "sleigh" rides instead!

This photo does not show the wheels

When I visited Fort Wilderness all the guests/residents were still transitioning out of Halloween and setting up for Christmas. So in order for you to see the full glory of an FW Christmas, I'll let you have a look at a couple of other websites with more thorough coverage.

First up, FW devotees run their own discussion board: Fort Fiends. Here you can see their own photos of their holiday displays.

Yes - that's a motor home - not a tour bus

And Jeff Lange has some beautiful shots on his website including 2 nice day and night videos of displays

Merry Inflatable Christmas!

If you are tempted to stay at Fort Wilderness but are not the proud owner of a Winnebago, you can stay in one of their "rustic" cabins. These standalone cabins can sleep up to 6, are self-contained - including a little BBQ and outdoor picnic table. AllEars.net gives all the details