My sister told me about the Chip ‘N Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long when I was planning our first family trip to Walt Disney World. It’s now a “MUST-DO” destination every time we go back. You see, my kids have a special bond with Dale.
(To clear up any confusion, Dale has the big red nose and Chip has one tooth. They are both very cute.)
The nightly fun starts around 7:00 pm (in the spring and summer) at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground next to the Wilderness Lodge, where we always stay. We take a quick boat ride to Fort Wilderness. You can also take a boat over from Magic Kingdom. If you’re driving, you’ll park at the Outpost. A Fort Wilderness internal bus will take you to the Meadowlands Trading Post stop. From there, it’s a short walk to the campfire spot. You can walk all the way from the front entrance if you like. It will take about 20 minutes. Our favorite part of the evening is the casual hang out time with Chip and Dale while you wait for the campfire to start. Last year, Annabel and Daniel played “Red Light, Green Light” with the pair and this year there was a bucket ball game. We all took turns getting hugs and “selfies” with the cute guys.
(Tip: You should definitely arrive no later than 7:00 pm in order to have the interaction with Chip and Dale. The “official” start time is 8:00 PM, and that’s when it really starts to get crowded. Don’t get turned off by all the transportation it takes to get there. It’s worth it! Just plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time. It’s a treat just to walk around the beautiful campgrounds.)
After some Chip ‘N Dale playtime, it’s S’MORE time! You can bring your own marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and sticks or buy a s’mores kit on-site at the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. The folks at Fort Wilderness set up two large open fire pits so you can roast the marshmallows and enjoy your yummy dessert before the sing-a-long begins. Note: They sell hotdogs, nachos, popcorn, and BEER at the snack bar too. Yee-Haw!
A guitar-playing cowboy comes out for the sing-a-long which includes lots of family favorites. We were also all invited to come on down and dance around with Chip and Dale to lots of fun classics like The Hokey Pokey and The Chicken Dance. Chip and Dale will also walk around to shake hands and take photos. They make sure to visit the entire theater in order to meet everyone. And Dale found my kids again. There’s just something about Dale.
After the sing-a-long, it’s time to get cozy for the nightly classic Disney movie. You can find a list of movie titles at the front desk at the Fort Wilderness Resort. The movies start at dark, or around 9:00 pm, so younger children may not make it. The outdoor theater has benches and bleachers, but families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. We always head out before the movie starts to beat the rush back to our resort. But, once my kids are older, we’ll definitely stay for the cinema under the stars.
(Tip: Dress your kids in sneakers because there is a lot of walking and large stone gravel. I would also suggest comfy blankies, flashlights, and bug spray if you’re staying for the movie.)
The campfire, games, and entertainment are all FREE and happen nightly. It really is a hidden gem that you should be sure to check it out during your next visit to Disney!
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