Haunted Halloween Wagon Ride

Explore the woods of Disney's Fort Wilderness on a wagon ride. Your group will sit in a wagon, drawn by magnificent, large horses as your driver tells you creepy tales of mysterious travelers from long ago. Make sure your driver stays on your path, because it's said that the woods are roamed by a headless horseman who chases after the lost. But with over 700 acres of woods, it's easy to get lost...

This is a first come, first served ride, and tickets begin selling in the morning. Because of its popularity, there are no guarantees that you'll even get on if there is a wait and you haven't bought tickets. Tickets are $15 for anyone 10 and older and $10 for anyone 3-9. If you'll be at Disney in October, make sure you look into this!

Halloween Outside of the Parks

You don't need to go to the parks for Halloween to have fun at Disney. The resorts often have fun things to do. Both Downtown Disney and Disney's BoardWalk offer trick-or-treating and also have other activities for the children and the young at heart. I've seen in the past few years that the BoardWalk has had a pumpkin carving contest, in which the guests are the judges and the cast members display their creative side. They also had a d.j. and candy for everyone. Other resorts offer displays and candy, just make sure to ask at the front desk or concierge, they usually have notice of what they will be doing.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Located close to the Animal Kingdom, the lodge is categorized as a 'deluxe' resort. When you first drive in you'll see tall grasses and peaking above are thatched roofs, setting the theme for a trip to the wild. When you enter, the lobby is expansive, surrounded with warm colors, topped by a domed roof with fanciful lights and even a swinging walk bridge.

Outside there are walkways that lead you to private areas where you can watch giraffes, zebras and other animals feeding and walking around. If you get a room with a savanna view you would be able to see the animals when you wake up in the mornings.

If you are in the lobby and your and smell something delicious follow your nose downstairs to the restaurants: Boma and Jiko-The cooking place. We've gone to both restaurants and loved them. Boma is a buffet that features African-style cooking. Jiko is a little more upscale (there is a dress code), but like Boma it features African inspired foods.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great hotel to spend your stay at or just to come for the day to enjoy the food, architecture and the animals.

Disney on a Budget: Fort Wilderness

You don't need to go to the theme parks to enjoy Disney. The resorts have many things to offer without the ticket prices, parking fees or the long lines. One of my favorite resorts to visit is Fort Wilderness. It is a campground that has loops for motorhomes, tents and cozy cabins, all nestled into 750 acres of woods.

Whenever my husband and I need some fresh air we strap our bikes to the car, pack a picnic and head over. We park in the lot across from the kennel and make our way past the horse stables up the road towards the marina, which is at the other end of the resort. The bike ride is not bad at all but if you'd rather save your feet then take one of the buses at the front of the resort, right by the stables.

You can enjoy a quiet, relaxing day at the marina, on the white sand beach, swinging on the hammocks, taking a hike around the woods or hopping on a boat and cruising around Bay Lake to get a glimpse of the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary, or even hop off and explore those resorts. In the evenings, Fort Wilderness offers horse-drawn wagon rides at a first come, first served basis. For anyone 10 and over it's $8.00 and between 3-9 it is $5.00. It is a 45 minute ride around the resort.

At the end of the day you'll go home relaxed and at ease!