Disney World Options for Nature Lovers

Please accept my apologies for disappearing for part of the summer. Whatever spare moments I can pull together lately have been reserved for planning our upcoming trip out west. For some reason this trip feels way more complicated to me than planning a trip to Disney World. Perhaps it’s because I’m more familiar with Disney or because Disney’s website offers an unbelievable amount of detailed planning support compared to most national parks’ websites. (Ever tried to read one of those microscopic trail maps?)

Or maybe, it has something to do with the “cost” of a mistake. A misstep at Disney World usually means you’re just swapping one form of entertainment for another. Wandering off the trails in a national park, by contrast, could get you mauled by a bear.

Not that I’ve been worried about that or anything.

Well, maybe a little. 

In any case, I’ve always claimed there’s something for everyone at Disney World. So today I’m challenging myself to find entertainment options at Disney that appeal to national park travelers and fans of the great outdoors in general. These are clearly two different types of vacations, touring national parks versus touring Disney World, but if you enjoy the former it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll hate the latter. Today’s post explores Disney World options for nature lovers.

Accomodations

So let’s begin with the easy part. If you’re looking to capture the feel of the great outdoors while visiting Disney, start with your lodging. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, loosely modeled after the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, provides a national parks vibe with an understated Disney flair. This beautiful wood lodge features a soaring lobby, a range of room styles and close proximity to Magic Kingdom. There’s even a simulated geyser out back. Prices aren’t all that different from the real Old Faithful Inn during peak season either.

Outside of the lodge, but still nearby is Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. This unique resort offers six person cabins equipped with living rooms, sleeping spaces and small kitchens. Guests may also choose from a range of campsites suitable for tents, pop-ups or RVs. All of the options are scattered over 750 wooded acres just across the lake from Magic Kingdom.

If you’re planning (dreaming?) of a trip a few years from now, consider waiting for Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. This new nature-inspired Disney Vacation Club property will sit adjacent to the existing properties mentioned above. Reflections is scheduled to open by 2022.

Activities

Fort Wilderness also offers numerous nature-themed activities that are open to guests staying anywhere on Disney property. You can go horseback riding, take an archery lesson, enjoy a wagon ride or join a fishing excursion. You can also rent canoes, kayaks or bicycles. Join Chip and Dale for a campfire sing-a-long at Fort Wilderness or another (chipmunk-free!) campfire at numerous other Disney resorts. All Disney resorts offer at least one pool. Most also provide opportunities to view Disney films under the stars.

Special Events

If your love of nature includes gardening, consider visiting Epcot’s International Flower and Garden show. Epcot, which boasts pretty spectacular flora any time of year, really raises its game during the annual spring event. You’ll find interactive gardens, unique plantings and numerous Disney-themed topiaries throughout the park. Guests may also enjoy outdoor concerts, special dining events and guided tours.

Theme Parks

Beyond Epcot and its many gardens, there are tons of fun options for outdoor enthusiasts within Disney World’s other theme parks. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for example, offers more green space than any of its counterparts. You can explore nature trails, complete tasks to earn Wilderness Badges (like Russell!) or board a jeep for an African safari through Kilimanjaro. You can even gaze at (or scream on) Disney’s remarkable version of Mt. Everest from Nepal.

One of the best and newest areas of the park is Pandora: World of Avatar. Here you can explore hanging mountains, soaring waterfalls and an impressive mix of (out-of-this-world) plant life.

If you want to get a little closer look at the action, consider one of the many behind-the-scenes tours at Animal Kingdom. There’s the one hour Caring for Giants tour that explores the world of elephants or the more in-depth Wild Africa Trek that includes crossing a suspended rope bridge. Both of these activities require additional fees. For a less expensive option, consider hopping a bus over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and taking in the views of the wildlife roaming the savannah-inspired grounds nearby.

Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios offer significantly less than the other two parks in terms of nature-based activities, mostly due to their theming. However, a quick side-trip to Tom Sawyer’s Island at Magic Kingdom can offer a peaceful, nature-based break from the crowds. It’s also fun to note the change in plant life from the lush and tropical surroundings of Adventureland to the immaculate Victorian gardens of Main Street to the sparse and geometric designs of Tomorrowland.

The simulated Ewok village near Star Tours at Hollywood Studios offers a nice touch of green space in a park otherwise devoted to Hollywood make-believe.

Summary

So with that, I’ll wrap it up. I hope this post gives you a few ideas on how to incorporate nature-themed activities into your Disney World vacation. Or, maybe it will give you ammunition to entice some of your nature loving friends to join you?

Of course the Disney theme parks can never truly replicate the soaring vistas and spectacular scenery of our national parks. However, if you want to add an extra dose of the great outdoors to your next Disney World adventure, it’s easy to do so. You can hike, fish, swim and explore. You can even go horseback riding or camp under the stars. If you’re anything like me, a trip to Disney World may inspire you to see more of the natural beauty around us once vacation is over, rather than less.

Now that I think about it, the massive crowds at some our national parks in the summer really aren’t all that different from the ones at Disney World either. In both situations, you can still find nature-filled spots for a quiet break if you’re willing to venture off the popular paths.

Just please watch out for bears.

Add a little (natural) magic to your world!