Wildlife Safari, Disney-Style

When we checked in at the hostess stand, I thought, "Oh great—this is not what I thought it was going to be." The hostess stand doesn’t look like anything special and certainly does not introduce the attraction that is held within the dining room.

As soon as I entered the dining area, I was amazed. The entire wall is a HUGE fish tank. The room is darkened (though not too dark for kids to feel comfortable), and it really feels like you are dining beneath the water. You can see the coral and the fish—there were all kinds. There was never a dull moment. The tank is beautiful. The dining room is terraced so that you may have a great view even if you are not seated "at the glass".

Much to our amazement, we were greeted by a few scuba divers that were swimming in the tank...you can reserve this for yourself by being a certified scuba diver and calling to reserve your spot 90 days ahead of time. Then, what do we see now but Mickey Mouse, swimming right in the tank too! If you don’t believe me, check out the picture; it’s dark, but you can see him.

The food was good, the ambience was great, and the birthday call to my husband from Goofy was absolutely the icing on the cake. The prices are a little expensive but are worth it. My daughter loved the glowing drink. But BEWARE—if you use the Disney dining plan, this meal will cost you two (2) sit-down meals per person.

What a fun and FREE event--and it is still a Disney activity where you can meet characters and watch Disney movies on a huge screen. This event was a great time. We drove to the Fort Wilderness Campground and parked in the parking lot. Then we boarded a bus to go back to the campground area (there are no cars allowed) for the festivities. It was a quick 2-minute walk (there are handicapped spaces located adjacent to the show area if you need them). There we found a large gravel area where people had set up lawn chairs and were roasting marshmallows. There are bleachers and wooden benches to sit on if you didn’t happen to bring your lawn chairs on the plane. Be sure to bring a blanket or a couple of towels to sit on for comfort. They sell all kinds of snacks there from the "chuckwagon", including kits for making s'mores and a simple marshmallow kit that even includes the sticks to roast them on. There is beer for sale there too, but they do check ID, so no cheating!!

All of the items are reasonably priced, though bringing your own is always cheaper. The evening begins with a funny woman singing and being just generally silly—and THEN, Chip and Dale come out! They both make rounds so that all of the children get to see them and get pictures and/or autographs. After that begins, they start a Disney movie right there out in the campground. It is on a HUGE screen, and the sound is amazing, considering it is outside. Think: drive-in for those of you who can remember those, AND all this is free (but not the chuckwagon items, of course)! There is no charge for the admission, personal character greeting, or the movie!

The event begins at 8pm EVERY night, and the movie starts at about 8:30. On weekends, there is a double feature. The event is held rain or shine, but they will move it to a different location if it is raining. There is no need to be staying at the Fort Wilderness Resort or any Disney resort; they don’t ask, and there is no proof required. Don’t miss this event—it’s the only free thing you will get here in "the World."