Hi there, Maranda! Welcome to
planDisney! This is such a great question, especially for
Fort Wilderness, where being close to your friends and family can make the experience even more special.
The short answer is that it doesn't happen automatically. Even if your reservations are linked and you've all booked the same campsite type, the system won't guarantee that you'll be placed next to each other unless a request has been made.
The best thing you can do is be proactive. I recommend calling the
Walt Disney World Resort help center as soon as possible and asking a Cast Member to add a request to your reservations to have your campsites placed near one another. They can note that you're traveling together and would like to be assigned as close as possible.
Once that request is in the system, you're on the right track, but I always like to take it one step further. About 7 to 10 days before your check-in date, I suggest calling again to politely confirm that the request is still there and to gently remind them of how important it is to your group. It's a simple step that can really help.
It's important to keep in mind that while Cast Members do their absolute best to accommodate these requests, placement is always based on availability at the time of arrival. Nothing can be guaranteed, but Fort Wilderness is very used to groups traveling together, and they truly try to make it work whenever they can.
Maranda, with a little planning and a couple of friendly calls, you'll be giving yourselves the best possible chance to be close together. I hope your campsite ends up feeling like one big shared space filled with laughter and Disney magic.
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula