Hi Russ,
You are staying at one of my favorite places at Walt Disney World. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is simultaneously incredibly peaceful and full of activities. Whenever we stay at
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, our daughter asks for many "resort days" - when we do not go to a theme park but rather hang out at the resort! You should know is that this resort is very large and spread-out, which adds to the peaceful feeling. You will need to take the internal bus system or rent a golf cart to get around. We have always found that the internal bus system works very well to get us quickly to where we are going.
On your first day while you are getting acclimated, there are a few areas that you might wish to explore. In the Meadow area, you will find the Meadow Swimmin' Pool, complete with a kiddie pool and splash area that your little one may enjoy. In this area there is also lots of recreation, including the Bike Barn, from which you can rent many different recreation items, including fishing poles and games to play outside. You also may want to visit the Settlement area. This area houses Pioneer Hall, which hosts the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. You will also find Trail's End Restaurant in this area. The fried chicken is delicious! On the porch of Trail's End Restaurant, there are often fun things for the kids to do, like huge blocks to build with and hula hoops to twirl. There is also a great playground out here with swings that go really high. One of my favorite Walt Disney World memories is of my husband pushing my daughter on those swings when she was little. Also look for the Tri-Circle-D ranch at the Settlement area, where you can see the horse barn.
Have a wonderful time on your vacation, Russ. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions!