ejdmomma,
The Fort (campsites and even cabins) are for a particular type of WDW guest.
If you are a theme park warrior who plans to be in a park every day of your stay at some point, the Fort is probably not for you.
If you are a food nerd who likes a couple of table dining choices and quick service choices at your home resort, the Fort is probably not for you.
If you want to RELAX on vacation, you enjoy the outdoors, and have a personality (you can look people in the eye and say "good morning"), the Fort is probably for you.
We go to the Fort for 4-6 nights at a time and 1-2 days in a park (we are rope drop to closing bell types now). The non-park time is spent enjoying things at the Fort and elsewhere around WDW. If you haven't watched the sun come up over the forest/swamp across the main road from 500 loop during an early morning walk, it is spectacular. I like to crawl in the brush and find the old remains of the Fort Wilderness Railroad track that was left behind. We ride bikes, fish, canoe, or walk to Wilderness Lodge. There is a movie and campfire singalong every night which is a throwback to my childhood. The turkeys wander through (a herd of them) sometimes. Kids old enough to take care of themselves can be turned loose and be a kid.
Watch the fireworks over MK from the beach at night (music piped in); wait for the Electrical Water Parade nightly. Let the kids participate in the pool activities each afternoon. Go visit the horses in the Horse Barn at Tri Circle D ranch then watch them pull the wagons in the evening. Walk through the camping loops or get a golf cart to go "looping" to look at campers' decorations/setups, get ideas, or day dream of the next trailer/rv.
I never get everything done on my list of things to do. Guess that's why I keep going back.
Bama Ed