Here to throw in my two cents.
First, I took a one day visit to the Fort last Saturday to see what was up and eat some food. Trails End no longer (again) can give you white meat chicken on the 2pc meal... I remember that was the policy when it was being remodeled but I swear when it reopened I was able to get white meat with a small upcharge. As for cabin construction, the two in the 100 loop had no activity. The 2500 loop was the most active, all old cabins have been removed and multiple new ones are being constructed. Not sure about phases but multiple had windows in, some just a few walls, and some just a foundation. No decks yet. The 2300 loop has not started yet however it is closed and the cabins are marked with a bunch of numbers. Also you can't go beyond loop 2000 anymore. Creekside meadow and the pond back there (also my favorite area to look for deer) are all closed for now. The road is blocked off.
Side note, I saw a cabin being hauled down I-4 on the way there. It was headed west.
I don't think the declarations mean much, loop 2500 is well on the way to open first (if not at the same time as 2300)
I don't remember if this was promised by Disney or just speculated, but they were supposed to build a table service and a new pool.
Now for my rant and discussion. I am 100% certain the meadows construction will be a restaurant of some sort. I thought it would be the new table service but after reading through here, a backyard bbq replacement really does sound possible. It boggles my mind how FWs food options have spiraled out of control over the past 5 years. Got rid of a buffet that had a wide variety and a quick service in favor of a grab and go with a limited menu. Got rid of one of the most popular dinner shows, and left us with Hoop-dee-doo (the one good thing still there) a bar with little food options and a pool bar with little food options. I know it's camping and people like to cook at their campsite but some days you just wanna eat something else. The Trails End we all know and love closed down with the pandemic and reopened as a family style for sanitary issues. Okay. Then it shuts down due to "food waste". What?? The other "family style skillet" restaurants around property are fine? Or better yet, make it a buffet so people can choose what food they want and how much they want. What a neat idea!
I'm not going to go on a huge rant over the redacted resort (why can't we say the name? Lol) however I will say this. They tore out all of River Country to build this. Being an abandoned piece of nothing I understand that but why build there? Why not closer to Wilderness Lodge where there is nothing but woods? Why was the original plan to build waterfront cabins directly next to the marina and pioneer hall? So much space to use yet they encroach on an existing resort? When RC was still there, it was overgrown with trees and that's all you saw when looking in that direction. Trees. Now you see a wide open area of abandoned construction equipment and dirt. Nothing about that makes me feel like I'm in the wilderness. Just plant trees there at this point and abandon the site and the idea. Going to the settlement feels like walking through an industrial zone. Walking to the horse barn, it felt like I wasn't supposed to be back there. A chain link fence with an image of greenery on it that is too small to actually cover the fence, all kinds of random temporary barriers surrounding the bus stop, having to walk through the bus stop to get to the barn and the giant new parking lot that's next to it?? It all feels very odd, very unwilderness and very undisney.
That resort is cancelled. Can they bring it back? Absolutely, but for right now they're not. The permits that were renewed are for the staging area south of it, that's being used to support cabin construction instead.
Back to Fort Wilderness. I don't like the look of the new cabins. Not going to get into that but I think a lot of people agree. However I am excited to see them completed in person, maybe they won't be that bad. The meadow thing is both a hit and miss with me. I've always liked that big open grassy area, I know a lot of people would play catch and other things there. Losing a playground doesn't seem like a good idea to me unless they plan to build another somewhere close by. Similar deal with the volleyball court. I don't recall there being another one? Maybe they will move it to the beach. The tennis courts are staying. According to the permit, it looks like an access road is being made? (red line) Maybe it will include more golf cart parking. What I don't like is the retention pond. That's what's killing the open field that's there now.
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I think it is a good centrally located spot for a restaurant. What matters most to me is what will it look like? Will it blend in and match the other buildings around the Fort? Or will it have a tasteless modern look? Only time will tell.
Also, as wild as it sounds I think there is a real possibility that they could re-do Trails End, AGAIN, into some sort of Table Service and make this the new quick service.
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