Current work at the Fort

[DL1WDW2]

Yes I was thinking Good thing that is for the Cash guests!

 

[tidefan]

But that destroys the view for the new LL balconies .
What is more important to DVC selling the new LL or keeping the Fort campers happy? I think we already know the answer to that.

View attachment 993665

Just a clarification. This portion of the LL building is NOT DVC. This portion is traditional cash hotel rooms. The DVC building is the one on the other side. (If you notice from the lake, you will see that LL is actually 2 separate buildings with a common lobby, very similar to Boardwalk.

My contention after being there last week is that if they would have just put the cash building on the other side of the DVC building (i.e. - between the DVC LL building and Wilderness Lodge), this would have been much better as there would have been 500 yards or so of woods in between Pioneer Hall and the Monstrosity.

 

[John VN]

I guess that's true, @DL1WDW2.

However, it might take a few years for those tree to grow tall enough to break up the view for the floors/balconies/windows on the upper levels.

Until that time comes, though, those folks will still be able to appreciate their view of the dumpsters behind Pioneer Hall with all the Trails End/HDDR contents (which SHOULD be a separate bookable room category).

Instead of a *Tree of Life* they build a bunch of Giant Sequoias and have Animatronic birds and bears so the view is entertaining. I'd pay for that.

 

[bama_ed]

Just a clarification. This portion of the LL building is NOT DVC. This portion is traditional cash hotel rooms. The DVC building is the one on the other side.

Okay, that's fine, @tidefan. I don't really care WHO (cash or DVC) is close to Pioneer Hall. It's just that someone IS. And it makes sense in a 50.01%-vs-49.99% situation that is the monstrosity, ownership takes the slight edge over renting (not that it matters to me).

Nice to know, though.

Ed

 

[tidefan]

Okay, that's fine, @tidefan. I don't really care WHO (cash or DVC) is close to Pioneer Hall. It's just that someone IS. And it makes sense in a 50.01%-vs-49.99% situation that is the monstrosity, ownership takes the slight edge over renting (not that it matters to me).

Nice to know, though.

Ed

Oh, I 100% agree with you. I was just pointing out that it’s not all DVC.

That said. They still put it in the wrong place!

 

[Teamubr]

r.e. bold -- Heard from a bus driver that Imagineering Dept. has plans for the building of ‘sequoia sempervirens’, or ‘coastal redwood’ trees to blend in and block the buildings.

I hope they don't plant too many trees. If it is really thick, it will be harder to get chicken bones on the balconies from Crockett's porch.

j

 

[team bradfield]

I hope they don't plant too many trees. If it is really thick, it will be harder to get chicken bones on the balconies from Crockett's porch.

j

I got a good arm, game on

 

[nostalgic4disney]

Any updates or guesstimates on when the pool and other hotel construction will be completed?
With the Meadows expansion do you think the premium meadows sites are still going to be worth it?
Sorry for all the questions. We are planning a Oct/Nov ‘26 trip.

 

[proudmomof4]

Any updates or guesstimates on when the pool and other hotel construction will be completed?
With the Meadows expansion do you think the premium meadows sites are still going to be worth it?
Sorry for all the questions. We are planning a Oct/Nov ‘26 trip.

I was told by a CM who cleans the sites in the 1300/1200 loops that the Meadow pool construction is supposed to be finished in Jan 2026. But either way, the original pool is still open through the construction so I would say the premium meadows will have the same value as they do now.

BTW, they weren't putting any campers in 1300 loop (premium) when we were there in July, the front desk CM said it was closed. The CM who cleans those sites knows me and DH so I felt comfortable asking why it was closed, I was told that they don't want anyone complaining about the construction noise in the Meadow and a good number of the 1300 loop sites back up to that area. I don't know how they are going to handle sold out dates like Halloween, Thanksgiving and December holidays.

Edited to add: The LL construction won't affect the premium meadow sites at all, at this time, it only impacts the Settlement area of the Fort.

 

[Teamubr]

I got a good arm, game on

We'll know if any cast members read this forum if a net (like Top Golf) suddenly gets added to the space behind TE.

j

 

[bama_ed]

We'll know if any cast members read this forum if a net (like Top Golf) suddenly gets added to the space behind TE

Jim, if Disney attempts a net, all that means is I'll have to use the "overhand long soft lob" toss versus a more direct "straight line toss to bounce off glass patio doors" toss.

It's like along the Cote d'Azur where the difference between petanque and bocci is a "toss/roll" versus a "lob/drop".

One can always play for the perfect "drop shot" or count on the bounce/rebound to position your target. It's two different strategies - the direct, aggressive approach versus the indirect, passive approach.

Sounds like Super Bowl Sunday to me! I welcome the challenge. Game ON!

Ed

 

[John VN]

We'll know if any cast members read this forum if a net (like Top Golf) suddenly gets added to the space behind TE.

j

Jim, if Disney attempts a net, all that means is I'll have to use the "overhand long soft lob" toss versus a more direct "straight line toss to bounce off glass patio doors" toss.

It's like along the Cote d'Azur where the difference between petanque and bocci is a "toss/roll" versus a "lob/drop".

One can always play for the perfect "drop shot" or count on the bounce/rebound to position your target. It's two different strategies - the direct, aggressive approach versus the indirect, passive approach.

Sounds like Super Bowl Sunday to me! I welcome the challenge. Game ON!

Ed

How about this contest - tee up a golf ball then try a Lob Wedge to loft over the net and BANG on the roof of a DVD building. Loudest bang = High Five from all contestants

 

[team bradfield]

How about this contest - tee up a golf ball then try a Lob Wedge to loft over the net and BANG on the roof of a DVD building. Loudest bang = High Five from all contestants

Sorry, no, Chicken wings only

 

[BaymaxFan78]

FYI the construction has no effect on the camp ground. Everything is open, everything is the same. The beach is gone, yes, the other beach is open and permanent. The pool construction is coming along well and isn't obnoxious other than tractor noise that can be heard from the pool. The settlement is the same. There is a giant ugly building, but everything else is still there and available.

I want to point out that the original plans for this new resort was to have the wing closest to FW be similar to AK lodge where the rooms are only on one side. If you are walking down the hallway from the lobby, rooms are on your left and windows are on your right.

This new resort (Lakeshore Lodge) uses the same footprint a permits as Reflections. From the permits, plans, and aerial images of what has been built, you can tell that the building is in fact made that way. However, it does look like doors and balconies are being made which doesn't make much sense for a hallway.

The original plans also included trees that would have blocked the view of the building. I'm not too knowledgeable on this topic but I would imagine trees this large would have been planted already, so who knows.

The theme of the resort is still up in the air. The original concept art for a modern nature lodge may not be what we get. Disney deleted all those photos and any mention of that, all they have said officially is the new name and that it's inspired by nature. This could still look like a hilton, or maybe it will look like a rustic lodge. We don't know yet. They are actively putting a roof on and it doesn't look like the concept art, so there's that.

 

[BarbLynnM]

The theme of the resort is still up in the air. The original concept art for a modern nature lodge may not be what we get. Disney deleted all those photos and any mention of that, all they have said officially is the new name and that it's inspired by nature. This could still look like a hilton, or maybe it will look like a rustic lodge. We don't know yet. They are actively putting a roof on and it doesn't look like the concept art, so there's that.

I’ve looked at the preliminary artists renditions, and what it looks like (as of now, Aug. 21 2025) to me is a take off on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, or his prairie style of architecture. I’ve wondered if this was what they were going for? Kinda sorta iffy, but there was something about it, with that styling next to the water.

If so, it’s going to be interesting, because from what I’ve seen, Wright’s styling of his homes wasn’t very comfortable. I’d bet that Disney would use Wright’s Prairie style, as that’s similar (if you squint your eyes) to Wilderness Lodge. The time period of Fallingwater (1936ish) would be later than when the Old Faithful Lodge was created (1904ish) but not that much older.

Maybe I’m seeing something that isn’t there, but when I looked at the drawings, that’s where my imagination went. I just wish they’d made the decision to locate the whole thing somewhere else where the placement would have made better sense.

Edited to add: I’ve just now looked at further artists drawings, and the inside is problematical if I’m thinking Prairie style; too much glass. Maybe more nautical?? I give up lol.

 

[BarbLynnM]

Here is one pic that reminded me of Wright’s style; I’ve circled the areas where I got this idea from.

 

[Teamubr]

Here is one pic that reminded me of Wright’s style; I’ve circled the areas where I got this idea from. View attachment 995809

I see it. And had a similar feeling when I saw the first renderings.

j

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

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