Fort Wilderness just got a meaningful upgrade, and the timing is perfect for a Florida summer. Disney has debuted an expanded Meadow Swimmin' Pool area and a refreshed Reception Outpost at its 750-acre woodland resort — and there's a lovely piece of Walt Disney World history tucked into the new pool deck.
The pool: roughly double the space
The headline is a brand-new zero-entry pool added alongside the existing one, plus additional deck space — effectively doubling the swimming and lounging area. Zero-entry means it slopes in like a beach, which is a genuine win for families with toddlers, and for anyone who'd rather wade than plunge. The original Meadow Swimmin' Pool stays exactly as it was, 67-foot corkscrew waterslide included. So you're not trading anything away — you're just getting a lot more room, which matters on a hot afternoon when the pool deck fills up.
The detail worth hunting for: a River Country tribute
Here's the part longtime fans will love. Tucked into the new pool area is an old-fashioned barrel carriage featuring Mickey Mouse in his camping gear — a deliberate nod to Disney's River Country, Walt Disney World's very first water park, which operated right next door to Fort Wilderness before closing for good. It's a quiet tribute to a piece of resort history that a lot of guests still miss. Go find it.
A zero-entry pool is a practical upgrade. A barrel-wagon tribute to River Country is the kind of thing that reminds you which company built the place.
The lobby
The Reception Outpost has been refreshed too, with a brighter check-in space and new artwork that leans into the resort's outdoorsy character. Above the fireplace, Mickey and friends enjoy a day on the water; three more scenes feature Huey, Dewey, and Louie camping, fishing, and shooting archery — all activities you can actually do at the resort.
Why Fort Wilderness is worth a look
Fort Wilderness is the odd duck of Walt Disney World hotels, and that's exactly its appeal: 750 acres of pine and cypress, campsites and cabins instead of towers, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, and golf carts instead of buses. Nights bring Chip 'n' Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long and the legendary Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. With a bigger pool and a nicer arrival, it makes an even stronger case as the place to slow down between park days — and for a summer trip, an expanded pool is not a small thing.
One thing to know if you're booking: construction continues elsewhere on the property, including the new Disney Lakeshore Lodge going up nearby, so expect some active work zones around the resort.
Details accurate as of July 11, 2026, and confirmed by Disney.