In 2022, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will be getting a new neighbor.
According to WDWMAGIC Forums user @danlb_2000, permits have been filed for the construction of the 35-acre Waterstar Orlando project, which will extend to the opposite side of Osceola Parkway, facing the Walt Disney World Resort Hotel’s parking lot.
Back when the project from Equinox Development was announced in 2019, Orlando Business Journal reported that Waterstar Orlando will be mixed-use, incorporating retail and dining options along with 320 residential spaces.
While the residential section will come close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the main entrance will be located on Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, across from Margaritaville Resort Orlando. The back-end of the project will likely be visible from the main guest roadway leading between Jambo House and Kidani Village. The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2022.
The area around Walt Disney World has become a hotbed of activity in recent years, with Disney itself is currently developing the Flamingo Crossings complex of shopping, restaurants, hotels, and residential spaces.
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It’s interesting, you can already see off-site water slides when you take the bus between AK Lodge and AK. And a few years back, I got to stay at Silver Lake Resort, and our time share condo had a fantastic view of AK.
it was always my understanding that animal kingdom is so far away from all other disney attractions because of the animals and their possible escape. i guess i was wrong.