Disney has shared a new video exploring model rooms for the new Disney Vacation Club Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, which include a reference to the long-defunct water park, Disney’s River Country.
See Inside the Cabins at Fort Wilderness
The video, part of the “Details We Dig” series from Disney Files Magazine, offers select glimpses into a concept model unit of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, showcasing Disney details and touches found inside. Starting today, some Disney Vacation Club members can already start booking their stays.
This is the widest shot featured in the video, offering a look at the dining and living area, complete with a fold-out murphy bed.
On this murphy bed is artwork inspired by vintage promotional posters for the U.S. National parks, featuring Mickey and Pluto. The trailer and car Mickey is driving are pulled from the 1938 animated short, “Mickey’s Trailer,” directed by Disney Legend Ben Sharpsteen.
The cabin’s bedroom features a framed collage on the wall which features a surprising nod to a water park from Walt Disney World days past — Disney’s River Country.
River Country first opened to guests on June 20, 1976, and was located at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Reosrt & Campground, on the shore of Bay Lake. This postcard appears to depict White Water Rapids, a 330-foot long innertube river attraction. The water park closed on November 2, 2001, and Disney announced its permanent closure on January 20, 2005.
The site was later demolished in 2019 to make way for Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Long thought to be canceled, the project most recently had a new extension permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering in June 2023.
The video also shows one of the bunk bed rooms inside the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, which feature many references to spot and themed decor inspired by camping and activities around the fort. In this photo, you can see the wall-mounted lanterns that sport charging plugs hidden inside, decorative pillows with scout patches, and more.
Other nods to characters can be found outside the cabin’s bunk beds in the form of canoe paddles. Not only do these paddles reference the resort’s recreational offering, but they also include the colors and patterns tied to Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Behind the top bunk is a large mural featuring Chip ‘n’ Dale, snoozing away in a tree. Above this image of Chip is a calendar page that reads “Nov. 19.” The calendar page itself is a reference to the 1949 animated short, “Winter Storage,” and the date calls back to the grand opening of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, which opened on November 19, 1971.
Other details in the Cabins at Fort Wilderness were also shared, like storage drawers beneath the bunk beds and themed step stools in the bathroom for smaller campers, complete with a hidden Mickey.
Even more references to Chip ‘n’ Dale can be found in the cabins, from art on the walls to details in the curtains and wall hangings. Recently, Cast Members at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort have been handing out free stickers for the cabins featuring Chip ‘n’ Dale.
Watch the full video below:
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