An additional pool has opened at the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool area of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. This is the first phase of an expansion to the area that will also include a tennis court and two pickleball courts.
Fort Wilderness Meadow Swimmin’ Pool Expansion
Still remaining in a space between the old pool and the new one is an old-fashioned barrel carriage behind wooden fencing. On the back of the barrel is an image of Mickey in camping gear with text around him:
River Country
Fort Wilderness
Walt Disney WorldThe greatest water adventure of all!
“River Country” is also in big letters on the sides of the barrel. River Country was Walt Disney World’s original water park, located next to Fort Wilderness. It opened in 1976 and operated until 2001, although Disney didn’t confirm its permanent closure until 2005.
River Country wasn’t completely demolished until 2019 to make way for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Resort, which has since been renamed Disney Lakeshore Lodge.
The carriage sits on a dark patch of pavement resembling dirt with foliage around it.
A stone path leads away from the carriage to a nearby gate. There are horseshoe prints and wheel tracks in the fake patches of dirt, as though the cart was only recently wheeled into place.
Nearby is a small wooden bridge that crosses over a flowerbed between the pools. There are old-fashioned lanterns on the bridge’s tallest posts.
The new zero-entry pool is sloped at one end. There are also steps and ladders at the deeper end of the pool.
Its deepest point is 3 ft 6 in.
Large lampposts are in small flowerbeds alongside the pool. There are decorative fake boulders next to the pool, too.
Near the playground is a boardwalk surrounding a large tree. This raised space has tables and chairs.
It’s accessible via stairs or a ramp.
The deck space has been effectively doubled. There are loungers and umbrellas around the pool and in the shade of two new buildings.
The buildings are connected by a breezeway. One building houses a new restroom facility.
There is a pair of water fountains and a bottle filler outside the restrooms.
The other building is not currently open to guests. There are flowerbeds along the sidewalk, with shrubbery that has yet to fully grow in.
The next phase of the expansion will include a tennis court and two pickleball courts. Construction will continue into mid 2026.
The pool area is open from 10 a.m. to 11p.m.
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