Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Refurbishment Updates (Lobby Views Reinstated, Work on Boardwalks Continues)
The ongoing exterior refurbishment at the Wilderness Lodge has recently hit a few milestones. We visited the resort a little over a week ago to see how things were progressing. You may remember that our last refurbishment update for the resort was back in October. On that visit, we reported that most of the exterior area surrounding Copper Creek Falls was covered in scaffolding. Frosted wraps had been installed on all the lobby windows to block the views of the ongoing work, and the patio and upper-level decks facing the construction were all closed.
Thankfully, the exterior work in this area is now complete. On our visit the first week of June, we found that the views of the lobby had been reinstated. All the frosted film on the lobby windows has been removed, and guests can once again enjoy views out to the Copper Creek Falls area.
Additionally, the patio and upper deck facing the resort area have also reopened.
This is a pleasant place to sit outside and enjoy the setting.
We arrived at the resort via boat service. As you may recall, the current scope of work includes the raised boardwalks that allow guests to walk between the resort and the boat dock.
At this time, the path that continues toward the pool area, Copper Creek Falls, and the lobby is under construction. So you will need to take the first and only path to the right when coming and going to the boat dock. This isn’t necessarily an inconvenience. But it is a little out of the way if you’re headed to Geyser Point Bar and Grill.
At least the boat dock has reopened. You may remember it was closed for a few weeks in January. Then, it closed again between April and early May. The boat dock offers boat service to the Magic Kingdom. A secondary service runs after 3:00 p.m. to the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. We have a separate guide that goes into more detail about how transportation works at the Wilderness Lodge.
I took a few photos of the secondary walkway in case you have an upcoming visit planned.
As you can see from the photo below, many guests are coming and going along the path.
The path continues to a side entrance.
You’ll walk through a small stairwell and continue through the next door.
You’ll then be inside the resort near Roaring Fork, the primary quick-service restaurant.
As a refresher, work on the boardwalk is expected to last through late July 2026. Work was also being completed at the security kiosk where you enter the resort by car or bus. Other than what’s mentioned in the notice below, I’m not sure that work would have any impact on your stay. Here is the current refurbishment notice posted for the resort.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are undergoing exterior refurbishment through late 2026. As part of this work, the security kiosk will be expanded from late March through mid-October. The entrance will remain open, though lane closures may occur at times. Most amenities will remain available, but Guests may notice impacted views in some areas and see or hear construction during daytime hours.
Through late July 2026, the boat dock at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will undergo routine maintenance. Boat transportation will be available for the remainder of the work. Guests may see or hear maintenance in the area until the work is complete.
As a reminder, the Wilderness Lodge has been undergoing refurbishment since August 2024, when a major room refurbishment began at Copper Creek Villas. That work was extended to the cabins in 2025. Then, last year, a new notice was posted, stating that the exterior refurbishment was extended to late 2026.
I don’t know about you, but we’ll be glad to see the construction dust settle at some of these resorts! That said, maintenance and updates are important. For more on what’s going on, we keep an updated hotel refurbishment schedule. Check back with Resorts Gal soon for more updates around Disney World.
In the Comments
Are you happy to see that the scaffolding has been removed around the Copper Creek Falls area? Are you hopeful this refurbishment will soon wrap up? Let us know below in the comments.
