Driving to Disney World Is About To Get a Lot Harder

Here at Disney Food Blog, going to Disney World is one of our favorite things to do. We’re at Disney World almost all day, every day, 24/7, partly because it’s our job, and partly because we just love it!

Walt Disney World entrance on Western Way

But the one thing we don’t like about going to Disney World? Getting there! Traffic can be brutal. And we’re talking basically parked-on-the-road-for-45-minutes brutal. Last year, Disney announced their plans for road improvements to make it easier to get into the parks, and we finally have an update.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District plans to improve the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Western Way to facilitate traffic through the area. Between commuter traffic, Disney College Program buses, and families driving to Disney World, this area is known to get pretty backed up at peak times. Disney will build a new grade-separated interchange, with Buena Vista Drive elevated above Western Way with interconnected ramps to facilitate traffic movements.

©CFTOD

They also plan to widen Western Way from the State Road (SR) 429/ Western Way interchange east to the Coronado Springs Resort. The street will be widened 2.45 miles from the CFTOD/Turnpike property boundary near the SR 429/Western Way interchange to approximately 535 feet north/west of the driveway serving Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. When this project is complete, the road will expand from four lanes to six lanes.

©CFTOD

Disney didn’t announce a timeline for the project last year, but now we finally know when work on the road will begin. According to a bid by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the roadwork will start on June 29th, 2026, and is projected to last 60 days, which falls on August 28th. The roads will stay open during the roadwork, but some lanes will be closed, worsening traffic. We’d recommend taking alternate routes during peak hours to avoid the roadwork!

Digital signs on Western Way

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the construction progress on Western Way. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news!

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