We've Got Some Bad News If You're Driving to Disney World This Summer

Do you have plans to drive to Disney World this summer, or rent a car to drive around Disney World?

If so, you’ll need to be aware of one specific project that could slow down your trip. The project to improve Western Way is set to begin SOON, which could impact traffic around the resort.

In 2024, The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board voted on transportation projects, including widening Western Way, a road near Disney World. We later learned that the project not only included widening the road but also adding “a grade-separated interchange with Buena Vista Drive elevated above Western Way with interconnected ramps” near Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

Now, we know when that work is set to begin…and it’s soon. The CFTOD board has issued a new bid for the work on Western Way, with a bid due date of June 18th. Construction is expected to begin as early as June 28th. The work will include new traffic signs, heavy construction, new highway and road construction, highway and road maintenance, paving, and resurfacing.

That means if you’re driving around the resort, you may come across construction that could impact how long it takes you to get to and from wherever it is you’re going. You’ll want to keep that in mind for however long this construction takes, perhaps even considering an alternate route. You can expect temporary lane closures, as well as other construction-related impacts, if you’re driving in that area.

Note that this new project does not seem to be part of the project for a new interchange or widening of Western Way, but rather to get that section of road prepared for the larger widening and interchange project. In other words, this work needs to happen before the bigger project can begin. So expect to see a lot of construction over the next year or longer on Western Way.

We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney World road construction updates, so check back with AllEars again soon for more.