While Walt Disney World usually trumpets its upcoming theme park additions with press releases, concept art, and stage presentations, one of the most intriguing new builds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is happening in complete official silence. Known internally and across theme park fan circles as “Project Fedora,” a mysterious new structure is rising directly in the middle of the Echo Lake area.
Despite construction crews actively pouring concrete and erecting structural steel just steps away from major walkways, The Walt Disney Company has not released a single detail regarding what the project actually is. There is no official name, no target opening date, and zero concept art.
However, recent aerial imagery, permit filings, and ground-level construction milestones are offering parkgoers a clear look at what is taking shape behind the scenes. Here is everything we know about Hollywood Studios’ secret build and why it has theme park fans buzzing.
Vertical Construction Begins Behind the Planter Walls
For months, the site of Project Fedora was hidden behind rolling planter walls, leaving guests walking between the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular exit and Backlot Express wondering what was taking place. That changed dramatically in October 2026, when the project officially went vertical.
New aerial photographs captured by aerial photographer @bioreconstruct reveal a substantial steel pipe framework rising from the cleared site. The images show vertical steel posts set on square concrete pads, joined by horizontal and angled support pipes. This marks the first structural framework erected on the plot since prep work began earlier this year.
The arrival of structural steel follows an intense round of foundation work completed in early October 2026. Ground observations showed crews pouring anchored concrete pads fitted with heavy steel plates and anchor bolts—the standard foundation hardware used to secure heavy structures. Mounds of freshly excavated soil, narrow trenches prepped with rebar mesh, and timber formwork indicate that crews have been using overnight work lights to prepare the site for this vertical push rapidly.
The Paper Trail: What Construction Permits Reveal
While Disney executives remain quiet, public records filed with Orange County provide a detailed paper trail outlining who is building Project Fedora and what kind of work is taking place.
On May 15, 2026, Disney filed two Notices of Commencement for general construction at 253 Cypress Dr—the specific address tied to the construction plot adjacent to the stunt show. One permit listed Slalom Construction Services, Inc., while the other named Artistic Entertainment Services LLC.
The involvement of Artistic Entertainment Services LLC is one of the biggest clues regarding the project’s final appearance. The contractor is well-known in the themed entertainment industry for fabricating custom props, scenic sets, and immersive environments for Walt Disney World, including previous work on Donald’s Dino-Bash at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land.
Further adding to the paper trail, Walt Disney Imagineering filed an additional permit on June 10, 2026, specifically covering new “signage” near the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. The combination of structural contractors, scenic set builders, and dedicated Imagineering signage confirms that Project Fedora is a permanent, fully themed guest offering.
From Tree Removal to Fiscal Year Concrete Pours
The physical development of Project Fedora has followed a steady timeline since work first caught the attention of parkgoers in early spring:
- March 17, 2026: Construction began near the exit of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at a former merchandise location. Overhead shade netting was taken down, and rolling planter walls were positioned to screen the plot.
- May 15, 2026: Disney filed initial Notices of Commencement naming contractors Slalom Construction Services and Artistic Entertainment Services LLC.
- June 10, 2026: Imagineering recorded a permit for signage near the attraction exit.
- July 24, 2026: Crews removed a large, mature tree that previously shaded the area near Backlot Express, leaving a cleared dirt plot filled with survey flags and wooden stakes.
- October 3, 2026: Construction resumed in earnest following a late-summer lull, with crews pouring new concrete pads, laying rebar, and setting up overnight lighting rigs. The restart aligned with the beginning of Disney’s new fiscal year.
- October 9, 2026: Aerial photos confirmed the structure went vertical, with steel framing installed across the site.
Is Disney Building an Indiana Jones Playground?
Although Disney has not confirmed the nature of the project, industry sources and fan speculation strongly suggest a new interactive children’s play structure.
The project’s internal code name, “Project Fedora,” is a clear nod to the iconic hat worn by Indiana Jones. Located directly beside the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, the addition would serve as a natural extension of the franchise’s presence in Echo Lake.
Sources told WDWMAGIC that the project is designed specifically for younger parkgoers, featuring a play structure where kids can climb and explore. The newly erected steel pipe framework—which features vertical posts and interconnected framing—closely resembles the core structural skeleton of an outdoor play system.
Why Hollywood Studios Badly Needs a New Kid-Friendly Space
If Project Fedora does turn out to be a dedicated play area, it will address a longstanding operational gap at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Over the past decade, Hollywood Studios has evolved into a park dominated by high-thrill rides and strict height requirements. Popular attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror leave families with toddlers and young children with limited options while waiting for older family members.
The park previously featured the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure, a popular, larger-than-life playground that let kids burn off energy. However, that space was permanently removed in 2016 to make room for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Adding a highly themed, zero-height-requirement play space next to Indiana Jones would give families with young children a safe place to play while balancing out the park’s thrill-heavy lineup. As construction crews continue to assemble the steel framework, parkgoers won’t have to wait much longer to see what Imagineering has hidden under its hat.
