Recent Disney Permit Hints at Possible Revival of Reflections A Disney Lakeside Lodge Project

Aug 02, 2024 in "Reflections - A Lakeside Disney Lodge"

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Posted: Friday August 2, 2024 10:45am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering recently filed a construction permit for what appears to be a new project between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort.

The permit lists multiple locations close to the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, suggesting that Disney may have plans to add more cabins.

However, it has since come to light that the same Disney contractor, Balfour Beatty, filed a very similar permit in 2019, which was assumed to be for the announced Reflections—A Lakeside Disney Lodge project.

Nature-Inspired Resort concept art

Unveiled by Disney in 2018, Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge was canceled in 2020 amid the pandemic downturn, and the land was mostly returned to its pre-construction state.

It now seems that Disney is returning to this prime piece of land for its next project and that Reflections may be about to make a return in some form. Note that at this time, Disney has yet to make any announcement of a new project in this area.

Aerial view of construction at Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge - March 2020

Back in 2018, Disney said the deluxe resort would be themed to complement its natural surroundings. It would include more than 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas spread across a variety of unique accommodation types. Notably, Reflections also included cabins, which may explain the multiple addresses in the permit.

Here are the two permits in question, from 2019 and 2024, showing similar location addresses.

2019 Permit
LOCATION "1" - 570 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "2" - 572 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "3" - 574 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "4" - $76 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "S" - 578 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "6" - 580 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "*" - 582, W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "g" - 584 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "9" - 720 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "10" - 722 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "1|" - 724 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL: Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "12" - 726 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005
LOCATION "13" - 728 W. Wilderness Way, Bay Lake, FL; Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-005

2024 Permit
Location "1" - 570 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "2" - 572 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "3" - 574 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "4" - 576 W. Wilderness Way. Lake Buena Vista. FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "5" - 578 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "6" - 580 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "7" - 582 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "8' - 584 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "9" - 612 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "10" - 632 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL. 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "11" - 636 W. Wilderness Way. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "12" - 640 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista. FL 32830. Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "13" - 684 #C W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "14" - 720 W. Wilderness Way. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "15" - 722 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "16" - 724 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "17" - 726 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "18" - 728 W. Wilderness Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #11-24-27-0000-00-004
Location "19" - 910 Timberline Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, Tax Parcel ID #12-24-27-0000-00-002

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CJR1 day ago

This kind of reminds me of when they were building BLT and did not announce it right away. It could be a bit before we hear much officially. Gotta sell those Poly condos.

MisterPenguin1 day ago

The entrance to RnRC!!

Sirwalterraleigh1 day ago

…no seriously…what’s your real opinion? 😂

Doberge1 day ago

Sorry but you'll need to settle for the characters being blown up even bigger and moved outside to finally answer the question "What would a deluxe All Star Movies resort charging $500/night look like?"

SpaceMountain771 day ago

I do not recall if it was someone within our community or posted on another board, but a member said they were part of a focus group where the name Disney's Colors of Nature Resort was discussed. I remember liking it much more than Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge.

Bocabear1 day ago

A Spring Hill Suites with Pocohantas fiberglass figures in the lobby aand vinyl wallpaper graphics behind the front desk sounds so very magical and creative....

Surfin' Tuna1 day ago

There is little to no chance they will spend the money to redesign, because that would be spending the money. They will build it and someone will buy it. The location will sell it even if it means destroying the vibe of the place. It's really sad.

MKeeler1 day ago

I’ll settle for pulling the obnoxiously over the top characters out of the interior, a slight redressing of the exterior to tone down the modernity and make a bit more transportive, and a name change. All of which could be done, but I severely doubt will be.

Bocabear1 day ago

I am pulling for them cancelling the project officially...until they get a whole new team in there that wants to create beautiful thematic Disney resorts again..... Another boring usual design is not inspiring...there are enough hotels on property...

Surfin' Tuna1 day ago

I think almost everyone is pulling for anything other than the original plan

MKeeler1 day ago

I’m still pulling for a River Country Lodge.

SomeInternetGuy7 days ago

Looks like work on whatever this project has become might be about to begin. There was a recent FAA permit filed for a 240ft mobile crane to be onsite from October 14th 2024 - August 14th 2025. The filing is simply titled “CSI Mobile Cranes” and the GPS coordinates put it right near the former River Country. There should be more detailed info on the permit in the next week or so as it gets processed.

GimpYancIent15 days ago

Agree. A scrapping and reinvention no. However, in keeping with current Disney management mentality a cheapening or watering down of the original, sadly yes.

Bocabear15 days ago

Yeah but they paid for them already.....So for sure we will get that...Maybe some changes in thew interior design since the products that were spec'd are no longer the same... but I would not expect them to start over again.... not after the investment in the plans....