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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Bocabear17 days ago

Is this "resort" part of the 60 Billion dollar investment in the parks?

Surfin' Tuna17 days ago

Tron was a different situation. But I wouldn't get my hopes up too much for future speed.

Nickm202217 days ago

Just gotta say, if they build this quicker then Tron then it's kinda sad but a nice change a pace that gives me hope for future additions and yes I know they cleared ground for it years ago but that's besides the point

Disone18 days ago

I am inclined to agree. They look too fresh for them to have been there for years. Based on how exposed they would be to the weather just sitting there like that for years there's just not enough weathering discoloration on them.

HauntedPirate18 days ago

D23 Brazil announcement CONFIRMED!!!! What, that isn’t too soon? 🤔😉 They need to announce all kinds of things there because it’s D23. I expect this, though, will be behind the 5th gate announcement plus the other $20 billion in WDW projects they are undoubtedly announcing.

peter1143519 days ago

That’s correct. I don’t know why but I assumed you meant they had been there since before the recent restart.

nickys19 days ago

New - yes. But a few weeks ago. When I said “for some time” I was meaning weeks not months. When Blog Mickey flew over the site with Bioreconstruct , those structures were in place. So they were erected sometime between the 24th September and 14th October.

peter1143519 days ago

I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure these are new.

nickys19 days ago

Those have been there for some time.

Disgruntled Walt19 days ago

Wow, they've gone vertical! Another example of how quickly they can build things if they really want to .

DCBaker19 days ago

Photos from today: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54111860266_4d83a14c90_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54112117208_df4d08ae38_k.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54112314030_7f799acf7d_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54112334245_1dc5932e67_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54112314290_5cde2ade10_k.jpg

denyuntilcaught20 days ago

I, for one, would encourage Disney on holding on announcing things until they're further along and get them out of the habit of announcing things ~7 years before they intend to actually move dirt.

MickMinn2220 days ago

A few posts about transportation which I agree is a concern with this resort especially with all the great transportation options for the other deluxe/dvc resorts. I would assume this has its own dedicated bus transportation or shared with wilderness but fort wilderness separate? I know there are going to be so close but I do hope they can separate this resort from fort wilderness. If it’s simply added as the hotel at fort wilderness, I don’t think I would be as inclined to add on at this resort. I hope they keep the cabins though. Love those options at wilderness.