Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Filing Fuels Speculation on New Resort at Disney World

Aug 28, 2024 in "Disney Lakeshore Lodge"

Posted: Wednesday August 28, 2024 12:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new filing by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District today adds further weight to speculation that the Reflections resort project at Walt Disney World is about to resume.

In this latest filing, the CFTOD Board is considering a Master Services Agreement with Chen Moore and Associates to install new electrical transformers for servicing what is referred to as "Project S."

In the project brief, the document states, "The purpose of this project is to provide a new transformer service yard, transformer loop, and SCADA monitoring cabinets for a new resort."

This latest development follows Walt Disney Imagineering recently filing 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.

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.

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Disgruntled Walt7 hours ago

Boy, those cranes multiply like rabbits!

JoeCamel15 hours ago

Only two cranes working? Slackers! We got marks to fleece, get to building!

SplashJacket18 hours ago

Today:

CJR6 days ago

WL has the boats, but I always felt like the point of it was to feel more isolated, without really being isolated. Like the most convenient escape to the wilderness ever. Keep in mind, when it was built (mid-90's), you had Discovery Island and River Country right there.

Chef idea Mickey`=6 days ago

It wouldn't be if Riviera had a pedestrian sidewalk between there along Buena Vista Street to Boardwalk. I love walking

plutofan157 days ago

Trapped? Hardly. In fact, on more than one occasion we have gone to Primo Piatto for a meal while at Epcot for a bit of down time from the park. Very easily done with the Skyliner. Of course, that would be a lot more difficult if the Skyliner was down. But that could be said of any resort which relies on any sort of transportation other than busses such as the monorail and boats. I would consider AKL and Coronado Springs resorts as more isolated than Riviera. You could also add Wilderness Lodge as being more isolated.

MR.Dis7 days ago

Since I go to WDW 2 to 3 times a year, I have taken the Skyliner many times. My problem is they shut it down way too often. So if you stay a RIV and are totally dependent on Skyliner for transportation, you are playing with fire. When I stay at Saratoga or AKL, I will automatically get a rental car. If I would ever stay at RIV, my guess is I would just not risk issues and have a rental car. For me, the big draw of the Skyliner would not be a draw at all.

FiestaFunKid7 days ago

I don't agree with trapped - but the monorail resorts are in the premium MK location. Riv location may not be horrible, but it's not a go to for anything. If you want Springs, it's Saratoga - if you want Epcot/HS, it's cresent lake. Monorail resorts also have easy access to each other - all great resorts/dining - and are set on Bay Lake. To each their own, bur for me this location blows the Riv out of the water. Admittedly, I have an irrational love for the monorial, so I suppose it's possible the skyliner could do it for others.

Chip Chipperson8 days ago

I'd hardly call easy access to 2 parks being trapped. By that logic, all of the guests at MK monorail resorts are "trapped," too, because the monorail to Epcot requires more effort than the Skyliner to Epcot and they have to take buses to Disney Springs, DHS, and DAK.

larryz9 days ago

Looks more like a YMMV...

Bocabear10 days ago

trapped except for the Skyliner... and yes you are closer to Disney Springs, but you still have to take a bus or get in your car to get there.... there is nothing to walk to nearby.... And when I stayed there the Skyliner went down fairly often...

Chef idea Mickey`=10 days ago

I wouldn't say you are trapped in that location, your the closest to Disney Spring's, access to Caribbean Beach, skylines access to two park areas and crescent lake resorts, pop century and art of animation.