Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge is a deliberate nature-inspired resort for the previous River Nation water park location alongside the shore of Bay Lake between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness at Walt Disney World. This improvement could be combined use, with each lodge rooms and Disney Trip Membership villas. (Up to date September 6, 2024.)
Initially introduced in October 2018, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge will “be a celebration of Walt Disney’s lifelong love and respect for nature” with greater than 900 lodge rooms and Disney Trip Membership villas. Reflections resort was slated to be the sixteenth Disney Trip Membership property, a part of a major growth on the lodge aspect of Walt Disney World. That plan would have introduced a complete of greater than 1,700 new lodge rooms and Disney Trip Membership villas on-line over 4 years.
Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge was additional elaborated upon on the 2019 D23 Expo, and it was billed as one of many “most original resorts ever constructed” at Walt Disney World. Idea artwork was shared of the novel lodging, together with each treehouse suites and waterfront A-frame cabins that will be accessible on the resort. Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge would additionally function a restaurant impressed by Princess and the Frog, positioned “alongside the bayou of Bay Lake.”
September 6, 2024 Replace: Let’s begin by bringing you in control, as not a lot has really occurred with Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge in roughly 4 years…however the groundwork is being laid for a building resumption. That stopped again when the parks closed and Walt Disney World mothballed the development website for Reflections.
The mission was successfully cancelled and crews on website eliminated concrete and rebar. At that time, just about all that had occurred was website clearing and staging for building to start. The mission had but to start basis work, not to mention vertical building. Quick-forward 4 years, and it’s primarily an empty parcel.
At this time’s improvement is that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) is evaluating a Grasp Companies Settlement with Chen Moore & Associates to put in new electrical transformers as a part of a proposed “Challenge S.” In response to the submitting, the aim of the mission is to “present a brand new transformer service yard, transformer loop, and SCADA monitoring cupboards for a brand new resort.”
This comes only a few weeks after Walt Disney Imagineering filed a building allow in August for building between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, with an prolonged expiration date by March 31, 2027 and Balfour Beatty listed because the contractor. The allow is puzzling as a result of it lists addresses alongside Wilderness Approach that don’t exist–they don’t seem to be current property addresses at Walt Disney World.
Nonetheless, that’s so much much less puzzling if you evaluate the brand new allow to at least one filed in 2019 for Challenge 89, which additionally has Balfour Beatty because the contractor. They’re for equivalent addresses–and that 2019 allow was for the A-frame cabins at Reflections Lakeside Lodge.
Regardless of the Grasp Companies Settlement referring to “Challenge S” and different permits referring to “Challenge 89,” make no mistake–these permits all check with the Lakeside Lodge on the previous River Nation Water Park parcel. Whereas we anticipated this announcement to be made on the latest D23 Expo, that didn’t occur for no matter cause. There’s each cause to consider the revival information might be made by someday in 2025. Barring a sudden recession or last-minute change, this is occurring.
Previous to this, Imagineering filed a request with the South Florida Water Administration District to increase one of many permits associated to ‘Challenge 89’ by a further 5 years. This is among the huge image ‘allow packages’ for the proposed resort, pertaining to building of the resort and (because the identify suggests) water administration ensuing from the mission.
Disney’s request signifies that the mission shouldn’t be full as a result of it was shut down as a result of COVID closure. Apparently, Imagineering states that these situations “delayed the completion of this mission.” Delayed is technically right, however not the phrase I’d use to explain the standing of Reflections. Disney deleted previous references to it and hasn’t publicly talked about it in over 4 years. It’s as if Reflections by no means existed, which is extra according to the Play Pavilion than CommuniCore Corridor (the latter of which was delayed; the previous cancelled).
This additionally isn’t the primary Reflections allow that Disney has sought to increase. Final fall, Florida granted Walt Disney Imagineering a 5-year extension on one other allow associated to the development of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. That let was for the STOLport website and can now expire on Could 31, 2028.
Reflections wouldn’t be constructed on the STOLport website, however it might act as a handy staging floor positioned between the TTC and Fort Wilderness. That extension was much less conclusive that Reflections could be revived than this one, because it additionally may have served as a staging website for an additional mission, such because the DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness.
Since reporting on the final allow extension, we’ve acquired credible rumors (plural) that this lodge idea is being revived. I used to be skeptical at first, given the entire Disney Trip Membership tasks which are presently underway and might be actively promoting within the subsequent few years (see under). Nonetheless, I’ve heard sufficient to be satisfied that Disney’s plan is to proceed with plans on this parcel.
My expectation (and this half is concept–not rumor) is that Disney will wait to announce till it’s strategically advantageous from the attitude of DVC gross sales. Disney may be very methodical with its Disney Trip Membership method–longtime followers might recall over a decade in the past when Bay Lake Tower was going vertical and Disney nonetheless pretended it didn’t exist.
Don’t be shocked if one thing comparable occurs right here to keep away from cannibalizing Cabins at Fort Wilderness gross sales (conversely, the lodge is perhaps seen as an asset to that–and introduced earlier in consequence). The underside line is that this isn’t essentially a D23 Expo reveal. It’ll occur when it’s most conducive to promoting extra DVC. If it occurs. It might be at Vacation spot D23 subsequent 12 months, but it surely additionally might be tomorrow or through press launch on some random weekday in April 2025.
Additionally don’t be shocked if there are materials modifications to the looks of the lodge or its identify. Once more, purely speculative. However with a lot passage of time, totally different management each at Imagineering and Parks & Resorts, and shifting tendencies in lodge design, it appears inevitable that what we first noticed in 2018 will change to a point by the point it opens virtually a decade later.
Within the intervening years since Reflections was mothballed/cancelled/delayed indefinitely, a trio of latest Disney Trip Membership tasks within the Magic Kingdom resort space has been introduced, not directly changing Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. The primary and smallest of those was at Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, changing one outlying constructing to new Resort Studios on the Grand Floridian. That mission is finished and accessible on the market already bought out.
The subsequent of those is the New DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (pictured above), which is presently below building and is slated to open in December 2024. This might be a license to print cash for DVC, as everybody loves the Poly. It’ll promote out quick, no matter Reflections (which means the latter is not going to cannibalize Poly gross sales).
Lastly, there’s the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort (idea artwork under). These have began to open in phases, and might be completed by early 2025. That is the largest query mark–does asserting Reflections assist or hinder gross sales of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness? (The reply in all probability relies upon upon how Disney treats them.)
The opposite cause it’s price drawing consideration to those tasks is as a result of there are plenty of them. There’s additionally the Villas at Disneyland Lodge, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Aulani in Hawaii. That is all vital as a result of it means a ton of factors being bought concurrently, and quite a few resorts competing with each other for the eye of consumers.
If happening previous precedent, it might appear unlikely that Disney Trip Membership would resume Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge anytime quickly. Nonetheless, it’s not simply the permits. That alone might be ignored or defined away as pertaining to a different mission, housekeeping, or Imagineering wanting to maintain its choices open. There’s sufficient smoke right here that there’s in all probability fireplace.
Reflections resuming by 2025 would’ve been deemed loopy even ~5 years in the past, again when Disney Trip Membership didn’t announce the subsequent mission (and actually denied the existence of building occurring in plain view), however so much has modified since. Again then, DVC tried to house its additions so that they wouldn’t immediately competing with each other. Bulletins for the subsequent DVC property didn’t begin till gross sales have been wholesome and had progressed for the earlier one.
Issues have modified extra just lately, and Disney Trip Membership has had a number of properties on the market concurrently for the final a number of years. There hasn’t been hesitation in asserting the subsequent huge growth or beginning building–it looks as if there’s been a philosophy change. Disney Trip Membership is okay with a bigger variety of properties being accessible on the market, with the thought course of that extra selection equals better shopper alternative and a better chance of promoting memberships. (In any case, they’re all going to promote out finally…nicely, possibly minus Aulani!)
One other chance is that Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge is on the precipice of resuming, however not as a Disney Trip Membership mission. A minimum of, not instantly. Walt Disney World wants extra lodge stock, too. There’s nothing to say this beforehand mixed-use improvement couldn’t begin as a lodge mission, however be constructed with the long-term intentions of “conversion” to Disney Trip Membership when level provide and demand dictated as a lot. That does appear very believable to me, and is perhaps what Walt Disney World opts to do. (In that case, I ponder how they message the ‘nature’ of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge.)
No matter what occurs within the near-term, it’s fairly secure to say that the Reflections website might be developed sooner or later down the highway. Walt Disney World solely has a lot prime parcels for resorts, and that is one among them. Not solely that, however plenty of the location prepwork was already achieved and it’s nonetheless in fairly good situation. It simply is sensible for building to occur right here sooner or later, and my guess could be that it begins earlier than 2030.
Whether or not that’s Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge or a very new idea is anybody’s guess. The additional eliminated we get from the prior mothballing/delay/cancellation, the extra seemingly it’s that Disney will revisit each the identify and the idea. Even when this mission have been re-announced tomorrow, I feel the percentages are fairly good that the idea artwork would look materially totally different and the identify wouldn’t be the identical.
Turning to my authentic commentary, I really like Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. I’m a Disney Trip Membership member. In principle, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge appears completely tailor-made to a few of my favourite issues about Walt Disney World. I need to like the concept of the River Nation parcel lastly being redeveloped, as an alternative of rotting in plain sight. I’m actually looking forward to the very best right here.
Sadly, like just about each Fort Wilderness fan, I’m very apprehensive about this Disney Trip Membership mission (nicely, mixed-use, however presumably largely DVC). A part of what makes Fort Wilderness particular is that it’s been comparatively undisturbed by time, and is among the final bastions of “Trip Kingdom of the World” period of WDW.
It’s virtually exceptional how totally different Fort Wilderness feels from the remainder of Walt Disney World—even its neighbor, Wilderness Lodge. It’s virtually as if Walt Disney World management has forgotten about Fort Wilderness, and it hasn’t seen the identical fiscal mandates, modifications in emphasis, or character as each different resort during the last couple a long time. Largely, it’s been doing its factor, roughly unchanged for the reason that Nineteen Nineties.
There’s a really official concern, particularly after seeing how the Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge tasks at Wilderness Lodge unfolded, that any growth at or round Fort Wilderness will destroy the primitive and secluded traits of the campground that give it a lot attraction. In any case, this can be a campground with wilderness proper within the identify–the atmosphere is the center and soul of Fort Wilderness.
The event of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge doesn’t essentially need to destroy the tranquil and secluded environment of Fort Wilderness, however that looks as if a really distinct chance. Disney’s latest method to creating resorts adjoining to current resorts doesn’t encourage a lot confidence, and if there’s a ham-fisted method when clearing land or an overzealous mentality on the subject of the dimensions or proximity of the resort to the campground, it will likely be extremely detrimental to Fort Wilderness.
As for the design, solely a pair items of idea artwork have been launched, they usually’re nothing particular. I don’t wish to rush to judgment right here, as I feel there may be potential for this to finish up being fascinating as soon as extra is launched, however proper now it seems like a reasonably generic lodge with some trendy rustic prospers.
On the plus aspect, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) is the lead designer for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, they usually have an excellent observe report with Disney. They designed the unique Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, together with Disney resorts in Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong.
If this have been a decade or two in the past, I is perhaps extra deferential to Disney with regard to this idea artwork. Nonetheless, the final a number of years have proven that Walt Disney World may be very hit and miss with resort improvement and redesigns, skewing in direction of boring designs. It appears the method is to decide on essentially the most middle-of-the-road choices as doable in order to not alienate these with bland tastes.
Whenever you evaluate Walt Disney World resorts constructed earlier than the mid-Nineteen Nineties to ones constructed or redesigned in the previous few years, there’s usually a transparent division. Up to date tasks are sometimes interchangeable with actual world Vacation Inns or different mid-tier chained model resorts.
Take a look at the distinction between BoardWalk Inn or Seaside Membership and the brand new Gran Destino Tower at Coronado or Disney’s Riviera Resort. Don’t get me fallacious–I like each for the facilities they provide, luxuriousness, and room designs. Nonetheless, the exteriors of each go away so much to be desired, and neither are precisely exemplars of themed design. (Admittedly, they’ve each grown on me so much, however I nonetheless want they have been extra ornate or distinctive.)
One clarification is that Disney desires to make issues as crowd-pleasing as doable in order to not alienate any potential clients. The factor about this method is that if you attempt to attraction to everybody, you find yourself interesting to nobody.
One other clarification is that Imagineering’s abilities are unfold too skinny. I do know some readers would possibly solely observe the tasks at Walt Disney World, however each single property all over the world has enormous tasks in numerous phases of improvement or building.
Prior to now when much less was occurring concurrently, possibly some top-tier Imagineering expertise who “acquired” Disney’s distinct method to resorts labored on a resort mission. Now? Perhaps they’re largely designers who view working for WDI as “simply one other job” no totally different than Finest Western or IHG.
Alongside those self same traces, with so many tasks in improvement, it’s completely doable–if not possible–that management within the Parks & Resorts division is attempting to trim the finances from each, reducing facets or particulars seen as superfluous.
The issue is that these leaders should not creatives, and their expertise is usually in shopper merchandise or different division of the corporate. They’ve completely no perception into what particulars are literally superfluous, and what are obligatory for reinforcing theme or creating a way of immersion.
Finally, extra idea artwork might be launched that’s actually good. The mission may make use of a deft hand when creating round Fort Wilderness in a means that doesn’t harm that panorama. (Disney, simply consider how a lot you possibly can pat yourselves on the again by using eco-friendly and sustainable building practices–it’d be price it within the PR alone!) It may find yourself being actually good–a real tribute to each Walt Disney’s love of nature, however the spirit of River Nation, which was by no means coming again anyway.
I’m cautiously optimistic that’s what may find yourself occurring, however I feel it’s equally seemingly that we’ll get a generically trendy and vaguely rustic design. It’s additionally extra seemingly that as an alternative of eco-friendly building that preserves the pure magnificence and wilderness of the world, we get extreme tree clearing for the development, and an finish product akin to Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge by way of broad walkways and naked grounds.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
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