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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2600loop1 day ago

I put my pants on like everyone else except once my pants are on I make bland hotels that make Hiltons seem exotic

GimpYancIent2 days ago

Yes. Correct distinction. The current versions are best classified as trailers and not cabins.

MisterPenguin2 days ago

You forgot the minus signs!!!

FiestaFunKid2 days ago

I agree this probably did not help the case for a RC theme. However, I think a big factor is who they have running hotel projects now. It's been talked about other places that Disney has brought in hotel industry people, responsible for vegas resorts, etc....and it feels like they are building hotels in essentially the standard industry fashion - and then adding some disney touches....rather than a cohesive theme from the ground up. In Walt or Eisner's days, it was more important for them to be unique in this area, seeking out architects who could push the boundaries, etc...and it's easy for all of us to see the difference in the output. Again, these can be high quality, modern resorts, but not much different from what you get elsewhere.

nickys3 days ago

The only cabins available for DVC booking are the declared inventory. All the remaining cabins that are completed are available for cash bookings through Disney. Until more contracts are sold there will be lots of cabins for cash bookings. In some cases, DVC owners are renting out points and then booking on cash, because the DVC inventory is booked up.

Donfan3 days ago

Agree with John Park Hopper about the new cabin design. I liked the old style much better. They had a wilderness feel that isn't in the new cabins. Also, DVC inventory seems to be being made available for cash bookings. It's getting much harder to get a DVC room, especially at my home resort.

JD803 days ago

Via SEC 10-K 2024 Occupancy 85% Available Room Nights 10,193 2023 Occupancy 85% Available Room Nights 10,096 2019 Occupancy 90% Available Room Nights 10,030 2018 Occupancy 88% Available Room Nights 10,045 2016 Occupancy 89% Available Room Nights 10,382 2015 Occupancy 87% Available Room Nights 10,644 2013 Occupancy 79% Available Room Nights 10,558 2012 Occupancy 81% Available Room Nights 9,850

nickys3 days ago

The most interior cabin design is not what a lot of DVC owners want and expect. That plus the high annual maintenance fees is why the contracts aren’t selling.

John park hopper3 days ago

Imo opinion Disney made a big mistake with cabin design --trailer park circa 1970

nickys3 days ago

They’ve only declared 60-70 cabins, and those are booking well (at 7 months). The rest are still cash inventory. They just aren’t selling contracts.

Basil of Baker Street3 days ago

DVC isn't for me but I certainly see why they are building them. I also feel if they could undo the cabins DVC they would. Just seems they were performing better as cash rooms.

MisterPenguin3 days ago

Why are people suddenly surprised that Disney resort rooms are overpriced compared to similar accommodations at other hotels? This is a known known for decades and decades, no? Disney resorts can charge a premium because people are willing to pay it. For the theming. For park access. For minor park perks. Why are people complaining now about this? It's always been this way.

MisterPenguin3 days ago

And yet, we *never* here of rooms taken out of inventory put back into inventory. So, again, by now, there are negative ten thousand rooms available. That's how math works. Based on the premise.

freediverdude3 days ago

Some of Disney's deluxe resorts have been rated only 3 diamonds by AAA over the years. Some are 4 diamond, including GF. What I've heard is GF was told they would need a special training program for cast members there to qualify for 5 diamond, lol. To be fair, V&A does get 5 diamond as a restaurant though. But still, for something that expensive to get the same rating as the Disney Springs Hilton used to get....