Disney Keeps Future Options Open For New Disney Vacation Club Property at Bay Lake

May 09, 2024 in "Reflections - A Lakeside Disney Lodge"

Nature-Inspired Resort concept art
Posted: Thursday May 9, 2024 9:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A recent permit filing has raised speculation that Disney is continuing to keep its options open for the construction of a new Disney Vacation Club property on Bay Lake between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort.

Disney has extended a South Florida Water Management District water management permit for an additional five years. While this alone does not mean work is imminent on a new resort, it suggests that Disney wishes to retain the ability to use the land for a future project.

The previously announced Bay Lake Disney Vacation Club resort, Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge, was canceled in 2020 amid the pandemic downturn, and the land was mostly returned to its pre-construction state.

Project 89, as it was first known, has been somewhat controversial since it became public knowledge in 2018. The resort offered a design style that was not to everyone's liking on a prime piece of land around the former River Country.

Despite the 2020 cancellation of Reflections, the land is a prized location, and it would be no surprise to see the project revived at a later time, or a new project moving in to take its place.

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Bocabear16 days ago

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

Surfin' Tuna16 days ago

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

Nickm202216 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

Disone17 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.

HauntedPirate17 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.

peter1143517 days ago

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

nickys18 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.

peter1143518 days ago

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

nickys18 days ago

Those have been there for some time.

Disgruntled Walt18 days ago

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

DCBaker18 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

denyuntilcaught19 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.

MickMinn2219 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.

JD8019 days ago

They wouldn't step on the new Poly Tower with any announcements. I wouldn't expect anything anytime soon.