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

May 09, 2024 in "Disney Lakeshore 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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Bocabear1 day ago

Crazy money... Truly...and they would have a rooftop lounge and dining that would also be booked forever...

MisterPenguin1 day ago

If they built a hotel over EPCOT's entrance, how much do you think a Big Blue Box view room would cost?

JoeCamel1 day ago

Just upsize the MK train station..........

Bocabear1 day ago

But the other parks literally have a hotel over the turnstiles.... DLP hotel has views down Main Street on the park side... I believe they did the same with Tokyo Disney Seas and the Hotel Mira Costa

JohnD1 day ago

The closest thing to that would be the "Epcot Resorts" (Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swolphin) next to the Int'l Gateway.

denyuntilcaught1 day ago

Interesting point. I'm surprised an Art Deco hotel hasn't been in the mix in the past - or has it? Maybe an insider would know.

Robbiem1 day ago

Disney have built some nice art deco hotels in Tokyo (the ambassador) and Hong Kong (Hollywood hotel). I’m surprised they haven’t built something similar by DHS, like Victorian its a style that suits Mickey and co

MR.Dis2 days ago

This is what I mean to each their own. On 20,000 Leagues, the loading and unloading was not efficient and incredibly time consuming. The actual ride was just plain cheesy --IN My Opinion. We all have our favorites, I also miss the Time Travelor--but I have always been a Robin Williams fan.

Bocabear2 days ago

unless the hotel at the front of the park were based on Hollywood landmarks...and actually added something to the theme rather than building a Fairfield inn over the front entrance.... It could be done right....

UNCgolf2 days ago

I think that would be really bad at EPCOT; it would block views of Spaceship Earth. Plus EPCOT already has three hotels within easy walking distance. It probably wouldn't be as big of a deal at current DHS since they've basically given up on the original Hollywood theme anyways, but the front entrance of DHS is very well designed with call backs to numerous LA landmarks from the Golden Age. A hotel there would kind of throw that all away.

bmr15912 days ago

I can imagine a resort that leads right into the Villains Land of Magic Kingdom would be sold out daily.

Bocabear2 days ago

I meant like Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Seas, Fantasy Springs....where the Hotel is actually spanning the entrance to the park...Which could work for DHS or even EPCOT if it was designed properly...

JMcMahonEsq3 days ago

The original WDW has its hotels right across from the park too. WDW in orlando is actually the deviation from the norm for parks as far as hotel location goes.

Bocabear3 days ago

I am waiting for TDO to take a hint from the DLP and Tokyo and build a hotel right across the entrance to one of the parks...