Disney announces plans to build a nature-inspired resort at Walt Disney World

Oct 18, 2018 in "Reflections - A Lakeside Disney Lodge"

Nature-Inspired Resort concept art
Posted: Thursday October 18, 2018 2:42pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has today officially announced its new Disney Vacation Club property to be built on Bay Lake between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort.

The deluxe resort, which will be themed to complement its natural surroundings, will include more than 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas spread across a variety of unique accommodation types.

“Walt Disney World is in the midst of our most significant expansion in the last two decades and the combined 1,700 new hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas we are building at four different resorts will create thousands of new construction and permanent jobs and will drive economic opportunity and incremental revenue for Central Florida,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We continue to add new attractions, new lands — and these beautiful accommodations will be right in the heart of all that magic.”

The soon-to-be named resort is slated to be Disney’s 16th Disney Vacation Club property.

“This resort experience will be a celebration of Walt Disney’s lifelong love and respect for nature, with some fun and even surprising accommodation types that families will find irresistible,” said Terri Schultz, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club. “It will give our members and guests yet another opportunity to stay in close proximity to all the newest attractions and experiences in our theme parks, and with the flexibility, value and world-class service families expect from Disney.”

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

Bocabear17 days ago

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

Surfin' Tuna18 days ago

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

Nickm202218 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

Disone19 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.

HauntedPirate19 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.

peter1143519 days ago

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

nickys19 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.

peter1143519 days ago

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

nickys20 days ago

Those have been there for some time.

Disgruntled Walt20 days ago

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

DCBaker20 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

denyuntilcaught21 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.

MickMinn2221 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.

JD8021 days ago

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