Construction activity appears to be ramping up at Walt Disney World, with cranes now in position at the site where the long-delayed Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge project may be making a comeback. The arrival of the cranes follows recent filings with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), which both indicated a potential revival of the resort development.
The FAA filing, submitted earlier this year, detailed plans for the use of large mobile cranes for the construction of a 10-story hotel, with cranes reaching up to 240 feet above ground level (AGL) when fully extended.
This height and scale closely align with previous plans for Reflections, a deluxe nature-themed resort originally planned for the shores of Bay Lake, between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.
As of today, the cranes are onsite and in position, ready to begin work on what many speculate will be the restarted Reflections project. According to the FAA filing, the cranes are expected to be onsite through August 14, 2025, indicating a long-term construction schedule.
Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge was initially announced in 2018 as a deluxe resort featuring over 900 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas. However, in 2020, the project was quietly shelved amid the financial uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and much of the initial pre-construction work was dismantled. Since then, the area has largely remained dormant, with many believing the project had been abandoned for good.
Recent filings, however, have hinted at a renewed focus on the project. In addition to the FAA filing, a recent CFTOD filing pointed to ongoing preparations for new electrical infrastructure, with Chen Moore and Associates contracted to install electrical transformers for what has been referred to as "Project S"—widely believed to be the Reflections resort. These filings, combined with the cranes now in place, paint a picture of a project that is very much back on track.
Disney has yet to make any formal announcements regarding the revival of Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge, but the developments at the construction site are hard to ignore. With cranes in position and the groundwork being laid, it seems increasingly likely that the nature-themed resort will soon take shape along the shores of Bay Lake, bringing to life Disney's vision for a new deluxe retreat between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort.
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