Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Filing Fuels Speculation on New Resort at Disney World

Aug 28, 2024 in "Disney Lakeshore Lodge"

Posted: Wednesday August 28, 2024 12:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new filing by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District today adds further weight to speculation that the Reflections resort project at Walt Disney World is about to resume.

In this latest filing, the CFTOD Board is considering a Master Services Agreement with Chen Moore and Associates to install new electrical transformers for servicing what is referred to as "Project S."

In the project brief, the document states, "The purpose of this project is to provide a new transformer service yard, transformer loop, and SCADA monitoring cabinets for a new resort."

This latest development follows Walt Disney Imagineering recently filing 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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...