The old Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge hotel project may not be dead at Disney World. A new filing with the FAA has given Disney approval to erect large cranes that would be used to build a proposed 10-story hotel. The filing indicates that Disney is intending to move forward on a large building on this site in the near future.
Disney has not released any new details on what they’re planning for the old site of the River Country water park that sits near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The old plans, named Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, called for a nature-themed resort to be built on the shore of Bay Lake. But, that project was shelved in 2020 after crews cleared the land.
In 2023, the land was sitting dormant. Earlier this year, Disney asked for extensions to construction permits that were originally filed in 2019, seemingly resurrecting the old Reflections plans. But, it’s unclear if whatever is planned for this space now is the Reflections plans or something new.
An educated guess says whatever Disney is building will be different from Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. The concept art for that project showed buildings seemingly shorter than 10 stories. And, perhaps most importantly, is the fact the Reflections project was a concept under former Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Disney has distanced themselves from Chapek’s announced plans, so it’d be a surprise to see any Reflections plans followed.
Regardless of what Disney has in mind for this plot of land, there’s no question it will dramatically alter Fort Wilderness Resort.
