The long-awaited Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge is finally moving forward once again at Walt Disney World, but under a new name. After being announced in 2018 and then seemingly canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort has been re-announced as Disney Lakeshore Lodge.
A Tumultuous History
Disney originally announced Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge in October 2018 as a deluxe resort and Disney Vacation Club property. The resort was to be built on the former site of Disney’s River Country water park, along the shore of Bay Lake between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.
Reflections was slated to have more than 900 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, featuring a variety of unique accommodations like treehouse suites and A-frame waterfront cabins. The resort was also set to include a table-service restaurant inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.”
COVID-19 Setbacks
As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, construction halted on Reflections, along with many other projects around Walt Disney World. By the end of the year, Disney had quietly removed all mentions of the resort from its websites and promotional materials, leading many to believe the project had been canceled altogether.
Rising from the Ashes
However, Reflections appears to be rising from the ashes, as evidenced by recent permit filings. In August 2024, a permit hinted at the project’s revival, with Disney contractor Balfour Beatty filing for work at the same site as the original Reflections plans.
Now, the Federal Aviation Administration has granted Disney permission to use a 240-foot crane for the construction of a 10-story hotel at the River Country site, all but confirming that Reflections is back in development. The permit lists a construction schedule from October 2024 through August 2025.
A New Chapter
Construction started on the Reflections site recently, with Disney still remaining silent on the matter. Finally, an official announcement has come, with the project being confirmed and a 2027 opening timeline in place.
The announcement of Disney Lakeshore Lodge is an exciting development for Disney Vacation Club members and Walt Disney World guests alike, promising to bring a unique and immersive nature-inspired resort experience to the shores of Bay Lake. As more details emerge, anticipation is sure to build for this long-awaited addition to the Walt Disney World resort lineup.
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