Plans for a new 900-room deluxe resort at Disney World called Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge were announced last year.
Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge
The nature-themed accommodations were to be situated on the shoreline of Bay Lake, tucked between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and clearing of the land had already commenced.
Disney has recently told us certain projects will be picked back up in phases, but they’ve yet to make an official statement regarding whether or not construction on Reflections — A Lakeside Lodge will resume. Despite having several construction permits filed in the area a few months ago, construction and development on the new resort may have been canceled.
Reflections ©Disney
Reporter Scott Gustin was the first to notice Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge has been recently removed from the official D23 blog announcement that was posted in 2019. At the time this announcement was made, current Disney CEO Bob Chapek was acting as Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman and unveiled a series of upcoming developments we could look forward to on our future trips to Disney World.
NEW: Disney has updated its 2019 D23 Expo announcements blog post and removed Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. BEFORE and AFTER screenshots attached.
It's worth noting the original EPCOT plans that have since been modified are still in the post.https://t.co/uy25DWjo9M pic.twitter.com/juP9F7nw5g
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 10, 2020
Screenshot from Disney Parks Blog
According to Gustin, Disney has retroactively made changes to their D23 announcements before, most notably after plans for Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Theater fell through.
Disney made similar updates to D23 announcements a few years ago when the Main Street Theater project at Magic Kingdom was canceled.
I have no confirmation from Disney, but the paused construction combined with this update certainly suggests Reflections Lodge is shelved.
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 10, 2020
Mary Poppins Attraction ©Disney
We still can’t be sure at this time whether or not Reflections — A Lakeside Lodge has been tabled for now or not, but it’s a possibility! We’ll be sure to keep you updated with any official announcements made by Disney regarding their plans for Reflections — A Lakeside Lodge, so stay tuned!
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Do you think Reflections — A Lakeside Lodge is getting canceled? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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Good. Hopefully it’s canceled and they can fix the campground back to how it was.
Disney is running out of money. All the cancellations, decreased services, shortened hours, etc. should have told you this if you’ve been paying attention.
It’s not surprising that Disney is postponing or cancelling some projects. There is no need for extra hotel space at this time, and even if a vaccine becomes available in a few months, the economic damage from COVID-19 may result in a long period before attendance returns to 2019 levels. In the meanwhile, Disney needs to be careful about it’s cash reserves. All of the parks have been shut down for months and even with reopening some of them, they are probably running around break-even at best. In additional while Disney+ has been a big hit, movie production has stalled and several big cinematic releases have been postponed or changed to a less lucrative streaming release.
I think Disney will focus it’s reduced construction budget on projects that are well underway, where further postponing them could result in needing to scrap the work already completed. A new resort, barely started, is probably the easiest cut to make right now. Similarly, an announced attraction where ground hasn’t been broken is also a pretty easy project to postpone without losing money or resulting in “bad show”. And opening a new attraction right now probably isn’t going to raise attendance much anyway. People are staying home because of the pandemic, whether that’s because of travel restrictions, reduced entertainment and dining at the parks, mask requirements, or fear of going to a state with a major ongoing outbreak. A new coaster or show won’t change any of those reasons people aren’t going.
It means, “It’s dead, Jim.”
It would be fantastic if they used that land to add more camping loops!
Good. Keep the Fort like it is. I’m still upset they cut down all those trees.
What a shame they destroyed all those beautiful trees. And although the Horse Barn needed refurbishment and I’m sure the horses are enjoying their new digs, I sure miss the old Barn.
The area has been altered for many years to come. Too bad.
They should just rebuild a new bigger better River Country
It’s clear that Goofy’s finally gotten his revenge for Disney closing his water park… 😆