If there’s one thing we know about Disney World, it’s that they sure know how to stir the pot.
Reflections ©Disney
It seems like any announcements, whether they’re about a new menu item or a whole new attraction, can send Disney Adults into quite a tizzy. That got us thinking about Disney’s newest announcements that seem to suggest a previously thought canceled hotel project might not be so canceled, so we reached out to you to get your thoughts on the matter. Well, we asked and you delivered!
Back in 2019, Disney announced a new resort project — Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge. The Lodge was going to have more than 900 rooms and be a new Disney Vacation Club hotel. It was planned to be built at the former home of Disney’s River Country water park (which closed in 2001 and had been abandoned since then) over by Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. Recently, some permit extensions have made it look like Reflections might still be a go — after we didn’t hear anything about it for five years!
We reached out to our followers on Facebook to ask: “What do you think about the potential return of the Reflections Hotel??” We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments!
What do you think?
Now, let’s dive into some of your responses!
Totally Here For It
First up, some of you are absolutely thrilled by the possibility of Reflections making its debut. For those in this camp, the more Disney resorts, the better! Here’s what some of you had to say:
Reflections concept art featuring Pocahontas.
DFB reader John is all about it, saying, “Very cool. I would really like to see another value or moderate hotel come in. Disney is getting too expensive for most people.” This resonates with a lot of people who feel that Disney is becoming a luxury only the few can afford, so another resort could help alleviate some of that.
Taking this thought further, Nicholas, another reader, shared, “I’m sure it’ll be nice. Also sure it’ll be either HIGH end Moderate or Deluxe accommodations with lots of DVC rooms for the investor class.” This is a pretty common prediction from many of you that Reflections will cater to a higher-end clientele.
DFB reader Shawn shared, “It’s a cool idea since I am DVC.” For the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members out there, any new resort means more options. More options mean more places to use those hard-earned points!
More Reflections concept art.
Doug, also a DVC member, is all in: “As a DVC member, I am all for more DVC resort offerings. It would be a great way to repurpose the old River Country area. To those concerned about keeping the integrity of Fort Wilderness, I’m sure Imagineering would come up with a way to make it happen.”
Not Feeling It
Now, on the other side of the debate, some of you are just not impressed. For you, Reflections feels like an unnecessary disruption to Disney’s iconic Fort Wilderness.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness
DFB reader Jeff minced no words, saying, “I think it is unnecessary and just another nail in the coffin of the Fort Wilderness we have all known.” For die-hard fans of Fort Wilderness, this feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Phil agreed, chiming in with, “Not good. Ft Wilderness will be losing its wilderness atmosphere. We will be camping next to a parking lot.” Phil paints a pretty bleak picture here, and honestly, we get it. No one’s here for a view of a parking lot when they’re camping.
Sandra is also worried about the resort’s impact: “Not a fan. It will impose on the wilderness of Ft Wilderness. Put it somewhere else, next to a similar type of resort.”
Mixed Feelings About It
Lastly, we got some of you who are caught in the middle. Some of you see the pros of a new resort but have serious concerns about what it might mean for the landscape and vibe of the area.
©Disney
DFB reader Laura summed it up perfectly, saying, “I have mixed feelings about the possible return of Reflections Resort. On one hand, it could be a relaxing resort with lots of luxurious amenities and beautiful landscaped grounds. On the other hand, the proximity to existing Disney lodging with already perfect grounds concerns me. I really dislike the feeling – ‘they paved paradise to put up a parking lot’.”
This is the dilemma many of you feel in your bones. While a new resort could be beautiful and packed with Disney magic, there’s always the fear that something special could be lost in the process.
Reflections Concept Art © Disney
Those were just some of your thoughts on the potential return of the Reflections Hotel, and now we want to hear even more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Also, follow us on Facebook to join in on the next discussion.
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I’m what you would consider a “Disney Adult”. Magic Kingdom and I are the same age. I’m also a Disney blogger–Ridin’ Thru Disney. There are plenty of places to stay at Walt Disney World for all kinds of budgets–value to DVC villas. Disney is using DVC money to continue building towers and DVC resorts. As long as the money comes in, they will continue. As for me, the building of Reflections will not affect me personally. I will probably never stay there due to money and DVCs lack Disney theming.
Why do they even need more hotels? The parks are already overcrowded most of the time. So much so that the passholders who used to be their “bread and butter customers” have become unwelcome, restricted “guests?”.
Well anything that destroys the beauty and theming of the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness is a very BAD idea. Look at the mess the Seven Seas Lagoon has become. You can’t go to the magic Kingdom without feeling like you are passing through a metro area and the Baylake Tower overshadows the Magic Kingdom view. The new Polynesian additions are intrusive as well. IF you want o build them then fine, just hide them or camouflage them so those of us who want to be spared the intrusion on the Disney experience don’t have to be reminded of what is becoming sprawl. We go to escape to the Disney “world”. We don’t want to see all the big buildings and cancerous vacation club encroachments on the “magic”. I would hate to be staying at the Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness and have my view of the lake and the environment that is so iconic disturbed by yet another modern resort hotel. If you build it then hide it from those not staying there. DOnt want to see more parking lots and glass/concrete buildings on the lake.
I was very disheartened to see another DVC hotel being built. That tells me DISNEY WORLD IS ONLY FOR THE RICH. Why can’t they build more Moderate and Value resorts? Oh right, DISNEY WORLD IS ONLY FOR THE RICH. In the same message you announced record high Lightning Lane prices. Good thing DISNEY WORLD IS ONLY FOR THE RICH. Every time you announce new record high Admission prices it’s good to know DISNEY WORLD IS ONLY FOR THE RICH. We used to go to Disney World every couple of years, first time even before EPCOT opened. I doubt we will ever be able to go again. Hmmm, I guess that means, like millions of others, we are not RICH.
As long as it isn’t DVC. Enough of those. They need more moderate and value resorts available to everyone.