Sorting through Disney’s “Blue Sky Ideas” and projects that are actually in development can be taxing for Disney fans. We’re used to promises that, realistically, can’t be kept or projects that get scrapped years after being announced. However, sometimes long-forgotten concepts do eventually show signs of life.
Disney World
Expansion and active developments have been dominating Disney World news cycles since the big announcements dropped at this year’s D23 fan expo. With theme park attractions taking all the focus, we haven’t heard much about new Disney World hotels — until recently. A surprising filing this week suggests a new Disney World hotel project may be on the horizon.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), formerly known as Reedy Creek, recently filed for a construction permit that could possibly be for a brand-new Disney World hotel.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight
The filing referred to a “Project S”, which could bring changes to an existing hotel, or a new one altogether. While the scope is unclear, what is clear is that the CFTOD is considering a Master Services Agreement that would allow the installation of new electrical transformers by Chen Moore and Associates, as made apparent by the language in the filing.
Per the official description in the document, “The purpose of this project is to provide a new transformer service yard, transformer loop, and SCADA monitoring cabinets for a new resort.”
Wilderness Lodge
This filing comes on the heels of another from Disney World. That permit was for a refurbishment at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which fuels speculation that a lakeside lodge may still be in development.
Reflections — a Disney Lakeside Lodge was announced back in 2018 and would theoretically sit on the land that used to be River Country on Bay Lake between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Reflections Concept Art © Disney
Reflections was initially supposed to be a deluxe resort with over 900 rooms and a wide variety of Disney Vacation Club villas. The resort was also supposed to include a The Princess and the Frog-themed restaurant, but, of course, nothing has come to fruition at this time.
Princess and the Frog Restaurant ©Disney
Of note, this isn’t the first “Project S” we’ve seen from Disney. Specifically, when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was being built at EPCOT, a different permit popped up with the “Project S” title that matched the address of the ride’s location. Unfortunately, this could be Disney’s way of maintaining secrecy with a blanket term.
Disney hasn’t provided anything concrete recently about a potential new hotel project, so even with the new permit, we can only speculate. If anything is eventually announced, we’ll be sure to keep you updated!
Reflections concept art featuring Pocahontas ©Disney
We’ll continue to be on the lookout for any and all Disney World developments, so stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest!
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What do you think about a new hotel potentially coming to Disney World? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Oh, great. Another dvc resort 😕
Ridiculous.
Of course. Another Deluxe level resort. I mean, it would be great for Fort Wilderness to get more nearby dining options, especially since the inexplicable transformation of Trail’s End. I just hope that there is at least an easy way for people at Fort Wilderness to access the new resort for dining options, but of course, there will probably not be. The walking trail to Wilderness Lodge was shut down, and you can’t drive cars or golf carts to Wilderness Lodge the direct way that used to exist. So it’s very unlikely that Fort Wilderness guests will have any easier access to this resort. Oh well. Maybe if Disney just keeps building one Deluxe property after another, they will have to offer some deals to fill those rooms. The existing Deluxe properties are the last to fill up as it is.
Sad to hear that the walking trail between the Lodge and Camp ground was shut down. We always walked both ways and usually saw those beautiful little deer.