Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Filing Fuels Speculation on New Resort at Disney World

Aug 28, 2024 in "Disney Lakeshore Lodge"

Posted: Wednesday August 28, 2024 12:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new filing by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District today adds further weight to speculation that the Reflections resort project at Walt Disney World is about to resume.

In this latest filing, the CFTOD Board is considering a Master Services Agreement with Chen Moore and Associates to install new electrical transformers for servicing what is referred to as "Project S."

In the project brief, the document states, "The purpose of this project is to provide a new transformer service yard, transformer loop, and SCADA monitoring cabinets for a new resort."

This latest development follows Walt Disney Imagineering recently filing a construction permit for what appears to be a new project between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort. The permit lists multiple locations close to the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, suggesting that Disney may have plans to add more cabins.

The same Disney contractor, Balfour Beatty, filed a very similar permit in 2019, which was assumed to be for the announced Reflections—A Lakeside Disney Lodge project.

Unveiled by Disney in 2018, Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge was canceled in 2020 amid the pandemic downturn, and the land was mostly returned to its pre-construction state.

It now seems that Disney is returning to this prime piece of land for its next project and that Reflections may be about to make a return in some form. Note that at this time, Disney has yet to make any announcement of a new project in this area.

Back in 2018, Disney said the deluxe resort would be themed to complement its natural surroundings. It would include more than 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas spread across a variety of unique accommodation types. Notably, Reflections also included cabins, which may explain the multiple addresses in the permit.

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HauntedPirate3 days ago

There will eventually be 8 A-frame cabins on the west side, 5 on the north side. ETA: And 4 treehouses on the other side of a walkway to the south of those north-side A-frame cabins.

DCBaker4 days ago

It seems there are at least 5 of the A-frame structures up - 3 on the side closest to Wilderness Lodge and 2 on the beach area. Photos from 6/14: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54589397187_b34a677695_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54590456569_6a416abd7d_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54590456649_60e0e5068c_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54590456674_62c630be20_k.jpg

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

Maybe it was, I don't know, if it is then it will fit. 🙂

Bocabear6 days ago

I am not sure about Frontierland being designed to correlate to Wilderness Lodge or vice versa... They did think about the Poly and the Asian resort (never built) relating to Adventureland and The Contemporary relating to Tomorrowland....as it can be seen from the park... But Fort Wilderness is very far away from any viewpoint within the park...So I don't think there is really a link there....except it was a camp ground and very rustic... like the Wilderness.... The Frontierland area was originally designed to reflect the Western Frontier... wild west....which Fort Wilderness does not appear to be. Also the new Cars addition will not really reflect the "Old West", but a national park that was a location for another movie and franchise.... So I don't think there would ever be a reason to tie the Cars franchise into the Lakeshore Lodge....per se.

Centauri Space Station6 days ago

But wasn’t WL designed to correlate with Frontierland? My question was if cars somehow fits there can’t an argument be made for the new frontierland area.

Bocabear6 days ago

I somehow feel even more confused after the answer....so Lakeshore Lodge should have Cars theming because they are putting Cars in the Magic Kingdom in an area they will create based on based on the Planes franchise that has trees? it is really just too convoluted.... How about enough with the cars... They are already ruining a giant area of the MK to shoehorn this IP in... I would say that is more than enough Cars franchise in the area.....lol

Chef idea Mickey`=6 days ago

It's the open outdoors over a lake. Try to have some fun it's not going to be happen because there it's not in a park.

Bocabear7 days ago

What about the atmosphere of Lakeshore Lodge suggests a tie-in to Pixar Cars franchise? I have seen nothing that had anything to do with Cars so far... Because it looks like a Fairfield Inn, therefore looks like a motel that any car would be parked at? I am not understanding the connection.....

Bocabear7 days ago

We have not stayed at Aulani yet... All of our friends have and they rave about how nice the overall experience is... I am looking forward to doing that one day...

Chef idea Mickey`=7 days ago

To me Cars would tie in more to Lakeshore Lodge than Fort Wilderness. Just the atmosphere.

Chef idea Mickey`=7 days ago

Just a hidden mickey won't hurt 😉

Chef idea Mickey`=7 days ago

I suppose you could say that in the future to new generations that Wildnerness Lodge corresponds to Piston Peak which is why Magic Kingdom built it in 71... haha

Chef idea Mickey`=7 days ago

Frontierland current isn't Wilderness Lodge.

easyrowrdw7 days ago

Yeah. As Boca said it’s a graphic, but it’s a BIG graphic. And artwork. I think the Poly DVC rooms do a better job than the regular rooms of having a few Disney touches without going overboard.