Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge Coming to former Reflections Site in 2027!

[havoc315]

I like your #1 & #3 ideas above -
Though I would imagine the DVC parking for either/both of those would present a challenge....

A parking tower garage is easy enough. Underground parking if possible, but much of the land is too swampy for that, I suspect.

 

[Brian Noble]

Going below grade is so unpleasant that the guest-visible bits of the Magic Kingdom are on "the second floor". And there is no reason to build upward unless the plot is hemmed in (e.g. Disney Springs).

I don't see why parking is a problem at the Starcruiser site, provided you are willing to raze the structure and start over. The only sticking point is if for some reason the woodlands to the East are protected wetlands. There is plenty of room to move in that direction otherwise.

So, of the Options 1-3, I think #3 might be a winner. It also gives you an EP/DS-area sales location, as at that point RIV will have been sold out for a minute.

 

[Mikey15]

I know they should do something with the Halcyon Starcruiser but I’m struggling to see how they turn that into a proper resort. Everything about the location and access was built around ~not~ being able to look outside and not going to parks other than Hollywood while you’re staying there.

Build a tower, and your views are of a highway interchange, or the backstage / backside / non-detailed parts of Black Spire Outpost. Where do you build a pool? Expand east and have it facing Osceola Parkway or the cast parking lot? I guess a “courtyard” style pool in the middle of one or more tower structures could work, and you just deal with the suboptimal hotel views.

Only way I could see the spot being made into a desirable product is with a pedestrian bridge connection over the backstage areas and into a private Galaxy’s Edge / DHS entrance. I can’t really see a walking path getting tied into the front of DHS and the Skyliner / walking path to Boardwalk area because you’d basically be routing pedestrians through a big parking lot.

… On second thought they could build a new Skyliner loop to Blizzard Beach and Animal Kingdom, with the east end being a resort where the Satrcruiser used to be?

 

[havoc315]

I know they should do something with the Halcyon Starcruiser but I’m struggling to see how they turn that into a proper resort. Everything about the location and access was built around ~not~ being able to look outside and not going to parks other than Hollywood while you’re staying there.

Build a tower, and your views are of a highway interchange, or the backstage / backside / non-detailed parts of Black Spire Outpost. Where do you build a pool? Expand east and have it facing Osceola Parkway or the cast parking lot? I guess a “courtyard” style pool in the middle of one or more tower structures could work, and you just deal with the suboptimal hotel views.

Only way I could see the spot being made into a desirable product is with a pedestrian bridge connection over the backstage areas and into a private Galaxy’s Edge / DHS entrance. I can’t really see a walking path getting tied into the front of DHS and the Skyliner / walking path to Boardwalk area because you’d basically be routing pedestrians through a big parking lot.

… On second thought they could build a new Skyliner loop to Blizzard Beach and Animal Kingdom, with the east end being a resort where the Satrcruiser used to be?

Pretty large area that can be landscaped and turned into a nice property. Pedestrian bridge with “backdoor entry” into DHS would be a big selling point. Higher floors of a tower would give views into DHS.

 

[sachilles]

Any chatter as to what transportation options the new resort might have? Think it will share a boat dock with the Fort? or have it's own?
There was talk of more lines of the skyliner being bid out when the original was built. I'd have to think a station at the lake side lodge, with a station at Wilderness lodge and one more across the lagoon to near the MK bus station would be one heck of a game changing scenario. Or some sort of funicular train like hogwarts between the fort, lakeside lodge and Wilderness lodge(along with a walking path) would be nice.

 

[Steelers0854]

Any chatter as to what transportation options the new resort might have? Think it will share a boat dock with the Fort? or have it's own?
There was talk of more lines of the skyliner being bid out when the original was built. I'd have to think a station at the lake side lodge, with a station at Wilderness lodge and one more across the lagoon to near the MK bus station would be one heck of a game changing scenario. Or some sort of funicular train like hogwarts between the fort, lakeside lodge and Wilderness lodge(along with a walking path) would be nice.

Being a CCV owner I would love to see this (and may need to double my points there if this does happen lol), but im not entirely sure it’s realistic? Looking at the map I think logistically it makes more sense then connecting Animal Kingdom, but less sense in terms of overall transportation options to a park. These resorts already have the boats connecting them to MK, where AK just has bus options for everyone. I think it would be hard to get a skyliner station and infrastructure into MK and Im not sure they would make that large of an infrastructure investment to just connect it to the 3 resorts in that area. But I love the idea!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I"ve heard a few people grumbling about "Why all this DVC building going on?" But to me it makes perfect sense. DVC resorts are running at almost 100% capacity all the time. It's getting increasingly harder to get anything at the 7 month window unless you're on it on the dot at the 7 month window- heck for a few, the 11 month window is iffy. In the words of a famous movie, "Build it and they will come".

 

[CarolynFH]

I"ve heard a few people grumbling about "Why all this DVC building going on?" But to me it makes perfect sense. DVC resorts are running at almost 100% capacity all the time. It's getting increasingly harder to get anything at the 7 month window unless you're on it on the dot at the 7 month window- heck for a few, the 11 month window is iffy. In the words of a famous movie, "Build it and they will come".

And if they’re not running at 100% capacity - see: during Covid recovery - the owners are still responsible for 100% of the maintenance and operations costs.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The filed plans to date show a new boat dock for the resort, separate from FW. They also show a 5 station bus stop, so pretty big for deluxe resort standards. For whatever that is worth.

 

[Mikey15]

Shared buses or boats with WL is possible, even with the dedicated stops. Maybe with that many rooms it should be dedicated, but even Poly & GF share a bus to AK?

 

[CarolynFH]

Shared buses or boats with WL is possible, even with the dedicated stops. Maybe with that many rooms it should be dedicated, but even Poly & GF share a bus to AK?

Yes, that’s possible, but if it ends up having 900 rooms, hopefully that number of guests would justify a dedicated bus! Many here are hoping that the addition of the Poly Tower will lead to separate buses for Poly and GF.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

but even Poly & GF share a bus to AK?

They share to DAK and DHS, although there are select moments (primarily the morning) where they’ll run direct as they can occasionally already be full at Poly so going to GF full for no reason is not useful.

 

[havoc315]

I"ve heard a few people grumbling about "Why all this DVC building going on?" But to me it makes perfect sense. DVC resorts are running at almost 100% capacity all the time. It's getting increasingly harder to get anything at the 7 month window unless you're on it on the dot at the 7 month window- heck for a few, the 11 month window is iffy. In the words of a famous movie, "Build it and they will come".

All true. But even beyond that: it’s essentially a new resort business model.

Instead of having to re-sell the same hotel room every week, every year… for $500 per night, etc..

Sell that hotel room just once upfront. Eliminates the risk of supply downturns in the future. Transfer the cost of maintaining the resort to the DVC owners.

This whole model is likely far more profitable for Disney than simply building regular hotel rooms. They are essentially pre-selling hotel rooms.

 

[Mikey15]

They share to DAK and DHS, although there are select moments (primarily the morning) where they’ll run direct as they can occasionally already be full at Poly so going to GF full for no reason is not useful.

We were at Poly in the morning so took bus from there to DAK about 9 and I was surprised when we went over to GF. There were 4ish seats plus standing room left for GF people.

Later on, taking resort monorail from Poly to MK for fireworks it was easy getting on at Poly but not much space available for the people at the GF platform. Honestly if I were a GF guest I’d be upset about how they get treated on transportation

 

[mrsap]

We were at Poly in the morning so took bus from there to DAK about 9 and I was surprised when we went over to GF. There were 4ish seats plus standing room left for GF people.

Later on, taking resort monorail from Poly to MK for fireworks it was easy getting on at Poly but not much space available for the people at the GF platform. Honestly if I were a GF guest I’d be upset about how they get treated on transportation

I happened to take pics last night at GF, leaving to go to MK at 7:30 pm.

 

[Mikey15]

I happened to take pics last night at GF, leaving to go to MK at 7:30 pm.

View attachment 918048View attachment 918049

Wow. Yup. It definitely got even worse than when I was through there at 6:45!

For context, last night was one of the few Happily Ever After nights in between MVMCP nights.

 

[sachilles]

Part of my reasoning for the transport was that I think the monorail is on borrowed time. It's Iconic though, so they'd get so much backlash if they took it down. I think they need to move to minimize the use.

A new boat dock at the new resort which is called lakeside lodge is indeed a no brainer. Though you already have a tough time combining boats to WL and the Fort. Adding one more stop isn't great for everyone. Dedicated launches are also not practical for the amount of water travel already on there. They had to move the launches for the poly and GF on the MK side. All the boat traffic past to the WL and beyond also has to cross the path of the ferry's.
Bus traffic to the magic kingdom is already pinched by the water bridge.
With the expansion at Magic Kingdom, traffic to that park will grow. Folks at the neighboring resorts will expect some perk.
Skyliner might not be the ticket, but I think they are facing some transportation obstacles and the new lakeside lodge doesn't improve the situation. Even a walking path from Wilderness lodge would be a cool improvement.

The dreamer in me hopes they some how integrate Discovery Island in to the plan somehow. Maybe a floating bridge (or turn the rivers of America boat into a bridge)to the Island and turn it into a transportation hub with some sort of feature restaurant out there. Perhaps pay homage to tom sawyer island.
There is just such a weird bottle neck formed by the water bridge, monorail and the contemporary.

There was all sort of speculation of how to link the riviera up to a park prior to the Skyliner being known. I feel like they have to have something up their sleeve. A skyliner could work here in several scenarios and have dvc dues that could help maintain it.

 

[patm95]

Part of my reasoning for the transport was that I think the monorail is on borrowed time. It's Iconic though, so they'd get so much backlash if they took it down. I think they need to move to minimize the use.

A new boat dock at the new resort which is called lakeside lodge is indeed a no brainer. Though you already have a tough time combining boats to WL and the Fort. Adding one more stop isn't great for everyone. Dedicated launches are also not practical for the amount of water travel already on there. They had to move the launches for the poly and GF on the MK side. All the boat traffic past to the WL and beyond also has to cross the path of the ferry's.
Bus traffic to the magic kingdom is already pinched by the water bridge.
With the expansion at Magic Kingdom, traffic to that park will grow. Folks at the neighboring resorts will expect some perk.
Skyliner might not be the ticket, but I think they are facing some transportation obstacles and the new lakeside lodge doesn't improve the situation. Even a walking path from Wilderness lodge would be a cool improvement.

The dreamer in me hopes they some how integrate Discovery Island in to the plan somehow. Maybe a floating bridge (or turn the rivers of America boat into a bridge)to the Island and turn it into a transportation hub with some sort of feature restaurant out there. Perhaps pay homage to tom sawyer island.
There is just such a weird bottle neck formed by the water bridge, monorail and the contemporary.

There was all sort of speculation of how to link the riviera up to a park prior to the Skyliner being known. I feel like they have to have something up their sleeve. A skyliner could work here in several scenarios and have dvc dues that could help maintain it.

Integrating the island would be awesome. Could help with the nature theme too.

 

[tom1944]

Part of my reasoning for the transport was that I think the monorail is on borrowed time. It's Iconic though, so they'd get so much backlash if they took it down. I think they need to move to minimize the use.

A new boat dock at the new resort which is called lakeside lodge is indeed a no brainer. Though you already have a tough time combining boats to WL and the Fort. Adding one more stop isn't great for everyone. Dedicated launches are also not practical for the amount of water travel already on there. They had to move the launches for the poly and GF on the MK side. All the boat traffic past to the WL and beyond also has to cross the path of the ferry's.
Bus traffic to the magic kingdom is already pinched by the water bridge.
With the expansion at Magic Kingdom, traffic to that park will grow. Folks at the neighboring resorts will expect some perk.
Skyliner might not be the ticket, but I think they are facing some transportation obstacles and the new lakeside lodge doesn't improve the situation. Even a walking path from Wilderness lodge would be a cool improvement.

The dreamer in me hopes they some how integrate Discovery Island in to the plan somehow. Maybe a floating bridge (or turn the rivers of America boat into a bridge)to the Island and turn it into a transportation hub with some sort of feature restaurant out there. Perhaps pay homage to tom sawyer island.
There is just such a weird bottle neck formed by the water bridge, monorail and the contemporary.

There was all sort of speculation of how to link the riviera up to a park prior to the Skyliner being known. I feel like they have to have something up their sleeve. A skyliner could work here in several scenarios and have dvc dues that could help maintain it.

I must be easy to please because I have no issue with the monorail. I do read a lot of people have a different opinion than I do though.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Personally I’m team LSL for the distinction. Much better imo than “DLL.”

Watch them come in with something like LAK (not to be confused with AKL, haha).