Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge

[lukemorenus]

Please god rename it. It sounds like a celebrity inpatient rehab facility with the name Reflections. Or a nursing home. Either way, please change the name.

 

[mamaofsix]

Well, with no announcement at D23, what do we think is going on here?

Are they waiting until after Poly 2 goes on sale to announce?

 

[kilik64]

Well, with no announcement at D23, what do we think is going on here?

Are they waiting until after Poly 2 goes on sale to announce?

Definitely and my bet is they won’t announce anything about it until next year.

 

[peder]

Definitely and my bet is they won’t announce anything about it until next year.

Except they might have an incentive to announce something earlier rather than later because it could boost cabin sales if they're planning on putting the two into the same association?

 

[mamaofsix]

Definitely and my bet is they won’t announce anything about it until next year.

I wonder if they think it would hamper the initial sales of Poly 2. If it's a really incredible resort concept, there would be those who choose to wait and will give Poly a hard pass.

 

[CarolynFH]

I wonder if they think it would hamper the initial sales of Poly 2. If it's a really incredible resort concept, there would be those who choose to wait and will give Poly a hard pass.

I agree with you - especially here on DISboards, where some people seem to be fickle!

 

[davidhr]

I think they’ll announce Reflections (or any new project) quickly after PVB goes on sale. I doubt any new project will affect PVB sales and Riviera will be sold out in a few years, probably before the new project. I feel they always want to have “a new resort” in the horizon.

 

[davidhr]

I agree with you - especially here on DISboards, where some people seem to be fickle!

A counter argument is that we, DVC people, are not known for our patience. There’s a group of people that will buy PVB and then add the new one lol

 

[kilik64]

I dont think they will want to distract from PVBT sales by announcing the next new thing shortly after sales start for it. My guess is March or so for any kind of reflections announcement at the earliest. Gives a good 5-6 months after PVB sales start before its announced. I think it could be earlier in the year for it if PVB sales are crazy good to start (which I think they will be). But I could also see them not announcing anything next year either.

RIV is on track as of June 2024 to sell out in ~29 months, but I think sales for it plummet once PVBT starts, and I think PVBT sells out before RIV does. So I think its another 3ish years before RIV sells out really. So it could be the case that they wait to announce anything until PVBT nears sell out, with plans to bring Reflections 2.0 online as RIV is nearing its sell out date.

 

[mamaofsix]

News of a filing today looks VERY promising:

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."

Citing a new resort definitely leans towards Reflections 2.0 and not work being done at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[mamaofsix]

Additional promising news:

Large Crane Coming to Fort Wilderness for Possible Hotel Construction​

We’ll start with the most recent development – a proposed permit for a 240′ crane at the former River Country site. This permit, which doesn’t appear to have been approved by the FAA just yet, would signal that significant construction is about to take place in an area formerly carved out for the Reflections Disney Vacation Club hotel.

 

[zackiedawg]

I'm wondering, assuming Reflections does get built...will they build a new entrance road off World Drive to get there, which would cut through mostly forest land? There's no reasonable way to access through the Fort Wilderness side. Or will they have guests come in the same entrance as Wilderness Lodge, then turn down Wilderness Drive to cut over to Reflections? If they go the latter route, seems like they'd have to rework the guard gate/booth for Wilderness Lodge by moving it just past Wilderness Drive, or have a lane that veers off just before the gate to go over to Wilderness Drive.

I also hope that if Reflections is roughly where River Country was, or close, that they would allow the Fort Wilderness Cabins access to Reflections - preferably via golf cart with a nearby parking area to utilize bars/restaurants/etc of that property. Way back in the old days when Wilderness Lodge opened, you could actually take the Fort Wilderness golf carts down the walking trail all the way to Wilderness Lodge, park and walk in - we regularly stayed at the cabins and would cart over to the Lodge for dinner.

 

[davidhr]

I'm wondering, assuming Reflections does get built...will they build a new entrance road off World Drive to get there, which would cut through mostly forest land? There's no reasonable way to access through the Fort Wilderness side. Or will they have guests come in the same entrance as Wilderness Lodge, then turn down Wilderness Drive to cut over to Reflections? If they go the latter route, seems like they'd have to rework the guard gate/booth for Wilderness Lodge by moving it just past Wilderness Drive, or have a lane that veers off just before the gate to go over to Wilderness Drive.

I also hope that if Reflections is roughly where River Country was, or close, that they would allow the Fort Wilderness Cabins access to Reflections - preferably via golf cart with a nearby parking area to utilize bars/restaurants/etc of that property. Way back in the old days when Wilderness Lodge opened, you could actually take the Fort Wilderness golf carts down the walking trail all the way to Wilderness Lodge, park and walk in - we regularly stayed at the cabins and would cart over to the Lodge for dinner.

If I remember correctly, there were permits to work on Wilderness Rd and was speculated that it was going to be the main entrance.

 

[matt and beth]

Additional promising news:

Large Crane Coming to Fort Wilderness for Possible Hotel Construction​

We’ll start with the most recent development – a proposed permit for a 240′ crane at the former River Country site. This permit, which doesn’t appear to have been approved by the FAA just yet, would signal that significant construction is about to take place in an area formerly carved out for the Reflections Disney Vacation Club hotel.

Imagine if all this is for expansion of the Fort Wilderness Cabins.

 

[lukemorenus]

If I remember correctly, there were permits to work on Wilderness Rd and was speculated that it was going to be the main entrance.

Yes, that was the speculation:

 

[Mouseforward]

If reflections is built , and is in the FW trust with $12 MF it still will not sell. If they combine them and make MF around $9 then they both will sell out.

It is all about the MF for experienced DVC buyers.

 

[zackiedawg]

Agreed - I would hope the maintenance fees for the cabins would adjust lower if combined, so something more reasonable for the building.

 

[zackiedawg]

That Wilderness Drive plan does look like they'd reroute the entrance to Wilderness drive before the Wilderness Lodge gate - possibly widen it a bit too with busses and cars going in and out. Wonder if the reflections bus will be the same as Fort Wilderness, and suppose it will get its own boat dock to share a boat with Fort Wilderness.

 

[Mouseforward]

That Wilderness Drive plan does look like they'd reroute the entrance to Wilderness drive before the Wilderness Lodge gate - possibly widen it a bit too with busses and cars going in and out. Wonder if the reflections bus will be the same as Fort Wilderness, and suppose it will get its own boat dock to share a boat with Fort Wilderness.

If the busses did a reflections then cabin loop it would improve the experience- no bus to bus transfer like it is now

 

[mamaofsix]

Update: construction has officially begun on the former reflections site. Many guests have been taking pictures of earth moving activity.


Latest filed permits states that the crane is for a 10 storey hotel.