Earlier this this week as part of his keynote speech at the IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products shared some exciting new projects coming to Disney Parks around the world.
Although if you blinked you’d miss it, we were surprised to see a quick mention of the future Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower, which is scheduled for completion by 2023!
However, even more profound was the noticeable absence of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge from this presentation that highlighted so many current construction projects across the globe.
Back in June, we reported that rumors of Reflections cancellation were beginning to spread as the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted many construction plans throughout Disney Parks. Although reports of stray permitting and some minor construction activity have emerged since, there has been hardly enough activity going on to suggest we will be seeing Reflections any time soon, if ever.
On our recent trip to Walt Disney World, we took a boat over to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to see if any noticeable new activity was happening at the construction site. Walls remain up around the Reflections property isolating this area off from guests and visitors of Fort Wilderness. We noticed very little activity in and out of the site, and where we could see grass looked overgrown. Hardly the image of an active construction area. At this point, I would assume any continued work being done is related to underground utilities so that if and when the project resumes, this preliminary work is complete.
Recently on Twitter, @bioreconstruct shared an updated aerial view of the Reflections property that further suggests that very little activity is ongoing. In comparing the recent image to one taken in June 2020, few differences are apparent. The grass seed previously sprayed is growing nicely (I really don’t know what else to say about it). What looks to be underground drainage other construction materials that were apparent in June also look to remain sitting in piles throughout the area.
No official announcement has been made by Disney or Disney Vacation Club at this time, and the cancellation or delay of Reflections remains essentially a rumor based on what we’ve put together in recent months. If history is any indication, we may never receive a final word on the fate of Reflections. Typically canceled projects are never publicly addressed. If and when Reflections returns, it is highly likely that the concept will be something completely different. Stay tuned to DVC Fan and our DVC Fan Facebook Group for more information as it becomes available!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Were you looking forward to Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge? What do you make of its current delay or cancelation?
Source: Disney Parks Blog / @bioreconstruct
At development site such as this, the underground utilities , ( sewers,waterlines,phone and cable ducts,and electricity) are installed first, and can be used at a later date. Myself, I have seen projects put on hold for months, even years till the money becomes available to move forward. Then, before you know it, buildings will pop up and a new development will appear. Leaving the underground in place not finished, is worse than not having anything installed at all.
It will be interesting to see what they come up with for this great piece of real estate.