Reflections Lodge Site Construction Begins at Walt Disney World

Bryce B.

Construction site with excavators near a tree and buildings, next to a body of water under a cloudy sky.

Reflections Lodge Site Construction Begins at Walt Disney World

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permitted Disney to construct a 10-story hotel at the Reflections Lodge site. Today, we discovered that dirt has started moving for the project.

Possible Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge Construction

Construction equipment operating near a wooded area and a body of water, with a yellow barrier floating on the water's surface.

Dirt has started moving near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort in preparation for what we expect to be Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge which Disney announced in 2018. The new hotel will be erected at the former River Country site.

After the abandoned water park was demolished in 2019, work started on Reflections, but COVID-19 shut down all construction. Shortly after construction was halted, Disney removed all references to the hotel from its websites and obtained a 2021 permit for trailer removal. With those developments, many thought the resort was canceled.

Construction site with yellow excavators on a grassy area near a body of water, under a cloudy sky. Trees and a building are in the background.

Now, four years later, work is being done again at the Reflections Lodge site. Construction equipment was spotted today, and we expect to see more soon. Recent permits show that crane work is expected to begin on October 14, 2024 and continue through August 14, 2025.

A construction site with a yellow excavator is visible behind green fencing and wooden railings, surrounded by grassy areas and trees.

The area in the above photo has been fenced off for a few years near the Settlement Trading Post. Now, construction is taking place once again behind the green scrims.

While Disney has not confirmed that the new hotel will still be called Reflections, they have made multiple filings for construction permit extensions which make it clear that whatever the name of the hotel is, it is going to start developing very soon.

Artist's rendering of a resort entrance with a modern design, featuring wooden structures, green landscaping, and people walking. High-rise buildings surround the central entryway, reminiscent of a daily recap bustling with urban energy.

Check out the original concept art of Reflection’s public spaces and hotel rooms inspired by “Bambi,” “Brother Bear,” “Fox and the Hound,” and “Pocahontas.”

Be sure to stay tuned to our website for more information about the new hotel.

Are you excited that construction is underway at the Reflections Lodge site? Let us know in the comments and on social media.

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