Disney World is entering an exciting new era.
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In November 2024, Disney officially confirmed its long-rumored Lakeshore Lodge project, the newest DVC resort to open at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. DVC stands for Disney Vacation Club, the company’s in-house travel and vacation system where guests can purchase or rent points and enjoy exclusive benefits worldwide.
Walt Disney World is home to several DVC resorts, though one in particular has remained in the spotlight throughout 2024: Reflections—A Lakeside Lodge. Intended to be Disney World’s next big DVC resort, Reflections marked a bold new chapter for Disney and its Florida theme park resort, with the new hotel set to take over the space that once housed Disney World’s River Country water park.
Disney’s Abandoned River Country
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River Country opened in 1976, becoming Walt Disney World’s first-ever water park. Though it pales in comparison to the size and scale of current water parks like Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, or even Universal’s Volcano Bay, River Country managed to be one of the most popular spots in Walt Disney World for several years.
Disney ultimately closed the water park in November 2001, assuring fans it would reopen the following year. However, River Country never reopened.
In 2005, the water park was officially confirmed to be closed, sitting empty and abandoned for nearly two decades. Over the years, wildlife, vegetation, and Mother Nature herself took control of the former park.
River Country is one of two Disney parks to permanently close, with Discovery Island closing permanently in 1999. While unconfirmed, it’s rumored that low attendance played a part in River Country’s closure.
In comes Reflections, which was designed to use the space formerly occupied by Disney’s ill-fated River Country water park. Reflections—A Lakeside Lodge was announced in 2018. However, as was the case with several other Disney World projects, Disney’s Reflections resort was left in limbo due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
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The site remained empty for several years, with rumors claiming Reflections had been canceled entirely. Disney would not make an official statement about Reflections, though it was clear a roadblock had come up in the construction process.
This is how Reflections remained for years until 2024, when work started back up at the site of the previously announced DVC hotel. However, construction permits indicated a new project had taken over Disney’s original Reflections plans.
Over the last several months, speculation has continued to grow regarding the project, leading to Disney’s eventual confirmation of a brand-new, somewhat reimagined take on Reflections named Lakeshore Lodge. The new Disney Vacation Club resort will open in 2027, featuring a unique blend of branded Disney stylings with more natural elements. In concept art, characters from Bambi can be seen, indicating that Lakeshore Lodge will feature Disney characters and IP.
With Lakeshore Lodge opening, the Walt Disney World Resort enters an exciting new chapter, one that finally says goodbye to the history of Disney’s River Country Water Park.
Will you be staying at Disney’s new Lakeshore Lodge when it opens?
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