Walt Disney World has filed a brand new development allow for Wilderness Lodge, suggesting a prolonged and large-scale undertaking happening on the #1 resort. This put up shares related dates, particulars, and our hypothesis about what this work may presumably entail given each its length and what’s taking place round WDW.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals of the development allow, which lists the character of the undertaking as “normal development.” That’s frequent of those permits, and it tells us completely nothing concerning the Wilderness Lodge undertaking. They may very well be doing a delicate items room refurbishment or retheming the foyer to Brother Bear and “normal development” would apply.
Subsequent, the allow is assigned to Adena Company, which is a daily collaborator with Walt Disney World. Adena Company’s core group has former Imagineers who’ve many years of expertise on international initiatives. They’ve labored on all the things from TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom to TRON Lightcycle Energy Run in Shanghai Disneyland (somewhat light-cycle humor), and nearly all the things in between and past that. Most just lately, they helmed the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster refurbishment.
Moreover, the allow has been prolonged till December 25, 2026. The default 1-year timeline is rarely noteworthy, however shorter or longer ones all the time are, as they’re prolonged or decreased purposefully. Which means that there’s a purpose for doing so. On this case, that’s as a result of the work is anticipated to take longer than one yr. Clearly, that means a undertaking that’s bigger in scope and scale.
Lastly, the allow is through Walt Disney World’s Facility Asset Administration (FAM) group fairly than Walt Disney Imagineering. This sometimes means that’s upkeep of an present facility fairly than a wholesale development undertaking. Resort refurbishments–much more bold ones like that of the Grand Floridian–undergo FAM.
Then again, in the event that they had been constructing new waterfront cabins or including a tower to the periphery of Wilderness Lodge, that might in all probability have an Imagineering allow. A brand new construct additionally in all probability would’ve triggered a water administration allow earlier than this one, so it’s in all probability (hopefully) secure to rule that out.
As for what this allow is for, my hope is that that is merely the Copper Creek room refurbishment undertaking that’s mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Resort Refurbishment Timeline. This was already introduced on the condominium affiliation assembly late final yr, and easily given a 2025 timeline.
These are comparatively new rooms, so that is essentially a delicate items refurbishment based mostly solely on timing. Nevertheless, it’s additionally value declaring that Grand Floridian and Polynesian Villas (the prevailing ones, not the brand new/upcoming ones) obtained delicate items refurbishments in the previous few years that had been extra bold (in my estimation) than the usual selection.
Copper Creek opened simply earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds, so it’ll virtually definitely get that–similar to what occurred with the Grand Floridian and Poly rooms. Hopefully, Disney additionally corrects a number of the questionable design selections, which made it a little bit of a thematic hodgepodge. Copper Creek had flashes of excellence earlier than, and if this brings it on par with Boulder Ridge, it’ll be an enormous win.
There’s an honest chance the allow is for this work. That it was merely filed early and, since Disney doesn’t know fairly how lengthy the undertaking will take, they erred on the aspect of warning in submitting a allow that runs via Christmas 2026. Strategy of elimination type of leads us to this being essentially the most logical conclusion.
It’s undoubtedly not a refurbishment to Boulder Ridge, as these rooms had been simply reimagined during the last couple years and–as we’ve talked about repeatedly–the Boulder Ridge Villas are our new #1 rooms in all of Walt Disney World.
It’s additionally virtually definitely not the common ole resort rooms. In case you missed it (there was quite a bit occurring), that aspect of Wilderness Lodge was redone in the course of the phased reopening again in 2021. Whereas I don’t utterly love them, the new resort rooms at Wilderness Lodge do a reasonably good job hanging the fitting stability between themed design and trendy luxurious. No matter high quality, there’s no purpose to revisit them.
I suppose it’s attainable that Disney has determined to transform extra of the Wilderness Lodge resort stock into Disney Trip Membership, however I’m extremely skeptical of that. The timing simply doesn’t make sense. The resort rooms are nonetheless “new” by Walt Disney World requirements, and there’s already a ton of DVC stock out there for buy or coming on-line. I’d be shocked in the event that they muddied the waters of their advertising and marketing efforts even additional by including to that pool. Then once more, I’ve been shocked by DVC’s aggressiveness within the final couple of years, so who is aware of.
One other theoretical chance is a pool refurbishment. We’ve been seeing this increasingly with Walt Disney World swimming pools, however not something of this length. Nevertheless it’s attainable a urgent challenge was found with the characteristic pool and it’s in want of pressing work–they usually don’t know the way lengthy it’ll final, in order that they went with an expiration date manner into the long run. I don’t know sufficient about swimming pools (or the historical past of labor on Wilderness Lodge swimming pools) to evaluate the plausibility of this.
It may be the water options in and round Wilderness Lodge even when it’s not the pool correct. There’s the babbling brook that begins within the foyer, continues open air and turns into a waterfall. There are additionally the geysers between the pool and lake which were problematic for years. (This was one other massive undertaking again in 2021, so I’d hope they don’t must fastened already once more.)
Or, who is aware of. The allow does expire on December 25, 2026. Perhaps they’re already enterprise elaborate preparations to make that the most effective Christmas ever at Wilderness Lodge, with the return of Humphrey’s Gingerbread Cabin and a light-weight show that might make us overlook all concerning the Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights. I one way or the other doubt that…particularly as a result of it wouldn’t set off a development allow…however I can dream!
My worry is that it’s a big scale reimagining of the resort as a complete or the foyer. I’m skeptical of this being the case on condition that Walt Disney World has larger “fish to fry” on that entrance. And if something, it positive looks like Disney has pulled again from its grand foyer overhaul initiatives (they nonetheless haven’t redone the Grand Floridian, Modern, or BoardWalk lobbies–regardless of beginning initiatives in any respect three).
I’ll be the primary to confess that I’m biased. I’m apprehensive about any modifications to Wilderness Lodge, based mostly on a combination of previous refurbishments and expansions to and across the resort. My opinion of the Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge proposal is way from optimistic and I hate how the resort has misplaced bushes and widened walkways over time.
The one actual exception to that is the room redesigns. Boulder Ridge received quite a bit higher with its current redo, and I feel Copper Creek is way more likely to get higher than it’s to worsen. Even the above-referenced new resort rooms turned out about in addition to may’ve been anticipated. (I feel they’re removed from good, however higher than they might’ve been.)
I additionally haven’t been wild about a number of the smaller-scale modifications to Wilderness Lodge that in all probability go unnoticed by most company, which because the carpeting within the hallways of the DVC wing in the primary constructing (and elsewhere). That appears prefer it’s attempting too laborious to be trendy…and failing at it. The previous carpet was a lot extra stunning and on-theme.
I’m not attempting to be nitpicky–there have been different optimistic modifications to Wilderness Lodge over time. The Cascade Cabins are incredible, and a considerate addition to the shoreline. Geyser Level Bar & Grill is an easy however incredible addition providing a number of the finest open-air ambiance, views, and meals within the Magic Kingdom space. Heck, I even love Story E-book Eating at Artist Level and acknowledge that, as a lot as we beloved it, the previous Signature Restaurant wasn’t significantly widespread.
Nonetheless, I strategy another modifications at Wilderness Lodge–particularly to its core design–with an incredible quantity of skepticism and a “don’t repair what isn’t damaged” perspective. I’m not a type of individuals who thinks trendy Imagineering is incapable of the artistic output of the Nineteen Nineties groups. However I do very a lot suppose they’re given parameters and denied sources for resorts on par with those who opened within the Nineteen Nineties. So similar consequence, completely different purpose.
I’m significantly “protecting” of Wilderness Lodge. If this had been a allow for Previous Key West or Saratoga Springs, I’d in all probability ignore it–solely offering a passing replace in our development timeline tracker. However once more, Wilderness Lodge is my private #1 resort at Walt Disney World. It’s additionally our favourite spot in the course of the Christmas season. In relation to reimaginings/development at Wilderness Lodge, this implies extra scrutiny–not much less. The stakes are larger right here.
Wilderness Lodge is the head of Imagineering at Walt Disney World and has been for the reason that resort opened. Thematically, the one resort that even comes shut is Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is mainly a sister resort to Wilderness Lodge from an structure and design perspective. Modifications at Wilderness Lodge over time have virtually all been compromises, making an attempt to make the property attraction to those that don’t just like the U.S. Nationwide Park lodge model and will, frankly, merely keep elsewhere.
Wilderness Lodge is, by advantage of its core idea, a distinct segment property that can’t presumably attraction to everybody. Identical to an precise U.S. Nationwide Park lodge. Some folks don’t like nature or rustic model, and subduing these qualities can solely accomplish that a lot to appease these company. In the meantime, it alienates those that love outdoorsy lodging. Making an attempt to fulfill everyone seems to be a recipe for catastrophe that makes issues uninteresting and unappealing to anybody. I hope Walt Disney World acknowledges this and the allow is just for the Copper Creek room refurbishment and never attempting to basically alter the core character of Wilderness Lodge. They aren’t going to make it any higher–solely worse.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the development allow for Wilderness Lodge that runs via December 2026? Assume it’s in all probability the delicate items refurbishment at Copper Creek, or one thing larger? What do you consider the structure and design of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation that Disney shouldn’t repair what isn’t damaged? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
