New Resort Coming to Walt Disney World?

Today Elijah and I were out exploring Disney World.  While the sun was hot, the humidity was low and it was a lovely day to explore some resorts.  We rode the monorail and took a couple of boat rides, it was great. Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake is beautiful and breezy, and the boat rides really are like attractions themselves.

On October 1, 1971, when Walt Disney World Resort opened there were only three resorts, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

There was also only one park at the time, Magic Kingdom Park, so it made sense that all the resorts were situated close by.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is located between Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.  It was built using steel frames that were erected on-site, however, the modules were built off-site, and were later placed into the frame using a crane.  It was one of only two resorts that were originally on the monorail route.  Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened on August 4, 2009 and replaced the North Garden Wing rooms and is Disney Vacation Club.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is situated on Seven Seas Lagoon and is connected to the monorail.  The tropical atmosphere is based off the Polynesian Islands and the original longhouses were constructed much like Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  The steel frames were also constructed on-site, and the modular rooms were constructed off-site and installed using a crane.  It didn’t go as well as with the Contemporary.  Early guests complained of moldy smelling rooms and sure enough, mold was found in the spaces between the modules.  The problem was fixed and the rest of the longhouses were built onsite.  On April 1, 2015, the first expansion of DVC buildings opened.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground officially opened on November 19, 1971, and is located on Bay Lake.  While it is not on a monorail route, it does have boat transportation to and from Magic Kingdom.  Fort Wilderness has primitive campsites, RV campsites, and also full cabins. On June 20, 1976, Disney’s River Country opens next to Fort Wilderness and is Disney’s first water park. It later closes on November 2, 2001, but we’ll come back to that.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opened on June 28, 1988, almost 17 years after the original three.  It too is located on Seven Seas Lagoon and is the only other resort connected to the Magic Kingdom monorail line.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the latest resort to open, on May 28, 1994, in the Magic Kingdom area.  It is also located on Bay Lake.  Like Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground it is not connected to the monorail and has boat transportation to Magic Kingdom.

There have been talks of other resorts being built on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, but nothing ever came of them, or plans changed.  There was the Asian Resort, that was supposed to be where the Floridian resort ended up.  The Venetian Resort and The Persian Resort were also planned, but they too were never built. However, today we were talking to a cast member on one of the boats and he mentioned that a new resort was being built where River Country used to be and that will be themed after River Country and built for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021.

We’ve heard rumors like this years ago, and haven’t seen anything come of it, but I thought I’d look into it.  Sure enough, I found a couple sources stating that “construction will start next year on a large-scale themed hotel and timeshare resort.” It is being referred to as Project 89, and has had two permits filed. The cast member we talked to said that at night there are lights flickering over in the River Country area with people working on something. Keep in mind, Disney has yet to officially confirm this, so I guess we’ll have to wait for the announcement to get the details.