Many New Disney World Construction Permits
The last few days have seen a veritable furor of filing for Walt Disney World construction permits and notices of commencement. In this post, we’ll comb through these documents submitted by Imagineering to the Orange County, Florida Comptroller and offer some commentary.
For starters, you might recall our recent update that All Construction Has Stopped at Walt Disney World during the closure and current stay at home order in Florida. This is not inconsistent with that. Most of these permits are valid for one year, meaning they have an expiration date in April 2021.
In theory, the continued filing of work permits is some fun and exciting news that present a potential source of optimism about the future status of projects at Walt Disney World. With that said, the emphasis there is definitely on the in theory preface.
In the last several days, permits have been filed for a range of projects. First, Imagineering filed a few permits for Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind to fabricate and install pieces, add lighting controls, and install graphics, entrance, and set structures.
The most interesting of these is for the fabrication and installation of set pieces being done by Icarus Exhibits Inc, which is a company that specializes in custom creative environments in theme parks. This same company is working on Tron Lightcycle Run and did a lot of work in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Earlier this week, we posted a comprehensive Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Overview that covered everything you need to know about the upcoming Epcot blockbuster attraction. Most notably, we speculated about an opening date and potential delays, contending that this is one of the Walt Disney World projects least likely to be cancelled or delayed and most likely to be fast-tracked.
While construction continues on one attraction, demolition commences on another! (In this case, destruction does call for exclamation.)
Two permits were filed for interior demolition of Stitch’s Great Escape. There have long been rumors of a Wreck-It Ralph ride replacement in this Tomorrowland space. While it’s possible this is for that, it’s equally likely that this is simply to clear space for storage, an expanded meet & greet, or something else that’s unexciting.
There have also been a couple of permits for “general construction” of the pedestrian swing bridge that will connect Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom.
We’re optimistic this infrastructure project will push forward and finish sometime this year. Most of the work is already done and it should ease the burden on the monorail.
Finally, there were a half-dozen permits filed for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. This is the next Disney Vacation Club resort, which is being built adjacent to Fort Wilderness on the former site of the River Country water park.
On a side note, we “recently” camped at Fort Wilderness (it was less than a month ago but now feels like several years ago). An intended construction update got lost in the shuffle, but at that point work was continuing to progress and had further encroached upon the Settlement.
About the only significant difference since our last Fort Wilderness & Reflections Lakeside Lodge Construction Update is that a new playground since opened in the middle of the Settlement, and more visible progress has been made on the new Tri-Circle-D Ranch building.
While progress has undoubtedly been made, I didn’t notice any ascertainable difference on the Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge site.
Anyway, these permits for Reflections cover a range of resort components, ranging from the ho-hum (security kiosk, bus stop, boat docks, and pool restrooms) to the potentially titillating and mysterious…but probably also humdrum (six different “outdoor structures“).
The most interesting of the permits is for a table service restaurant, which is presumably the inexplicably located Princess and the Frog waterfront dining announced at last year’s D23 Expo. (We’re still perplexed as to why this isn’t being added to Port Orleans French Quarter with any one of Disney’s many nature-centric IPs being instead added to Reflections, but what do we know.)
All of these permits list Balfour Beatty Construction LLC as the general contractor. They have helmed numerous projects at Walt Disney World, including Pandora – World of Avatar and Gran Destino Tower. As previously noted, design firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo is the lead designer for the $350 million resort.
(Credit where credit is due: danlb_2000 on WDWMagic is the main source for permit posts in the Walt Disney World fan community. I wish I had the patience and diligence to regularly scour the Official Records Index of the Orange County Comptroller…but I don’t.)
Now for our commentary. To put it succinctly: don’t hold your breath. This wouldn’t be the first, second, or even tenth time forward momentum continued on ultimately doomed Disney projects.
Several of these permits were executed by Imagineering representatives late this week, which is a good sign. However, that’s not necessarily a conclusive sign that all of these projects are going forward. Walt Disney World is a complex operation, with layers of bureaucracy and a lot of “one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.”
It’s entirely possible that someone within Imagineering is plugging along, going through the motions of filing permits after said documents make their way to that person’s desk. This could be happening without regard to the project’s actual status–with decisions to indefinitely postpone occurring at a higher level.
It’s also possible Disney is in a holding pattern on actual construction, but still hasn’t–and won’t–make a determination of what’s getting axed or postponed until the full extent of the economic damage is known. There’s a final scenario in which Disney has already quickly evaluated its slate of projects, hit pause on some, notified all relevant stakeholders, and these projects remain fully-funded and are proceeding as normal.
Ultimately, these new permits are interesting and give us change of pace in terms of Walt Disney World topics to discuss (well, at least to some degree–hard to ignore the elephant in the room completely). Speculating about Walt Disney World’s future is fun and a welcome reprieve–even if it’s for projects that don’t particularly excite me.
However, these permits do not change our perspective on what’s likely to be built, postponed, and cancelled outright at Walt Disney World. Even with a half-dozen permits for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, that remains the project we view as most likely to be postponed indefinitely or shelved permanently (for all of the reasons we outlined here).
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of these construction permits? Excited about the potential for a Stitch’s Great Escape replacement, or think that’s probably for something back of house? Optimistic about the installation of show scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind? Thoughts on Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge? Do you think these permits suggest all of these projects are “safe” from being outright cancelled or postponed indefinitely? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
You CAMPED at Fort Wilderness??? Where is the trip report and review… I have been hoping you guys would do this and would LOVE an old style trip report. I was just re-reading your Norway trip report. They’re some of my favorites!
Fix the Yeti!
Allegedly, they cannot fix it without tearing up a significant portion of the mountain due to the way it sits inside the structural steel. Seems like a huge oversight to me as a civil/structural engineer, but they didn’t consult me on the design. Maybe if they’d moved Imagineering to FL years ago like they should have, I’d be working there now…
That’s a lost cause most likely!
I think one of the key reasons nothing is being done yet is the fact that the coronavirus has not yet peaked in this country, as well as several other countries worldwide. June seems too soon. For a start, more people need to start healing, The number of new cases needs to decline, and the number of deaths needs to decline. At least in this Country. When things start to level off, more likely in August and September, things will need to start happening at Disney. Some adjustments need to be made. Disney needs to take a long , hard look at all aspects of Disney. Ticket prices will need to be adjusted. Hotels need to reopen gradually. All rides need to have problems fixed. The State economy needs to be looked at. Your Primary customers will be local, then they will come from across the country, and finally, from across the planet. If there is a recession, it will take longer. Medically, a vaccine that is reliable needs to be created No one wants to go to Disney wearing a mask. This has scared a lot of people. And people need to have a sense of control over their environments before they venture out. There will be a new “normal”. How many people will willingly rely on others and how many people will not trust in others and will need to do everything for themselves? Even to preparing their food and washing their own linens that are on hotel beds. When you consider all the aspects of life that need to become normal before people are comfortable enough to go anywhere, Disney becomes a lower priority.
They should still be working on the ongoing projects right now, and should have already pushed through some smaller ones. There will never be a better time to get these things done.
A vaccine is a long way off.
Don’t expect ticket prices to decrease in any way. I’ve long said and still believe they could double prices and it wouldn’t make a dent in crowds. Now, some food prices, especially snacks and drinks, could use a discount! A bottle of the inferior Coca-Cola is simply not worth $4. And beers should be cheaper too.
For many, many people, a trip to WDW IS the sign of things returning to normal.
“Several of these permits were executed by Imagineering representatives late this week, which is a good sign. However, that’s not necessarily a conclusive sign that all of these projects are going forward.”
What it does tell us is that projects that do not have permits are unlikely to go forward over the next year. (I was hoping for groundbreaking on Mary Poppins, myself.) This is definitely a best case list.
The Orlando Sentinel ran a story on FDOT offering an extra $125 million for the I-4 Ultimate project, which is behind schedule and having lots of problems, including excessive turnover of construction workers, not to mention several deaths. An effort is being made to use the drop in traffic to speed up some of the construction.
I saw that. It has definitely been an interesting/troubled project.
I’m hopeful that infrastructure spending is included in the next stimulus bill. Pretty easy to garner bipartisan support for that, and the timing is right for a number of reasons.
I wish they would turn Tomorrowland Speedway into a Wreck-It Ralph attraction. Make the racetrack themed after Sugar Rush.
Do you think that hippity dippity pool at Pop Century will be open this summer. It was to be completed in March. Would think it was close to being reopened.
A bunch of flights are already sold out to Orlando from where I am (DFW). For June 1st. I’m anxious if they are reopened by then, what will this mean for crowds?
News reports say airlines are cutting back drastically on flights. Obviously don’t know how these cutbacks are distributed across the various terminals, but I’d be very surprised if Orlando-bound capacity isn’t greatly diminished. Disney is offering steep hotel discounts so apparently they have a lot of rooms left to fill. If so, I doubt the Parks will even be at normal crowds. Does indicated a fair number of people are eager to get back to WDW.
IMO the bigger questions are whether the Parks will be open on June 1 and how many currently-scheduled flights will actually take place.
I guess that depends on what you call steep discounts. I was checking on hotels for a September trip and A.S.S. was still over $150 a night, and that’s one I’ll never stay at again except as an absolute last resort. It’s the worst on property and I won’t pay that much for it.
Tom,
I know my question isn’t Disney related but it is construction/Orlando related. Do you think Universal is going to proceed with their new Epic Universe theme park or do you think there will be a delay? I live nearby and I’m dreading the traffic that will be added to my area. So, I’m hoping for a few extra years.
The rumor thus far is that Epic Universe is still on track. However, the economic fallout still hasn’t played out, so who knows if that’ll remain the case going forward.
One thing Universal has going for it is that Comcast is much better diversified than Disney. Unfortunately, several business divisions of TWDC are getting hit hard all at once during this.
Am I getting this right that people are working on construction sites? If I got it wrong that’s ok but we all should be home not working. I don’t consider this work as essential.
Thunder Mountain is scheduled for refurbishment in May. Will all that and other ones be completed while parks are closed and ready for when parks open?
Any word on refurb of spaceship earth?
I know that space hasn’t been doing anything for a while now, but I hope it’s not another previous attraction that’s replaced by a character meet and greet. That seems like a cop out!
I am in denial, but I hope they NEVER build reflections. Fort Wilderness is an amazing and unique experience that would forever be changed for the worst should that resort be built. I understand they feel the need to build more resorts, but with so much land why on top of something so special. They can’t build it and not destroy the amazing environment that draws such a loyal following. I just hope it is delayed enough that my kids get to enjoy most of what made the Fort special to me as a kid.
I totally agree with you. the resort will ruin the whole landscape or fort wilderness and the wilderness lodge.
Why not expand Fort wilderness instead? On exactly the same lines of the present historic one?
The most exciting news to me is the gutting of Stitch’s Great Escape…it’s about time! While a Wreck it Ralph ride would be great, I’m just thrilled that *something* is going to happen there!
I’d love to hear that some construction is slated to happen..I’m mystified that they can’t proceed with some…using the stay safe guidelines.
Anyway, new news is great to hear! =)
“I’m mystified that they can’t proceed with some…using the stay safe guidelines.”
They can. Construction sites, regardless of type, are excluded from Florida’s stay at home order. Disney is choosing to close them (understandably given the current state of affairs).
I actually wouldn’t be totally shocked if something ends up happening with Stitch’s Great Escape in the next few years. If there’s a concept they can do on the cheap and market towards the end of the 50th Anniversary, that might be just the type of project that gets greenlit in this environment.
I actually think a Wreck-it-Ralph attraction in Tomorrowland would be as bad or worse thematically as GotG in Epcot. A decent movie about an 80’s video game? How in any way would that reflect “tomorrow”? Even if we are using some nostalgic, past vidion of tomorrow?
Agree. A Wall-E attraction would be better in that space. They could replace the diesel-spewing transit authority cars with electric ones and theme it to Candy Crush for a Wreck it Ralph skin on an outdated ride.
Well said Kevin
Having worked in engineering design and construction for the last 25 years, this is a great opportunity for Disney to complete many refurbishments without need to use scrims and other camouflage with no guests in the parks. Even if construction sites weren’t specifically excluded from the stay home orders, pushing forward on these in-progress sites could easily be classified as essential to the business just to protect the investments already made. Much like the animal care personnel still working to keep everyone healthy, as well as landscaping. You can’t just drop everything on a project without incurring weather damages to already-completed work and to stored materials on site.
I’d have teams there working on small things that need to be done and continue on all of the large projects that are already in progress and committed to. They already have the budget for these dedicated, so push on them and get things done! Sure, revenue is sharply decreased with the parks closed, but the company is enormously diversified and has a lot of reserves.
And they should also have parks maintenance crews performing the periodic maintenance that enhances reliability on the main attractions that have seen more frequent breakdowns in recent years. Use this opportunity to try and fix EVERYTHING while keeping at least some cast members fully employed. If I were head of Parks Division, this is what would be happening.
FDOT has already stated that they’re using this time to accelerate the I4 Ultimate project when there’s significantly less traffic so any stall in construction at WDW is likely for financial, not logistical, reasons.
In addition to the “normal” disruption from having all their Parks closed for who knows how long, and needing to delay the release of many movies with theaters closed, Disney is still digesting their huge Fox acquisition.
I can’t imagine trying to estimate how much debt and/or stock Disney will need to offer to get them through the crisis, and the lack of any good idea how long the pandemic will last and how badly damaged the economy, both US and international, will be and how rapid or slow the recovery will be. Until Disney has some estimates which are better than consulting the entrails of a goat I’m guessing they won’t spend anything which can be deferred even if it will cost them additional money for the reasons you mentioned.