Drury Hotels has formally announced its plans to renovate and re-brand the existing Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort in Walt Disney World's Disney Springs Resort Area:

Quote Originally Posted by Orlando Business Journal

Disney Springs to get new 604-room hotel.


By Richard Bilbao – Senior staff writer
Orlando Business Journal
December 9, 2019

A new Disney Springs hotel property will be ready in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary.

St. Louis-based Drury Hotels announced it will open the first phase of the new Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs, the entertainment, dining marketplace destination at Walt Disney World, in spring 2021. The first phase of the 604-room project will include 264 guest rooms. The hotel also will have more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

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The new Drury Plaza Hotel also will feature a pool, splash pad and poolside cantina bar and grill; a marketplace with grab-and-go food items and sundries; a kitchen and bar concept; a 24-hour business and fitness center; and other amenities.

“This property has been a long time in the making, and we are delighted to see it take shape,” said Chuck Drury, president and CEO of Drury Hotels, in a prepared statement. “We’ll be able to give our guests an unforgettable experience as they visit the Walt Disney World Resort and everything the colorful community has to offer. Being named an official Walt Disney World Hotel means we have been entrusted to adhere to exceptional service standards. Given our track record of providing award-winning guest service, I know our top-notch team will make our new property a magical experience for our guests and visitors."

The hotel will be the second property for Drury in Orlando, which includes the Drury Inn & Suites Orlando off of Sand Lake Road. This is also the fourth location in Florida for the hotel chain, which has two hotels in Fort Myers and another in Gainesville.
Permits were originally filed in July and August 2018 for the then titled "Black Lake Hotel" project:

Quote Originally Posted by INTERCOT Tidbits July/August 2018

A Bester Western

8/12/18 Subsequent permits have been filed revealing a larger planned project and one that may not include the current tenant. The new permits refer to the project as the "Black Lake Hotel" (so named for the adjacent Black Lake) and further indicates that ownership will switch to Drury Hotels as part of the renovations and expansions. The documents filed by Drury Hotels include that the new property will be part of the Drury Plaza Hotel brand.

7/29/18 The Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort near Disney Springs is planning a potential expansion. Recent permits indicate the resort is considering building a second tower to expand the hotel. An exact location for the expansion was not outlined in the filings.