It’s that point of yr when the EPCOT lodge “rumor” returns! The previously-abandoned challenge is supposedly on the desk once more to grow to be Walt Disney World’s first in-park resort. This shares ideas on the revived rumors, its chance of coming to fruition, and comparisons to related resorts at Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Resort. (Updated February 28, 2023.)
Before we dig into the present rumors, let’s shortly carry anybody up to the mark who hasn’t been following long-running Walt Disney World rumors–or simply doesn’t keep in mind the small print of this challenge from round 2016 and 2017 when it was a sizzling matter that nearly occurred. This predated the unique announcement of the EPCOT overhaul, and clearly, loads has modified since then.
At the time, there have been “competing” rumors for an in-park EPCOT lodge, or quite, for its location. There have been three potential websites for the EPCOT lodge: exterior the entrance entrance adjoining to the monorail station, backstage between the Living Seas and Land pavilions, or on the previous Innoventions plot. For a little bit of additional historic context, this rumor rose shortly after Riviera Resort and Gran Destino, however earlier than Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge was introduced…
That’s important as a result of Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge changing into official was just about the final anybody heard credible rumors of the EPCOT in-park lodge. That’s to not say that the 2 have been immediately competing proposals–they weren’t–however it’s fully potential the corporate evaluated all the resort tasks within the pipeline for Walt Disney World and opted to shelve the EPCOT lodge, not eager to overbuild lodge stock.
In the 6+ years since, loads has occurred and altered. Reflections Lakeside Lodge was introduced, web site prep work began, then was paused solely months later, and the challenge was quietly cancelled. That development web site has been mothballed, however is probably going nonetheless a long-term choice as one of many final highly-desirable lodge websites at Walt Disney World.
In the time since Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge was placed on ice, Walt Disney World has moved on to 2 completely different Disney Vacation Club tasks. The first was conversion of a constructing on the Grand Floridian into “Resort Studios” (principally simply lodge rooms, however they’re fairly good) plus a not-so-nice tower that’s presently underneath development at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
These tasks are notable as a result of it appears to me that the corporate goes for low-hanging fruit earlier than returning to the placement between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. Whatever finally ends up being constructed there most likely received’t be known as Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, however it’s exhausting to think about Disney completely abandoning the fully-prepped parcel.
Against that backdrop, we share that the EPCOT in-park lodge “rumor” has returned. (Note the air quotes earlier than getting too excited.)
In a brand new TikTookay video, Orlando actual property knowledgeable Ken Pozek claims that he noticed new permits indicating that Walt Disney World had “awarded” Buena Vista Construction Company the “rights” to construct the lodge inside or close to EPCOT. The permits purportedly embody a swimming pool and different leisure services along with the lodge.
As his video implies, this isn’t the primary time that Pozek has made daring claims concerning the EPCOT lodge. Two years in the past, he shared a shock discover on YouTube (video above begins at related dialog). That’s primarily based on development bid info Mr. Pozek found on Dodge Data & Analytics, a web site that tracks the development trade and permits bidding on tasks by contractors.
The itemizing then was for “EPCOT Future World Hotel” and reveals it within the planning schematics stage of design with a $50 to $75 million challenge valuation. The overview reveals that it was first printed in 2018, however republished in 2021. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts is listed as proprietor, with Imagineering and Gensler as architects.
In case it’s not already clear, I’m extremely skeptical of all this. For one factor, I couldn’t observe down the allow in query. For one other factor, the way in which Pozek has described it doesn’t actually make sense. Buena Vista is Walt Disney World’s in-house development firm, they usually sometimes deal with smaller-scale tasks. I’m struggling to consider something “big” that Buena Vista has constructed throughout the final decade.
Moreover, since Buena Vista Construction Company is in-house, they’d not be “awarded” the “rights” to construct a lodge. They’re the identical firm! That’d be like Good Morning America awarding Walt Disney World “best-value travel destination in the world.” (Okay, dangerous instance–I may completely see that taking place.)
Once once more, there’s additionally the truth with ongoing and current tasks. Expansion on the Polynesian and reimaginings on the Grand Floridian (and elsewhere) are full steam forward. Once completed, it’s probably {that a} alternative for Reflections is subsequent up on deck. Disney’s Riviera Resort has nonetheless bought solely round 50% of its complete stock and can take a number of extra years to promote out, even assuming wholesome month-to-month numbers.
Frankly, that’s a daring assumption. Disney Vacation Club direct gross sales have been slowing over the course of the final a number of months, and that lower will solely worsen if there’s an financial downturn. It’s protected to imagine that the towers at Disneyland Hotel and Polynesian will nonetheless effectively whatever the broader atmosphere, however that’s nonetheless lots of properties to promote concurrently.
Of course, it’s fully potential that the EPCOT in-park lodge may have completely nothing to do with Disney Vacation Club. Given that this can be a prime piece of actual property, a theoretical resort on this location may probably command nightly charges which can be on par with or increased than the Grand Floridian.
Even although Magic Kingdom is the flagship park at Walt Disney World, this is able to be the prized location. The EPCOT lodge can be the primary at Walt Disney World truly inside or on the entrance gate of a theme park. That alone would assist it do large numbers, and it might presumably be smaller than most of the sprawling resorts round Walt Disney World.
In different phrases, simply because Disney already started work on Reflections doesn’t imply the EPCOT lodge couldn’t occur first. For one factor, management in any respect ranges of the corporate has modified dramatically in the previous couple of years. Ditto challenge priorities. There’s additionally the truth that demographics have modified a minimum of a bit, and Walt Disney World continues to cater to convention-goers. (Just take a look at Gran Destino Tower!)
An EPCOT lodge would possibly thus be seen as a safer wager than Reflections. It additionally is perhaps a “best of both worlds” resolution. Disney opted to “take a different approach” with the multi-level Festival Center. New idea artwork of CommuniCore Hall & Plaza has since been launched, and reveals that the corporate is principally rebuilding what was beforehand there.
It’s fully potential that a part of the explanation for the scaled-back CommuniCore plans is as a result of a few of that’s transferring to the EPCOT Hotel. That may host rooftop eating, dessert events, particular occasions house, and extra–all with out requiring conference company to really enter the park.
At some level, these rumors of an EPCOT in-park lodge will probably be right. Over an extended sufficient timeline, this parcel will probably flip right into a lodge. Whether it occurs in 4 years or 40 is anybody’s guess at this level, which is what makes this particular rumor doubtful. I may throw a bunch of random “rumors” on the wall that I do know are prone to occur at Walt Disney World within the long-term; it doesn’t imply I used to be proper when my prediction comes true 14 years from now.
Calling it a rumor is just not fairly–or in any respect–correct, although. (Sorry, we don’t have a extra succinct time period.) To the opposite, I can’t discover a single credible insider who has data of this challenge being unshelved. The finest I can do is draw inferences from generalized sentiment I’ve heard on the DVC facet of issues, however that may lead me to conclude that Reflections will likely be reevaluated and revived sooner or later sooner or later…however not this.
I additionally couldn’t assist however try Gensler’s portfolio. It’s type of in every single place–no singular type or imaginative and prescient. There are lots of bland trendy interiors paying homage to what Imagineering has been doing the previous couple of years, but additionally some attention-grabbing exteriors. Several of the transportation and gateway tasks have sweeping curves and fluid trendy designs that really do instill confidence; that kind of course would make sense for a challenge exterior EPCOT and adjoining to the monorail station.
I don’t need to get forward of myself–I nonetheless suppose the EPCOT lodge is 50/50 at finest within the subsequent decade. However, that’s most likely higher than most different unannounced Walt Disney World tasks at the moment.
When the EPCOT lodge was first rumored ~6 years in the past, my take was that the lodge could possibly be an asset to EPCOT. It would possibly transfer EPCOT nearer to the mixed-use neighborhood Walt Disney initially envisioned for E.P.C.O.T., albeit with vacationers changing residents.
That can be cool, particularly if different forward-thinking visions for that have been resurrected, and it weren’t only a speaking level for advertising and marketing an in any other case bland challenge. Given that we heard a lot of the latter with Disney’s Riviera Resort, I can’t say I’ve a ton of religion that this challenge can be executed proper at this second in time.
The EPCOT lodge is also used to boost the doorway space from a thematic perspective to boost Future World or assist enhance the wow-factor of standing in entrance of Spaceship Earth for the primary time. Aesthetically, the lodge could possibly be used to increase no matter type and visible motif is used in the course of the re-imagining of Future World.
Think of it as a possible use of the ‘borrowed scenery’ type–like how the facade of Hotel MiraCosta’s facade doubles as a part of Mediterranean Harbor at Tokyo DisneySea. That port has the looks of extremely fairly buildings lining its walkways, however in actuality, it’s all of the lodge. It’s an excellent dual-use, and having a part of this be a revenue-generating lodge little question helped justify the lavish design.
Likewise, at each Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea, the ‘wow-factor’ idea is executed brilliantly. In each instances, the lodge conceals the park’s principal icon (Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant in France and Mount Prometheus in Japan) and there’s a giant reveal when you cross underneath the lodge and enter the park. The impact is akin to strolling underneath the practice station at Magic Kingdom and seeing Cinderella Castle. Same thought.
Hotel MiraCosta is the higher comparability, as right here you’ll have the ability to see Spaceship Earth when using across the monorail (simply as you may see Mount Prometheus at DisneySea), however there’s nonetheless a way of awe if you stroll by way of the breezeway at Hotel MiraCosta and Mount Prometheus is revealed. Given the grandiosity of Spaceship Earth, that feeling could possibly be much more pronounced at EPCOT. Another probably good comparability is perhaps the also-abandoned Downtown Disney lodge at Disneyland Resort since that additionally incorporates a monorail station:
For me, the largest concern right here is that the outside design finally ends up being bland. For one factor, Disney has by no means constructed a stateside lodge just like the MiraCosta.
More just lately, there’s loads of precedent for this worry–no matter whether or not you want their rooms, the skin of Riviera and Gran Destino don’t precisely scream “pinnacle of themed design.” Reflections had the identical downside.
Another concern for me can be the sight-lines wanting again in direction of Spaceship Earth from World Showcase. Presently, Spaceship Earth towers over the remainder of Future World, as one thing of a beacon of progress, world unity, or what-have-you. Having an enormous lodge tower as its backdrop would diminish this view. Conversely, one thing wanting just like the TRON cover rising simply over the tree line behind Spaceship Earth may look fairly cool.
As with nearly something, there are good and dangerous methods this challenge could possibly be achieved. It could possibly be an asset to EPCOT, it could possibly be one other eyesore. It all comes right down to price range, execution, and the stability of type and performance. When Walt Disney World/Disney Vacation Club administration attempt to cram as many rooms into their resorts as potential whereas protecting per unit prices low, the general design-aesthetics undergo.
Ultimately, I’m pretty combined on the revived EPCOT Hotel “rumor.” There’s motive to imagine this might occur, however I’m nonetheless extremely skeptical despite that. I need to be optimistic about it, as there’s a ton of potential that would make a lodge an asset to EPCOT. I need to daydream concerning the distinctive methods the lodge may harness bleeding-edge applied sciences to be a pure extension of the park, and one which aesthetically enhances Future World. I take into consideration how cool it might be to remain in Seabase Alpha Hotelater or Brava Centauri Inn.
However, I really feel like all of that’s actually getting forward of the rumor. At this level my baseline is simply hoping that if it does occur, it’s extra formidable and considerate than one more generic high-rise tower and has a superficial design with some ambition and surface-level congruity with EPCOT. My worry is that it’s going to be one more Disney-branded generic that would simply as simply be a random Marriott. Once we (hopefully) get previous that, possibly I’ll begin pondering deeper concerning the “what ifs” of this challenge.
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on these potential EPCOT in-park lodge? Do you suppose it’s prone to occur or has that ship sailed? Think it’ll be exterior the entrance entrance, behind the Living Seas and Land, or on the previous Innoventions web site? Any explicit themes or types you’d wish to see if an Epcot lodge is constructed? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!