A massive hotel with space for DVC

Image: Disney 

The last hotel project around the Magic Kingdom was the addition of the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, which added a small amount of timeshare capacity to the Magic Kingdom area resorts. However, this was was not enough, as demand for DVC property around the Magic Kingdom is fierce. Which is where this project comes in. According to the same report from the Orlando Sentinel, this new hotel will be large-scale hotel that will have space for regular guests as well as DVC.

So how big are we talking? Well, according to the Orlando Business Journal, this new property will have at least 1,000 rooms and could cost close to $700 Million. And while nothing is set in stone, the Orlando Business Journal report notes that this project is still in the very early pre-construction phase (which includes nailing down details like scope, scheduling, and early engineering) and with demolition work needing to be done at the River Country site, a groundbreaking might not happen until 2020, with an opening potentially happening another year or two after that. 

And while that all seems very far away, it is worth remembering that Walt Disney World is coming up on its 50th anniversary in 2021, and if they can get the ball rolling on this new hotel property now, they could potentially celebrate this milestone anniversary with the opening of this new hotel (as well as the new TRON roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom). 

Right now, Disney is keeping very quiet about this project. However, with so many sources indicating that this project is indeed moving forward, we can't imagine Disney will stay silent for long. While they usually wait for the bi-annual D23 Expo to announce big projects like this, Disney probably won't be waiting until 2019 to confirm this project, especially as construction may be visible (and potentially within earshot as well) of some areas of the Fort Wilderness Campground, which was very close to the former River Country site. 

Image: Disney

Though we're still waiting on official word from Disney, it certainly seems like, barring an abrupt cancellation, this project is indeed moving forward. Are you excited for the addition of another Magic Kingdom-area hotel at Walt Disney World?