Possibility of an EPCOT hotel surfaces once again

Mar 22, 2021 in "EPCOT"

Posted: Monday March 22, 2021 5:28pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The fabled EPCOT hotel has reared its head once again this week with reports from Orlando Real Estate watcher Ken Pozek.

A hotel at EPCOT has long been discussed

Via a YouTube report, Ken has identified a possible construction project that is in the design phase for "EPCOT Future World Hotel." According to the document on construction.com, the project began in August 2018, and most notably has been updated on February 4 2021. The resource is typically use by construction firms to identify and bid on construction projects, so its appearance here is of note. However, it should be noted that we have not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the document or its accuracy.

According to the report, the valuation of the hotel is put at $50 - $75 million and is in the planning schematics stage. Alongside the hotel, the project type is described as having a swimming pool and miscellaneous recreation.

We've been following the possibility of an EPCOT hotel for many years on the WDWMAGIC Forums, but it reached most prominence in late 2017. At that time, Disney was considering multiple designs ideas and locations, including both World Showcase and Future World, with the latter being favored to move forward.

One Future World proposal saw a hotel being built close to the center of the park near to the former Club Cool, another at the entrance and other plans placed the hotel at the edge of the park.

The area that was planned to become the festival pavilion was at one time a possible location for a hotel

With the design of World Celebration seemingly confirmed, it would now seem safe to rule out a hotel development in the center of the park. Ken's research places the construction address to be closer to Soarin' on the western side of the park.

Walt Disney World is already dipping its toes into tightly integrating hotel stays with its theme parks, with the upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. And hotels in very close proximity to the parks have already proven popular at Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Resort in California.

December 2019 Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser concept art

Despite this latest development, the chances of a new hotel being built amid a global pandemic would appear to be low. However, Disney continues to seek new revenue streams, and the prospect of an in-park EPCOT boutique hotel may well fit in with Disney's post-COVID plans for lower attendance, offset with higher spending guests.

Discuss on the Forums

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BocabearMay 05, 2023

A hotel right at or in EPCOT would be a great draw and a great sell...much like the monorail resorts... they have no trouble selling those. If the Monorail station for Epcot was connected to the new Hotel, it would sell... and be very popular. Built-in transportation to the MK Loop that is not a bus would make it very desirable...

BrianLoMay 05, 2023

I think the pandemic took it off the table for the medium term. Riviera still needs a few years to sell through and the Epcot hotel would be somewhat positioned to the same market. Or at least not really providing much segment when you already can choose between Poly and Riv. Although they aren't opposed to multiple projects, DVC seems content at looking towards quick flip other opportunities. Yacht Club still strikes me as a more likely contender. Long term I think it's basically inevitable.

TheMaxReboMay 05, 2023

But all the cucumbers you want!

MagicHappens1971May 04, 2023

Granted that the law was written to say a district created by “local act” when it wasn’t, I think we’ve established they’d have to fix the law to enforce it

Disstevefan1May 04, 2023

We must factor in the cost to make the movies and the cost to market (marketing is sometimes many times the cost to make the movie) the movies and subtract those costs from the box office. I admit I have not done the math, but I would be interested in what's actually left after the cost of making and marketing to see what they actually make from the movies recently.

scottieRossMay 04, 2023

Movies? Just 6 weeks into calendar 2023 Disney had hit over $1,000,000,000 in box office. Calendar 2022 brought in 4.9 Billion. Disney is a strong #1 at the box office. Remember too, they had that little movie Avatar II in FY 2023

peter11435May 04, 2023

It wouldn’t matter. Even if Disney sold the land, the land would still be part of the district. So the districts boundaries would still include two or more counties.

Clyde BirdbrainMay 04, 2023

Then FL will just change the law to apply to all special districts that have 4 or more theme parks.

MisterPenguinMay 04, 2023

So, we're talking about the EPCOT cabanas, right?

Disstevefan1May 04, 2023

Its living ON the land, you are responsible for your own food, water, there is no plumbing, electricity.

BocabearMay 04, 2023

$200 a night? that is cheaper than the all-Star Resorts... more like $375-$450.00

Disstevefan1May 04, 2023

Living ON the land cabins start at only $200 a night. ;)

HauntedPirateMay 04, 2023

PhicinfanMay 04, 2023

You guys are missing the clear point, they are replacing the cabins in Fort Wilderness, with new DVC cabins...obviously the old ones will be put in a area behind the Land so they can have an Epcot resort called living ON the land. You are welcome