A significant Walt Disney World infrastructure challenge that actually paves the best way for a possible new park entrance Magic Kingdom resort has been delayed once more, this time by one other 447 days. Right here’s the newest, together with our commentary on the challenge and its implications for future growth.
The newest Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors Assembly Agenda revealed the delay, with paperwork filed for a number of Change Orders for contractors engaged on what’s generally known as the “World Drive North Section III – Seven Seas Drive Realignment and Grand Floridian Connector Roadways” challenge.
Development of the phased World Drive challenge has been ongoing for years. To place it into context, the present (third) part involving the Floridian Manner connector had its first permits filed with the South Florida Water Administration District method again in October 2021, shortly after Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Phases previous to that had been underway for the higher a part of the earlier decade, bringing new flyovers and roadways to enhance visitors move close to the Magic Kingdom and the world accommodations. It was a part of a bundle of infrastructure enhancements over the last massive improvement cycle forward of expansions like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, TRON Lightcycle Run, Cosmic Rewind, and so on.
Additionally a part of this have been new bus loops and enhancements to the arrival expertise. It was a ache to navigate on-property on the time, however the finish outcome has made an enormous distinction. One thing we actually respect much more now that we’ve develop into accustomed to coping with the state of affairs at Disneyland, which is way worse.
The primary part of the World Drive challenge really started virtually instantly after New Fantasyland, in 2013. It’ll now culminate in late 2027. It’s been a large enterprise that’ll final virtually 15 years, bringing visitors aid to the north facet of Walt Disney World property, which is more and more used as an entrance for the rising variety of locals dwelling to the north and west of Magic Kingdom. Talking from expertise, it was/is badly wanted.
Whereas we’re going to focus totally on the portion of the challenge between the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom, there’s really extra to this than the re-routing. Right here’s a map of part 3 from the CFTOD:
Based on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board assembly minutes, the World Drive North Section III challenge includes extending the four-lane divided World Drive and changing the present Floridian Manner from south of Seven Seas Drive to north of Maple Highway. Key challenge components embody three roundabouts, a single-span bridge, and the relocation of a portion of Seven Seas Drive.
The general challenge was initially supposed to be awarded as a single bundle; nevertheless, funding availability required the development to be break up into two separate phases, which considerably prolonged the full challenge length.
Moreover, the development timeline was impacted by advanced sequencing of extra utility work inside a constrained hall and the next initiation of a serious resort improvement adjoining to the roadway. (That’s the Island Tower on the Polynesian.)
Further elements contributing to the schedule extension included expanded work on the Grand Floridian entrances and the mid-construction addition of a brand new pressure essential. The challenge was beforehand slated to be completed by or earlier than September 30, 2026.
There are a number of Change Orders within the assembly minutes, however the largest and most impactful one is that for Consor Engineers, LLC. To make sure steady oversight on the World Drive North III challenge in the course of the 447 day delay, a further $2,137,465.09 in compensation is being paid to the contractor.
The brand new completion date of Floridian Manner is by or earlier than December 21, 2027. So mark your calendars for some candy, candy drive-through roadway footage dropping subsequent Christmas!
Floridian Manner Development Images
Except for drive-by pictures out the automotive window that don’t actually seem like a lot or glimpses from Island Tower (see above), the most important supply of updates on Floridian Manner has been aerial images courtesy of buddy of the location bioreconstruct, who graciously offered the development images right here. These present the re-routed street taking form fairly properly!
Let’s begin with a high-level establishing shot. Right here we will see Magic Kingdom on the left (north), Grand Floridian within the center (east), plus the Polynesian on the best and TTC simply out of the body (south):
The one roundabout that’ll hook up with Solid Member parking is considerably full, with the 2 not being practically as far alongside. The second roundabout on the south facet of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort ought to start building on a roundabout quickly.
Under are a couple of extra images, with the ultimate one highlighting the plot of land the place a brand new lodge may very well be situated between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. The three images earlier than which can be from final 12 months, however higher assist contextualize this challenge, particularly the stretch of street that runs to the west of the park.
New Magic Kingdom Park Entrance Lodge?
Infrastructure enhancements ought to obtain extra fanfare than they do. The enhancements made round Walt Disney World property within the final decade or so, particularly because the native (off-site) inhabitants has exploded, are really underrated.
These upgrades are largely beneath the radar as a result of most company haven’t seen simply how dangerous issues might’ve been in another timeline. Effectively, that’s not totally true. Exit to Western Manner by Coronado Springs and also you’ll get a fairly good concept!
That is one other wanted improve and one that may cut back the pressure on a piece of street that’s undersized for contemporary visitors. In any case, since this challenge was first introduced 5 years in the past, many of the fan pleasure hasn’t revolved across the street itself. It’s been centered on the opportunity of a brand new Magic Kingdom space resort a brief stroll from the park entrance.
As you may see from the development images, the re-routed Floridian Manner will liberate a big parcel of land that the present street cuts by means of that’s to the north of the Grand Floridian (see the center of the photograph above, inside the brand new and wider roadway).
This is able to be a particularly handy location for a lodge inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom. This may very well be a reasonably sizable resort advanced, seemingly the scale of Lakeshore Lodge relying upon simply how appropriate all of that land is for building.
At this level, a brand new resort being constructed adjoining to Magic Kingdom is only speculative. To one of the best of my data, nothing credible has been rumored within the final ~5 years. It’s all a matter of wanting on the plans, which appear to fairly clearly lay the groundwork for a brand new lodge, and making educated guesses on that foundation.
My very own hypothesis results in related conclusions. I can’t discover any concrete numbers now, however this World Drive North Section III challenge in complete is probably going now properly above $100 million. It’s mandatory work, however that’s however rather a lot to spend on infrastructure alone.
As an old style fan, I salivate on the prospect of Walt Disney World dusting off the plans for the unique Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts that have been slated for building till the 1973 Oil Embargo stalled these plans.
It could be actually cool to see the Asian, Persian, or Venetian Resorts lastly come to fruition on this plot of land. The Persian idea actually intrigues me, particularly as it might be one thing completely not like every other Disney lodge on the planet.
The putting blue and white domes and the Mughal structure could be beautiful. The Shah of Iran allegedly provided to fund the challenge, however after the Iranian Revolution, these plans have been deserted. I do wonder if Disney would embrace that fashion of structure in in the present day’s local weather, however it’d be cool.
Alternatively, after seeing Lodge MiraCosta and the venetian gondolas in Tokyo DisneySea, I’d additionally welcome Disney reviving the Eisner-era plans for the Mediterranean Resort. That is most likely all extraordinarily wishful considering; we’re extra more likely to get Island Tower 2.0: Larger & Taller Version with no actual theme to talk of.
We additionally know that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District 2045 Complete Plan, which offers the idea for future choices relating to land use, improvement, conservation and infrastructure, permits for vital lodge growth.
What caught everybody else’s consideration within the 2045 Complete Plan is that the CFTOD authorised a fifth main theme park, in addition to the plan permits for 2 extra minor theme parks. It additionally allowed for over 1 million sq. ft of recent workplace area and 1.7 million sq. ft of restaurant/retail area.
What caught our consideration is the addition of 53,076 lodge rooms. The 2045 Complete Plan is much less about what will occur and extra about what’s now allowed to occur, and from our perspective, lodge growth is more likely than new water or theme parks. And that’s a number of lodge rooms!
Nonetheless, simply as we’ve been fast to solid doubts about fifth gate daydreaming, there’s ample cause to query simply how a lot lodge improvement Walt Disney World can maintain.
Presently, Walt Disney World is as soon as once more constructing Lakeshore Lodge on the shores of Bay Lake between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, which is able to add the primary brand-new lodge to the Magic Kingdom resort space in many years. It follows sizzling on the heels of Island Tower on the Polynesian and different DVC growth tasks, a lot of which haven’t offered out. This most likely kicks the can out on a brand new Magic Kingdom space resort till not less than 2030, which is ok, since that’s most likely the earliest conceivable opening if the challenge began as quickly as the brand new Floridian Manner opens.
Additionally on the DVC facet is the ticking time bomb of these 2042 contracts expiring. How that may unfold stays to be seen. Will Disney kick the can down the street by extending a few of these resorts a la what they’ve already carried out at Outdated Key West? Will different resorts be resold? Will some be torn down and changed by larger effectivity and occupancy towers? It’s unknown how all of that may unfold, however it can undoubtedly affect each provide and demand on the resort facet.
Then there are the opposite rumored and/or speculated tasks. One other upcoming infrastructure challenge we’ll be protecting quickly raises the opportunity of a brand new resort over by Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Nonetheless, that’s additional down the street–if it occurs in any respect.
Over at Walt Disney World’s second gate, Rumors of an in-park lodge at EPCOT have floated round for the final decade, with potential areas exterior the entrance entrance adjoining to the monorail station or backstage between the Residing Seas and Land pavilions.
Oh, and that doesn’t even handle the opposite risk at Magic Kingdom! As soon as Villains Land is completed, its laydown yards will flip a number of the land to the northwest of Magic Kingdom from “marginally unsuitable” to “marginally appropriate” for future improvement.
That land that would develop into future park growth to construct out Magic Kingdom even additional. It may be an in-park lodge overlooking Villains Land, a la Fantasy Springs Lodge at Tokyo DisneySea (beneath). It wouldn’t shock me if one of many methods the dear growth has been offered internally is with a equally dear in-park lodge on the bottom of Magic Kingdom!
In the end, there are a number of potentialities for future accommodations at Walt Disney World. Not all of them are going to be constructed; on the contrary, most won’t. There are only some certainties at this level.
First, that Lakeshore Lodge goes to be the most important lodge improvement in over a decade when it opens in 2027. This 10-story resort, 900 room resort will probably be Walt Disney World’s largest since Artwork of Animation or Animal Kingdom Lodge. The present DVC resorts gained’t all be offered out by the point that opens, which means Walt Disney World might need sufficient stock by means of the early 2030s.
Second, that one thing must be carried out with the DVC contracts expiring in 2042, and that alone is sufficient to change the trajectory of no matter occurs within the 2030s and 2040s. Lastly, that Disney won’t ever be accomplished; it can proceed to develop so long as there are DVC contracts left to promote within the ‘World.
Even with all of that in thoughts, I’d nonetheless wager on a brand new Magic Kingdom resort lodge north of Grand Floridian. It’s simply too appetizing of a risk to go up, particularly as Walt Disney World has spent the final decade shoehorning properties into ‘subsequent greatest’ parcels.
In contrast, this may very well be billed because the closest lodge to Magic Kingdom, with an entrance adjoining location and rooms overlooking the park. It most likely wouldn’t want (or have the ability to have) a monorail station, however that wouldn’t matter because it’d be simply inside strolling distance to the park.
One other constructive is that its entrance from the street may very well be adjoining to the Solid Member parking, which means this Magic Kingdom park entrance lodge may very well be constructed with out main extra future roadwork. These are a number of upsides for a future flagship lodge that wouldn’t require a lot infrastructure work. On all these bases, it looks as if probably the most real looking candidate for future lodge growth at Walt Disney World.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas on the Floridian Manner widening and World Drive challenge as a complete? Suppose a part of the motivation for spending a lot cash on that is to free area for a park entrance lodge at Magic Kingdom? Any most well-liked theme you’d prefer to see for such a flagship resort? Suppose that is seemingly or unlikely to be constructed within the subsequent decade? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? When you have any questions or ideas to share, please put up them within the feedback. We love listening to from readers!
