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 enlargement tasks.
This comes as there are additionally early rumblings of one other lodge close to Grand Floridian, following land clearing west of Magic Kingdom for an enlargement and rerouting of Floridian Means as a part of a multi-year infrastructure venture. Then there’s our completely uninformed hypothesis that Walt Disney World would possibly need to add one other in-park lodge north of Magic Kingdom as a part of the upcoming Villains Land.
Over at Walt Disney World’s second gate, Rumors of an in-park lodge at EPCOT have floated round for the final decade, with attainable places outdoors the entrance entrance adjoining to the monorail station or backstage between the Residing Seas and Land pavilions. There haven’t been any credible rumors about that for some time, however it’s a type of issues that simply received’t die. Type of just like the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster, and we now understand how that ended up. This submit will not be about these rumors, even when they do lay the muse for my blue sky daydream: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Lodge.
To be abundantly clear from the outset, that is NOT a rumor (credible or in any other case) neither is it primarily based on semi and even poorly-informed hypothesis. It’s armchair Imagineering, wishful pondering, and so forth. One thing that might be cool–I’ve heard completely nothing by any means a couple of lodge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and even one themed to Hollywood elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
In regards to the closest to a ‘current rumor’ on this subject that I’ve heard was again in Summer season 2016, when a DVC tower was supposedly on the desk for Caribbean Seaside Resort. This was one in every of three matters coated in ‘Loopy Rumor Roundup for Walt Disney World,’ with the others being the Muppets coming to Liberty Sq. and Guardians of the Galaxy coming to Future World. For being loopy, all three of these issues did occur.
As you’re possible conscious, Disney’s Riviera Resort ended up being the DVC resort “at” Caribbean Seaside, however this rumor was truly for an additional parcel. That tower was supposedly going to be constructed on empty land that’s throughout from Spyglass Grill, between the Skyliner station (which didn’t exist on the time) and the Little Mermaid rooms at Artwork of Animation. Truthfully, I don’t know what occurred. It’s attainable that rumor was flat-out flawed on the situation, Disney wished more room for Riviera, and so forth.
What I do discover attention-grabbing is that there’s numerous chatter about Skyliner enlargement in order that the fan-favorite gondola system can service extra resorts. That is purely speculative; nothing is credibly rumored for brand new Skyliner routes, both.
However if you happen to requested me to foretell the almost certainly means for Walt Disney World to ‘increase’ the Skyliner, the apparent reply to me wouldn’t be constructing new routes, it will be constructing extra lodges alongside the prevailing ones.
I don’t suppose this may occur anytime quickly, simply to be clear. But when it have been to happen, essentially the most logical places could be on that facet of Caribbean Seaside–both on the empty parcel or changing all the buildings in Trinidad with a tower–or are on the far sides of Yacht Membership or BoardWalk Inn.
And simply to underscore that this isn’t even a long-term prediction a lot as blue sky daydreaming, I don’t suppose any of that may occur for 2 causes. The primary is that buildout close to Magic Kingdom strikes me as way more logical and profitable.
The second is that Disney Trip Membership has a ticking time bomb (besides in a constructive means), with its properties that begin expiring in 2042. These will have to be handled, by some means, and regardless of the resolution finally ends up being will primarily symbolize a giant chunk of the ‘new’ resort capability coming on-line within the 2040s.
Like I stated, that is blue sky daydreaming for a sort of lodge that may be cool to see at Walt Disney World in a method that’s represented elsewhere world wide, however by some means not among the many two-dozen resorts in Florida. To that time, the ‘blueprint’ for Disney’s Hollywood Studios Lodge is Disney’s Hollywood Lodge at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Disney’s Hollywood Lodge is a resort at Hong Kong Disneyland with Artwork Deco design and Los Angeles theming, meant to evoke the golden age of Tinseltown. We’ve stayed at Disney’s Hollywood Lodge a number of instances now, and the resort has turn out to be one in every of our favorites due to its worth for cash and chic themed design.
That is truly one in every of a handful of Artwork Deco lodges that Disney has finished internationally, with the perfect exemplar of the fashion being Disney Ambassador Lodge at Tokyo Disney Resort, which we just lately reviewed (and is pictured above). I’m not suggesting that because the template for a number of causes. For one, it’s OLC-owned versus Disney. For one more, it’s older and nicer, but additionally overdue for a room refresh.
Against this, Disney’s Hollywood Lodge is newer and it’s partially owned by Disney and it simply had its rooms redone and it’s principally a Reasonable or Deluxe-Lite Resort. These final two factors are actually the important thing, as Disney’s Hollywood Lodge jogs my memory of Gran Destino Tower, and this looks as if the kind of resort Walt Disney World is almost certainly to construct. And even when not, hey at the least we obtained a have a look at some new rooms!
Talking of which, let’s check out the redone Mickey & Associates visitor rooms at Disney’s Hollywood Lodge:
Though the ‘angle’ of this submit is Walt Disney World, I’d be remiss if I didn’t supply some fast feedback and criticism for the rooms at Disney’s Hollywood Lodge. These rooms look effective when you’ve got no body of reference, however they really ditch a number of the timeless Artwork Deco particulars of their predecessors that have been intelligent and bolstered the theme.
I used to be notably eager on the carpeting within the outdated rooms, which screamed Artwork Deco to me. One other spotlight was the mirrors, each the Minnie & Mickey in entrance of Grauman’s mirror and the stylized mirror above the desk and chairs throughout from the beds. The brand new rooms are extra about Mickey & Associates within the motion pictures, which is okay. Simply not as stylish as what they changed.
Two issues I do admire are the addition of water filter (pictured above–that’s not a espresso maker) and the addition of closest area. Beforehand, these rooms didn’t have closets, in order that’s an addition…even when it lacks a door. These are the most cost effective rooms at Hong Kong Disneyland, however they’re additionally essentially the most cramped. In the event you’re touring with sufficient baggage for a multi-week Asia journey, you would possibly need to rethink staying right here. Explorers Lodge and Hong Kong Disneyland Lodge each have bigger rooms.
Disney’s Hollywood Lodge additionally has an amazing instance of what Artwork Deco eating might seem like.
Ink & Plate (beforehand often known as Chef Mickey) is a quasi-character breakfast, has incredible meals and a stunning inside. In truth, this submit might simply as simply be titled: “Right here’s How Walt Disney World Ought to Reimagine Chef Mickey’s.”
Right here’s a fast go searching Ink & Plate at HKDL:
An Artwork Deco restaurant wouldn’t actually make sense in Disney’s Modern Resort, however it positive looks as if the “unifying” visible motif of the Grand Canyon Concourse is “visible hodgepodge layered over the many years.” So maybe it will.
Since we’re kind of treating this submit as a two-fer with a new-look Disney’s Hollywood Lodge overview, I’d additionally add that the East-meets-West fusion at Ink & Plate is absolutely spectacular. Even for breakfast, the buffet unfold had a ton of vary.
I’d go so far as to say that that is the perfect breakfast buffet we’ve had at a Disney-branded lodge in Asia in years, simply edging out one other darkish horse candidate in Toy Story Lodge, and surpassing the flagship lodges at Tokyo Disney Resort. Among the dim sum was addictively good, on par with Din Tai Fung or Tim Ho Wan (not even kidding).
Disney’s Hollywood Lodge additionally has a lobby-level lounge, The Archivist.
The Archivist is a trendy Artwork Deco lounge infused with artifacts from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a Hollywood-style movie archive-themed institution with film reels, catalog tables, plus numerous Marvel-ous particulars–reminiscent of books, work, and artifacts. The Archivist serves up Spanish tapas, salads and western delicacies reminiscent of pasta, a grill for wholesome meat and desserts.
Disney’s Hollywood Lodge used to have a counter service restaurant, however it’s been closed since 2020. It’s nonetheless again there, however is now walled-off and all references to it have been scrubbed from the web. It appears there’s no intention of reopening that, as company at the moment are directed to Explorers Lodge for fast service delicacies. Unsure how strolling over there may be fast, however no matter.
Wrapping up the Disney’s Hollywood Lodge portion of this overview, the largest promoting level of staying right here is the worth. Every time we worth out rooms, that is all the time the most cost effective resort.
One unfavorable about Disney’s Hollywood Lodge that was a bit shocking was the stroll. Once we stayed at Hong Kong Disneyland Lodge, I far most well-liked strolling to the park over taking the bus. It’s a nice, leisurely stroll and I all the time skew in direction of strolling if I can. Sadly, Hollywood Lodge is a couple of 10 minute longer stroll, which may make {that a} non-starter (particularly for us, with a toddler).
We like Disney’s Hollywood Lodge. Clearly, on condition that we’ve stayed right here greater than anyplace else at HKDL and are utilizing it because the template for a Disney’s Hollywood Studios Lodge. However we don’t actively suggest it to first-timers visiting Hong Kong Disneyland. Albeit a bit dated, the flagship Hong Kong Disneyland Lodge is a greater choice (like a time capsule of the Grand Floridian, in methods good and unhealthy) and the newer Explorers Lodge is the most suitable choice and one in every of our favourite Disney lodges on this planet.
With that stated, followers of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the entire ‘Hollywood that by no means was and can all the time be’ environment will certainly get pleasure from Hollywood Lodge. Furthermore, the resort gives strong worth for the cash and is properly finished given the standard price-point. As long as you don’t thoughts a barely smaller room or an extended stroll to the park, Disney’s Hollywood Lodge as a wonderful mid-range choice. In the event you’re on a tighter price range and can solely splurge right here or at Tokyo Disney Resort, splurge there.
In the end, we’d actually wish to see a brand new Reasonable Resort at Walt Disney World within the Artwork Deco fashion that makes use of Disney’s Hollywood Lodge as a blueprint. Having a beautiful foyer and environment friendly rooms, plus a personality buffet, lounge, and compact quick-service restaurant could be a win–and all might be achieved in a reasonably small footprint that would, in principle, match on a plot of land alongside the prevailing Skyliner route close to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This wouldn’t be my dream Walt Disney World resort enlargement, but when we’re armchair Imagineering extra life like prospects that might be constructed after Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, this strikes me as one. It’d be extra on par with a brand new tower at an current resort versus a brand new standalone lodge, however that’s in all probability extra believable as an addition that would come on-line by the early 2030s.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you wish to see an Artwork Deco lodge at Walt Disney World? If not, what’s your most well-liked theme that hasn’t already been finished by WDW? Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Hollywood Lodge or any of the opposite lodges at Hong Kong Disneyland? What did you consider your lodge keep? Does this lodge curiosity you? If in case you have any questions or ideas to share, please submit them within the feedback. We love listening to from readers!
