Walt Disney World is likely to be about to pave the manner for Skyliner growth, fairly actually and in two senses of the time period. As a part of an enormous Central Florida Tourism Oversight District mission to broaden Western Method and enhance the interchange, the top outcome is likely to be each a brand new resort resort and Skyliner route.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) is making ready for main roadway enhancements round Walt Disney World, with a concentrate on easing congestion and bettering movement on the often-clogged Western Method and Buena Vista Drive interchange.
Final 12 months, CFTOD began transferring ahead on two interconnected infrastructure initiatives: Western Method widening and a complete overhaul of the Buena Vista Drive/Western Method interchange. These initiatives have been greenlit, absolutely funded, and put out for bid. They launch a probably transformative new period for Walt Disney World’s western gateway…and one that might embody resort and Skyliner growth.
The Western Method widening mission will broaden the present 4 lane street to six lanes, with 3 in every course, over an almost 2.5 mile stretch, beginning on the State Highway 429 interchange and increasing previous Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to Buena Vista Drive.
Right here’s a picture illustrating the mission courtesy of CFTOD:
That’s the place the opposite mission picks up, as a grade-separated interchange will join the roads, with Buena Vista Drive elevated above Western Method. This design will cut back congestion and eradicate visitors indicators that presently decelerate automobiles getting into Walt Disney World. The mission covers 1 mile of Buena Vista Drive and half a mile of Western Method.
Collectively the initiatives are geared toward addressing the elevated visitors and congestion on the western fringe of Walt Disney World property. The widening of Western Method is meant to extend capability; the interchange would cut back backups throughout peak journey occasions. The Western Method hall connects a number of resort accommodations, Animal Kingdom, School Program housing, Flamingo Crossings, and a sea of subdivisions in Horizon West.
Right here’s a picture by way of CFTOD illustrating the second mission with Coronado Springs in white on the high:
These initiatives fall inside the CFTOD’s larger image infrastructure agenda, which incorporates bettering street networks round Walt Disney World to accommodate present visitors and future development. CFTOD already accepted $99.3 million in bonds that might cowl the price of these Western Method initiatives (as a part of the identical package deal as World Drive Section III).
No timeline has been introduced but for when development may start. This ought to be fast-tracked, however based mostly on timelines we’ve seen for different infrastructure work, my guess is that they’re at the least a 12 months (possibly two) away from commencing development.
I actually hope to be improper about that, as it might put completion round 2030. These initiatives had been badly wanted like 5 years in the past; I can not think about how a lot worse it’ll be in one other 5 or so.
Why Western Method Widening is Badly Wanted
Western Method might not imply something to common vacationers. Except you’ve stayed at Flamingo Crossings or taken the bus entrance to Coronado Springs, there’s a good likelihood you’ve by no means even been on this street. However the phrases “Western Method” ship a shiver down the backbone of many an area residing in Horizon West.
We moved into Horizon West in 2018, at which level there have been a few part one communities. It was nonetheless loads of empty fields, nation roads, and (stereotypically) orange groves. By the point we left practically 5 years later, there have been greater than a half-dozen further developments, many extra cease lights, extra lanes of visitors, plus just about the whole thing of Flamingo Crossings and the School Program housing improvement. All of which had been constructed within the span of only some years.
A lot of Horizon West is nearly unrecognizable now as in comparison with the way it regarded after we arrived within the space. The Orlando Sentinel has a good article on Horizon West’s “rising pains,” and that’s from 2019. On the onset of COVID, we spent loads of time strolling round subsequent part of our subdivision that had solely simply started infrastructure work, that means there have been roads and streetlights (that got here on each night time!), however actually nothing else. We speculated about how it might in all probability by no means be completed, and would simply be a zombie city ceaselessly.
We couldn’t have presumably been extra improper. Growth truly accelerated and relocations elevated throughout the pandemic; versus a zombie city, it turned a Zoom city. In our neighborhood, you’d spot extra Cowboys, Yankees, and Patriots delight than for any Florida franchise. Everybody was a transplant; we didn’t know a single individual from Orlando.
Now dwelling to ~70,000 residents, Horizon West nonetheless isn’t finished and stays one of many fastest-growing master-planned communities in the US. There have been facets of Horizon West that we actually preferred, however concluded that we arrived “too early” as a result of just about the one facilities close to us had been Publix and Cinépolis. They had been each tremendous good, however there wasn’t even a fuel station.
We didn’t like residing in Horizon West throughout the aforementioned rising pains. The world is good, however the neverending development and fixed sport of catch-up as infrastructure wanted to be expanded or improved upon to maintain tempo with the rising inhabitants took its toll. By the point roads had been widened or faculties had been completed, they had been already undersized.
Site visitors additionally turned nightmarish at occasions. Going just about wherever to the east required crossing Walt Disney World, both to the north of Magic Kingdom or Western Method. The latter was truly the simpler possibility on the time, as Reams Highway was simply terrible on a regular basis. Western Method regularly acquired worse, too.
I might assume it’ll be an identical story even after the widening is full, as improvement of Horizon West nonetheless reveals no indicators of slowing down. However at the least it is a begin, and a grade-separated interchange at Western Method and Buena Vista Drive ought to alone be enormous.
That is nice information for locals, Forged Members, and anybody who stays out at Flamingo Crossings. But it surely additionally may need ramifications for future improvement at Walt Disney World…
Hollywood Lodge & Skyliner Growth?
Western Method wants vital infrastructure enhancements to cut back congestion. This will not be on the radar of common vacationers, which is why I walked by the above anecdote.
In any other case, I worry there is likely to be an inclination to imagine this isn’t actually an issue (because it isn’t one for you), and Walt Disney World’s actual motivation for widening Western Method is paving the way in which for future revenue-generating growth.
That may occur, however the Western Method mission would want to occur even impartial of that. This isn’t a discretionary mission. On the contrary, I might argue it’s one which’s already overdue by a number of years, and was in all probability one of many largest issues that was derailed and delayed by the entire Reedy Creek debacle.
However, if tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} (probably north of $100 million by the point all is alleged and finished) are spent on infrastructure, Walt Disney World may need one thing to point out for it. Enter Disney’s Hollywood Lodge and Skyliner growth.
Prior to now, Skyliner growth has been one of many Prime 10 Walt Disney World Rumors We’d Wager In opposition to. Nonetheless, that listing predates the Western Method widening, and in addition, it initially included the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster. About that.
Each time I hear “rumors” of a supposed Skyliner growth, the routes are totally different. Typically there’s a connection for Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the All Stars to Animal Kingdom. Then there was Coronado Springs to Blizzard Seashore and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And so forth.
Beforehand, I had a tough time believing that any of those routes would occur. The primary Skyliner fulfilled a aim of getting buses off the roads, upgrading lodging to create two “Worth Plus” and one “Reasonable Plus” resort, whereas giving a brand new Disney Trip Membership tower in no man’s land a definite promoting level.
My motive for betting in opposition to Skyliner growth primarily boiled all the way down to answering a vital query: what does this do for Disney? Coronado Springs already does moderately effectively because the conference resort, the All Stars serve a job as budget-friendly lodging, and there’s little incentive to spend so much to make entry simpler to a shopping mall stuffed with third events.
That’s nonetheless the operative inquiry, nevertheless it’s doable the equation will change with the Western Method growth mission. I’m nonetheless skeptical that shifting the All Stars upmarket (and thus making them costlier) is a practical transfer. I don’t understand how connecting Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Skyliner is sensible, particularly provided that a lot of that’s current DVC stock and people homeowners would instantly see their upkeep charges skyrocket if the Skyliner had been added.
Coronado is extra borderline. A compelling case might be made for a Skyliner connection, and that alone immediately makes Gran Destino Tower a quasi Deluxe Resort (it already is one, however novel transportation seals the deal). Coronado has aggressive discounting and considerable last-minute availability at any time when it’s not internet hosting a conference, which is why it’s the resort at which I most continuously keep. The Skyliner may take it from underrated and underappreciated to being in excessive demand and commanding costs above Caribbean Seashore.
Coronado Springs alone just isn’t sufficient to justify a brand new Skyliner route, although.
A brand new resort throughout from it’s, although. The alleviated visitors and new above-grade interchange fairly actually paves the way in which for improvement throughout from the Western Method and Buena Vista Drive intersection. Shut inspection of the interchange plans reveals what might be the doorway to a future resort advanced, with separate entry for backstage visitors and buses.
This large plot of land throughout from Coronado Springs and north of Blizzard Seashore can also be nestled behind Hollywood Studios, with Animal Kingdom not that far-off in the other way. There’s simply sufficient house right here to accommodate not only one resort, however a brand new resort district that might be master-planned from the start (versus retrofit or shoehorned in) as a mixed-use Disney Trip Membership and resort improvement.
We’re speaking the following Crescent Lake Resort Space, with probably 2,000 or extra rooms added to the resort stock. This might maintain each Disney’s Hollywood Lodge, for which we’ve beforehand advocated as a brand new park gateway property at DHS, in addition to Toy Story Lodge, which is quite a bit higher of an idea than we initially believed (there’s one thing to be mentioned for lodging themed to Andy’s Room!).
Creating a brand new resort district on that parcel makes an incredible quantity of sense, particularly provided that the additions within the 10-year plan are going to meaningfully drive attendance. Walt Disney World will need to seize these visitors as on-site stays, too.
If there’s improvement there, it additionally stands to motive that it’ll want a hook, much like how Lakeshore Lodge goes to have a lazy river, Island Tower has the monorail, and Riviera has the Skyliner. The comparative lack of recognition of Gran Destino Tower regardless of arguably having the most effective amenity slate makes the case that one thing else is required. I’d truthfully be stunned if Walt Disney World builds one other resort with all-bus transportation in my lifetime.
The Skyliner is an apparent hook for that resort district from that perspective. Being proper behind Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Coronado Springs makes growth of that aerial transportation system fairly logical.
Logistical questions do exist, although. Though it seems prefer it’d be straightforward sufficient so as to add one other Skyliner station throughout from the prevailing one at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the route couldn’t be a straight shot.
That will put the strains proper over the park, which might be a non-starter. It’s one factor to have assist columns dotting a Worth or Reasonable Resort; it’s one other completely to have them crossing Sundown Boulevard. This in all probability means a turning station could be mandatory, and sure within the DHS parking zone to route a line behind the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster.
Another choice could be including a second entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a la Worldwide Gateway at EPCOT. If that is going to be Crescent Lake 2.0, that solely is sensible. There’s in all probability sufficient house behind Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to accommodate a Skyliner station there, though it is likely to be tight.
One other chance is pedestrian entry by way of a bridge over World Drive. I’m undecided whether or not that, or truthfully any of this, is definitely workable. There’s a motive I’m a blogger as an alternative of an city planner or civil engineer!
Then there are the questions of different Skyliner routes, probably connecting to Animal Kingdom or Blizzard Seashore. Relying on the routing of the DHS to the brand new resort district, the Skyliner station may already be fairly near the Blizzard Seashore parking zone. Wherein case, two birds with one stone.
If the station finally ends up on the other aspect of the longer term resort district, a separate connection to Blizzard Seashore strikes me as exceedingly unlikely. Water parks simply don’t see the year-round visitor quantity; it might be an incredible expense for restricted worth. Connecting Blizzard Seashore by way of a strolling path could be far more cost effective, and a comparable promoting level.
Animal Kingdom is a wildcard. If the station is by Blizzard Seashore, there’s the potential for a straight-shot Skyliner route from there to Animal Kingdom, proper behind the longer term Indiana Jones Journey present constructing. Each of those proposed routes could be on the longer aspect, however the strike me as inside the realm of chance.
We all know that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District 2045 Complete Plan permits for important resort growth along with the legendary fifth gate. That 2045 plan additionally permits the addition of 53,076 resort rooms. That’s loads of resort rooms!
If we’re being reasonable, the entire above is likely to be extra of a 2040s mission than a 2030s one. As mentioned elsewhere, 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 resort to the Magic Kingdom resort space in many years.
Additionally on the DVC aspect is these 2042 contracts expiring. How that can unfold stays to be seen. We’ve additionally mentioned this beforehand, however Disney has a number of choices for coping with these, most of which is able to “create” new resort or timeshare stock to (re)promote.
Then there are the opposite rumored and/or speculated initiatives on extra prime parcels. Is Walt Disney World actually going to develop an all-new resort district earlier than fleshing out the prevailing ones? The principle motive we’re betting in opposition to a fifth gate is due to the added infrastructure prices. Though it’s not fairly the identical with a brand new resort district, it’s undeniably extra fascinating to construct close to Magic Kingdom first.
Whereas we’re on the subject of infrastructure paving the way in which for brand spanking new accommodations, I’m satisfied that’s one of many drivers of the Floridian Method re-routing mission. That after that’s finished, Walt Disney World will get a brand new flagship resort north of Grand Floridian within the early 2030s.
On the opposite aspect of the park, the Villains Land laydown yards will flip loads of the land to the northwest of Magic Kingdom from “marginally unsuitable” to “marginally appropriate” for future improvement. That land that might change into future park growth to construct out Magic Kingdom even additional. It may be an in-park resort overlooking Villains Land, a la Fantasy Springs Lodge at Tokyo DisneySea.
That is to say nothing of different parcels round Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Walt Disney World might need to play it secure by squeezing as many expansions alongside right here as doable, as nothing sells fairly like proximity to Magic Kingdom!
Finally, there are loads of potentialities for future accommodations at Walt Disney World. Not all of them are going to be constructed; on the contrary, most won’t. If we fast-forward a decade, I absolutely count on there to be new extra stock (past Lakeshore Lodge) both underneath development or lately opened at Magic Kingdom. That’s merely the neatest play, so it should occur.
Far much less sure is one other resort district between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Coronado Springs. There are in all probability a number of explanation why this gained’t occur, and truthfully, I’d put the percentages of it within the 2030s at lower than 50%. However that’s nonetheless larger than some other potential new resorts past Magic Kingdom (or possibly the doorway to EPCOT).
Not solely that, nevertheless it’s the one believable chance for Skyliner growth, because it’s extremely unlikely that will get greenlit with out being tied to some large new improvement that Walt Disney World desires to promote. On condition that actuality plus the price of the Western Method infrastructure work and talent to reposition Coronado Springs upmarket…this may simply make sense down the street. Let’s all put it on our bingo playing cards for bulletins on the 2034 D23 Expo!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you prefer to see an Skyliner growth at Walt Disney World? Ideas on a brand new resort district throughout from Coronado Springs with direct entry to DHS? Do you make the drive down Western Strategy to get to Walt Disney World? How’s present rush hour visitors? Agree or disagree that this roadway growth is badly wanted and overdue? When you’ve got any questions or ideas to share, please put up them within the feedback. We love listening to from readers!
