EPCOT’s “Future World Hotel”: New Permit Filed?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot

A permit has been filed by Buena Vista Construction Company at Disney World in Orange County, Florida, and the address on the permit is reigniting the excitement over the prospect that Disney’s prepping to break ground on EPCOT’s once-talked about “Future World Hotel” inside the gates at Disney World’s second park.

Last month, Disney’s President of Parks, Experiences, and Products, Josh D’Amaro, welcomed fans to one of the last panels of the 2022 D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center inside the location’s Hall D23. Every coveted seat in the house was occupied–all 7,000 of them–by eager and excited Disney fans who waited with bated breath to hear what’s in store for Disney Parks around the world over the next few years, this writer included.

D’Amaro talked about exciting projects in the works at Tokyo Disney Resort, Shanghai Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. He shared exciting updates about happenings at Disneyland Resort, including the arrival of the Hulk and Mando and Grogu at the California parks, as well as the kickoff to Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, which begins at Disneyland next year on January 27.

When D’Amaro mentioned Walt Disney World, the crowd cheered as many had arrived in Anaheim with their own projections about the D23 Expo reveals for Disney World. (After all, weren’t we all hopeful for the return of the Disney Dining Plan and a fifth park in Florida?)

Disney Dining Plan - Wikipedia

D’Amaro went about his agenda, announcing some surprises for fans about “blue-sky” projects on the drawing board for Disney World, and with each new announcement, the boisterous crowd got just a few decibels louder. But by the end of his presentation, many of us in the crowd began to mull over his announcements and compare them with our individual mental lists of projections, as if it were second nature.

BREAKING: Themed Lands in Development for 'Coco', 'Encanto', Disney Villains at Magic Kingdom

As we recounted what we were told, it became very apparent that the 2019 D23 Expo was EPCOT’s time to shine. While there were a few updates about EPCOT during the panel last month, the big news was largely for other areas. We had hoped we might hear some kind of firming-up or confirmation on plans that were rumored to be in the works in 2021: the first-ever Disney Resort Hotel inside the gates at EPCOT, Disney’s Future World Hotel.

The first talk of an onsite EPCOT hotel surfaced years ago in 2017, and some Disney super-sleuths dug deeper to find that the address mentioned for the location of the new EPCOT hotel was 1474 Avenue of the Stars on the Walt Disney World property, an address that corresponds to a location inside EPCOT. But during the 2017 D23 Expo, CEO Bob Iger furnished zero unveilings about such a hotel.

Talk of this mystery resort hotel at EPCOT continued and finally died down some, leading up to the 2019 D23 Expo, during which Disney’s execs shared huge news about plans to completely revamp the Future World section of EPCOT, as well as plans for a brand-new Moana-inspired attraction, The Journey of Water, a space-themed restaurant next to Mission: SPACE called Space 220, and even a new Mary Poppins-themed attraction that would be constructed in the United Kingdom pavilion on the World Showcase.

Mary Poppins Attraction at EPCOT Cancelled?

Disney Makes a Major Announcement about Guest-Favorite Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Disney World has just made a major announcement about one of its most popular Resort Hotels, and Disney’s hoping this time around is better than the last.

An exciting part of planning a vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort is choosing and booking a stay at one of the magical Disney Resort Hotels, but it can be difficult, as there are so many to choose from, and each one has a theme, a feel, a magic, all its own.

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge features a railroad theme from the 1860s. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is themed to look like an East Coast Boardwalk hotel from the early 1900s. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter transports Guests back to New Orleans at the turn of the century.

The beautiful Grand Floridian Resort features turn-of-the-century Victorian decor. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort commemorates Disney and PIXAR animated films, and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was inspired by northern Mexico and the American Southwest.

And that’s just the beginning.

Caribbean Beach

One of Disney’s most popular resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, gives off a magical island vibe the minute Guests arrive at the hotel. Guests are definitely on island time during their stay at this Disney moderate resort that captures the atmosphere of each individual Caribbean Island: Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Trinidad.

The resort offers Guests an escape from it all, complete with swaying hammocks, colonial forts, vibrant marketplaces, beautiful beaches, and the resort‘s Barefoot Bay. Disney takes it a step further at the Caribbean Beach Resort with exciting themed guestrooms, and in an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience–and that island vibe–Disney has announced a complete overhaul and retheming at the Resort hotel.

On Monday, the Disney World Resort announced that the former “Pirates”-themed rooms at the hotel will be given a fresh new retheming, inspired somewhat by Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

When Disney first announced the addition of its new Pirate-room plans at the resort hotel, it seemed like a given: fans love Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, so who wouldn’t love a hotel room at Disney, themed after the swashbuckling film? But each scurvy room was located in the Trinidad north and Trinidad south building of the Resort hotel, far from the main lobby and the Guest pool areas, and the dining venue Sebastian’s Bistro, and it could be for these reasons that the rooms never attained the popularity Disney had hoped for.

Earlier this year, Disney filed for permits to complete work on the “Pirates” rooms, but there was no official announcement about the rooms or about when they might become a thing of the past. Everything changed on Monday with Disney’s announcement that the old rooms will be retired in December, making way for the revamp of this section of the Caribbean Beach Resort.

One of the Resort‘s pools will also undergo construction work. Disney previously stated that the Fuentes del Morro Pool at the Caribbean Beach Resort will be closed for maintenance from January 2024 to April 2024 to allow for this work to be completed.

Refurbishment Update: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

In an effort to continually enhance the guest experience, some of the resort rooms in the Trinidad area of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be receiving a brand-new look and feel. These new rooms, which will include subtle nods to fan-favorite characters from under the sea, will accommodate more guests and feature updated finishings that can’t be found anywhere else at the resort.

As we prepare these new rooms, guests will be able to see and hear refurbishment work in and around Trinidad beginning October 3. We look forward to welcoming guests into these new rooms in 2023.

Aulani Resort’s Signature Dining Experience, ‘AMA‘AMA, Returns

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

‘AMA‘AMA, the signature oceanside restaurant at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, will welcome guests back beginning Oct. 14.

The newly reimagined fine-dining experience features a delicious four-course, prix fixe dinner menu. Each course pays homage to the spirit of Hawai‘i, with unique flavors, high-quality ingredients and locally sourced fish and produce. The menu, created by the talented Chef De Cuisine Nicholas Amoriello, is almost completely gluten-free, with a plant-based option available for every course to ensure every type of dietary need can experience the very best of Hawai‘i’s flavors!

The new menu offers an array of contemporary island cuisine, including dishes like the “lox” opakapaka with greens, citrus, and raw and pickled vegetables; and the savory Pork Belly with “scanlan sauce,” onion, kiawe honey and Okinawan sweet potato. 

Pastry Chef Carolyn Portuondo has prepared a decadent selection of desserts, incorporating iconic local flavors such as lilikoʻi, calamansi, coconut, mango, macadamia and Kona coffee.  ‘AMA‘AMA has also unveiled a globally curated wine list to enhance your dining experience.

With an elevated menu, enhanced décor, live music and breathtaking views of Ko Olina Beach, ‘AMA‘AMA is the perfect setting for guests to relax, celebrate their vacation and make memories with their loved ones. 

Disney Characters Bring Magic to Stranded Hotel Guests

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

On September 28, Hurricane Ian hit Central Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. There were strong winds, flash flooding, and power outages across the area — including at the Walt Disney World Resort. While some Guests had managed to get out of town before the storm hit, other Guests decided to stay and ride out the storm, while others found themselves stranded at the Most Magical Place on Earth because all Orlando airports were closed.

Because of Hurricane Ian, Disney shut down its theme parks on September 28 and September 29 — and may extend it to September 30 — so Guests staying on property were stuck in their hotels. However, Disney still wanted to make sure they had the most magical time possible.

Enter some classic Disney characters.

Multiple Guests took to social media to share pictures and videos of the characters that came out to interact with Guests in the lobby area of various Disney World hotels.

Wilderness Lodge was not the only place Disney characters were spotted. Disney’s All-Star Sports saw Goofy, Max, Chip, and Dale sitting down with Guests to enjoy a movie.

Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck were seen hosting another dance party at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, much to the delight of Guests.

In addition to closing the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, Disney also closed Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney Springs. Disney Springs was originally scheduled to reopen on September 29, but Disney chose to keep it closed.