There’s nothing quite like a stay at Walt Disney World, and though there are more than two dozen Disney-branded hotels for guests to explore across the Lake Buena Vista resort, Disney recently announced some aggressive expansion plans that will see three brand new properties added to its already impressive resort catalog, including one that is opening later this year!
1. Disney Riviera Resort (December 19, 2019)
Image: Disney
In an effort to increase Disney Vacation Club inventory, in 2017 Disney announced the new Disney Riviera Resort, which will be located in near Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Because of its central location, guests staying at this resort will not only be able to enjoy unbelievable views of nighttime spectaculars at both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from this hotel’s rooftop restaurant, but will also be able to use the brand new Disney Skyway transportation system, opening this month at Walt Disney World.
Inside Disney’s Riviera Resort, guests will find a mix of modern and classic 20th-Century furnishings as well as a unique art collection celebrating beloved Disney Characters and icons, influenced by master artists who found inspiration along the European Riviera.
Image: Disney
Construction has almost finished on this 300-room hotel, and Disney has announced that Disney’s Riviera Resort will open before the end of the year on December 16, 2019.
This new hotel will feature a mix of Deluxe Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and 3-Bedroom villas in addition to a brand new Tower Studio room style. This new type of accommodation, designed for two people only, includes a private balcony with seating for two and a mini kitchenette. However, perhaps the most striking feature of this room is that there is no full-size bed! Instead of having a traditional bed in the room, Disney is outfitting each Tower Studio with a queen size murphy bed that tucks away into the wall (you can see an example below, look for the handles!)
Image: Disney
Guests who are interested in this compact room concept may wonder if its compact size and design might make it a good value for those wanting to stay near a gondola station, but unfortunately these rooms are going to still be quite expensive, with rack rates starting at $335 a night, plus tax.
As for the other types of rooms, Deluxe Studios start at $503 a night, and one-bedroom villas start at $743. Two-bedroom villas start at $1,136 a night, while the three-bedroom grand villas with one King bed and four Queen beds and 1 Queen-Size sleeper sofa start at $2,277.
2. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (2021, rumored)
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In an effort to extend that Star Wars experience beyond Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Disney has announced plans for a new Star Wars themed hotel that will allow fans to experience this amazing universe in a whole new way that is unlike any other Disney hotel. Guests who stay in this hotel will take part in an immersive experience designed from the ground up to be a living adventure that allows guests to immerse themselves in an entirely new form of Disney storytelling.
Inside the hotel guests, will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around them. Guests will be able to live and breathe their own story with themed dining, activities and more that will touch every single minute of their day, culminating in a unique journey for every person who visits. Everything from the decor to the furniture will be a part of the theme, with nothing in this hotel recalling our world. Even the windows will be themed, with views of the various planets, starships and more from the world of Star Wars visible from guests’ rooms.
Image: Disney
Though pricing details have not been released yet, considering the caliber of experience Disney is offering here, some have estimated that a stay here could cost upwards of $1000 per guest, for an all-inclusive 2-night stay. No official opening target has been announced, but rumors suggest Disney is targeting a 2021 opening for this new hotel.
3. Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge (2022)
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Back in 2018 it was confirmed that Disney was finally bulldozing the remains of River Country and building a new hotel around Bay Lake, which it was later announced would be named “Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge.”
As you might expect, this will be a deluxe-level resort, and will be themed around the natural world. This hotel will include more than 900 rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas spread across a variety of unique accommodation types.
Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge will be Disney’s 16th Disney Vacation Club property and is currently under construction, with a projected opening target of 2022
