Four Seasons Resort Orlando sets 2014 Opening Date for Walt Disney World
The newly released concept art for the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort has declared a target open date of 2014 based on a final financing deal. Although this luxury resort development was originally announced back in May of 2008, the 360 million dollar deal was just completed. Chalk that up to the slow economy.
Concept art from the May 2008 announcement. To be honest, I like this version better, the new version looks more sterile and less detailed.
The original idea for a Four Seasons Resort right on Walt Disney World property was controversial as Disney’s previous effort to allow third party resorts resulted in ruined sight-lines for EPCOT and, some claim, a less than Disney standard of care (pay to park being one of the chief complaints). Even worse, Disney appears to be deeding this property to Four Seasons resulting in another slice of the resort being cut off.
Location of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World.
A few have wondered if Disney really needs a high end resort competing with its own properties. But the general consensus is these are luxury guests that Disney wasn’t serving anyway. The sort of pampering Four Seasons resorts expect is just not part of Disney’s DNA, and they were likely staying off-property at Ritz Carlton or JW Marriott. So the net result should be an increase in guests with big spending budgets now even closer to the magic. That has to be good for Disney’s bottom line.
The full press release is below the jump:
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