New $1.5 Billion Mega Resort Next to Disney World Opens in 2024
Several years in the making, Evermore Orlando Resort has officially announced the opening of the 1,100-acre luxury vacation destination will be January 1, 2024. This post shares photos and details about this $1.5 billion mega-complex, which is a next-door neighbor to Walt Disney World, plus our commentary and experiences having stayed in this area in the past.
According to the development group behind it, the opening of Evermore Orlando Resort marks a momentous occasion in travel and hospitality. Orlando’s first-of-its-kind beach paradise aims to change the way families and groups vacation together by combining the comforts of home with the amenities of a premium resort.
Evermore will offer a new approach to vacationing, feature a large-scale community of homes solely built for the purpose of vacation renting, operating with hotel-quality standards. The resort will open with 2,013 bedrooms throughout 69 houses ranging in size from five to eleven bedrooms; 206 four-bedroom flats; and 41 two- and four-bedroom villas.
The opening of Evermore will also debut the Conrad Orlando Hotel, Hilton’s flagship luxury brand, featuring 433 guest rooms, including 51 impeccably designed suites, 10 spacious family suites and the Conrad Spa with an outdoor water garden. When all phases of Evermore Orlando Resort open, the complex is expected to have over 10,000 rooms.
Evermore Orlando Resort is located right next door to Walt Disney World Resort in the Cypress Creek or Grand Cypress area. It’s essentially “behind” the Four Seasons Orlando, Port Orleans Resorts, Saratoga Springs, and Disney Springs. It neighbors the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, which is one of our favorite resorts in the area.
Suffice to say, the Evermore Orlando Resort is not technically on property, but it’s about the same distance from the parks as the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels or even Bonnet Creek. By the time you drive all the way down that long road, the JW Marriott is probably about the same distance as this new Conrad from the parks. Since the Evermore is east of Walt Disney World, it’s closer to Universal Orlando Resort and Orlando International Airport than the on-site resorts.
“After five years of meticulous planning and building, we are thrilled to open Evermore Orlando Resort,” says Christopher Kelsey, President, Dart Interests. “We’re proud to have created Orlando’s first beach paradise designed intentionally for groups, friends and families to effortlessly vacation together.”
Evermore Orlando Resort is developed by Dart Interests as a luxury vacation rental destination. Newly built from the ground up, the 1,100-acre resort complex is a comprehensive redevelopment of the former Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Resort located at One North Jacaranda.
Conceptualized on the premise that one size does not fit all, Evermore Orlando Resort is a unique combination of diverse and sophisticatedly designed vacation rental and luxury hotel accommodations, paired with best-in-class amenities and intuitive service.
At the heart of Evermore Orlando Resort, all guests will enjoy a massive 20-acre tropical beach complex and Evermore Bay, an 8-acre crystalline water amenity by Crystal Lagoons. This proprietary design incorporates unique, environmentally sustainable technology that uses up to 100 times less chemicals and only 2% of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems, creating ideal conditions for guests of all ages to enjoy the water year-round.
The surrounding beach areas will feature zero entry swim areas, bars, cabanas, private fire-pits and an aquatic adventure area with a waterslide, rope swing and watersports of all kinds. Other amenities will include 15 restaurants, bars and takeaway food markets, two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses, Peloton studio, in-home fitness, daily fitness classes, and over 150,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space including a two-story Boathouse that will serve weddings and private events. Guests will also have access to Siemens VersiCharge Ultra DC fast Electric Vehicle charging stations located throughout the resort.
Evermore Orlando Resort is currently accepting reservations for January 1, 2024. Conrad Orlando will open early January with reservations currently available for January 9, 2024 and beyond. Nightly rates start at around $275 for a two-bedroom villa, and increase to over $1,300 for a five-bedroom vacation home. Visit www.evermoreresort.com for more information.
Our Commentary
I received an email with the first press release announcing Evermore Orlando Resort on January 12, 2021. When I read the promise of a new billion-dollar-plus, 10,000-room resort project coming right next to Walt Disney World, I’ll be honest with you, I laughed. Not a “haha” laugh, but more a sad one–I’ll believe it when I see it.
Keep in mind, the world was a very different place in mid-January 2021. That was in the midst of Walt Disney World laying off nearly 30,000 Cast Members. It came as Disney Parks & Resorts were hemorrhaging over $1 billion per quarter and the worst wave of COVID resulted in incredibly low attendance to start 2021.
There was light at the end of the tunnel, but it was really difficult to see. Even as revenge travel” started to enter the popular vernacular, analysts forecast that it’d take 5 years for a tourism recovery to 2019 levels. Of course, we now know that was woefully wrong. Meaningfull recovery had happened by 2022, and to the extent that it hadn’t, it was mostly due to staffing shortages–companies were caught flat-footed and unable to keep up with consumer demand.
Suffice to say, there’s a reason this is the first time we’re writing about Evermore Orlando Resort.
Also, credit where credit is due. Here’s what the developer had to say at the time that they announced the project: “Our willingness to go forward with Evermore in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic is testimony to the resilience of the Orlando market, its talented workforce and our unique Disney-adjacent location” said says local leader David Pace, President of Dart Interests Florida.
“Our owners have been invested in this project long before COVID-19 and we’re embracing new group travel trends through a lens of innovation. Our commitment to Orange County and strong belief in the power of tourism give us renewed energy to build a resort that will elevate the current hospitality landscape and position Evermore to become one of Orlando’s most desired vacation destinations.”
They called it. I was wrong in my pessimism in the project. With each bioreconstruct photo update (the most recent of which from last week is below), I’ve been surprised and impressed by just how much progress is being made on Evermore Orlando Resort.
With the benefit of hindsight, it’s an easy decision. But at the time, it had to have taken guts and grit to power forward. They could’ve come out and announced scaled back plans or a holding pattern. (Look no further than the EPCOT central spine for an example of this.)
Instead, they powered forward and will ultimately be vindicated. About the only thing they got “wrong” was the opening date (Summer 2023), but I can’t think of many projects in Central Florida that began in early 2021 and have opened on target. There were so many supply chain and labor disruptions that it just hasn’t happened. Opening this massive of a project only ~6 months late is actually a pretty massive win in the grand scheme of things.
Beyond that, the Evermore Orlando Resort project looks nice. This is only the first phase–and I’m curious to see more of the Conrad–but what they’ve shared so far looks good. There’s definitely a huge market for mixed-use vacation properties like this, and it’s one that’s up until now been filled informally by Reunion Resort and ChampionsGate. (To a lesser extent, Grand Cypress, the Four Seasons and Bonnet Creek are somewhat-similar ideas.)
I don’t know when we’ll have the chance to stay at Evermore, but I certainly welcome more options. Central Florida already has a host of great hotels, but some of the third party ones are starting to show their age, and Walt Disney World could use more competition at the higher end of the spectrum. While Evermore isn’t going to be a direct competitor of Disney, it could peel away enough luxury-caliber guests to help move the needle a little.
We previously stayed at the Villas at Grand Cypress, which were the #1 rated resort in Orlando on TripAdvisor at the time. And for good reason. The bungalow in which we stayed was luxurious and modern, offering well-appointed accommodations. Our villa was nestled behind a golf course in a quiet resort area that felt like a respite from the chaos of a Walt Disney World vacation. While Evermore Orlando Resort will obviously be different, we’d expect some of those core qualities to remain. It should be a fantastic option for large families wanting a destination resort looking for a bit of an escape and island-style retreat.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Evermore Orlando Resort? Will you consider staying here on a future trip, or is it not for you? Do you like the idea of more competition–especially on the larger and luxury end of the accommodations spectrum? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of Evermore? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hmm: please redevelop developed areas , try not to develop undeveloped land . Natural areas and farmland is more precious than concrete,steel,asphalt,plastic ,glass,chemicals,noise,lights,and traffic. Thank you
This is a redevelopment of developed areas. They removed some of the golf course to build this. Granted it is not concrete, but they usually use so many chemicals on a golf course and waste so much water that I think it counts.
I have a question will the golf courses be open to the public and if so how much will it cost to play in july.
I just looked up prices for the first week of June. A two bedroom, two bath villa is 2129.00 for the week. That is not a bad price at all. I will definitely consider this for my family. I am tired of us being crammed into the small rooms at Disney Resorts for the price I am paying.
Would have liked a lazy river, swim up bars and golf carts for resort mobility for handicap accessible guests.
I was hoping it was in the moderate range… maybe some of the rooms are. We stay at moderate resorts on Disney property and I’m still pretty upset with Disney for taking the evening magic hours away and keeping them for deluxe only. They deserve to have a little competition to knock them down a peg. I’d like to see them compete more for our dollars, than take us for granted. So I’m hoping Evermore takes some business from Disney.
I agree with you about Celebration. It is very well thought out and really how all of these subdivisions should be. Too bad the houses were built poorly but that’s not Disney’s fault. Didn’t realize you left Central Florida. Hopefully you’re back in SoCal raising your little one here!
Am not staying in anything that isn’t Disney.
It makes sense to me. As Tom has mentioned elsewhere, the lower end of the market is so saturated that Disney has to competitive with its weeknight pricing at the All Stars, so I’m expecting to see more upscale options. (As in that case, increased competition should result in improvements even if you always stay on site,)
This looks to be more of a “resort” property than the Four Seasons or the Waldorf Astoria, and more upscale than the Buena Vista Palace. (I haven’t seen the BVP in a while, so I’m unsure whether it needs a refresh/overhaul or whether it’s still going strong in that niche.)
Buena Vista Palace is definitely a step down (or a few) from this. The Hyatt Grand Cypress would be above it, as would a couple of the nearby megaresorts with sprawling pools, etc. Even though it’s a tower hotel, Four Seasons has an amazing pool area and I’d consider it a resort property. Not to this extent, but still very good. The Waldorf and the Signia/Hilton would also be up there–that’s another great complex.
Nevertheless, there’s ample space in the market for this type of property.
This looks like perfect place for Multiple families to stay together.
Within Next few years,I am planning a trip to Disney with My Cousins. We all have kids, so this will be PERFECT. Especially since my Cousins will b Military and AOA doesn’t do Military
It makes me sad to see this much investment in building more vacation properties in an area that arguably already has more than enough already AND is experiencing a severe housing crisis. I understand that this earns a higher return for investors than affordable housing does, but it doesn’t make it feel any less icky.
Agree. Lots of jobs but nowhere to live.
I am just NOT an off Property girl
Part of our Disney trip is staying at our favorite Disney Hotels
I would feel so disconnected if not in the middle of it all
We typically only stay at the monorail resorts so anything else would feel distant to us
I agree. My Disney Experience includes staying at a Disney resort, sometimes Poly, sometimes others. I would also feel a disconnect staying off property. I’m not interested in Universal and look forward to a Disney immersion experience. Disney gal, unapologetically!
Agree 100%! The Disney hotel is part of the experience!
You girls are spoiled. That’s quite alright because so are my wife and I!
The resort looks nice. What are the chances that Disney and Evermore will form a partnership by e.g. allowing early theme park entry or facilitating shuttles to the theme parks? This blog has mentioned before that Disney does not necessarily pride itself in being a premier hotelier, and there’s precedent for giving unofficial resorts official perks.
I love they will have day passes and special rates for locals. Any suggestions on how to encourage that Mr. Bricker?
Just thought, what the heck, I’ll check the rates for my solo trip in late January. $858 a night for 1 king guest room! Holy cow I wasn’t expecting the rate to be that high! Well, good job to all who can afford this place!
When I first read this, I was more concerned they made another Star Wars resort, aka overpriced. I’m sure the experience was amazing but people didn’t want to pay that much for anything on top of the costs of going to the parks. I still have concerns but if the entry point is less than $300, it will probably do well. I’d love to see it!
Ive had great multigenerational trips to Disney staying at rental houses off property with some nutty number of bedrooms and a small private screened pool. This looks a lot more fun, though also more expensive! I always appreciate a reminder that there are many hotel/rental options.
We like staying on Disney property but for those looking for something close, we’ve enjoyed our stays at Conrads. They seem to be more intentional about helping out of town guests enjoy their visits.
I’m thinking this is competition for DVC dollars.
When I’m doing a Disney vacation (or nearly any other type of vacation!) I “like” the chaos of the Disney parks. So a serene getaway isn’t for me. But I can see how this would be appealing to other types of travelers. I’m curious how close those quotes “starts at” rates are compared to what you can actually book for at times you want to go. Btu those do not sound outrages by any means. You are comparing a 2-bedroom unit here vs. a single room at a Moderate resort within Disney.
wow, looks cool. I wonder if they will allow pets…
Was curious about this myself;
From the Evermore website FAQs:
“Are pets allowed at the resort?
Pets are not permitted at Evermore, including our water amenities and common spaces like pools, restaurants, and transportation. The only exceptions are for medical or disability-related service dogs (in which case they are permitted everywhere). Florida’s service animal law applies to animals that are trained to do work or perform tasks for someone with a physical, mental, psychiatric, sensory, or intellectual disability. The work the animal does must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dog amenities will be provided for service dogs.
Pet boarding is available locally in order for you to visit your special pal often – we recommend Best Friends Pet Hotel at Walt Disney World® 2.5 miles away. “