Evermore Orlando Resort - A new billion-dollar, 10,000-room resort project is coming right next to Walt Disney World

Jan 12, 2021 in "Evermore Orlando Resort"

Evermore Orlando Resort overview
Posted: Tuesday January 12, 2021 12:18pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new billion-dollar, 10,000-room resort project is coming right next to Walt Disney World.


Named Evermore Orlando Resort, the first phase will open in 2023 and will offer a new approach to vacationing according to the developer Dart Interests Florida. Evermore Orlando will feature a large-scale community of homes solely built for the purpose of vacation renting and operate with hotel-quality standards.

The resort will offer flats and homes ranging from 2 to 11 bedrooms and will also debut Orlando’s first Conrad Hotel, Hilton’s luxury brand.

Bordering Walt Disney World just minutes from Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs, the project is a redevelopment of the Villas at Grand Cypress, and will offer a convenient option for groups looking to enjoy Orlando theme parks. Amenities will include a 20-acre tropical beach complex, an 8-acre crystalline water amenity by Crystal Lagoons, a new 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course and numerous restaurants.

Here is the full release:

ORLANDO, Fla. – January 12, 2021 – Dart Interests, a leading developer and owner of groundbreaking, large scale real estate projects today announced the launch of their latest project, Evermore Orlando Resort, a comprehensive redevelopment of the former #1 Tripadvisor rated Villas at Grand Cypress. The 1,100-acre resort complex bordering Walt Disney World® brings a new approach to the traditional vacation home rental experience and debuts the latest addition to the Conrad Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) contemporary luxury hotel brand.

“With the launch of the Evermore project, Dart is introducing an entirely new hospitality category that will change the landscape of vacation rental homes,” says Christopher Kelsey, President of Dart Interests. “We are creating the first-ever wholly owned, large-scale community of purpose-built vacation rental homes and operating them with hotel-quality standards and world-class resort amenities. Our approach solves the #1 problem for vacation renters: uncertainty in the quality of the home. Almost all vacation rentals are owned by individuals, each with their own unique tastes and willingness to maintain the properties. Our centralized ownership model makes it possible for our guests to be certain that they are getting a first-class home with superior safety standards. Our scale also means that we can deliver a wider array of services to our guests making their visit easier and more enjoyable. Plus, our range in sizes – from 2 bedrooms to 11, makes us the perfect destination for any group, including large multi-generational or multi-family gatherings,” he adds.

Accommodations:
At full buildout, the massive 10,000-bedroom resort represents an equity investment well in excess of a billion dollars and arguably creates a new institutional-grade asset class. Evermore’s first phase will open with nearly 1,500 bedrooms spread among an array of stay experiences, from single homes to villas, flats and hotel guestrooms. The plans include 69 houses ranging in size from five to eleven bedrooms. Beyond vacation homes, the resort complex will also offer 76 four-bedroom flats, 41 two and four-bedroom villas and a luxury Conrad hotel which will offer sophisticated design, best-in-class amenities and intuitive service to provide an exceptional travel experience in Orlando.

“We are incredibly excited to expand on our strong presence in the Orlando market and introduce the Conrad brand to a new city,” said Danny Hughes, Executive Vice President and President, Americas, Hilton. “Conrad Orlando at Evermore will undoubtedly be a sought-after destination for Orlando travelers and will provide guests with outstanding service and impactful experiences when they visit the city.”

Conrad Orlando at Evermore will debut with 433 rooms, including 51 impeccably designed suites and 10 spacious family suites offering oversized accommodations that deliver all the comforts of home. Other features include 40,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, a tranquil spa and numerous dining options including a signature rooftop experience. The hotel will open with Hilton CleanStay, Hilton’s industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in properties around the world. The elevated processes and Team Member training have been developed with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol, to help Conrad Orlando guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out.

“The signing of Conrad Orlando marks a significant milestone for the brand as we continue to grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of our discerning travelers,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, global head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “This hotel’s ideal location within Orlando and near Walt Disney World®, along with Conrad’s prestigious reputation for delivering intuitive service, infinite connections and modern design will ensure guests leave feeling truly inspired by their stay with us.”

Amenities:
At the heart of the 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 a lively food hall & gourmet market, a casual resort restaurant featuring views overlooking both the golf course and bay and a two-story Boathouse that will serve weddings and private events. While the Scottish links style ‘New Course’ will remain open for play throughout construction, a new 18-hole Nicklaus Design course will open with the resort and pay homage to the legacy of golf excellence at Grand Cypress.

Meetings & Events:
Orlando currently ranks as Cvent’s No. 1 meeting destination in the country and the resort complex will offer event professionals over 150,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space for groups seeking a change from the traditional conference room. The Boathouse and garden lawn nestled on the bay’s edge will provide a sophisticated Orlando wedding and event locale with a classic Chris-Craft boat for private use.

With Central Florida previously reaching 75 million annual visitors, the announcement of Evermore Orlando Resort comes at a time of measured reopening for the tourism industry in America’s most visited destination, and the hospitality industry worldwide. “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.”

Bookings for Evermore Orlando Resort are slated to launch in 2022 with the grand opening for the first guests anticipated for summer 2023.

For more information, about Evermore Orlando Resort or Conrad Hotels & Resorts, please visit https://evermoreresort.com 

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FigmentJediApr 12, 2024

And now it's closed forever.

John park hopperMar 17, 2024

sounds like it will give WDW Some competition --hope it does and Disney gets off their a$$ and does something to bring the magic back and not just raise prices.

NunuMar 17, 2024

https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-evermore-orlando-luxury-beach-resort-big-groups-2024-3

GhostHost1000Mar 04, 2024

Ah ok

TarzanRocked99-Mar 04, 2024

Nah, it’s on 535 to the east of Disney property. Closest to Golden Oak for reference.

GhostHost1000Mar 04, 2024

is this the one you can see part of from the animal kingdom lodge resort area?

JMcMahonEsqMar 04, 2024

I read that as well. And at first, I thought that seemed like a underserved market to be sure. I just don't know how big that market is. It seems like most studies/demographic trends show families getting smaller, not larger. I know some families with more than 2 kids sure, but they are certainly in the minority. And i also don't know how many families now do big extended family/large family trips for over a week. Anecdotal to be sure, but while we would love to take these types of trips, trying to find time when everyone's work, school, sport, ect schedules line up to allow for such a trip has been next to impossible for us once kids got to full time school age. It just seems like a big property for a market that doesn't appear to be so big, at least domestically. Maybe it fits a more European/International traveler who is coming to US and taking 2-3 weeks at a time to do so?

Horizons '83Mar 04, 2024

Agree on many of your points for sure. I do remember reading that the villas portion of the resort was really trying to grab that family of 4 and up demo looking to stay for over a week, which would in theory give you time at the parks and the resort itself. Not sure what the prices are but I would imagine it would a cheaper option then a Deluxe resort on property if you have a large family gathering.

JMcMahonEsqMar 04, 2024

This project/property has always struck me as too "in between" to really be a something to drive people to Orlando. I mean it does seem to have some nice amenities and features. But if i am bringing young kids down to Orlando to do the parks, I am not going to be at the resort utilizing those amenities. If I am looking to save money for a Disney trip by staying off property, there are many more cheaper options. Maybe not with as many amenities (although Marriot World is awfully nice) but if cost savings is my goal, those hotels win out over this location. And if the resort/beach/relaxation vacation is what I am shooting for, then as others have posted, there are actual beach resorts that you could choose over this property. With the Brightline train running, a split Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Hollywood trips seem like they could be an interesting time. Summary, it seems like this property has alot of things that are really good, but not a single thing that you can say is the best option. If you're looking for staying in bubble, or proximity to the park as your driving force, on property resorts win. If you're looking at cost, cheaper off property locations win. If you're looking for a relaxing all-inclusive type stay, and parks aren't your driving vacation goal, there are other locations that do it better, and you are not paying the premium or having to travel to Orlando to deal with all the WDW vacationers. I just don't know what the market is for the travelers who are looking to do everything at the same time. Seems hard on the standard US week at a time vacation model.

pigglewiggleMar 04, 2024

It looks very nice. I'm sure a lot of people will try it out.

Horizons '83Mar 04, 2024

I think the idea was that it could be the perk that drives people to Orlando if they are looking to do theme parks, but also a beach like resort. While nothing compares to the real deal, this resort really has everything; golf, tennis, proximity to theme parks, the lagoon/beach, a good number of restaurants, etc.

pigglewiggleMar 02, 2024

This looks nice, but it isn't for us. I wouldn't travel to Florida to book a vacation home with a fake beach. I would prefer to actually go to a beach. Also, I don't know 27 people who would travel with us. ;)

Horizons '83Mar 02, 2024

Been reading that the Conrad is having some issues but would assume they are just new and will work them out.

Disney AnalystMar 02, 2024