Report: Disney Considered Building Hotels Inside Magic Kingdom
Today, we learned that Disney has contemplated what many fans would love: a hotel inside Magic Kingdom. Or maybe two.
According to court records obtained by Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics, a Walt Disney Imagineering executive confirmed under oath in February 2024 that the company was considering building one or two hotels as part of the park’s massive expansion plans.
That executive, master planner Todd Rimmer, described the project during a deposition tied to Disney’s legal fight with the state-controlled Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. When asked directly how many hotels were being considered, his answer was a vague bombshell: “One or two hotel locations.”
He confirmed these would be new builds, not renovations of existing resorts, and would be located somewhere within Magic Kingdom’s expansion area. A few months after his deposition, Disney announced plans for Cars- and Villains-themed lands at the 2024 D23 fan expo.
When Russon asked about those plans when writing her story, Disney shut the door:
“There are no plans for new hotels as part of the Magic Kingdom expansion. We’re focused on bringing to life all we’ve already announced, which you can find the details on at DisneyExperiences.com.”
The obvious appeal
A hotel inside Magic Kingdom would instantly become the most in-demand stay at Walt Disney World. Imagine rope dropping Villains Land or watching Happily Ever After from your balcony. You’re not “near the park.” Not “on the Monorail.” You wake up inside the Most Magical Place on Earth.
It’s not that simple for Disney, however. While sightlines in theme parks sometimes get too much press, they do matter. In this case, for both park and hotel guests. Universal debuted its Helios Grand Hotel in 2025, and for the most part, it checks those boxes. But that hotel was planned alongside the park from the beginning. A hotel added to Magic Kingdom would have to work around decades of existing infrastructure.
That’s a much bigger ask of Imagineering. Maybe that’s why Disney nixed the idea.
Still, a Magic Kingdom hotel is the dream for a lot of guests. Done right, it’s something that could rival the Grand Californian in Disneyland or Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea. Disney could charge massive prices. Or, if it went the Disney Vacation Club route, those points would sell themselves. Owners at other DVC resorts would feel like they hit the Powerball if they ever managed to book a villa at the seven-month window.
If Disney ever decides to revisit the idea, they won’t have to convince most guests. That part’s already handled.
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