A large project planned near Disney World
A new 77-acre entertainment and retail district near Walt Disney World Resort is being presented as a major addition to the Orlando tourism corridor, with developers targeting an opening in 2028. The project, called Ovation Orlando, would combine hotels, restaurants, retail stores and nightlife in a property once occupied by the abandoned Orlando Sun Resort.
RSP Architects recently released images and additional details of the planned development. The site is at the intersection of Interstate 4 and U.S. 192, an area closely tied to Central Florida’s visitor economy. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, according to the project information, although specific hotels, stores and dining operators have not yet been announced.
The property was purchased in December 2025 by real estate company Accesso and its venture partner, Meyers Group, for $73.3 million. The planned district is expected to include about 650,000 square feet of space. Its developers describe the concept as upscale and music-inspired, with a layout organized around an L-shaped main walkway.
Three districts with different purposes
Ovation Orlando is planned in three sections, each designed around a separate type of visitor experience. The development’s mix of uses reflects the project’s aim to function as more than a collection of stores or a conventional shopping center.
- The Waterfront Garden: Tropical landscaping, waterfront views, outdoor dining and boutiques.
- The Gallery: Art, technology, interactive installations, immersive environments and a hotel.
- The Vibe: Bars, lounges, restaurants and other nightlife offerings.
Plans call for three hotels totaling 740 units. The project materials do not identify the hotel brands or explain how the units would be divided among the properties. They also do not name the restaurants, stores, bars or entertainment venues that would occupy the district.
What remains unknown
The development’s stated investment is $2 billion, but the available information does not provide a detailed construction schedule beyond the anticipated start in early 2027. It also does not outline the number of jobs expected, the type of tenants being pursued or the specific public improvements that may be needed around the site.
Those details will be important for Orlando-area residents and businesses as the proposal moves closer to construction. A project combining 740 hotel units with dining, retail and nighttime attractions would add another destination to a heavily visited part of Central Florida. At the same time, the eventual effect on traffic, nearby properties and the surrounding visitor market cannot be assessed fully until the project releases more information about its tenants, site work and operating plans.
“From the moment of arrival, the guest experience is designed to evoke a feeling of excitement, vitality, and refinement.”
A future destination still taking shape
For now, Ovation Orlando remains a planned development rather than an operating destination. The owners and design team have established the site, the broad concept and the proposed mix of uses, but many of the elements that would determine how the district functions have yet to be disclosed.
The project is expected to move toward construction in early 2027, with an opening goal the following year. Until then, the next major milestones will include additional announcements about the hotels, restaurants, stores and entertainment venues. Those decisions will help show whether Ovation Orlando becomes primarily a shopping and dining destination, a nightlife center, a hotel complex or a combination of all three.
| Project detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Location | Intersection of Interstate 4 and U.S. 192 |
| Size | 77 acres; 650,000 square feet |
| Hotels | Three hotels with 740 total units |
| Construction target | Early 2027 |
| Opening target | 2028 |
| Announced investment | $2 billion |
