In Orlando, the fun doesn't have to stop when the parks do. Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk have shown just how much visitors love a place to eat, shop, and catch a show before heading back to their hotel.
Now a new player wants in on the action, and it's planning to make a lot of noise.
Just off Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, less than a mile from Walt Disney World, developers are preparing to turn one of the area's most notorious abandoned properties into a sprawling music-inspired entertainment district. It's called Ovation Orlando, and a fresh set of renderings just gave us our clearest look yet, per Orlando Weekly.Â
What the Renderings Reveal
RSP Architects released the new renderings on Tuesday, November 10. The firm describes Ovation Orlando as a “high-end, music-inspired concept” spanning 650,000 square feet across roughly 77 acres.
The price tag has grown, too. According to GrowthSpotter, as cited by Pirates & Princesses, the project is now described as a $2 billion development.
Here's what's in the plans so far:
- A collection of restaurants and dining options
- A 350-room hotel, which Accesso has said will join Hilton's Curio Collection
- A convention center
- Shopping
- Entertainment venues, with developers even teasing the possibility of a Las Vegas-style sphere venue in the future
- Large, flashing digital billboards
Take a Stroll Through the Districts
Ovation Orlando is divided into three distinct districts, linked by a single L-shaped walkway. Let's start with the loudest.
The Vibe is where the energy lives. Plans call for restaurants, live performances, nightlife, and digital screens styled after Times Square. It will also have its own multi-story parking garage alongside I-4. That garage is designed to be visible from the highway and will double as a giant billboard, making it hard to miss on your way to the parks.
The Gallery takes a more creative approach, with art, technology, and immersive experiences. The hotel and convention center will be part of this district, too.
The Garden offers a calmer change of pace. It's planned as a waterfront space with tropical landscaping and outdoor dining, perfect for a slower evening after a busy day.
From Ghost Resort to Building Site
This site has quite a backstory. It was once the Hyatt Orlando, a 900-room resort with pools, tennis courts, and a 60,000-square-foot convention center. Later known as the Orlando Sun Resort and Convention Center, it closed in 2012 and sat empty for years, drawing squatters, crime, and fires.
The turnaround began when South Florida real estate firm Accesso and its joint venture partner, Meyers Group, purchased the property last December. Orlando Weekly put the purchase price at $73.3 million, while other reports have described it as more than $70 million. Before closing the deal, Accesso worked out a development agreement with Osceola County, which had long wanted the property revitalized.
Demolition got started in February. Accesso has since expanded its presence in the area by buying the neighboring Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration, which adds about 20 acres to its holdings.
Still Coming Into Focus
Ovation Orlando has evolved over time. A 2024 concept presented to Osceola County described more than 800,000 square feet of retail and a 500-room hotel. The current plan is smaller in some ways, at 650,000 square feet with a 350-room hotel. GrowthSpotter also reported that a select-service hotel once planned for the south end has been dropped.
The biggest question for most visitors is who will actually be there. No tenants have been officially named, though developers expect a roughly even split between restaurants, entertainment, and retail. The Orlando Real reported, as cited by Pirates & Princesses, that letters of intent covered about 450,000 square feet as of October.
As for timing, construction is targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with an opening planned for 2028. Just keep in mind that projects of this size can shift, and the sphere venue developers have teased is still only a possibility.
Your Wish List, Please
It's been a long road for this corner of Kissimmee. After more than a decade as an abandoned eyesore, the old resort site finally has a plan, a budget, and a set of renderings that look nothing like the ruins drivers have been passing for years.
Whether Ovation Orlando becomes a must-visit spot for vacationers or just another stop along U.S. 192 will depend a lot on which tenants sign on. We'll keep following the project and share updates as names are announced.
So, what would get you to stop by? A concert venue, a buzzy new restaurant, or that teased sphere? Leave your wish list in the comments. We'd especially love to hear from locals who've been watching this property sit empty for years. What would you want to see go in there?
