Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA 323-room Holiday Inn resort near Disney Springs in the Walt Disney World Resort area of Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area is a resort hotel located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Walt Disney World Resort area of Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The property is positioned near Disney Springs, the shopping, dining, and entertainment district formerly known as Downtown Disney, and forms part of the group of independently operated hotels serving visitors to the Disney destination. Although it uses the Holiday Inn brand, the property is distinct from hotels owned or operated directly by The Walt Disney Company. The hotel opened on February 8, 1973, as Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge. Its early history reflects the development of the Walt Disney World hotel market beyond Disney-owned resorts. The property was later expanded in 1978 and subsequently carried the name Howard Johnson at Walt Disney World Village. In 1994, Marriott Hotels acquired the property, and on January 20, 1995, it reopened or was rebranded as the Courtyard by Marriott at Walt Disney World Village. InterContinental Hotels Group acquired the resort in 2003. The hotel closed on December 30 of that year for a planned conversion to the Holiday Inn brand and a substantial renovation. Before the work was completed, Hurricane Charley struck Central Florida on August 14, 2004, causing extensive damage to the incomplete property. The hotel consequently remained closed for approximately six years. It was restored and reopened on February 12, 2010, as the Holiday Inn Walt Disney World Resort after a reported $35 million renovation. The property was sold on December 9, 2016, to Chicago-based GEM Realty Capital for a reported $24 million. It continued to operate under the Holiday Inn name and was managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts according to the referenced account. The hotel later became known as Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area, aligning its name with the Disney Springs destination and the broader naming conventions used for hotels in that resort district. The resort has 323 rooms and includes a heated swimming pool and hot tub. Certain parts of the property provide views toward Disney Springs and other portions of the Walt Disney World Resort. Its core proposition is destination-oriented lodging: guests receive access to a recognizable international hotel brand while staying close to Disney attractions, Disney Springs restaurants and retail, and the wider Central Florida tourism infrastructure. The available reference material does not establish a separate restaurant portfolio, loyalty-program distinction, current room categories, or a detailed list of guest services beyond the principal accommodation and leisure facilities.
History
The property now known as Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area opened on February 8, 1973, as Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge. It was built during the early expansion of the Walt Disney World destination and served the growing market for hotels located close to Disney attractions but outside the directly Disney-operated resort portfolio. The hotel was expanded in 1978 and later became known as the Howard Johnson at Walt Disney World Village. Marriott Hotels acquired the property in 1994. On January 20, 1995, it became the Courtyard by Marriott at Walt Disney World Village, placing the hotel within Marriott's Courtyard brand and reflecting the property's continuing role as a branded lodging option for visitors to the Disney area. InterContinental Hotels Group acquired the resort in 2003 and began a major project to convert it into a Holiday Inn. The hotel closed on December 30, 2003, to permit renovation. The project encountered a major interruption when Hurricane Charley affected Central Florida on August 14, 2004. Because the building was still incomplete, the storm caused extensive damage and prolonged the closure. The property remained unavailable for approximately six years. Following restoration and a reported $35 million renovation, the hotel reopened on February 12, 2010, as the Holiday Inn Walt Disney World Resort. The reopening returned the property to the market under the Holiday Inn flag and established the operating identity from which its current Disney Springs-area positioning developed. The hotel occupies a location on Hotel Plaza Boulevard near Disney Springs, offering access to the wider Walt Disney World resort area. Certain areas of the building provide views of Disney Springs and other parts of Walt Disney World Resort. On December 9, 2016, GEM Realty Capital, a Chicago-based real-estate investment company, bought the hotel for a reported $24 million. The property continued to be operated under the Holiday Inn brand and, according to the referenced account, was managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts. Its later naming as Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area connects the hotel more directly with the Disney Springs district and the terminology used by nearby destination hotels. The current hotel is described as having 323 rooms, a heated swimming pool, and a hot tub. Its historical significance is primarily local and operational rather than corporate: it illustrates how a single destination hotel moved through several major lodging brands, survived a prolonged post-hurricane reconstruction, and remained part of the commercial hotel ecosystem surrounding Walt Disney World. The available references do not provide a complete account of current ownership arrangements, management changes after the cited period, room types, restaurants, loyalty benefits, or the precise date of the present name adoption.
- 2016
GEM Realty Capital acquisition
[1]GEM Realty Capital purchased the property on December 9 for a reported $24 million.
- 2010
Reopening as Holiday Inn Walt Disney World Resort
[1]The restored property reopened on February 12 after a reported $35 million renovation.
- 2004
Hurricane Charley damage
[1]The incomplete renovation project suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Charley on August 14.
- 2003
InterContinental Hotels Group acquisition and closure
[1]InterContinental Hotels Group acquired the resort, which closed on December 30 for conversion to Holiday Inn.
- 1995
Courtyard conversion
[1]The property became Courtyard by Marriott at Walt Disney World Village on January 20.
- 1994
Marriott acquisition
[1]Marriott Hotels acquired the property.
- 1978
Expansion
[1]The property was expanded during its period as a Howard Johnson hotel.
- 1973
Opening as Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge
[1]The hotel opened on February 8 in the Walt Disney World area as Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge.
Products and positioning
A branded destination hotel serving leisure, family, and theme-park visitors seeking accommodation near Disney Springs and Walt Disney World.
Hotel accommodation · 1973
Guest rooms
The hotel provides 323 guest rooms for visitors to the Walt Disney World and Disney Springs area. The supplied references do not specify the current room mix, amenities by category, or accessibility inventory.
Leisure facilities
Heated swimming pool and hot tub
The resort includes a heated swimming pool and a hot tub, supporting the leisure-oriented positioning expected of a destination hotel serving theme-park and vacation travelers.
Destination lodging · 2010
Disney Springs-area resort lodging
The property's principal offering is accommodation near Disney Springs and the wider Walt Disney World Resort. Some areas of the hotel provide views toward Disney Springs and other resort locations.
Brand decisions
2016
Sale to GEM Realty CapitalM&ABackground
The hotel had reopened under the Holiday Inn brand and was operating as a Disney-area resort property.
Action taken
GEM Realty Capital purchased the hotel on December 9, 2016.
Aftermath
The hotel continued operating under the Holiday Inn brand, with Interstate Hotels & Resorts identified in the reference as its manager.
Reported acquisition price. $24 million (December 9, 2016 acquisition)
2010
Reopening after Holiday Inn conversionProduct launchBackground
The conversion project had been delayed for approximately six years after Hurricane Charley damaged the incomplete property.
Action taken
The restored hotel reopened on February 12 as Holiday Inn Walt Disney World Resort.
Aftermath
The property returned to the destination lodging market under the Holiday Inn identity and later adopted its Disney Springs-area name.
Reported renovation cost. $35 million (Renovation completed before the February 12, 2010 reopening)
2003
InterContinental Hotels Group acquisitionM&ABackground
The hotel was operating within the Walt Disney World-area lodging market after its earlier Howard Johnson and Marriott periods.
Action taken
InterContinental Hotels Group acquired the resort and selected it for conversion to the Holiday Inn brand.
Aftermath
The property closed for renovation on December 30, 2003, but the project was subsequently prolonged by hurricane damage before the hotel reopened in 2010.
Sources1 sources
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