Haunting images reveal the crumbling remains of an abandoned luxury resort – where lavish rooms and once-stunning grounds were left to rot after tourists fled to nearby Disney
An urban explorer has shared a series of haunting images of an abandoned hotel resort where once luxury suites and grand dining rooms have been left to rot following fierce competition from Disney.
Canadian native Dave, known online as Freaktography, set out to visit the hotel in Florida after reading about the time capsule and its history online.
Sharing his exploration with his 91,000 YouTube subscribers, he claims it was once a sought after destination for many decades with sprawling grounds, multiple pools and lavish suites.
Built originally in the 1970s, as the Hyatt Orlando Resort, with over 3,400 hotel rooms and a convention center made it a peak tourist hub, with its popularity initially boosted due to its proximity to nearby attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
But the situation soon changed and by the end of 1990s it had already changed ownership several times before being renamed the Orlando Sun Resort and reopening in 2007. Its revival was brief and it closed for good in 2010 – now standing as a ghostly monument to its former glory.
An urban explorer has shared a series of haunting images of an abandoned hotel resort where swimming pools and luxury shops have been left to rot (now)
Canadian native Dave, known online as Freaktography, set out to visit the hotel in Florida after reading about the time capsule and its history online (then)
Sharing his exploration with his 91,000 YouTube subscribers, he claims it was once a sought after destination for many decades with sprawling grounds, multiple pools and lavish suites (now)
Built originally in the 1970s, as the Hyatt Orlando Resort, with over 3,400 hotel rooms and a convention center made it a peak tourist hub (then)
Dave’s photographs revealed the state of disrepair the park has fallen into in the years since the doors were shuttered.
The entrance has been graffitied with the words ‘lonely world’ and now has an overgrown, unkept front.
A grand hall where the dining room once was has been left scattered with tables and chairs and covered in debris from the fallen ceiling.
The hotel’s once-impressive decor of red and yellow walls and pink painted suites has also long since faded.
Dave also highlighted how the reception desk previously used for check in is now covered with graffiti and buried in rubble.
As he walked through the main building, he spotted yet more damaged rooms, as well as an empty, old souvenir shop.
Exploring the grounds, Dave then found the apartments which were once lavish suites – all painted pink, still with beds, chairs and dressing tables left behind.
Outside, he also walked around multiple rotting pools and lawns.
It was a popular destination due to its proximity to nearby attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios (now)
The hotel’s once-impressive decor of red and yellow walls and pink painted suites has also long since faded (then)
A grand hall where the dining room once was has been left scattered with tables and chairs and covered in debris from the fallen ceiling (now)
Dave also highlighted how the reception desk previously used for check in is now covered with graffiti and buried in rubble (then)
Exploring the grounds, Dave walked around multiple rotting pools and lawns (now)
By the end of 1990s it had already changed ownership several times before being renamed the Orlando Sun Resort and reopening in 2007 – but its revival was brief (then)
The entrance has been graffitied with the words ‘lonely world’ and now has an overgrown, unkept front (now)
‘The resort’s glory days were short-lived,’ Dave said. ‘It struggled to attract guests and by 2002 it was in serious financial trouble’ (then)
‘The resort’s glory days were short-lived,’ Dave said. ‘It struggled to attract guests and by 2002 it was in serious financial trouble.
‘The local tourism economy was collapsing and visitors to Walt Disney World preferred to stay on Disney property.
‘Despite efforts to revitalize the area, the hotel continued to flounder.
‘It began to suffer from financial difficulties due to poor management, increasing competition so the Orlando Sun Resort closed its doors.
‘The staff departed and nature began reclaiming the property, transforming it into an eerie and silent reminder of the past.’
At its peak, the hotel was one of the largest in Florida, but sadly this was not enough.
Dave said: ‘The abandoned Orlando Sun Resort sits on a prime location on US-192, right outside Walt Disney World and across from the Disney-created town of Celebration.
‘The resort’s pod design, with octagon-shaped buildings, was considered futuristic and modern in the 1970s.’
As for what happens next, he says the property was reportedly purchased in 2021 by a New York company that received a grant to improve the site. However, to date no progress has been made and the hotel remains abandoned.
Dave’s photographs revealed the state of disrepair the park has fallen into in the years since the doors were shuttered (then)
Dave said: ‘The resort’s pod design, with octagon-shaped buildings, was considered futuristic and modern in the 1970s’ (then)
Dave said: ‘The abandoned Orlando Sun Resort sits on a prime location on US-192, right outside Walt Disney World and across from the Disney-created town of Celebration’ (then)
Dave shared: ‘The local tourism economy was collapsing and visitors to Walt Disney World preferred to stay on Disney property’ (now)
As for what happens next, he says the property was reportedly purchased in 2021 by a New York company that received a grant to improve the site (now)
To date, no progress has been made and the hotel remains abandoned (now)
Dave said: ‘The staff departed and nature began reclaiming the property, transforming it into an eerie and silent reminder of the past’ (now)
Viewers were shocked to see the state of disrepair currently facing the once luxury establishment (now)
Heaps of debris litter the ground and sunlight comes streaming in where the ceiling has collapsed (now)
The majority of walls have been marked with graffiti with one chilling note reading: ‘Beware, haunted’ (now)
The former luxury resort, which was once home to 3,400 hotel rooms and a convention center, has been left to decay (now)
Exploring the grounds, Dave then found the apartments which were once lavish suites (now)
The rooms, which had all been painted pink, were still full with beds, chairs and dressing tables that had been left behind (now)
The once lavish rooms have been left to rot with mold currently creeping up all the walls (now)
One of the rooms was still full with furniture – including an armchair set, television, mirror and ironing board (now)
The gardens of the resort have been left in a state of disarray with dead foliage lining the ground (now)
Nature has started to reclaim many of the spots of the hotel since the doors closed for good (now)
The signpost for the convention center has also seen better days – having been left with many of the letters torn off (now)
The once impressive staircase boasting floor-to-ceiling windows is now just a dilapidated shell (now)
Drone footage of the hotel’s sprawling estate showcases the current state of disrepair (now)
The explorer shared clips of the once lavish establishment online where thousands rushed to view the insight
The explorer shared clips of the once lavish establishment online where thousands rushed to view the insight.
One said: ‘Lived in Florida most of my life. Started going to Disney from opening. Never knew this place was here. Very interesting.’
Another commented: ‘It’s scary fun! Thank you for sharing!’
Someone else noted: ‘What a shame. All those millions spent and it is left to rot.’
Another fan wrote: ‘I remember my cousins stayed at that resort when they were teens, they showed me those same photos, it was nice in its heydays.’
One added: ‘I stayed here a couple of times when I was a kid… weird seeing things in the video that I remember and sad, it was brand new then.’
