Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Two of Walt Disney World Resort’s most iconic Deluxe hotels have a secret that many guests might not know: some of the elevator doors in their lobbies don’t actually lead anywhere. Instead, they hide non-functional elevator shafts — a clever design choice by Walt Disney Imagineering that’s been quietly part of these Central Florida Disney Resort hotel locations since they opened.
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, which debuted just days apart in November 1990, are nestled steps from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offering guests a serene, nautical-themed retreat from the theme park chaos. While most visitors undoubtedly notice the luxurious amenities and charming details, the faux elevator doors often go overlooked.
Credit: Disney
On May 17, Reddit user u/pHpositive posted a curious photo from the Yacht Club Resort lobby showing one set of golden elevator doors open to reveal an empty room behind — no elevator shaft or lift system.
Yacht Club elevator
“I’ve heard different reasons for not having a 4th elevator,” the Disney Parks fan explained. “But the imagineers thought that only having 3 sets of doors looked unbalanced. So the one set of doors is fake and has a small room behind it that had pay phones at one time.”
Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Yacht Club’s sister hotel, follows the same design approach. As Reddit user u/SnifferHusky pointed out, “It’s only 3 elevators, but 4 door sets.”
Credit: Disney
This bit of Imagineering magic is subtle enough that many Disney Resort hotel guests have never noticed it.
“I cant believe I never noticed this!” u/runnamuck_rapist said.
Credit: V Mills, Disney Tips
“Huh. Stayed there many times and never noticed,” added u/ct06040. “Wild!”
Though Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t officially explained the faux elevators, it’s widely believed that architectural constraints prevented the inclusion of a fourth elevator shaft. Walt Disney Imagineers installed the fake doors to maintain visual balance and symmetry in the lobby.
What are your favorite Walt Disney World secrets? Disney Tips would love to hear them in the comments!
