Back in the 80s, Michael Jackson loved to go to Walt Disney World in Florida to the point that the hotel he was staying in decided to dedicate a suite just for him.
It was the Hotel Royal Plaza, originally named The Royal Inn and now called B Resort & Spa.
Michael had a signature Michael Jackson Suite at the hotel, which was officially revealed in December 1983. It is said that Michael Jackson was so taken by the hotel’s welcoming staff that he returned many, many times, and as recognition of his loyalty, Phil Wright, the hotel manager at the time, arranged to have a suite named in Jackson’s honor.
Michael had a hand in designing the four-bedroom suite — which featured his favorite colors, black, white, and red — and in the display of items he donated to the hotel. Among the memorabilia decorating the room were some of his awards, including his Presidential award from Ronald Reagan and a replica plaque of Jackson’s 37 gold and platinum records.
He also allowed several of his Grammy awards to be exhibited in the suite, saying, “What better place to display my personal memorabilia — which is so special to me — than Disney World?” The trophy case they were mounted in is rumored to have been insured for $1 million.
Although Marilyn Monroe did not stay at the resort, Michael was such a big fan of hers that the suite included memorabilia in her honor, including a paper sculpture of the movie star, contained in a Lucite box hanging on the wall.
“Jackson worked with a designer to decorate the two-bedroom, 16th-floor suite at the Royal Plaza, and donated memorabilia for the walls, and when he wasn’t there, fans could rent the digs for upwards of $750 a night,” Orlando Sentinel reporter Bob Morris wrote in 1993.
If Michael wasn’t in town, hotel manager Wright guaranteed guests could use the suite, but while Michael Jackson usually gave one month’s notice prior to arrival, he also turned up unexpectedly at times. In those instances, any guests scheduled to be in the room would be relocated. “It’s his suite,” Wright said during an interview in 1986. “Most guests say they don’t mind getting bumped — as long as they’re put on the same floor as him.”
The suite is still there, of course, and guests can still stay in it, though it no longer contains any of Michael Jackson’s memorabilia.
Michael Jackson at Disneyland. /// ADDITIONAL INFO: CU.Disney.famous – DATE UNKOWN – PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN – COURTESY OF RENIE BARDEAU /// Renie (CQ) Bardeau (CQ) was the a photographer at Disneyland from 1958 until 1998. He served at the theme park’s chief photographer from 1975 to 1998. His first photo assignment was a black and white series of, them, Vice President Richard Nixon and assisting Walt Disney with the dedication of The Disneyland Monorail System. This collection of photos are scanned from his personal collection and are a sampling of some of the celebrities he photographed through the years. Scanned by Joshua Sudock, staff photographer at Bardeau’s Glendale, Arizona home on Monday, July 13, 2015. 
In 2013, B Hotels & Resorts acquired the Hotel Royal Plaza property, and in October 2014, after an extensive renovation and expansion, it reopened as the B Resort & Spa.
For more information visit BHotelsandResorts.com.
C’ est dommage que la suite ne contienne plus les souvenirs de MJ !
This is such a cool story, thank you for publishing it!
What’s the orifinal photo of the montage heading the article? Is it from Captain Eo?
Alexandre (he/him)
Thank you Alexandre, glad you like the article. Correct, this is a photo from Captain Eo! 😉