I would have agreed with you, but then people pointed out a couple interesting tidbits...
Grand Floridian is based on a hotel in California (sorry, I forget the name).
Also, there's Coronado Springs which is based on Coronado, California region.
The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA was a key influence on the design for the Grand Floridian - among others from the "victorian era". Google pics for it, and you'll definitely see the influence.
Besides that - of course the Wilderness Lodge is designed as an amalgam of the great National Park lodges of the early 20th century (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon) - and the Pacific Northwest Region.
Saratoga Springs is of course modeled after the 1880's resort town of Saratoga, NY.
Then you have Port Orleans celebrating the deep south and New Orleans, LA.
Caribbean Beach celebrating various parts of the caribbean itself and the different islands found there.
Let's see, then there's the classic Polynesian... celebrating the culture and heritage of the various islands of polynesia and the south Pacific.
And of course Animal Kingdom Lodge... celebrating oh the plains of Africa.
With all of that in mind, a resort celebrating aspects of California really isn't that much of a stretch when you think about it.
The only true "Florida" themed resort at WDW is Old Key West, celebrating Key West and the Conch Republic.
