DIsney back in Virginia?

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

This is a wildy unconfirmed rumour but I do know that Colonial WIlliamsburg has been receiving a lot of official Disney Visitors and CW is in somewhat of a financial bind. There is some speculation among employees there that Disney may be in secret talks to perhaps aquire CW

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

This is a wildy unconfirmed rumour but I do know that Colonial WIlliamsburg has been receiving a lot of official Disney Visitors and CW is in somewhat of a financial bind. There is some speculation among employees there that Disney may be in secret talks to perhaps aquire CW

Colonial Williamsburg is operated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a publicly supported, tax-exempt charitable organization. I don't see how Disney could acquire Colonial Williamsburg.

Colonial Williamsburg’s 301-acre Historic Area is great. My wife, kids, and I really enjoyed it.

I suppose there are parts of Colonial Williamsburg, such as the hotels, that could be sold to a private company, such as Disney. Also, the outskirts of the Historic Area would be a good location for a Disney Vacation Club with appropriate 18th century architecture and decor.

However, I really don't expect to see Disney involved with Colonial Williamsburg.

 

[dbm20th]

There is some speculation among employees there that Disney may be in secret talks to perhaps aquire CW

Well we al know that Disney has tied before and spent alot of time and money trying to get into the Virginia area, only to be denied by people looking to limit traffic, or some other reason that I can't remember.

The plans for the park about the country's history were absolutely terrific and it would have been great to see. But political ungliness took over and people even questioned Eisner's ability to deliver something sincere to the history...obviously those were people unfamiliar with Imagineering. This is an interesting twist on trying to get into the area and one I am unfamiliar with. Iger has made it know that he can do things Eisner couldn't. I wonder if this is another of those things

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Just to clarify while CW is tax exempt , it is actually listed as "the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the not-for-profit educational institution that restores, preserves and operates the 18th-century capital of Virginia, encompassed in the 301-acre Historic Area"

 

[jimmytammy]

I would love to see Disney do something in the VA area. Especially if its close enough by for weekend getaways.

dbm20th.....When Disney was looking at building an historically themed park in VA it was going to encroach on unprotected land where the battles of Manassas or Bull Run as some call it took place. Being a Civil War buff, I remember very well the riff that Disney got from history preservists who came out in droves verbally and financially to stop this from happening.

I think Disney had the right idea, but even Walt knowingly, IMO, wouldnt have built a park or anything else on hallowed ground. I still hope they dont give up the idea, just find a place more suitable. It would have defeated the purpose to tear down something historical to have created something about history

 

[DancingBear]

The proposed Virginia park was not on the Manassas battlefield site. There are probably strip malls and subdivisions there now.

This is a pretty fair summary:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/mana/adhi11b.htm

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks for sharing this Dancing Bear. I was misinformed or old age has creeped in on me

 

[rocketriter]

The original opposition to the Virginia historic park wasn't really about sacred sites or even not-in-my-backyard. It was dominated by the assumption that Disney was an unfit steward for our heritage and would cheapen it. Which was, by the way, snobbish baloney.

 

[dbm20th]

The original opposition to the Virginia historic park wasn't really about sacred sites or even not-in-my-backyard. It was dominated by the assumption that Disney was an unfit steward for our heritage and would cheapen it. Which was, by the way, snobbish baloney.

You are correct. I was going to say that, well maybe a bit more blunt, but I have done that on boards before and have been beaten by people who are from the area. Essentially it was snobbery and stupidity that lost that site. There is a book out there, I believe an Imagineering book, that shows some concept drawings. It would have been amazing

 

[DancingBear]

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/2825/america.html

 

[mkpat]

I thought that the people in that area didn't want it to become another "strip mall" type area like the Orlando area around Disney is. Yet years later, that is exactly what it is now. Like the other poster said, "snobbish baloney".