Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor

[whodini]

I still cant figure out why anyone visiting DC would want to stay 8 miles outside of town with no Metro link simply because it says "Disney" on the side of their hotel...

I doubt the casual tourist is the target here. Knowing how much convention/event business Disney does down at WDW, I can understand them wanting to get in on the action somewhere else. And while the DC metro is nice, I think a lot of people coming from out of town still rely on taxis more than the metro, but thats totally anecdotal.

 

[Mindy5767]

I still cant figure out why anyone visiting DC would want to stay 8 miles outside of town with no Metro link simply because it says "Disney" on the side of their hotel...

Actually, from the perspective of a local, the really best places to stay when visiting DC is actually Old Towne Alexandria. That is in VA by the way. Old Towne HAS a metro stop although it is a hike from the dock area where most of the historic restaurants and little shops are. That said... metro isn't very tourist friendly. I do believe most tourists would take a cab. National Harbor probably has transportation to DC by resort bus. I don't see why it wouldn't. Some of the dinner cruise boats leave from Old Towne. Some will soon leave from National Harbor. Having National Harbor lets Maryland get in on the action. Staying in Downtown DC is not really best. There are some nice hotels, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't go around the town at night without knowing exactly where I was going and what I was doing. National Harbor was created to compete with Old Towne for tourist dollars. The waterfront there was never exploited in a positive way. Now it is. I would visit National Harbor just to eat at the new Disney Restaurants and see the resort, but I wouldn't stay there. Too close to home.

 

[deej696]

Actually, from the perspective of a local, the really best places to stay when visiting DC is actually Old Towne Alexandria. That is in VA by the way. Old Towne HAS a metro stop although it is a hike from the dock area where most of the historic restaurants and little shops are. That said... metro isn't very tourist friendly. I do believe most tourists would take a cab. National Harbor probably has transportation to DC by resort bus. I don't see why it wouldn't. Some of the dinner cruise boats leave from Old Towne. Some will soon leave from National Harbor. Having National Harbor lets Maryland get in on the action. Staying in Downtown DC is not really best. There are some nice hotels, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't go around the town at night without knowing exactly where I was going and what I was doing. National Harbor was created to compete with Old Towne for tourist dollars. The waterfront there was never exploited in a positive way. Now it is. I would visit National Harbor just to eat at the new Disney Restaurants and see the resort, but I wouldn't stay there. Too close to home.

Thank you for your insight from a locals perspective. I only mentioned those things because we just returned from a trip to DC last weekend. We stayed in the District, ventured out every night, and took the Metro just about everywhere. Granted I may not fit the normal tourist mold, in that this is how we do every city we visit both here and abroad, so it wasnt really any big deal. I'm sure its a great area, and I'm sure Disney will capture a bunch of the convention market there, but as a tourist I would probably pass on our next visit...

 

[Mindy5767]

That's great that you had such a successful tourist experience. Our negative view comes partly from watching the local news every night which is filled with crime from the district. Granted, the areas around Capitol Hill, National Mall & The Smithsonian and Georgetown (the frequent tourist areas) are not frequently included but they're not immune. Chandra Levy was killed in Rock Creek Park afterall.

The metro can be a nightmare if you're in a wheelchair or pushing a stroller. I was once "trapped" in a station because the elevators were all broken and the stationmaster wouldn't allow me to take my jogging stroller up the escalator. Thankfully a kind man helped me get my stroller folded (tricky job that requires pulling hard on a cotter pin) and with 3 people, we could carry child, our lunch baskets and other stuff up the escalator. Escalator outtages and broken elevators are notorious. Slower moving tourists pondering the ticket machines could get run over at rush hour too!!

For years, Maryland was jealous of Northern Virginia. Old Towne Alexandria had all the hotels, historic district (as does DC). Maryland had bupkis.. esp. PG County. PG County's reputation suffered more and more over the years. They came up with the plan to revitalize the waterfront. I'm actually happy for them. It is way better than the blighted area it used to be. Too bad Maryland recently raised their sales tax to 6%. DC however is higher than that but VA is 5%. I'm really glad that Disney has signed on to be part of it. I know whatever they do with it, since it will have to Disney touch.. will be awesome.

 

[nless_dream]

glad to see Disney investing into the National Harbour. Drove there a couple months ago and it was empty. Not many shops has opened up yet so hopefully this will kick start it.

 

[wishing4PA]

Actually, from the perspective of a local, the really best places to stay when visiting DC is actually Old Towne Alexandria. That is in VA by the way. Old Towne HAS a metro stop although it is a hike from the dock area where most of the historic restaurants and little shops are. That said... metro isn't very tourist friendly. I do believe most tourists would take a cab.

I must be another oddball then. When traveling, I find my favorite mode of local transportation is train/subway (as long as I'm relatively sure I'm not going through any scary areas.) I should add monorail to that list, too.
The reason is all of the above follow fixed, easy to read routes and somewhat reliable schedules. An out of towner can be reasonably sure the train is going to stay on the track and not wind up in some area never heard of. And the cost is pretty much fixed when one buys the ticket/card/token/whatever is used in whatever city.

2nd choice would be buses (again, IF it's a tourist friendly area), especially in cities where the routes are posted (see a trend here) and the schedule is fairly easy to find, consistent day to day and with arrivals not timed too far apart. Oh, and I pay up front. The bus COULD veer from its route, and tourist me might not know what's going on while all the locals do, but that's usually not a problem...

3rd choice is a taxi. After all, I never know am I going to get a good driver or a bad one. Will s/he take me 10 miles out of the way to rack up miles/zones/time? Did s/he really understand my destination or is s/he going to take me to the wrong place? And the trip could cost anywhere from x dollars up to $$$$$??? If there's a problem or misunderstanding over the price I find out when I am already on my way or there.
After a few trips to NYC in my 30's, I finally learned how to flag a cab (yes, not being a "city girl" I had to "learn" how) and I got a lot more comfortable with riding them. They have their advantages at times. And if I have to take a cab, I will. But they still aren't my first choice most of the time.

I just wanted to add to the oddball different tourist perspective for those of us that do like the Metro (though I early on learned how high the Roslyn station's escalator was and immediately marked it off my list of stations I might ever get off/on at!)

 

[Mindy5767]

I will defer to the actual tourists on what DC is like from a tourist perspective. I guess you're right... the train WILL most likely stay on the track and not venture out of its jurisdiction. I find the Rosslyn metro station escalator and the others that mimic the drop on Expedition Everest to be a scray impediment to my travel. I am not used to traveling on the bus system, so I rarely choose buses when visiting other cities because I find their schedules confusing.. but that could just be me. I however, LOVE the WDW bus system and choose it over my own car any time I can.

I still think National Harbor will be fine without metro. I'm so sure the hotels and resorts there will provide their own transportation. I'm sure Disney will bring in buses. In fact, if Disney ran the government we'd all be a whole lot better. The efficiency would be astounding!!

 

[wishing4PA]

I still think National Harbor will be fine without metro. I'm so sure the hotels and resorts there will provide their own transportation. I'm sure Disney will bring in buses. In fact, if Disney ran the government we'd all be a whole lot better. The efficiency would be astounding!!

Oh, yes! I'll be more than willing to hop on a Disney bus any day!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

In fact, if Disney ran the government we'd all be a whole lot better. The efficiency would be astounding!!

I hope this project goes through! It would be great to have a Disney Resort within a 4 hr drive from home!!! I've never been to national Harbor, but from what I have read, once completed, it will be similar to Inner Harbor in Baltimore, which is a great tourist destination in and of itself. I think this could be a big success. My fingers are crossed that this all goes through and doesn't get scrapped somewhere along the line!

 

[Etoile]

I'm in Vienna, and personally I can't wait for this! When I first started being interested in Disney, I was so disappointed to hear about Disney's America not working out. I am looking forward to having something local that's Disney...I might sign up for a job so I can be a CM!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I still cant figure out why anyone visiting DC would want to stay 8 miles outside of town with no Metro link simply because it says "Disney" on the side of their hotel...

There is a second thread about this exactly.

I have been outspoken with ?????'s.

I know National Harbor very well - had to stop by Memorial Day weekend.

Doesn't make any sense....but rather than put everyone to sleep again on a second thread......just take a peek at some of the comments on the other thread.

This location simply doesn't make any sense unless disney got the land for pennies and plans to sell it if and when National Harbor actually has PEOPLE who come to visit.

FYI -

Luxury boat show was a bust for it's two years running. There are no true luxury boats on the Potomac --- they are in Europe now. But hey --- the Annapolis Boatshow folks tried it for two years in a row. Lost their shirts the first year (and I could have been killed when the 100 X 150 foot tent fell on 3 of use in a storm). Luckily, just an ankle injury which meant a scooter for our next WDW trip.

Maybe after a second failed year, they will drop the idea.


Anyway, just doesn't make any sense....

 

[deej696]

Wow, its rare that I actually get someone that agrees with me on this board How bout a link to the other thread as I cant find it. I'm in need of a good nap

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Wow, its rare that I actually get someone that agrees with me on this board How bout a link to the other thread as I cant find it. I'm in need of a good nap

See "Disney Buys Land for Resort in Maryland" at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2186510

 

[deej696]

Oh, I didnt think to look for a second thread on the same board

Yeah I still dont get it. I know expanding the brand by opening more stand alone resorts has been talked about in the past, but of all the locations to do so is this really the best? D.C. makes sense for sure, but I'm just not seeing how this project is the way to tap into it.

 

[Mindy5767]

The Washington Post ran a letter to the editor correcting the story that said it was 8 miles south of DC. It is 3.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The Washington Post ran a letter to the editor correcting the story that said it was 8 miles south of DC. It is 3.

The online story now has a correction. It says, "The article incorrectly said that the project's distance from the District is eight miles. National Harbor is about a mile from the District line."

The original wording in the Washington Post may have been less than perfect, but what matters is the distance between the Disney site and the attractions on the National Mall (about 8 miles in straight line, and more when driving) than the distance to the Maryland-D.C. line.

 

[Mindy5767]

Well, the distance between MK and EPCOT is close to 8 miles because the distance between MK and EPCOT and back is the 1/2 marathon. And maybe folks visiting National Harbor will not be visiting DC itself. Maybe they're coming to see Mount Vernon and Old Towne.

I was never excited about National Harbor til Disney took a stake. In fact, I thought the whole idea of a tourist desitination in Prince George's County seemed rather ironic or crazy. Now..... I'm interested. So... we shall see. I still think the Disney America project was the biggest economic engine missed opportunity for Northern Virginia that ever there was. Considering what they traded it in for... we got a bum deal!!

 

[Etoile]

Well, the distance between MK and EPCOT is close to 8 miles because the distance between MK and EPCOT and back is the 1/2 marathon. And maybe folks visiting National Harbor will not be visiting DC itself. Maybe they're coming to see Mount Vernon and Old Towne.

I was never excited about National Harbor til Disney took a stake. In fact, I thought the whole idea of a tourist desitination in Prince George's County seemed rather ironic or crazy. Now..... I'm interested. So... we shall see. I still think the Disney America project was the biggest economic engine missed opportunity for Northern Virginia that ever there was. Considering what they traded it in for... we got a bum deal!!

I've never heard of anybody coming to the area JUST to visit Mount Vernon and Old Towne. They're usually additional trips for DC visitors, I think.

But yeah, I'm interested too...just to see what happens. Six Flags America is in PG County too, and it has been plagued with complaints about "riff-raff" and the "urban" population. Personally, I have never seen anybody at SFA who was there for anything but enjoyment, everybody always seems to be having a good time, but the complaints are definitely out there. So it will be interesting to see what Disney comes up with!

I think I would be a Disney addict though if Disney's America had been built. As it is I can't afford to go all the way to Orlando or Anaheim (have only been to DLR, and only once), but if it was in Manassas I'd probably blow my cash there every weekend!

 

[yitbos96bb]

There is a second thread about this exactly.

I have been outspoken with ?????'s.

I know National Harbor very well - had to stop by Memorial Day weekend.

Doesn't make any sense....but rather than put everyone to sleep again on a second thread......just take a peek at some of the comments on the other thread.

This location simply doesn't make any sense unless disney got the land for pennies and plans to sell it if and when National Harbor actually has PEOPLE who come to visit.

FYI -

Luxury boat show was a bust for it's two years running. There are no true luxury boats on the Potomac --- they are in Europe now. But hey --- the Annapolis Boatshow folks tried it for two years in a row. Lost their shirts the first year (and I could have been killed when the 100 X 150 foot tent fell on 3 of use in a storm). Luckily, just an ankle injury which meant a scooter for our next WDW trip.

Maybe after a second failed year, they will drop the idea.


Anyway, just doesn't make any sense....

There are water taxis there and back...

You never know... maybe we'll see a Metro extension.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

There are water taxis there and back...

You never know... maybe we'll see a Metro extension.

A Metro extension would be nice...there was talk about one in the past, as well as extending North of Silver Springs, up towards Frederick. I'll believe it when I see it though!

I can say that if this hotel IS built, I will go...it will be great to get a "Disney fix" kinda close to home.

ETA: They could also be going for a "destination resort" idea, kind of like Great Wolf Lodge. GWL is a destination in and of itself, and most of those are not right in the "tourist section" of the towns they are in. 15 acres is plenty big for something like that.