Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor

[wbk]

Walt Disney Co. has bought a 15-acre parcel at Prince George's County's sprawling National Harbor development, a shot in the arm for a project that opened with big ambitions a year ago, only to run headfirst into one of the sharpest economic declines in decades.

Disney plans to build a 500-room hotel resort on the parcel, providing another anchor for a 300-acre venture that seeks to rival the District as a conference and convention destination. National Harbor already includes six hotels; more than a dozen restaurants; and a giant conference center run by Gaylord Entertainment, owner of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Read the entire article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051803201.html?hpid=topnews

 

[deej696]

Not sure I follow how this makes sense for Disney, and I would not be suprised if this project gets dropped eventually. Disney running a stand alone convention hotel hundreds of miles from its nearest park? Capturing some of the DC tourist market with the Disney name, yet building the hotel 8 miles south of the District with no Metro link? Neither makes sense to me...

 

[pinkerbell]

I wish I could think of a good reason for doing this, but I cant

 

[doconeill]

This sounds like its another non-park DVC thing, but Jay Rasulo is quoted, not Jim Lewis. Perhaps its a mixed Disney/DVC thing - perhaps the first "mini-park" as rumored a couple of years aho?

 

[crazy4wdw]

National Harbor Sells Land to Disney
Site Being Considered for New Resort Hotel

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (May 19, 2009) - The Peterson Companies announced today the sale of land at its National Harbor development near Washington, DC to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Disney is considering using the 15-acre site overlooking the Potomac River in National Harbor, MD as the location for a resort hotel for families and others visiting the National Capital Region.

“We’re thrilled Disney has decided to invest in National Harbor,” said Milton V. Peterson, chairman of the Peterson Companies. “Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor and the Washington area as a top family tourism destination.”

The new resort hotel would be one of Disney’s stand-alone resort hotels separate from the Disney theme parks. This new resort hotel, like the project under construction in Hawaii, will be in a prime geographic location and will provide guests with the same comfort, fun and amenities for which Disney is famous.

“As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of the list,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation’s capital. We believe National Harbor has the unique opportunity to offer a new level of family-friendly hospitality.”

Disney purchased the Maryland property from the Peterson Companies for $11million.

For additional information about this announcement please go to: http://a.media.global.go.com/parksne...natlharbor.zip.

About National Harbor:
Rising from the banks of the Potomac River in Prince George’s County, MD., National Harbor is a new 300-acre destination waterfront resort. With six hotels and 3,000 rooms, National Harbor features the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Many attributes include the tree-lined avenue American Way, public art including “The Awakening” sculpture by Seward Johnson, shops and offices, numerous high rise residences and the largest marina on the Potomac River. It is also the future home for the new Cesar Pelli-designed National Children’s Museum. The master developer for National Harbor is The Peterson Companies, one of the largest privately owned development companies in the greater Washington area specializing in large mixed use developments.

About Walt Disney Parks and Resorts:
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, with detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world's leading family vacation destinations: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Resort Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Vacation Club, with eight resorts and more than 350,000 members; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world's most popular destinations; the World of Disney stores; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ first stand-alone resort hotel, Ko' Olina on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in October 2011. For more information and images, please visit www.disneyparksnews.com.

 

[Fabinva]

Probably will be use for their Adventures by Disney.
It would be nicer if Disney started sailing from Baltimore.

 

[brendaziz]

OOOh I agree it'd be great if they sailed from Baltimore! I might actaully go on a Dis cruise!

And I don't care what it is cuz it's close to my home so I'm happy about anything

 

[anthony2k7]

sounds like its gonna be like the Hawaii resort - both of which sounds like they could link up with disney cruises.

 

[whodini]

It makes sense to me. It can be used as a base for the current Adventures by Disney and possible expand the itineraries in the area. It also sounds like they got an incredibly attractive price for a great piece of land. If this only became a convention hotel it would probably do great for Disney, but we know it will probably be much more than that.

Could we possibly see this turned into a DVC sales office like people have been suggesting for New York City? Knowing that a large concentration of DVC members are in the northeast, this gives Disney a footprint to hold DVC exlusive events, parties, previews, etc much closer to their members.

 

[tkldisney]

I think it's great. DH had a convention at the Gaylord and the hotel Disney would build would be right there. They had multiple conferences going on and the Gaylord was sold out. They had a bus stop to take to Mall and it was not a bad ride at all. It's also right across from Old Town and that was very easy to get to. For me, next to WDW, DC is one of my favorite places to visit. Love all the history and DC has lots of great places to dine.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Isn't a theme park near Washington an oxymoron?
2) I thought there were enough Mickey Mouse activities already.

 

[Mindy5767]

For me, this is a major "what the *&*&$#" moment. Disney in PG county?? I can't wrap my brain around it. PG County has had a very poor image in the last 25 years as being very downscale, depressed and crime filled. It was a place that people got out of. Like me!! We got out of there in 1988. That said.. they're trying to make National Harbor really nice. It was in a previously trashed area. Its right across the Potomac River from Old Towne Alexandria though. Old Towne is where George Washington visited everything.. and George Mason and all the other founding fathers. Anyway, I'm sure they'll run a water taxi back and forth across the river. They won't need metro. And Disney knows how to run water taxi's and buses for goodness sakes. Better than Metro can for sure. I'd would consider working there myself for Disney if I could sell DVC!!! I'd LOVE to do that. It would be a 30 mile commute though. How ironic.

Remember though, back about 10 years ago or so, maybe more than that. Disney bought land in Manassas VA to build a theme park called Disney's America. My sister's law firm represented Disney. After much wrangling by the NIMBY's, Disney pulled out because they didn't want to go where they were unwelcome. The NIMBY's were sure that Disney was going to "ruin" the area. Make it all trashy and commercial. Huh!! Now, instead of the beauty of Disney property and the jobs... we've got lots of houses that can't pay enough taxes to support themselves. I sure hope that doesn't happen here. That was majorly lost opportunity for this area.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

sounds like its gonna be like the Hawaii resort - both of which sounds like they could link up with disney cruises.

It's highly unlikely that a Disney cruise ship (or any ship for that matter) would be able to dock at the DVC resort being built in Hawaii. The sea in that area is not like the Bahamas; they are tremendous ocean waters where a large sheltered harbor is needed. Meanwhile in DC, I don't think cruise ships of this size can come anywhere near where this hotel might be located.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Mindy5767]

It's highly unlikely that a Disney cruise ship (or any ship for that matter) would be able to dock at the DVC resort being built in Hawaii. The sea in that area is not like the Bahamas; they are tremendous ocean waters where a large sheltered harbor is needed. Meanwhile in DC, I don't think cruise ships of this size can come anywhere near where this hotel might be located.

BobK/Orlando

You better believe it!! You can't run cruise ships in the Potomac River. It is too narrow, too shallow and too rocky!! You can run big yachts, and commercial ships go through....sometimes... but No... NEVER a cruise ship!! The water taxi running across the river to OTA is the best they can do.

 

[wdwscout]

Remember though, back about 10 years ago or so, maybe more than that. Disney bought land in Manassas VA to build a theme park called Disney's America. My sister's law firm represented Disney. After much wrangling by the NIMBY's, Disney pulled out because they didn't want to go where they were unwelcome. The NIMBY's were sure that Disney was going to "ruin" the area. Make it all trashy and commercial. Huh!! Now, instead of the beauty of Disney property and the jobs... we've got lots of houses that can't pay enough taxes to support themselves. I sure hope that doesn't happen here. That was majorly lost opportunity for this area.

I thought of this failed Disney's America project when I first started reading this thread. I was so disappointed when the NIMBYs won. I wonder is there is a possibility that may reappear now?
After that project was abandoned, Disney went up to New York City and revitalized Time Square!! Hardly the trashy and commercial result feared in Manassas. Just imagine what they can do in the DC area- or if they were ever allowed to create Disney's America!

One can hope...

 

[disney1990]

I can see pros and cons at this location. But, I don't think that crime will be an issue. This is a well protected, expensive complex. It is a major convention draw, not really a theme park atmosphere. That said, maybe going to dinner there will bring a little Disney into my life every so often. We are about 30 minutes away from the new resort.

 

[Mindy5767]

I thought of this failed Disney's America project when I first started reading this thread. I was so disappointed when the NIMBYs won. I wonder is there is a possibility that may reappear now?
After that project was abandoned, Disney went up to New York City and revitalized Time Square!! Hardly the trashy and commercial result feared in Manassas. Just imagine what they can do in the DC area- or if they were ever allowed to create Disney's America!

One can hope...

I do hope!! This National Harbor is in an area that was run down and completely the opposite of the other side of the Potomac. Did you know that OTA is known as the Fun Side of the Potomac?!! www.funside.com
Its not an area that weathy people even live in. So its different than in Manassas. If Disney gets in there.. BOTH sides can be funsides!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

sounds like its gonna be like the Hawaii resort - both of which sounds like they could link up with disney cruises.

Linking up a Disney Cruise with Disney's resort in Hawaii would be difficult. Yesterland had an article that explains why: http://www.yesterland.com/disneykoolina2.html

Linking up a Disney Cruise with a Disney hotel at National Harbor would involve seasonal DCL service out of Baltimore and motorcoach service between National Harbor and Baltimore. That's quite doable.

 

[mitros]

1) Isn't a theme park near Washington an oxymoron?
2) I thought there were enough Mickey Mouse activities already.

Yea, especially considering what's going on in Washington these days!

 

[deej696]

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...