How did Swan/Dolphin rate their prime location?

[jsginmd]

My DW and I just returned from a stay at WDW and were wondering why the Swan and Dolphin are at their Epcot area locations while other non-Disney-run hotels are restricted to the Downtown Disney area?

Does anyone know the history behind this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sherry8253]

My DH was the operations manager for Rinker which was located on Disney property and provided the concrete and other building supplies to Disney when the Swan was built. He said at that time Disney was into "partnering" with hotel chains and 2 different hotels won bids for these prime location. He thinks that the Swan was originally a Hilton and the Dolphin a Sheraton. Since then, both have been taken over by Westin. When they were originally built, the rumor was that these hotel chains would own the Swan and Dolphin for only 25 years and then they would both revert back to Disney ownership- thus the prime location. DH said if he remembers correctly the architect who designed these hotels was a friend of Eisner and Eisner helped pick colors, okayed the designs, etc.

 

[jsginmd]

Thanks for the quick reply.

The limited-time ownership certainly would make sense to Disney when allowing the location. It's kind of odd though that they are not externally themed like the other Disney resorts if that was the case (I have not been inside either of them). I can't imagine a complete facade change if Disney were to acquire ownership. And they don't blend as well into the seaside ambiance of the rest of the area's resorts (BW, Y/BC), although they complement each other nicely.

I was aware of the architect's relation though. I believe he's also done the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, correct?

Thanks again!

 

[Mazzy]

The architect is Michael Graves.

Don't know about WL or AKL but he also designed the Hotel New York in Disneyland Paris. We stayed there a couple of years back, and it really does have a 'taste' of the Dolphin, though on a much smaller scale. We had a great view of the ice skating rink from our room.

 

[maggiew]

AKL and WL were designed by Peter Dominick.

Maggie

 

[diathoney]

The Swan and Dolphin have also been there a while (1989/1990). I remember thinking "Why would anyone stay there? It's so far from MK." Now that Epcot has become such great park and MGM is accessible - Not to mention the Beach Club and Boardwalk areas - it is a prime location!

 

[Calcio]

The reason the Swan and Dolphin, non-Disney hotels have their prime location is the simplest reason of all. Money.

The details are at the time EPCOT was being completed and Disney wanted luxury hotels in the area, the company was flat on its back, on death's door broke. This was during the time the company was being rescued by the Bass Family (with backing from Roy E. and Lillian) from sale and certain break up. EPCOT had maxed out Disney's resources, and the studio part of the business was a complete failure. When you need expensive hotels and have no money, you go looking for partners.

The near miracle turn around of the company beginning in the late 1980's, driven by the renaissance in both animated and non-animated film (plus huge increases in theme park prices), caused oceans of cash to flow into Disney coffers. You've got to think at that time they looked back and said, "geez we never should have given away those spots for competitor (or at least non-Disney) hotels.

Is the 25 year term true? If so, those 25 years should be up pretty soon.

 

[jsginmd]

Thanks for the clarification on the architects. I knew that the AKL and WL were done by the same person and for some reason, I was thinking that he was Disney's unofficial "official" architect and therefore did the other hotels.

Does anyone know if the countdown clock to Disney re-owning the Swan/Dolphin is still ticking and, if so, when it is supposed to happen?

 

[ww52]

I don't know what the agreement length is, but given the recent rennovations at the Swan, and now on-going at the Dolphin, I can't belive Starwood is giving up the property anytime soon, if ever. The agreement must have an automatice extension option for Starwood.

 

[diathoney]

Who did the Grand Californian? Was it the same architect as the WL? I know the GC is Arts & Crafts, I'm not sure what style the WL is - Log Cabin style?

 

[PamOKW]

I'm pretty sure Disney still owns the property and the buildings. Michael Graves has done many of the Disney buildings (including the headquarters in CA) and it was Disney who came up with the building designs. As previously mentioned, they were once sort of out there by "themselves". Now, they're in the middle of the action.

One was the Westin and one was the Sheraton. The Starwood Corporation swallowed up many hotel chains, induding both of these. Hence, they are now "one".

 

[Poohlovr]

Actually, the lease is for 99 years, so, Starwood will be around for a while longer.

 

[dreamflight99]

Swan was the Westin & Dolphin Sheraton. During the year 1999, Tishman acquired both properties. Starwood manages both properties under the Tishman Hotel Corporation (THC). THC is an affiliate of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc., one of the world's premier real estate managers, developers, owners, builders, and advisors, founded in 1898 and headquartered in New York.

For more info: go to www.tishmanhotels.com

The Dolphin renovations will be completed by the end of 2004.