Jim Hill looks at the resorts that almost were
There are many reasons why Jim Hill Media is required reading for the Disney addict. His site is filled with rumors and stories about every aspect of the Disney Company. Though Mr. Hill seems more focused on the studios and not the theme parks, he does focus on the parks often enough. The stuff that is truly fun is when he gives us some undisclosed piece of history, like he did yesterday when discussing the Magic Kingdom resorts that nearly happened.
The original plans for the Seven Seas Lagoon included many additional hotels than the two that stood for so many years. There was supposed to be a Venetian Resort, a Thai-theme Asian resort, a Persian Resort, and even a Yellowstone lodge-type hotel which sounds an awful lot like the current Wilderness Lodge. But things changed in the world, and this wonderland needed some time to develop.
Long story short: When attendance at the resort dropped off by more than 20% due to the Oil Embargo, Disney officials realized that they should probably cut back on the number of new on-property resorts that they were planning on building. And — instead — give people a truly compelling reason to come down to Orlando and then stay on the hotel rooms that the Mouse already owned. Which is why — starting in 1974 — development of Epcot was fast-tracked, while plans for any additional on-property resorts were quietly tabled.
Mind you, the Imagineers always hoped that they’d be eventually able to get back to Disney World’s “Master Plan.” But then a decade went by and suddenly the Walt Disney Company had a brand-new management team. And Michael Eisner? He wasn’t all that enthusiastic about the idea of building a Thai-themed hotel at Walt Disney World. But an elegant new resort that paid tribute to those grand old hotels that you used to find in Sarasota & Boca Raton around the turn of the century? That Disney’s new CEO could get behind.
So here is finally one decision I think I can applaud Mr. Eisner on. Though the plans for the resorts seem interesting enough, the current Grand Floridian is much more beautiful to me. Yes, these more exotic resort probably are more suited for a “Seven Seas” motif, but let’s be honest. How was the Contemporary suited for that same motif?
Take a look at Mr. Hill’s article. Beside the great information, he has some wonderful concept drawings of the properties he’s referring to. Many of these you may have seen before, but it is always fun to think of what may have been.