Disney's Mediterranean Resort

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cloudboy

Well-Known Member
The Venitian or Persian resorts would be too upscale, if you ask me. If they are going to build another resort (only if attendance allows) they should make something that is a little bit fancier than the Carribean outside hall model, but not as expensive as some of the higher-end resorts. I woul dlike to see something either just to the west of World Drive or just above Epcot.

And something with a sense of place, please. Not just a bunch of plastic icons stuck on a motel building.
 
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tomm4004

New Member
Thanks Marni, these are great.

There are of course two MK monorail lines. One for resorts, one for general guests. On this model, the resort line does go through the Persian and then seems to run through Tomorrowland on its way to the park. That would have been amazing, like the one at DL.

The Asian really sticks out into the water.

It's too bad these weren't built. While I do like all the current resorts, it's too bad (maybe because I'm Canadian) that they are so American oriented.

WL - northwest
YC/BC, BWI, Saratoga - northeast
CSR - southwest
GF, OKW, PO, DXL - southeast

I think they have the corners of the country covered!

Of the Eisner hotels, only the AKL and CBR aren't American.

These resorts would have worked well as EPCOT resorts, fitting in with the World Showcase concept. Yacht and beach type hotels, nice as they are, really have nothing to do with EPCOT.

Again, I'd love to see the Asian built near AK to represent the Asian section.
 
jrriddle

jrriddle

Well-Known Member
Perhaps a new Upscale hotel has something to do with the Saudi Prince's investment in DLP?
I also understand that Disney would still like a 5-star hotel on property since the GF doesn't quite cut it.
The thing I love about that old resort map is that it appears the monorail was to travel through Tomorrowland at one point.
 
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cloudboy

Well-Known Member
While I do like all the current resorts, it's too bad (maybe because I'm Canadian) that they are so American oriented.
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I have always thought that the resorts were a counterpart to World Showcase. World showcase shows off foreign countries (at least to us Americans), while the hotels represented the different parts of the United States. You could even crudely fit Caribbean into that - the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Of course Animal Kingdom Lodge kind of doesn't fit...
 
WDWFanatic

WDWFanatic

Active Member
They had a film too? I purchased the project florida press releases awhile back with all the concepts and photos, even the meetings that walt had with the town. I didnt know of an film on it. where did you get this. Is it available for purchase anywhere?
 
CRO-Magnum

CRO-Magnum

Active Member
Construction started once before...

I was working at CRO in 1990 when they started prepping a site between the TTC and Contemporary (around the start of summer I believe). I asked around and found out they were getting ready for construction of the Med resort. The GF was going for its 5 star rating (requires things like robes in the rooms for guests, fresh linens daily, fresh cut flowers and music in the lobby, etc.). They had construction equipment leveling areas and building berms; stakes were driven to outline buildings (I believe). Right around the time the GF failed its final review for 5 star and Disney announced it didn't care and wasn't going to pursue it anymore, they started demolishing the work; removing the stakes and plowing through the nicely placed berms and such. However, if you look to the MK side of the monorail you can still see some very flat land with berms running across it.

I'll look in my array of photos to see if I have one of the land under construction.
 
WDWFanatic

WDWFanatic

Active Member
I remember a little arch made of wood with a dirt road going thru it right in the area of where the venitinan was supposed to go. I think its still there. you can see it from the monorail. I always wondered why it was there. All i remember was wetland issues or something.
 
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tomm4004

New Member
CRO-Magnum. Nice report. However, I'm curious how the GF failing to achieve 5-stars prompted Disney to stop construction on the Med Hotel. They did build the WL, and YC/BC shortly after.

Also - do you know what the determining factors were in GF not getting the rating, and if they've tried since?
 
CRO-Magnum

CRO-Magnum

Active Member
Originally posted by tomm4004
CRO-Magnum. Nice report. However, I'm curious how the GF failing to achieve 5-stars prompted Disney to stop construction on the Med Hotel. They did build the WL, and YC/BC shortly after.

Also - do you know what the determining factors were in GF not getting the rating, and if they've tried since?
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I'm not sure if the two events were related, but the crews started dismantling the Med within a couple weeks of the statement that Disney would not continued to pursue 5 start rating for the GF. The understanding in Resorts was that the Med was meant to be a 5 star, as was the GF, and if they couldn't get there with the GF then what was the point. Interesting to note that we were told the Med would be a 200 - 300 room hotel, quaint but expensive. When they stopped construction they sited "site instability" but none of us believed it.

I was told one issue was pools (not enough for the number of guests), one was the spa (the rules changes on the size of the spa and healthclub after the property was built but they wanted to apply the newer rules), but the other issues were very subjective; abmiance, size, location. Behind the scenes I was told by the general manager of the FG they dropped the idea because they felt the rules were changing during the game and they were being held to a higher standard.

The YC and BC were already under construction and opened in 1990. The Dixie Landings and Port Orleans were also already under construction. The Swan and Dolphin were open.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
CRO-Magnum - interesting! I would love to see that photo (as you can see from my photo album I`m really interested in all this!!)
 
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tomm4004

New Member
When they stopped construction they sited "site instability" but none of us believed it.
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Just like the story that nothing could be built on the Horizons site or the Tower of Terror couldn't be built in Tokyo because of ground instability. If the Contemporary can survive there I'm sure the Med could have.
 
TinkerBell9988

TinkerBell9988

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by marni1971
Hi Lenny. The Mediterranian was to be the grandest WDW resort. It was located on the monorail between the T&TC and the Contemporary (you can make out the land area today) The station would be on the existing allignment, so no track moving would be necessary.

Parts of the edge of seven seas lagoon was to be dug into the resort to make canals and islands, and the last I heard was the ground wasn`t stable enough to build it.... who knows?

I`ve put the plan of the resort in my photo album:

http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/showphoto.php?photo=8559&nocache=1
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Marni, you are correct. The Mediterranian Resort was supposed to open around the time the Contemporary did, and it was also supposed to be the most esquisite hotel on property.

I have a book that was sold in WDW in 1971 to commemorate the opening of the resort and there is a map drawn with the MK and its surrounding resorts, the Mediterranean and another resort is included on there.

This is a rather interesting topic... I do hope to see that resort in the future... :)
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Direct quotes from WDW press and Publicity, January 1991:

"Kingdom Suites Hotel : 50-75 luxury suites in harmony with Disneys Contemporary Resort, located besides the seven seas lagoon between the MAGIC KINGDOM Park and Disneys Contemporary Resort" Hope that helps, tomm4004.

Also,

"Disneys Mediterranian Resort : 1,000 deluxe rooms on the southeast side of the seven seas lagoon near the MAGIC KINGDOM Park plus 45,000 square feet of convention space. Its architecture is inspired by glamorous resorts of the Greek islands. It will be located on the monorail system."

It interesting to note that in September 1990 there were to be 200 luxury suites at Kingdom suites, and 65,000 sq ft of convention space - they had already started downsizing!

By 1994 the press office had added "No opening date" to the Mediterranian Resort.
 
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tomm4004

New Member
Greek Island resorts (and villages) tend to be white. The Grand Floridian is white. That's a lot of white competing against each other. You'd be getting glare from two sides if you were on the ferry!
 
surfsupdon

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by tomm4004

These resorts would have worked well as EPCOT resorts, fitting in with the World Showcase concept. Yacht and beach type hotels, nice as they are, really have nothing to do with EPCOT.

Again, I'd love to see the Asian built near AK to represent the Asian section.
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You know, I never thought of that and you are totally right. The Epcot Resorts are my absolute favorites, their themeings, locations, and conveniences really mesh well together. I always thought that they were the best grouping b/c they all fit into one theme, they are all nautical and dealing with water--Yacht/ Beach BoardWalk, Caribbean, Swan and Dolphin. Yet that nautical theme has really nothing to do with Epcot or its representations. Resorts with a flair from around the world could have been really neat. Oh well, I still like the Epcot Resorts best for their overall themeing and groupings.


And about the possibility of new Resorts way, way down the road, I always wondered if Disney would go above their already deluxe resorts with even higher rates, or have to make a new catagory below the values after they become not to economical anymore. But this is much later down the road of course.
 

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