Mediterranean Resort Plot

[SeaCastle]

I spend a lot of time looking at aerial photography of WDW, and I noticed something odd about the plot of land that was at one point set aside for Disney's Venetian and Disney's Mediterranean resorts.

It seems at some point over the past 10 years, tree plantings were made at the plot, which was mostly devoid of vegetation for a long time. It seems if they wanted to facilitate development on that land, they would keep the land cleared. Here are some images from over the past 15 years.

1995

2002, where lines appear in the dirt

2005, in which some saplings start to appear

2008, the lines at their most visible

2010, where the land cleared for "sight lines" is visible, cutting through the vegetation

 

[Kamikaze]

Well, if I wanted to play devil's advocate, I could say the plantings were being used to try and solidify the ground for future development.

I doubt thats the case, but just playing the other side.

 

[Figment1986]

they probably added the trees there to offset the removal of trees elsehere on property...

 

[bgraham34]

Chances are nothing is going to get built over there. If I recall I believe the land is pretty unstable and not really usable for a resort.

 

[emmersandjack]

Seacastle....I'm sorry but I have yet to even read this thread yet, because I am so distracted by your Tobias Funke avatar! Best show ever!

Ok....now I will read the thread.

 

[WorldKey]

Chances are nothing is going to get built over there. If I recall I believe the land is pretty unstable and not really usable for a resort.

I had read the same thing....they determined it was not stable to build on. Looks like they have been using it as a 'nursery' to grow plants for other areas of the property.....just a thought (plants/trees added were in rows).

 

[nolatron]

Well, if I wanted to play devil's advocate, I could say the plantings were being used to try and solidify the ground for future development.

I doubt thats the case, but just playing the other side.

Usually when you do construction development, you would remove a few feet of the top soil that's in place and bring in more suitable 'clean' dirt for building on.

At least that's what the oil plants did when I did estimating work on 'em. Maybe regular commercial construction is different.

I'd say if WDW purposelessly planted that much vegetation there, they probably don't have any plans for using that plot.

 

[Master Yoda]

If they were to do any development there, (or anyway), you would remove a few feet of the top soil that's there and bring in more suitable 'clean' dirt for building on.

At least that's what the oil plants did when I did estimating work on 'em.

I'd say if WDW purposelessly planted that much vegetation there, they probably don't have any plans for using that plot.

That unfortunately will not work with the structural issues (negative skin friction) supposedly present on this parcel of land.

 

[SeaCastle]

Seacastle....I'm sorry but I have yet to even read this thread yet, because I am so distracted by your Tobias Funke avatar! Best show ever!

Ok....now I will read the thread.

It is, isn't it? I've never laughed so hard at a sitcom before. :lol:

That unfortunately will not work with the structural issues (negative skin friction) supposedly present on this parcel of land.

I thought this was the case as well, but I also read the reason the Mediterranean was never built was because they wanted WDW to have two five-star resorts, The Grand Floridian and Mediterranean. When the Grand Floridian never reached that status, they lost the will to build the Mediterranean. Now I suppose the land's suitability may be in question, but the land usage maps and master plans for the resort list the area as "suitable" and as a future hotel site. If the land was not able to be developed, I don't believe they would list it as such.

 

[Horizons1]

You will never see anything built on this parcel of land.

 

[Master Yoda]

It is, isn't it? I've never laughed so hard at a sitcom before. :lol:




I thought this was the case as well, but I also read the reason the Mediterranean was never built was because they wanted WDW to have two five-star resorts, The Grand Floridian and Mediterranean. When the Grand Floridian never reached that status, they lost the will to build the Mediterranean. Now I suppose the land's suitability may be in question, but the land usage maps and master plans for the resort list the area as "suitable" and as a future hotel site. If the land was not able to be developed, I don't believe they would list it as such.

I would love to know how they define "suitable". If they define it as "possible to build" then it would be a correct description. If they define it as "ideal to build" then based of what I was told that assessment would be incorrect.

 

[CarlFredricksen]

I would assume this seems like you did a lot of work and research for a minor theory

 

[marni1971]

The land was cleared at least once (1990) totally in preparation for building. By cleared I mean down to soil. Guess they didn`t want it looking like a deserted building site.