The Walt Disney Co. announced plans Tuesday to build a 500-room resort hotel near the “National Harbor” area of Prince Georges Co., Md., just a few miles outside of Washington, D.C.
The hotel would help to bring more business to the National Harbor area, which already has a 2,000-room Gaylord National convention center. In a press release, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo praised the National Harbor location as “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.”
This is Disney’s first move back into the Washington, D.C. area since abandoning plans for a history-themed park in Virginia to be called “Disney’s America” in the mid-1990’s.
Prince Georges Co., Md. is no stranger to amusement parks as it is currently home to Six Flags America. There is already some early speculation by local media that the underperforming theme park could be in Disney’s sights.
The National Harbor area is approximately 20 miles away from Six Flags America in Largo, MD.
Sounds like I am going to definitely have to visit D.C. when the hotel opens!
I wonder how much they will charge for a room. And Mickey Mouse and Goofy will be in the WhiteHouse. Lol.
What local media said this?
I believe that Disney has a real good eye on Six Flags America. The land the park sits on is like 500 acres and possibly a little bit more. It is very likely that Disney will end up buying the land that Six Flags America sits on. People have been telling me that it wont happen because the people in P.G. County would not want to deal with all the traffic. I beg to differ with a lot of people on that statement. The people in P.G. County have deal with traffic on 214 for as long as Adventure World and Six Flags have been there. The worst 214 gets is Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Fright Fest for Six Flags America. So the local residents are use to heavy traffic conditions in their area. Lets also point out that P.G. County is home to FedEx field which also causes traffic jams when divisional match ups take place against Dallas, Eagles, and Giants. The bottom line is that P.G. County has never been shy on opening the doors to money making businesses. They would open their doors to Disney in a heart beat.
The County would require that Disney paid money to the state to make 214, 4 lanes going both ways. That would deal with traffic well on 214. Disney would offer to grant the police department money in order to patrol areas, and help direct traffic moving along 214, and vehicles coming into and out the park. On top of that, Disney may also talk to Metro Rails about extending the (Largo Station) line down to the park so that tourist in Washington D.C. could access the park a lot easier. And the train hours are already late enough on weekdays and weekends, so it would be no problem for people getting back home.
I believe Disney built the hotel at National Harbor, because they have plans on making Six Flags Inc a deal to buy Six Flags America's land. Disney would surely give Six Flags Inc an offer they cant refuse in order to require the Largo property. It's more than enough land to build a fairly big Disney park. Not to mention its close to Washington D.C. and Baltimore. They would probably end up attracting a lot of people in Ocean City as well. If this happens, Kings Dominion may have to step their game up a bit more than what they have been for the past 1o years since, Six Flags America moved in. When Six Flags America stopped receiving new attractions after their Penguin's: Blizzard River installation, Kings Dominion stepped their game up and defended themselves against the reign of Six Flags America. 2004 came and Six Flags America did not receive any attractions giving Kings Dominion the upper hand. Then 2005 came when Six Flags America received Hurricane Harbor. No rides were installed in 2006 nor 2007. Then 2008 comes and Six Flags America receives a Tony Hawks water slide. 2009 they receive, no new coasters or water park additions, and now for 2010 they announce they are getting Thomas Land. The only speculation for a new ride is in 2011 for the chains 50th year anniversary. I could possibly see Six Flags Inc selling Six Flags America to Disney if we don't receive a new ride in 2011. Sooner or later the cheese will began to cook and we will see Disney theme park analyst around Six Flags America during the winter season and then it will be announced that Six Flags Inc has sold their Largo, MD theme park to Disney for a future Disney park project.
Believe me, I can almost feel it happening. Why els would Disney have made such a quick move to build a hotel that close of a driving distance to Six Flags America. National Harbor is only 20-25 minute drive from Six Flags America.