The Walt Disney Company has reached an agreement to purchase a 15-acre parcel of land in Maryland's Prince George County for a future 500-room resort project.
According to the Washington Post, the site sits eight miles south of the District of Columbia in the National Harbor development along the Potomic River. This location is already home to six competing hotel chains, a convention center and numerous restaurants.
Disney was quick to note that there will be no theme park associated with this project. According to an article by the Post's Thomas Heath:
The new project might dovetail with Adventures by Disney, which offers guided tours that include a mid-Atlantic tour through Philadelphia, Williamsburg and Washington. The D.C. leg of the tour includes a guided bike ride around the National Mall and private tours of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, and a lunch trip to Mount Vernon. "This is what we think about as a fun-filled new destination for local visitors, which can also serve as a base camp from which others can explore the increasingly inspirational stories from our nation's capital," [Parks and Resorts chairman Jay] Rasulo said.
While few details were released regarding the proposed development, Disney apparently plans to build up to 500 guest rooms within its facilities. Disney has not addressed the possibility of Disney Vacation Club villas being added to the project, but its Hawaii development consisting of 800 cash and timeshare units suggests it is a possibility.
The construction timeline is uncertain and may rest on the future of the US economy. According to Rasulo, Disney will weigh "lots of factors in the coming months and the coming years" when setting a timetable for resort construction.
Source: Washington Post
