Post by Dave on May 17, 2014 18:54:47 GMT -5
1991: Disney's Port Orleans Resort, a re-creation of the streets and rowhouses of New Orleans' French Quarter, opened at 2201 Orleans Drive in Walt Disney World. The Downtown Disney area resort offered 432 guest rooms in 3 buildings (the room count increased to 1,008 when construction on the remaining 4 buildings was completed). Also opening was the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court, Jackson Square Gifts and Desires shop, and Bonfamille's Cafe restaurant. In 2001 it was renamed Port Orleans French Quarter when it was merged with Dixie Landings Resort.
2004: Phase 1 of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (the 7th Disney Vacation Club resort built at Walt Disney World) welcomed its first guests. Phase 1 featured 4 Villa Buildings in a section called Congress Park - opening with 184 Vacation Home units. Jodi Benson (best known as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) took part in the opening festivities singing "Part of Your World" and other Disney classics. The resort (inspired by the city of Saratoga Springs, New York) is situated on the former site of the Disney Institute at 1960 Broadway. (Phases 2-4 were opened over the next 5 years.)
The Sorcerer's Hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios is 100 feet tall. Mickey Mouse would have to be 350 feet tall if he were to wear it. The hat is painted with a custom technique called "chameleon paint" which shifts color as guests move around it. Painting the hat required enough paint to cover 500 full size cars.
Instead of Disney's California Adventure, Disney originally considered building a West Coast version of Epcot. WestCOT was announced to the public in 1991 ... but scrapped in 1995. WestCOT would have been the first Disney theme park of its kind to have resorts actually on its property.