Disney cancels plans for Washington-area hotel

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Nov 28, 2011 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

Disney has canceled plans to build a 500-room resort hotel in Prince George County, MD at National Harbor. The land for the project was purchased in 2009, and overlooks the Potomac River and the Washington Monument. According to Disney, the "timing isn't right to proceed with another new project of this scale." Disney spokeswoman Kristin Nolt Wingard released a statement saying, "We remain focused on new Disney experiences currently in the pipeline, which include a new cruise ship, a massive expansion of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World ... our expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland and our new Shanghai Disney Resort."

In the 1990s, Disney had planned to build a theme park in the Washington area, centered around the history of the region. The park would have been called Disney's America, but was not well-received by local groups. Plans were eventually canceled due to this opposition.

National Harbor is planned to be a national tourist destination with residential, retail, hotel and office space available, and is being counted on to be a financial boon for Prince George County. County officials are upset about the news, but say they had always had doubts that the Disney project would take shape. They have now moved on to other plans for the area, and are considering buying back the land from Disney in hopes to create another use for it.