http://www.newschannel2000.com/orl/...ies/themeparknews-121195420020129-140118.html
2 Disney Resorts Plan To Expand
Disney Dolphin Plans New Convention Hall
Posted: 2:53 p.m. EST January 29, 2002
Updated: 3:21 p.m. EST January 29, 2002
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Two resorts in the Disney area unveiled major expansion plans Tuesday.
The Dolphin Resort plans to make its convention hall bigger, while the Shades of Green resort plans to double in size.
It's the largest expansion project ever at Disney's Dolphin Hotel. Spokesmen for the 12-year-old resort admit business is down in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 -- but not by much.
The drop in business is not considered significant enough to slow construction on the new exhibit hall.
"The booking pace that we have moving forward is an indication that people are intending to travel and have their corporations continue to meet, so we're very much optimistic about that," Dolphin spokesman Bill McCreary said.
The resort is spending $75 million to build the exhibit hall and renovate 2,200 rooms at the Dolphin and its sister resort, the Swan.
The Dolphin Hotel is not the only Disney-area resort that's expanding. Shades of Green, the armed forces resort on Disney property is doubling in size.
"We turn away twice what we have now," Shades of Green General Manager Jim McKrindle said.
The resort is typically filled with vacationing military personnel and their families, and $55 million is being spent to expand it by nearly 600 rooms. However, to complete the work, the hotel will close April 1, and it won't reopen until Sept. 15, 2003.
Most of the hotel's 300 workers will be let go, but officials plan to place them at other resorts.
"My goal is to help every person that is displaced to get a job," McKrindle said.
Shades of Green will still be arranging military vacations, sending visitors to neighboring hotels while the resort is being expanded. Although it's a military resort, no taxpayer dollars are spent to expand or operate it.
2 Disney Resorts Plan To Expand
Disney Dolphin Plans New Convention Hall
Posted: 2:53 p.m. EST January 29, 2002
Updated: 3:21 p.m. EST January 29, 2002
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Two resorts in the Disney area unveiled major expansion plans Tuesday.
The Dolphin Resort plans to make its convention hall bigger, while the Shades of Green resort plans to double in size.
It's the largest expansion project ever at Disney's Dolphin Hotel. Spokesmen for the 12-year-old resort admit business is down in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 -- but not by much.
The drop in business is not considered significant enough to slow construction on the new exhibit hall.
"The booking pace that we have moving forward is an indication that people are intending to travel and have their corporations continue to meet, so we're very much optimistic about that," Dolphin spokesman Bill McCreary said.
The resort is spending $75 million to build the exhibit hall and renovate 2,200 rooms at the Dolphin and its sister resort, the Swan.
The Dolphin Hotel is not the only Disney-area resort that's expanding. Shades of Green, the armed forces resort on Disney property is doubling in size.
"We turn away twice what we have now," Shades of Green General Manager Jim McKrindle said.
The resort is typically filled with vacationing military personnel and their families, and $55 million is being spent to expand it by nearly 600 rooms. However, to complete the work, the hotel will close April 1, and it won't reopen until Sept. 15, 2003.
Most of the hotel's 300 workers will be let go, but officials plan to place them at other resorts.
"My goal is to help every person that is displaced to get a job," McKrindle said.
Shades of Green will still be arranging military vacations, sending visitors to neighboring hotels while the resort is being expanded. Although it's a military resort, no taxpayer dollars are spent to expand or operate it.
