History of the Disneyland Hotel & Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy Project

Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy Project Rumors

• 💡 Height test balloons have been observed at Epcot, suggesting serious consideration for a Guardians of the Galaxy-based project.
• ⚠️ A master licensing agreement with Universal MCA from the 1980s presents challenges for using Marvel characters, though potential loopholes for theme park development are being explored.
• 🗓️ The project is reportedly being developed with a target opening for 2021, coinciding with Epcot's 50th anniversary.
• 💰 Funding for development stages is expected to be allocated in the new fiscal year starting October 1st, with potential conditions based on the success of a similar project at Disney's California Adventure.

Disney's Acquisition of the Disneyland Hotel

• 🔑 In January 1988, Disney acquired the Disneyland Hotel from the Rather Corporation for $152 million, a crucial asset for the company.
• 🤝 Disney partnered with Industrial Equity, which had a significant stock buy on Rather Corporation, eventually buying them out for $85 million.
• 🗺️ The acquisition included 26 acres of land adjacent to Disneyland and the hotel, providing significant expansion opportunities.

The Queen Mary's Troubled History

• 🚢 The Queen Mary vessel was permanently moored in Long Beach in 1967, intended to become a waterfront attraction by Diners Club.
• 🚧 The project faced significant setbacks when Continental Insurance bought Diners Club in 1970, leaving the ship half-completed and abandoned.
• 🛠️ Specialty Restaurants took over as master lessee, aiming to open the attraction with minimal investment, later partnering with Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) to develop hotel rooms.
• 📉 Despite opening in May 1971, the attraction struggled due to incomplete facilities, with the Jacqu Kustoau museum only a quarter of its promoted size.
• 🏨 By 1974, the Queen Mary attraction was struggling, leading to Hyatt taking over hotel operations.

20th Century Fox's "Pleasure Island" Proposal

• 🎬 Inspired by the success of "The Poseidon Adventure" (filmed on the Queen Mary), 20th Century Fox proposed a $400 million "Pleasure Island" recreational development in 1974.
• 🌊 The project, envisioned for Pier J next to the Queen Mary, included a large city-operated marina with 2500-3000 slips, a hotel, restaurants, and shops.
• 💰 Fox offered to take over the Queen Mary as part of the deal, aiming to create a large, high-end property.
• 🏞️ The proposal involved significant landfill, raising environmental concerns, especially given Disney's concurrent battles over Mineral King.
• 🚢 Negotiations continued into 1975, with Fox attempting to sweeten the deal by absorbing the Queen Mary's operational issues.

The Through Line to Disney Cruise Line

• ⚓ The initial plans for Port Disney Seas theme park included five slips for cruise ships, hinting at a connection to the future Disney Cruise Line.
• 🚢 This historical narrative serves as a through line, linking the acquisition of the Disneyland Hotel and the complex dealings surrounding the Queen Mary to the eventual creation of Disney's cruise ventures.