The First Three...and the three that didn't make it...

As it stands right now there are almost 20 resorts at Walt Disney World, and that's only if you don't count all of the Vacation Club Villas that are available to guests. It wasn't always that way though. When Walt Disney World opened in 1971 there were only three resorts to choose from. The Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground were completed in time for the grand opening, and for quite some time they were the only on-site option for guests to the Florida property.









Most people know the basic time line of development for other resorts at WDW, and many can quote verbatim opening dates and the exact year that Disney started differentiating between Deluxe, Moderate, and Value resorts. What many people don't know, however, is that there were resorts that were already planned, locations picked out, and plans drawn up, that were never built. These resorts were to have amazing theming and access to the monorail. As a matter of fact, if you look at early pictures of the property around Seven Seas Lagoon you can see the square of land that was already developed for Disney's Asian Resort.


This was to be the first of the monorail line expansion resorts, but plans for it were canceled. This resort was even featured in Walt Disney World literature available in the early 1970s. There was a resort built on the site that was planned for this resort. The Grand Floridian, opened in 1988, occupies the land originally developed for The Asian Resort.

The second resort that was scrapped was Disney's Venetian Resort.


This resort was to be built between the Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. It was to be themed after Venice, Italy, and was to be connected to the monorail line. This project was scrapped and enjoyed a short rebirth during the 80s and 90s when the concept for the Mediterranean Resort was developed. This was also scrapped although land had been cleared for its development.

The third resort was the Persian Resort.


This resort was to be built not on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, but on Bay Lake. Early concept drawings of it had a monorail spur line running from the resort to Tomorrowland. This resort was also scrapped.

Although these resorts never came to be, they have become a part of Disney Lore and a very serious point of speculation and discussion by many Disney fans. I will leave you with an aerial view of the area surrounding Seven Seas Lagoon from the early 70s. See if you can pick out where these resorts were supposed to go.


Till next time, have a great Disney day!!!!!