October 21, 2008: Disney Goes Hawaiian, Part 3: A Closer Look

[Werner Weiss]

On October 16, 2008, Disney showed off a model of the announced Disney resort at Ko Olina to an audience of politicians and press on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. By zooming in on the model, we can learn a lot about the resort.

Link to Disney Goes Hawaiian, Part 3: A Closer Look at Yesterland

What are your observations?

Please discuss it here.

[JiminyCricketFan]

Great story, Werner! The resort looks very disney-like. I love the layout and the Hawaiian theme! I think kids will enjoy the layout too, if the pool area is really nicely themed.

I have to say Jay Rasulo looks uncomfortable in the pictures. Here when he should be really overjoyed about the project, he looks out of place and posed. Well, I hope that the project becomes as nice as it looks.

[richboi117]

Ooh! That looks so great!! I can't wait to visit that place when it's built!!!

I'm really glad it will be styled to be like a polynesian villiage. Ironically, Hawaii dosn't have too much of that themeing on Oahu.

[bmac4212]

Ko Olina is a great place. My wife and I stayed at the JW Marriott (which will be right next door). This will bring a lot more people to that side of the island which could be a good thing or a bad thing. The lagoons there are awesome. Right now there is only a wedding pavilion where the hotel will be. While on the beach we must have watched a couple married there every hour. I wonder if Disney will have their own or incorporate that one.

[KoolinaNeighbor]

I live in the area and I can confirm that this is more than a symbolic groundbreaking --- the lot is being prep'd as we speak

the economic downturn might turn out to be great timing as the cost of materials should come down --- a lot of fuel expenses are build into anything that comes to Hawaii by ship

there is also significant momentum in the local town of Kapolei which has a Coscto and a new shopping center about to come on line

Disney is a welcome addition to Hawaii and will shift some interest from Waikiki out to the Koolina resort