Disney Plans D.C. Hotel at National Harbor

Earlier this week, Disney Parks and Resorts purchased a 15-acre site from the Peterson Companies at the National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The property overlooks the Potomac and is being considered for a new stand-alone Disney hotel. Milton V. Peterson, chairmen of the Peterson Companies, was thrilled over the sale:

Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor.

For Disney's part, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Parks and Resorts, said the family entertainment giant had plenty to offer and plenty to gain from a Washington DC property:

As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of the list. National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation’s capital.

Disney's new resort hotel will join an already wide variety of National Harbor attractions, including a variety of restaurants and venues, boutique stores and J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s mildly terrifying but completely awesome sculpture, "The Awakening." (pictured above)

FareFinder: Tuesday, March 24

VacationMyrtleBeach.com offering Grand Strand resort specials starting at $48 a night.

The four-star Post Hotel Weggis in Switzerland offering a two-night Spring Awakening package that includes accommodations, meals, wellness treatments and mountain bike rentals for $780.

Continental.com last-minute airfare specials this week include Newark Liberty to Bermuda for $149 or Montreal for $128 and Houston to Mexico City for $209. All prices are for roundtrip tickets.

Delta.com partnering with Sandals Resorts to offer a four-night all-inclusive vacation to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa for $1,149 per person, including airfare.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. offering a Weekend Traditions package that includes accommodations, breakfast at the elegant Adour restaurant and complimentary valet parking, starting at $395.

Blow Out Your Travel Plans for the Presidential Inauguration

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as President of the United States. Washington, D.C. -- for an entire week prior to that date -- will be hosting an infinite number of lavish parties all across the area. So, yeah, it would be fairly awesome to be up there. And if you're a hard-core Dem (we're Swiss, thanks for asking), you might be willing to drop some big bucks to throw down in the capitol for a week.
The DC Traveler was kind enough to dig up some of the best (and most expensive) Presidential vacations available.

Try the 14-room suite at the Mandarin Oriential overlooking the city and the National Mall for a paltry $200,000. It includes a chauffeur-driven Maserati.

The ritzy Ritz Carlton Washington in Georgetown has a $150,000 package that includes private jet travel, personal butler and massage therapist and tickets to an inaugural ball. Leave for home with a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage as well.

The Georgetown Ritz Carlton [also] offers a $99,000 package that includes first-class travel and a stay at the Ritz in the Grand Cayman Islands, as after all that pampering, I guess people need to relax a bit.

And that's not including a $440,000 "Commander in Chief" package at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, which includes a $44,000 jewelry shopping spree and a ridiculous five day first class trip to St. Petersburg ... Russia.

So, um, yeah, it's pretty obvious that the entire district is set to pamper towards wealthy Dems making the trek to the nation's capitol. If you're so inclined, holler at a hotel. Although maybe we should change "Yes we can" to "Go big or go home." Now get out there and stimulate that economy people!