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In 1937, Mickey Mouse took a surfing trip to Hawaii in the animated film Hawaiian Holiday. Now, over 70 years later, the icon is returning, in some form. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts announced Monday plans to build its first hotel complex in the Aloha State on Oahu.
The new venture will include 830 hotel and vacation time-share rooms (combining a 350-room hotel with 480 vacation villas), as well as a water play area and an 18,000 square-foot spa. The timeshare units will be part of the 350,000-member family-oriented Disney Vacation Club, which has eight other resorts.
Nearly 1,000 "cast members" will be hired by the anticipated opening date in 2011. There are currently no plans to expand the resort into a theme park.