PHOTOS - Height test balloons over Fantasia Gardens parking lot area

Jan 12, 2016 in "Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 5 Photos
Height test balloons over parking lot

Posted: Tuesday January 12, 2016 9:44am EST by WDWMAGIC Staff

Height test balloons were spotted this morning around the Fantasia Gardens mini golf area.

Balloons over then tennis courts

The majority of the balloons were located over the tennis courts that are used by guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. There were also more balloons at a lower height across the Fantasia Gardens mini golf parking lot area.

View across the parking lot

Balloons like this are typically used ahead of new construction during the design process to assess how the new construction would impact sight lines from around the resort.

Height test balloons over parking lot

Discuss on the Forums

lazyboy97o19 hours ago

Paint them blue and I’m not sure anyone could tell the plywood isn’t an intentional part of the window walls.

DCBaker20 hours ago

BocabearMar 15, 2021

Well it is trying to be Uber modern, and if this building were anywhere else we would probably say they did a great job... To me, the architecture is fine, just the wrong structure for the location... They should have designed something to thematically harmonize with the Michael Graves hotel buildings... Using Swan and Dolphin they have Water, Air, and they would need a terrestrial creature to base the third tower on.,.. Well, that is how I would have approached the project... At least some sort of visual marriage point between the new tower and the other existing buildings to tie it together... Heck, the Fantasia Gardens golf course is next door...It could have been the Fantasia Tower and pulled design and decor themes from that, but with a nod to the Graves style.

disneyC97Mar 14, 2021

I can’t get over how lousy the whole thing looks.

lazyboy97oMar 14, 2021

I just can’t get over how lousy the spandrel looks.

DCBakerMar 13, 2021

JoeCamelFeb 19, 2021

Universal does not have a resort fee but does have a parking charge.

Ripken10Feb 18, 2021

I could be wrong, but I thought the Universal prices don't include all the add on cost. Disney was the opposite, but now they also don't include the parking add on that they didn't used to have. Please correct me if I am wrong. I seem to remember this on our last stay at Universal. For instance, the resort fee wasn't included on the online price

BocabearFeb 18, 2021

Also crazy is the "Value" stripped down motels are $189-$238... I just stayed at the Dolphin last weekend for $160. The Value Resorts are a horrible deal...funny that they were meant to be a value option and the prices are just outlandish...especially for the quality of the accomodations.

PurduevianFeb 18, 2021

Just picking a random week October 4th- 11th... some price comparisons from Undercover Tourists Hotel Price (nightly rate for cheapest room at resort) Value Level Resorts $189 - $238 Moderate Level Resorts $268-$342 Deluxe Resorts $522-$710 Disney Springs (non-Disney) $76 - $159 Swalphin $231-244 ($265-$284 on the Marriott Website) Swan Reserve $294 (not listed on Undercover Tourist Yet) Universal Hotels (no express pass) $98-$157 Universal hotels (with express pass) $230-$264 FOUR SEASONS RESORT ORLANDO AT WALT DISNEY WORLD $862 (not cheapest on UT) I find it crazy I can stay at the Swalphin (with EMH, 60 day FP plus, walk or boat to EPCOT and DHS, and free bus to MK and AK) for ~$260 a night ($30 resort fee I believe). OR Go to USO and never wait in line and walk to the parks for $230. That is crazy compared to anything Disney is offering at similar prices (All star music, POP and AOA)

UNCgolfFeb 18, 2021

Seriously. I wish we could make upper management watch that ending. Not that it would change anything, but awareness never hurts.

MrPromeyFeb 17, 2021

Better yet, skip to 37:42 (through the end, which that almost is) and tell me current management hasn't lost their way... ... BTW, thank you for this. I'd never seen it before.

TJ VazquezFeb 17, 2021

My point I suppose is that it doesn't matter that its a cat 5, the price is basically the same as the Swan and Dolphin, dollars and points. This is just another option for the conference/convention clientele that will be newer and s bit more modern.

mgfFeb 17, 2021

Because it is the under-developed, poorly thought out, across the parking lot, across the street, overflow venue for a nicer set of hotels? This should have been a cat 5 to pull the non-convention stays out of the S&D so that their conference room blocks wouldn't sell out any more (and they did sell out frequently pre-covid). And no, executives will not stay at this downgraded hotel.