I looked at the plans and I don't get the Disneyland comparison. There are no big rides, no amphitheaters, no water slides, no massive parking lots, no giant mice ...

The entire site is only 6.5 acres, and most of that looks like it will be taken up by a hotel and lagoon. Its hard to believe there's enough space left over to have enough shopping and dining to affect the rest of St Maarten's economy. I guess I just don't buy the dire predictions.

I totally understand being against development for ecological or aesthetic reasons (Dawn Beach and Cupecoy come to mind), but they're not talking about cutting down a rainforest to build this place. Right now its a giant sand pit.

One thing that's not clear to me - if this is Royal Caribbean's private development, is it going to be open only to their passengers?