Plan for Disney Hotel Advances

The Disney Development Co. won approval Monday to start planning for the construction of a 800- to 1,200-room hotel on a site across the bay from the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency Board voted to give Disney Development, the real estate arm of the Walt Disney Co., exclusive negotiation rights for the oceanview site near Shoreline Drive and Pine Avenue.

Disney is deciding whether to develop a resort hotel in conjunction with the building of a major theme park at the Queen Mary.