Yes the Disney IS being lost...

Slippers Canteen is an immersion of the Jungle Cruise theme. Some people love that.

As for hotels. I prefer onsite especially for magical express. I am not old enough to rent a car so I have to use a service to get from the airport to the hotel and Magical Express is free.

Do you think people would rather eat at Tianas that they’ve seen in the film or a restaurant based on a ride?

If I had to stay at a Disney resort I’d probably pick Art of Animation it’s just so Disney in terms of the mermaid lion king and finding nemo rooms. That’s a Disney experience to me, but to each their own.

You’re not old enough to rent a car? Geese I’m old now lol.

Great job on the show Ryan I felt you were much more comfortable this appearance.
 
Do you think people would rather eat at Tianas that they’ve seen in the film or a restaurant based on a ride?

If I had to stay at a Disney resort I’d probably pick Art of Animation it’s just so Disney in terms of the mermaid lion king and finding nemo rooms. That’s a Disney experience to me, but to each their own.

You’re not old enough to rent a car? Geese I’m old now lol.

Great job on the show Ryan I felt you were much more comfortable this appearance.
I am not sure. Princess and the frog was not as successful. I haven’t been to skippers but I am a fan of that theming.

Thanks!
 
Do you think people would rather eat at Tianas that they’ve seen in the film or a restaurant based on a ride?

Whether or not we want to eat at a certain restaurant depends on the menu, not the theme. We loved the theme of Skipper's Canteen when it first opened but there was nothing we would eat there, so we haven't been. Same with Tiffin's. So for us, it's not a matter of a theme from a movie vs. a theme from a ride, it's about the menu and prices.

That being said, I'd eat at a Tower of Terror themed restaurant once no matter the menu, because I love everything about Tower so much.
 
Be our guest is a restaurant you can never get into because of it’s AMAZING themeing. That’s what I don’t understand sometimes instead of building Tianas they built the slippers canteen...people want to be apart of the movies, be immersed in Disney.

BOG has great themeing that appeals to kids. However if there was a hotel with this theme I wouldn't want to stay as it feels too childish for me personally.

If there was a Skippers/Jungle Cruise themed hotel I would be more inclined to stay there than a BOG.

We were torn between Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach. We opted for Coronado because it looked more adult. When we got there we knew we made the right choice for us personally.

For me Disney isn't all about the cartoons it's about somewhere that just does things 'right', well most the time. I prefer the less colourful cartoonish spots.
 


BOG has great themeing that appeals to kids. However if there was a hotel with this theme I wouldn't want to stay as it feels too childish for me personally.

If there was a Skippers/Jungle Cruise themed hotel I would be more inclined to stay there than a BOG.

We were torn between Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach. We opted for Coronado because it looked more adult. When we got there we knew we made the right choice for us personally.

For me Disney isn't all about the cartoons it's about somewhere that just does things 'right', well most the time. I prefer the less colourful cartoonish spots.

That’s great. I can get a more “adult” experience for a fraction of the price elsewhere. Everyone has their preference, as long as you enjoy your vacation!
 
That’s great. I can get a more “adult” experience for a fraction of the price elsewhere. Everyone has their preference, as long as you enjoy your vacation!
We stayed on I-Drive a couple of years prior and it was very frustrating getting back to our hotel at the end of the night and even more of a hassle getting back to the parks the following day. It was probably $80 a day which was roughly the difference between staying in the the Disney bubble, we learnt our lesson and decided to stay in years later. I wish the outside hotels met this standard but travelling from the U.K and doing a 2 week stay within the bubble as aposed to saving and being outside. We stayed outside the first time and the extra price with the Disney dining was more than worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone from the U.K who would only get this opportunity for the duration of 2 weeks or similar. It's a long way to go. Worth saving for others but not for us. Different horses for different courses.
 
We stayed on I-Drive a couple of years prior and it was very frustrating getting back to our hotel at the end of the night and even more of a hassle getting back to the parks the following day.
There are many great places to stay that are way closer than I-Drive. You can rent a house or condo that is no more than a 10-minute drive from property. You can rent a timeshare that is under 5 minutes from property. Some places you don't even need to travel on I-4 or 192, the 2 main roads, to get onto property.
 


There are many great places to stay that are way closer than I-Drive. You can rent a house or condo that is no more than a 10-minute drive from property. You can rent a timeshare that is under 5 minutes from property. Some places you don't even need to travel on I-4 or 192, the 2 main roads, to get onto property.

Oh definitely some good options. Just for our personal preference it was great how conventiant it was to just hop on a bus back to the room at the end of a busy day.
I'm not the most experienced on the area, only been to WDW twice in the last 6 years. I just love staying in the Disney bubble, especially with the Disney Dining which is a great convenience when staying at Disney for 2 weeks.

I will look into the putter areas next time though.
 
I just love staying in the Disney bubble, especially with the Disney Dining which is a great convenience when staying at Disney for 2 weeks.
We're just the opposite. When we go for 2 weeks, or even for 1 week, we like being able to escape the Disney bubble each day, get away from the crowds, eat at normal restaurants with normal prices, eat breakfast in our house/condo, cook a simple meal or two, etc. It's much more relaxed and way cheaper. Different strokes....
 
We're just the opposite. When we go for 2 weeks, or even for 1 week, we like being able to escape the Disney bubble each day, get away from the crowds, eat at normal restaurants with normal prices, eat breakfast in our house/condo, cook a simple meal or two, etc. It's much more relaxed and way cheaper. Different strokes....
We certainly felt that after two weeks there. But we had never been to any Disney resorts or restaurants so every night there was something new. We wouldn't really do that again though we said. Don't regret t but definitely got more than our Disney fill, although it was because we knew we wouldn't be back for quite a few years.
 
We certainly felt that after two weeks there. But we had never been to any Disney resorts or restaurants so every night there was something new. We wouldn't really do that again though we said. Don't regret t but definitely got more than our Disney fill, although it was because we knew we wouldn't be back for quite a few years.
That totally makes sense. We go at least once a year, so being totally immersed isn't important to us. We also hate using Disney transportation so even when we have stayed on site, we still used our own car to get around.
 
I'm more concerned about the upcoming resorts having virtually no theming at all. I fail to see any Coronado-style theming in the new business class tower that they're building.

And then there's the bland of bland: the 4th Disneyland hotel and the Riviera Resort.

They better do some theming with the latter that blends with the Carribean Resort, considering it's being built right on that property.
 
I just read an article from another Disney blog about the remodeled rooms at Coronado Springs. I think they are among the rooms where theming has been "lost" so I thought it was an interesting read. Here's what the author had to say:

Upon reaching my room, I opened the door with a bit of hesitation. Would the room be as I remembered? My previous Coronado Springs room was dark and almost dismal, awash in oranges and teals, with dark wood everywhere. Imagine my surprise after opening the door when I walked into a clean, stylish, newly renovated room with hard surface floors and pleasant contemporary stylings. Two queen beds were simply clothed in white sheets, providing a bright counterpoint to the other natural tones scattered around the room. The two large headboards and white linens brightened up the room significantly. A combination dresser/entertainment center covered in light wood provided plenty of storage without overpowering the room. The granite counter on it was inviting and open. A large flatscreen TV was wall-mounted thus saving counter space. A Keurig coffee maker with real coffee cups was nearby. On closer look, the huge granite top of the dresser was ideal with plenty of space to spread out, place a suitcase or a laptop. Multiple USB ports were placed above the counter as well as by the headboards to quickly charge small electronics. Moving to the bathroom, there were two large sliding doors providing privacy from the sink area. Two separate sinks on a granite countertop had a small but handy shelf above them. It was well-lit, which would make for easy shaving or makeup application. The shower and toilet were separate from the sink area and would be convenient for a family to use. Water pressure in the shower was very good, with both a fixed head and a hand-held unit. Towels were within easy reach in both sink area and in bath area. While many hotel rooms resort to carpet for comfort, I appreciated the clean lines of the hard surface flooring and realized that it would take much more of a beating than carpet would and still look good. The room remodel was definitely a win!

The article also included a photo of the room. It looks beautiful but could be absolutely anywhere. There is nothing in that picture that says "Disney resort" to me. But clearly that's exactly how a lot of people like it. I tend to think that the reason Disney is making the rooms more generic is because that's what guest feedback has told them people are looking for in a hotel room - clean, simple, contemporary, and comfortable.
 
It looks beautiful but could be absolutely anywhere. There is nothing in that picture that says "Disney resort" to me. But clearly that's exactly how a lot of people like it. I tend to think that the reason Disney is making the rooms more generic is because that's what guest feedback has told them people are looking for in a hotel room - clean, simple, contemporary, and comfortable.
This is my take as well. This may be the feedback that WDW has been receiving. This look has become the industry norm and sadly what many guests are demanding.

I'm all for clean, comfortable and plenty of USB ports. But I still want my signature Disney style in that room. It doesn't have to be neon, gauche or glaring. But Disney needs to be there.
 
The "Disney bubble" effect had already been eroding for me for some time anyway, as thoroughness of housekeeping declines in many of the rooms, same with janitorial service at park restrooms, ------

At various times, in various posts, I have read about the decline of park restroom cleanliness, etc. and I really would like to understand this. Every time we go, I look for this, and other than rain, which guests track into the restrooms along with them throwing down towels, toilet paper, etc. on the floors, I don't get it!

We are just back again today from a week + vacation onsite and will say again that the restrooms were all clean, 'and' being constantly cleaned by very courteous CM's. I never saw 'one' dirty or messy restroom. We go 1-2 times per year, so where are people getting this??
:confused3
 
This is my take as well. This may be the feedback that WDW has been receiving. This look has become the industry norm and sadly what many guests are demanding.

I'm all for clean, comfortable and plenty of USB ports. But I still want my signature Disney style in that room. It doesn't have to be neon, gauche or glaring. But Disney needs to be there.
::yes::::yes::::yes::

Totally agree! As I've said - I personally do not think that giving guests what they apparently want - clean, modern, tech-forward, etc. and "Disney style and touches" need to be mutually exclusive wants/needs. Especially - as many have said - I am being charged more for staying on property in the first place.
 
I personally do not think that giving guests what they apparently want - clean, modern, tech-forward, etc. and "Disney style and touches" need to be mutually exclusive wants/needs. Especially - as many have said - I am being charged more for staying on property in the first place.
I've said the same thing about being able to subtly add the Disney touches.

As for the point about paying more to be on property, I'm less swayed by that. There are numerous perks to being onsite: Magical Express, 60-day FP window, transportation from your resort, etc. Even if there are no Hidden Mickeys in the guestroom carpet, you still get all of the other stuff. And the resorts themselves are still heavily themed even if the actual guestrooms aren't so much.
 
I think this is really the issue Disney is facing. Times have changed and what the traveling public is looking for has changed. Clean, bright, simple, sleek, and uncluttered is the norm in hotels today. Bedspreads are all but extinct. Carpet is fading. Bathtubs are less and less common (meaning shower curtains are going away too). Gaudy, colorful, patterned bedding, and more are harder and harder to find in hotels anywhere. Simple and understated is what people look for today.

If Disney keeps doing full out decor with characters and all, they risk looking as outdated as a kitchen with linoleum flooring, olive green appliances, and Formica countertops. The challenge is to subtly carry the theme into the room while keeping it clean and simple.

I do think that will be the key - is how can Disney "modernize" their hotel rooms to satisfy customer demand/wants heading that direction (cleaner, sleeker, more USB ports, etc) but still providing a unique and immersive experience

Obviously haven't stayed there but I think the redesigned rooms at the Grand Californian go in this direction - maybe not perfect but I think try to get that balance
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I also will add that I liked the concept art for the redesign to Caribbean Beach - haven't shown rooms yet but at least the rest of it does appear to try and be immersive and have a higher level of theming - without looking childish
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One other point, I thought Sean had an interesting point during the Podcast conversation that got overlooked a bit - with the coming hyper-themed Star Wars resort is Disney trying to balance that with the other new/newly redesigned resorts and that the future is that mix of hyper theme and less theme rather than medium theme?
 
with the coming hyper-themed Star Wars resort is Disney trying to balance that with the other new/newly redesigned resorts and that the future is that mix of hyper theme and less theme rather than medium theme?
The only rationale I can see with this is - if WDW is already compelled to spend $ renovating rooms - go with the bland vanilla "adult" contemporary trend so if parents give their kids a choice of where to stay, it will make the more $$ Star Wars resort rooms irresistible. Your Grand Californian room pic is a great example. Pleasant for adults. Deadly boring for kids. And probably boring for more than a few grown up kids. :D
 

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