More Curious Than Anything. . .

[RedOctober]

Can someone advise the reason Port Orleans Dixie Landings was changed to Port Orleans Riverside?

I have often wondered, but really didn't want to ask the bus driver. . .

Thanks.

[dbm20th]

Well, not that I know the answer, but just to clarify the question a bit, it was never called Port Orleans Dixie Landings. I believe it was simply called Dixie Landings and the French Quarter was simply called Port Orleans. Somewhere along the way, and I can only assume because the Port Orleans name was somehow more appealing, they dropped the Dixie Landings and placed that resort under the banner of Port Orleans. Now it almost seems as though they are two parts of the same resort, when they were origanlly two completely serperate resorts with un-realted names. I can only imagine marketing is the answer, but I have never heard that for sure

[manning]

One reason floated was to be politically correct. Some were turned off by the word Dixie.

[phorsenuf]

One reason floated was to be politically correct. Some were turned off by the word Dixie.


Why does that not surprise me??? :sad2:

[dbm20th]

One reason floated was to be politically correct. Some were turned off by the word Dixie.

Again, I wouldn't actually make that connection. I would say this is probably true, but from more a marketing angle then a PC angle.

[Am_I_There_Yet]

All I know about it (and I think this is correct), is after 9/11 attendance to the parks was reduced so greatly, that they totally shut down Dixie Landings for awhile.

When it reopened, it reopened as Port Orleans Riverside. I can see them dropping Dixie from its name, for the exact reasons others have posted. While I don't agree with it, I can just imagine that it bunched someone's knickers a time or two.

[Another Voice]

No - it was done specifically to remove the word "Dixie". Several groups petioned Disney Corporate demanding the change, Disney compiled. Marketing the unit as one group had nothing to do with it - for example they still market the Yacht Club separetly from the Beach Club and those hotels share a lot more in the common areas than Dixie Landings and Port Orleans do.

[dbm20th]

No - it was done specifically to remove the word "Dixie". Several groups petioned Disney Corporate demanding the change, Disney compiled. Marketing the unit as one group had nothing to do with it - for example they still market the Yacht Club separetly from the Beach Club and those hotels share a lot more in the common areas than Dixie Landings and Port Orleans do.

That's fine, and I sort of expected you to say this. It's not that I don't believe you, but can I ask 2 questions? What source do you have for this? And why put them both under the same name, if there is no benefit? I mean, the coul just have easily named it Disney's Riverside, or such?

[dwaters]

All I know about it (and I think this is correct), is after 9/11 attendance to the parks was reduced so greatly, that they totally shut down Dixie Landings for awhile.

When it reopened, it reopened as Port Orleans Riverside. I can see them dropping Dixie from its name, for the exact reasons others have posted. While I don't agree with it, I can just imagine that it bunched someone's knickers a time or two.


When I went in March 2001, our friends were staying there and the name change had just happened that week or the week earlier. I had heard at the time that "Dixie" was too un-PC.

[Amity 3]

and yet, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede continues to pack the house.

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I'm sorry if this Yankee is stupid but why is Dixie un-PC?

[All Aboard]

All I know about it (and I think this is correct), is after 9/11 attendance to the parks was reduced so greatly, that they totally shut down Dixie Landings for awhile..

Close. Port Orleans was the resort that shut down completely.

The history... In July 2000, it was announced (and Another Voice is dead on with the reason) that Dixie Landings and Port Orleans would merge into a single resort. As we all now know, the "Port Orleans" name was retained and the "Riverside" and "French Quarter" monickers were established to identify the two sides.

The merger occured in April 2001. Bonfamilles (the table service restaurant at Port Orleans) shut down, and boat rentals were no longer offered at the former Dixie Landings. "The Colonel's Cotton Mill" was renamed "The Riverside Mill" to further reduce the unsavory naming of the place. Other than that, things remained pretty much the same. They are really two distinct resorts with seperate check-in, etc. They seem to run just like they used to.

In November 2001, in the wake of 9/11, the French Quarter shut down completely until Memorial Day weekend 2002. There was some speculation that a complete rehab was going on, but that proved not to be the case when it reopened.

Then, in March 2003, French Quarter shut down again - this time for an actual full rehab. New furniture, new bathroom fixtures, carpet, wall paper, curtains, etc. appeared when the resort reopened in March 2004.

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Close. Port Orleans was the resort that shut down completely.

The history... In July 2000, it was announced (and Another Voice is dead on with the reason) that Dixie Landings and Port Orleans would merge into a single resort. As we all now know, the "Port Orleans" name was retained and the "Riverside" and "French Quarter" monickers were established to identify the two sides.

The merger occured in April 2001. Bonfamilles (the table service restaurant at Port Orleans) shut down, and boat rentals were no longer offered at the former Dixie Landings. "The Colonel's Cotton Mill" was renamed "The Riverside Mill" to further reduce the unsavory naming of the place. Other than that, things remained pretty much the same. They are really two distinct resorts with seperate check-in, etc. They seem to run just like they used to.

In November 2001, in the wake of 9/11, the French Quarter shut down completely until Memorial Day weekend 2002. There was some speculation that a complete rehab was going on, but that proved not to be the case when it reopened.

Then, in March 2003, French Quarter shut down again - this time for an actual full rehab. New furniture, new bathroom fixtures, carpet, wall paper, curtains, etc. appeared when the resort reopened in March 2004.


ROFL... it's like I had little bits and pieces of the story, but not the whole truth.

I was close. Sorta-kinda.

[dbm20th]

"The Colonel's Cotton Mill" was renamed "The Riverside Mill" to further reduce the unsavory naming of the place.

That's right! Now I remember that. And I hate to put my head in the dragon's jaw here, but that was not such a bad decision.

I would still like to know why they put them both under the "Port Orleans" name and hear more about the political pressure from outside sources that AV mentioned

[Cool-Beans]

and yet, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede continues to pack the house.That's because it's flippin sweet.

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I'm sorry if this Yankee is stupid but why is Dixie un-PC?
Anyone?

[poohmom3]

See here why Dixie is considered not PC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Dixie%22

[tomandrobin]

It was definately a PC thing. Dixie = South = Slavery . I am not sure how people can make an argument for such things, but they do.

Just a name game, but apparently enough people or groups complained about the name.

[DancingBear]

I believe they were put under the same moniker to save money by combining the operations. Certain amenities were done away with, like the French Quarter's sit-down restaurant. Does the French Quarter still have its own check-in, or does everyone have to check in at the former Dixie Landings?

[YoHo]

I believe they were put under the same moniker to save money by combining the operations. Certain amenities were done away with, like the French Quarter's sit-down restaurant. Does the French Quarter still have its own check-in, or does everyone have to check in at the former Dixie Landings?

DB, this is discussed up the page, they still have seperate check-ins. In fact almost everything about them is still seperate.

[DancingBear]

Sorry, I missed that. I know Bonfamille's closed, and I've heard they no longer have live music in the French Quarter lobby; any other visible operational changes that anyone is aware of?

[indigoxtreme]

They still have the musician several nights a week at the lounge in FQ. They mainly call them Sister Resorts and amenities can be shared between the two.

[Cee]

That's because it's flippin sweet.


That really made me laugh. SWEET! :thumbsup2

[doubletrouble_vb]

It was definately a PC thing. Dixie = South = Slavery . I am not sure how people can make an argument for such things, but they do.

Just a name game, but apparently enough people or groups complained about the name.

In this case it probably helps to be the descendant of a slave to understand. I stayed at Dixie Landings the year it first opened and I have to say it was an extraordinarily weird feeling about it. I liked the resort aspect of it but you had all of the trappings of the old south without any acknowledgement of the true history of the place. It isn't just slavery its also Jim Crow, lynchings, sharecropping, discrimination, segregation. The ghost of all of that was there for me in the original incarnation of the place. A strange sort of pixie dust...or maybe we should say dixie dust...a mix of disney with a touch of fear. Not exactly an image Disney would want to sell.

So you can call it pc or not all you want but a Disney purified version of dixie like it was some sort of garden of eden bothered me the whole week. I'dve been happier if they'd honestly portrayed it closer to the way it was. Of course I wouldn't have been able to stay there. By shifting it over to Port Orleans Disney gets to embrace a more citified version of the old south which is a bit less bothersome.

Soooo...there it is. Do what you will with it.

[Alison Wonderland]

I stayed there not long after it opened and I sure didn't feel weird or fearful!!!

[Another Voice]

In this case it probably helps to be the descendant of a slave to understand.
Or just to be informed of history. I grew up reading the journals of my great grandfather who fought in the Union Army. It’s always amazed me how people can disconnect the symbols from what they truly represent. The “Old South” was everything that America is not nor ever should have been. Plantation homes are not something to be celebrated.

[MJMcBride]

Or just to be informed of history. I grew up reading the journals of my great grandfather who fought in the Union Army. It’s always amazed me how people can disconnect the symbols from what they truly represent. The “Old South” was everything that America is not nor ever should have been. Plantation homes are not something to be celebrated.

I couldn't agree with you more.

[ChrisFL]

yet people still shop at Winn-Dixie

[Daydreamer]

I think this thread had taken a wrong turn somewhere. I understand that the word "Dixie" does have negative conotations and it is Disney's perrogative to remove it. If I were running the company I would certainly choose to do so to avoid the negativism.

That being said, I don't understand the post about the "Old South" was everything that America is not nor ever should have been. While there were many things about the "Old South" that were wrong, not everything represented by the "Old South" was negative. Or maybe I'm wrong in which case we should immediately tear down Splash Mountain as I'm pretty certain it is about as "Old South" as you can get.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) As mentioned, the resort name was changed due to PC complaints.
2) Disney has changed things previously (eg. Pirates) due to PC complaints.

[MJMcBride]

I think this thread had taken a wrong turn somewhere. I understand that the word "Dixie" does have negative conotations and it is Disney's perrogative to remove it. If I were running the company I would certainly choose to do so to avoid the negativism.

That being said, I don't understand the post about the "Old South" was everything that America is not nor ever should have been. While there were many things about the "Old South" that were wrong, not everything represented by the "Old South" was negative. Or maybe I'm wrong in which case we should immediately tear down Splash Mountain as I'm pretty certain it is about as "Old South" as you can get.

You're absolutely right. There is nothing redeeming about the "Old South" and we should tear down Splash Mountain. Or better yet, make it a Pirates log flume.

[beck0321]

Plantation homes are not something to be celebrated.

ARRRRRRRRRGGGGHH :furious: I am not EVEN going to say what I want to say about this statement for fear of starting some stupid political debate. So, um, yeah....
Sorry for that outburst...

[boBQuincy]

The "Dixie" thing is ridiculous, in the DVC resorts the rooms are equipped with Dixie brand paper plates and bolws.

And if the word "Dixie" brings up connotations, what about Coronado's exemplary treatment of native Americans?

The whole PC thing gets to be stupid after awhile, *everything* offends *someone*.

[MJMcBride]

ARRRRRRRRRGGGGHH :furious: I am not EVEN going to say what I want to say about this statement for fear of starting some stupid political debate. So, um, yeah....
Sorry for that outburst...

Come on say it. Lets fight because AV is 100% right.

Dear Lord, did I just stick up for AV?!

[beck0321]

Just because the people who used to live in plantations did un-American things, doesn't mean the caretakers now do, or believe in, that kind of stuff. They are preserving an architectually significant stucture.

My best comparison would be the Roman Coliseum, where people fought to the death. Was it the right and humane thing to do just for entertainment? NO! But it is part of history and should be viewed as such.

ETA: I needed to take out some stuff because I don't want to sound like a B.

[Another Voice]

That’s why I deliberately used the word "celebrated".

To show or use a plantation manor as nothing but a pretty house is wrong. It tells an incomplete story; it intentionally ignores the too high a price that was paid for that grandeur. A plantation “hotel”, by necessity, has to remove all the meaning and all the history from the place. It's turned into just another building - an architectural statement that leaves out the real meaning of the place.

There are times when it’s important to talk about the whole truth. All that we are is what we have learned from the past. Some crimes are so horrible that their effects reverberate down through centuries. The pain of correcting those wrongs can last just as long. If we choose to ignore those lessons, then we are bound to suffer all over again.

History matters. Not everything in life should be used as a decor.

[sotoalf]

AV is correct.

The objection isn't to the word "Dixie" itself; it's Disney's deliberate appropriation of architecture, motifs, and literature and then recontextualizing them into harmless diversion.

To me this has always been one of Disney's more insidious habits. Look at "Fantasia." Classical music is too complex for you? Let's illustrate it with dancing hippos.

[beck0321]

That’s why I deliberately used the word "celebrated".

To show or use a plantation manor as nothing but a pretty house is wrong. It tells an incomplete story; it intentionally ignores the too high a price that was paid for that grandeur. A plantation “hotel”, by necessity, has to remove all the meaning and all the history from the place. It's turned into just another building - an architectural statement that leaves out the real meaning of the place.

There are times when it’s important to talk about the whole truth. All that we are is what we have learned from the past. Some crimes are so horrible that their effects reverberate down through centuries. The pain of correcting those wrongs can last just as long. If we choose to ignore those lessons, then we are bound to suffer all over again.

History matters. Not everything in life should be used as a decor.

Yes I see your point on this. But there are some plantations that people just use as their personal residence. I mean they are not out "celebrating" that they live in a plantation, that's just their house. And if they privately own the home, it's their's to do with as they please IMO.
On the other hand, a major portion of the plantations have been turned into educational tools, where tours are given. I've been to many different plantation tours, and they mostly focus on the history of the place and time it was built, so you're not just going "Oh look at the purty rooms!" the entire time. Others have been turned into tourist attractions, like "Haunted Plantations" and such. (Which reminds me. Isn't the Haunted Mansion in DisneyLand supposed to be a plantation? Never been so I'm not sure) Still others have been turned into retreat areas, like you said, hotels or B&Bs, restaurants, stores and the like.
There are just so many homes that could be considered "Plantation" homes in the South, not every one can be turned into a shrine for the past. I think, however, there is a significant number that are being used for this purpose to get the point accross.
Also there is nothing wrong with admiring something that is aesthetically pleasing. One can not ignore that fact about plantations either. And it's not fair to assume people should feel guilty for doing so.

[sotoalf]

But surely owning a plantation home in 2006 is different from staying in a theme park replica, no? After all, Disney used to promote this resort as a Old South getaway, and this promotion was conspicuous in what it omitted about its history.

[beck0321]

But surely owning a plantation home in 2006 is different from staying in a theme park replica, no? After all, Disney used to promote this resort as a Old South getaway, and this promotion was conspicuous in what it omitted about its history.

Port Orleans French Quarter seems cheesy to me. And Riverside seems very "backwoods" and kind of freaks me out.

[lillasmom]

How about those (insert your favorite baseball team here)... :rolleyes1

[Cool-Beans]

How about those (insert your favorite baseball team here)... :rolleyes1Indians!! We have the Indians here. :)

I suppose we could get rid of the Dixie thing and Coronado Springs. Also Wilderness Lodge (logging is bad) and the Grand Floridian and Beach Club (many people worked themselves to death for next to nothing so rich people could build places like that.) AKL will also have to go...poachers. BWI...I'm not familiar with who built that, but certainly someone suffered.

All Stars will absolutely have to go...rich Sports, Movie, and Musicians running around while people in Ethiopia starve.

Pop Century? Can we keep that one?

Obviously, the Germany and UK pavillions in Epcot will have to go. Half of Italy can stay, and France will have to be gone, but can pretend to stay. China and Japan both have to go. America's pavillion must go, too.

Both the Asia and Africa sections of the AK.

Have I forgotten anything?

[MJMcBride]

I suppose we could get rid of the Dixie thing and Coronado Springs. Also Wilderness Lodge (logging is bad) and the Grand Floridian and Beach Club (many people worked themselves to death for next to nothing so rich people could build places like that.) AKL will also have to go...poachers. BWI...I'm not familiar with who built that, but certainly someone suffered.

All Stars will absolutely have to go...rich Sports, Movie, and Musicians running around while people in Ethiopia starve.



I agree.

[Cool-Beans]

In fact, why don't we get rid of Disney World? Rodents carried the fleas that spread the plague. Isn't glorifying a mouse really a slap in the face to all the decendants of those who died such horrible deaths?

[sotoalf]

Not to mention an insult to the rather saucy mouse who glared at me from inside my condo complex's dumpster last night.

[TheRustyScupper]

I was thinking about name-changing the following, to be Politically Correct:

Fort Wilderness
The name of the bloodiest and most gruesome battle of The French and Indian War, and it was the Americans who committed the worst acts of atrocity.

Raglan Road
The name of the English Lord who ordered and viewed The Charge of the Light Brigade, probably the worst military decision of all time.

[Another Voice]

Have I forgotten anything?
Adulthood.

[MJMcBride]

AV is correct.

The objection isn't to the word "Dixie" itself; it's Disney's deliberate appropriation of architecture, motifs, and literature and then recontextualizing them into harmless diversion.

To me this has always been one of Disney's more insidious habits. Look at "Fantasia." Classical music is too complex for you? Let's illustrate it with dancing hippos.

To me, this is two totally different things. I for one have no problem with Disney trying to initiate kids into the world of classical music by using cartoons. I think thats great. Its no different to me then Sesame Street introducing kids to numbers by having a cookie-eating monster.

I do have a problem glorifying "Dixie" and slapping a confederate flag to the back of a truck.

[DancingBear]

I have mixed feelings about this, but A-V, I have to wonder if you feel so PC about other Disney stuff, like the burning cabin with a dead pioneer lying out front with an arrow through his heart. What about the Pirates auction scene?

[Jason71]

I do have a problem glorifying "Dixie" and slapping a confederate flag to the back of a truck.

While I am with you on the "stars 'n bars"--a symbol of treason and racism I see with alarming frequency down here--I find it harder to condemn the idea of an "old South"-themed hotel.

Every country/era had its dark side. But, in EPCOT, for example, countries are distilled down to their most positive elements, ignoring the bad. Germany is the obvious example, but in Norway the vikings are depicted as explorers not raiders, in Splendors of China Tianaman Square is shown as the happiest place in the country, Ireland is basically presented as part of the UK with no mention of the centuries of contention on that issue...

I don't see the harm in presenting an idealized (and admittedly "sanitized") version of the past when done strictly for entertainment purposes. That is the very point of Main Street and Frontierland. I think one can admire the architectural style of Tara and the idea of sipping mint julips in a white suit or hoop dress under a magnolia tree without necessarily glorifying slavery, just as one can sing along to "Yo ho, yo ho..." without glorifying real piracy.

[raidermatt]

Look, this isn't a question of the relative morality of things. Sure, that can be debated from a logical point of view.

But the reality of the situation is that of all the atrocities mentioned in this thread (both genuinely and facetiously), slavery hits closest to home for more people in this country. Not only are the descendents of the victims integrated into all aspects of American society (well, almost all), but the descendents of the perpetrators are here as well. The land, the buildings, everything, is still here.

What's more, as has been mentioned, the issue didn't go away when slavery was abolished. We can debate where things are today, but nobody can deny that as recently as a few decades ago, horrible atrocities were still being committed, and were being condoned by people in legitimate positions of power.

Its not that slavery and the ensuing issues were "worse" than the Holocaust, or "worse" than the systematic destruction of Native American peoples. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. Its just that, for a variety of reasons, its still relevant to a lot more people. Hence Disney's response, purely for business reasons.

[Jennasis]

Uh oh....I think I'm in trouble. The name of my horse farm is DIXIELAND FARM! No kidding.

I'm a born and bred New Yawker, and moved down south to my farm about 4 years ago. I actually did consider changing the farm's name when we bought it, but it was an already established business so I left it alone. I guess we'd better get going on that name change now....

[Daydreamer]

I agree completely about changing the name for business reasons and previously stated that I would have done exactly the same. I have no problem the name of the resort being chained. Heck, I don't have a problem with them changing the theming if they feel it reflects negatively on the image the business wishes to convey. My problem was entirely with the blanket statement referring to the "Old South" and ALL it stood for in a negative light.

My point is there is negative and positive in everything. If we choose to take the negative and throw the positive to the side then we will soon be left with nothing. I'm certain that someone can find a negative context for every character and attraction and WDW if they so choose.

[RickinNYC]

Edited

[Fitswimmer]

My point is there is negative and positive in everything. If we choose to take the negative and throw the positive to the side then we will soon be left with nothing. I'm certain that someone can find a negative context for every character and attraction and WDW if they so choose.

(written with tongue firmly in cheek)
I've been long convinced that somewhere there is a group of people that spend their day looking for things to be offended about. As soon as they find something, they begin to circulate the information-most likely using the internet-to get the appropriate group all lathered up. Letters get written, threats of boycotts come and then whatever this little shadow group deemed offensive is gone. The shadow group then gleefully celebrates their power over America. (written with tongue firmly in cheek)

I have no issue with an honest effort by a company or individuals not to offend various groups, in general it's a good thing. My concern is that our country is becoming a nation of hyphens instead of a nation of Americans. We are so focused on our differences and celebrating our differences and allowing each culture to maintain it's differences that we've lost our sense of what makes us the same. If we spent more time talking about our similarities, and working towards unity-there would naturally be less offensive acts and statements.

[raidermatt]

I agree, it sometimes (often?) gets overblown, and actually slows real progress..

[Cool-Beans]

Adulthood.I didn't realize adulthood required getting yourself all worked up about the tiniest reference to bad things that happened ages ago.

OK, I'm Irish and American. So, I'd like to see all references to the "United" Kingdom go. They starved and murdered my ancestors. Then they tried to prevent my country from developing.

I think this and demand that everyone act according to my wishes. If they do not, they are evil, Anti-Irish and childish.

[DisneyPhD]

While I am with you on the "stars 'n bars"--a symbol of treason and racism I see with alarming frequency down here--I find it harder to condemn the idea of an "old South"-themed hotel.

Every country/era had its dark side. But, in EPCOT, for example, countries are distilled down to their most positive elements, ignoring the bad. Germany is the obvious example, but in Norway the vikings are depicted as explorers not raiders, in Splendors of China Tianaman Square is shown as the happiest place in the country, Ireland is basically presented as part of the UK with no mention of the centuries of contention on that issue...

I don't see the harm in presenting an idealized (and admittedly "sanitized") version of the past when done strictly for entertainment purposes. That is the very point of Main Street and Frontierland. I think one can admire the architectural style of Tara and the idea of sipping mint julips in a white suit or hoop dress under a magnolia tree without necessarily glorifying slavery, just as one can sing along to "Yo ho, yo ho..." without glorifying real piracy.

I agree.

I for one am still sad over the name change. Dixie landings was the 1st WDW resort DH and I ever stayed at and will always be in our hearts. We love the place and I think the name was much better fitting of the resort then Port Orleans River Side. PO if fine for the original resort. Heck am surprised people are offended now considering the Katrina damage to the City. The new name just doesn't fit it and is a lame attempt to please protesters (and must of cost a lot of $ in just printing and signs.)

We stayed at Riverside 2 years ago for the 1st time since the name change. The feel was the same but I missed the pretty logo with the red roses on it.

Still be bought DVC so for the most part the names of mod resorts don't affect us to much anymore. ;)

[bigdisneydaddy]

Just remember that the victor always gets to write the history books.

[MJMcBride]

Just remember that the victor always gets to write the history books.


Meaning what exactly?

[bigdisneydaddy]

The victors get to paint themselves in a more favorable light than the facts allow.