First of all Peter err Captain, I don't think they should have never been built. I do think they should have used better taste when building them. of course that is a personal opinion.
I will Disagree with Jeffjewell and dscoop about the themeing in the contemporary, but at the same time, I can't bring myself to praise it the way landbaron does. It just rings hollow. My first impression is that he's saying because Roy built it, it must have good themeing, yes that must be it.
(everyone remember the Simpsons episode where Mr. Skinner turns out to really be Arman Tamzarian and the real Mr. Skinner comes back? They show the flashback where Mrs. Skinner (mom) greets Tamzarian at the front door and convinces herself that this must be her son? That's the way landbaron sounds. Well, Roy built it, so it must be good.)
Also, Dscoop, you keep missing my point. a room themed like
Toystory is NOT expensive. I'm not talking exteriors here, I'm talking interiors. Trust me, it could be done on the cheap and would look much better to my eyes.
I've been thinking about this all weekend, and I'd really like to expand on a suggestion I made to Landbaron.
Is it possible that we the Guests have over the years Changed the way we visit Disneyworld?
Let me expand. Many DIS regulars list their visits in their signature. Take a good look. Ever notice how there's maybe one trip in the 70's, one maybe 2 in the eighties, then BABAM (kickin it up a notch
) in the 90's there is like 4 or 5 trips.
Is it just me or does that denote a changing pattern?
And don't blame a 3rd or 4th park, that doesn't explain it.
Something happened.
Now, before anyone objects, I know the likes of Landbaron went often starting in the seventies, but Somehow I can't imagine they were the norm. I'm willing to bet That I am more like the norm, so lets look into it.
I went sometime between 1976 and 1979 (don't know, was a little kid) Stayed off site
Went in 1986 Drove, stayed offsite.
Went in 1989 stayed at the polynesian
Went in 1990 (mother had medical conference at Contemporary, stayed there real real cheap)
Went 1996 (with college friends, stayed at OKW)
went in 1999 with college friends stayed at Poly. Very expensive trip.
Went jan 2000 with now fiancee, stayed at Contemp.
(went to DL sometime in 70's also went to DL in Dec 2000 which cost as much as a trip to WDW)
My family was not poor in the 80's, yet we only went twice. Couldn't even afford the Poly with its cheaper rates.
Conclusion, even at $75 rack rate, the poly was too expensive for many guests.
Now lets fast forward. My family spent YEARS saving for that 89 WDW trip. I'll bet most of us can remember the scrimping and saving for the big WDW trip. That's the way things were. you saved your money for a couple years and then you went.
Then all of a sudden, People start going more often. it seemed to pick up momentum in the early 90's. Maybe the 3rd gate spurred this. maybe the general increase in wealth and the ability to drop this much money did this. the results were trips every two years instead of twice a decade. Disney is swamped, they can fill every room without trying. Yet there are thousands of guests that want in on this that still can't afford it. Bam, they build the Allstars and everyone is happy.
The way we visit WDW has drastically changed and WDW has accomidated us and we are all happy they have done so. Were we to gather the entire population of the DIS together in one room and asked
ARE YOU HAPPY THAT DISNEY BUILT VALUE HOTELS WITH A RACK RATE OF $79 A NIGHT WHICH BY THE WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN $34.54 IN 1980?
The Deafining responses of Yes would drown out the meek no.
All of which doesn't change the fact that I THINK they are ugly!