Could this affect resort preference?

[themilesfamily]

I read a post by a man who said that he just wasn't wowed by the Beach Club resort because he's from a seaside town on the East Coast. He said it was too much like what he sees everyday at home.

Do you think that what is common to you may make a hotel seem less exciting -- ex. if you're from the north woods of Wisconsin, the Wilderness Lodge might seem ordinary -- or if you're from a big city, the Contemporary might be no big whoop?

Conversely, a small town gal might be wowed by the Contemporary and a Manhattanite might be enthralled by the WL -- just by virtue of it being something different?

 

[grimley1968]

I totally think familiarity with theming can affect resort preference negatively.

We like WL and the Poly. The Poly is a totally unfamiliar theme to us, being from Kentucky. We certainly have a lot of wilderness, woods, etc. in Kentucky, but we do not have anything approaching what you'll find out west, so WL is different for us as well.

There was a thread some time back about why people seemed to like CSR so much better than CBR. I replied basically that it could be the familiarity aspect. So many people in the southeast quadrant of the US are much more familiar with a Caribbean theme than they are with a Southwestern theme, because they're closer to the Caribbean. I wasn't accounting for a quality difference between the two, as I've never been to either.

To the contrary, I wouldn't be surprised if WDW visitors from the Southwest would be much happier with CBR than CSR, for the same reason that familiarity often breeds contempt.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We live in Louisiana so the Port Orleans resorts just don't appeal to us. Why? Because we live in that setting each and every day.

But, that being said, we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge for 10 days in June, 2008. We live in a log home. I decorate with the rustic rugs, carvings, etc. We have all kinds of wildlife, literally, walking through our yard. Even still, we are sooooo super excited to be staying at the WL. I can hardly wait.

For the last two years, we stayed at the CBR and absolutely loved it. I liked the theming of the resort because it felt as if we were getting a beach vacation and a Disney vacation all rolled into one.

We have visited the Contemporary and nothing about it appealed to us. Don't know what it is about it but it just doesn't.

We have never considered the Grand Floridian because it just seemed to stuffy for us.

Disney is smart. They know that everybody has different tastes. That's why they have so many different themed resorts. Something for everybody!

 

[SGMCO]

I grew up in Louisiana and have lived in Colorado West for 15 years (moved here when I was in my late 20s.
I've stayed at both CSR and POR and
Family and I fell in love with the Southern Charm of POR.
Grewing up in Lousisiana I lived right next to the Plantation Homes on Missisippi River, even worked as a Tour Guide for a Plantation Home and
loved POR.
We are going back next year and staying at POFQ even though we go
to the Real French Quarters every year when we go back home and visit
friends and Family.

 

[Elmo888]

Sure! I live in Texas, and CSR has zero appeal to me. It just looks like parts of Texas.

 

[disprincess2002]

This definitly applies to me.I am from southern, MS and visit New Orleans french quarter once a month.(yearly passes to the aquarium.)Because of this my family has no interest in POR and POFQ.Just to close to home for us.We lean towards the beach environments of CBR and OKW,but have no interest in the CR.So for us familarity and preference play a part.

 

[AJKMOM]

I'm from Pennsylvania and I would love to stay in all of them! However, I have read many posts about people avoiding resorts that remind them of where they live, or really being wow-ed by a resort that was not like anything they ever saw before. I think most like CBR and the Poly for that reason.

 

[oliviansmom17]

I read a post by a man who said that he just wasn't wowed by the Beach Club resort because he's from a seaside town on the East Coast. He said it was too much like what he sees everyday at home.

Do you think that what is common to you may make a hotel seem less exciting -- ex. if you're from the north woods of Wisconsin, the Wilderness Lodge might seem ordinary -- or if you're from a big city, the Contemporary might be no big whoop?

Conversely, a small town gal might be wowed by the Contemporary and a Manhattanite might be enthralled by the WL -- just by virtue of it being something different?

That's exactly how I feel! The BC/YC is beautiful, but I'm from the Connecticut shoreline so it is too familiar. When I get away, I don't want to go someplace that looks like home- I want to go totally tropical.

 

[TnTsParty]

I guess that familiarity could be a reason for not staying at a particular resort. I prefer not to stay at CBR but I am not sure if its because I am a native of Florida and grew up going to the Keys and the Bahamas so VERY familiar with the Caribbean theme. My DH is from New Mexico so he wasn't overly impressed with CSR. He also wasn't impressed with Contemp. and thinks the Grand Floridian is too stuffy (I personally think its too similar to Palm Beach style and that is too close to home) On the other hand we are getting to be too much of resort "snobs" to stay at anything but deluxe lately (and the Epcot resorts keep tugging at my purse!! LOL) We LOVED BWV and the whole area is just so exciting!!! Can't wait for another 24 days till I will be at BCV. YEAH

 

[PrincessV]

I have a hard time getting excited about OKW because I live here in FL.

On the flipside, I LOVED SSR, in part, because it reminded me of home. (I grew up in Western NY and spent a lot of time upstate, too.)

 

[mom22boys]

I have family in AZ. As a child/teen I made countless trips there and loved every second I spent there. When looking at WDW resorts, as nice as CSR sounds and as many benefits the resort has, I just can't get picture myself ever staying there.

 

[Dis Ohana]

I'm from Hawaii, and I can tell you for sure we would never consider staying at the Poly. I know everyone seems to love that resort on the DIS, but it looks way too much like something from Waikiki Beach to me. I'm totally looking forward to our stay at the AKL, now that's something you don't see every day!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Yeah, I agree about OKW, because of having grown up in Florida/coastal Georgia.

I think the decor style you're used to often feels like there's no style at all. So it doesn't make for compelling theming.

A lot of people from other areas probably think Florida style is fun and vacationy.

 

[melomouse]

For me, definitely where I hail from definitely impacts my resort choice - but I didn't know it til our recent trip, when, finding WL sold out for our 10 days, was offered an awesome upsell rate at YC.

I asked to be moved after 3 days, and was back at WL.Among other uncomfortable features, it looked just like where I have had my office for the last 15 years, in an old seaside village. Make that lovely seaside village - just too familiar!

CBR has never appealed to me because I've been to the Islands many times, ditto CSR since my mom lived in Texas for 25 years. Love love POR, tho...

Of the other deluxes, only Poly has much appeal for me. And I haven't been to the South Seas yet.

 

[jmkrat]

That is a real good point, now I can see why I wasn't in a hurry to book at the Wilderness. I think it is beautiful and all, but I am already surrounded by evergreens and nature galore at home. To top that off, we go camping in Wiscosin all summer long. So it to me the Wilderness is just like being home, and I want to vacation someplace I have never been before. Makes sense to me.

 

[zipuzee]

We live in Louisiana so the Port Orleans resorts just don't appeal to us. Why? Because we live in that setting each and every day.

This definitly applies to me.I am from southern, MS and visit New Orleans french quarter once a month.(yearly passes to the aquarium.)Because of this my family has no interest in POR and POFQ.Just to close to home for us.We lean towards the beach environments of CBR and OKW,but have no interest in the CR.So for us familarity and preference play a part.

Add me to this group! I've lived in New Orleans (and now am a bit north) all my life. I have absolutely no desire to stay at the Port Orleans resorts. While I hear wonderfull things about them, I don't want a place feeling that much like home.

 

[Colleen27]

That's actually why I wasn't all that excited about WL. Living in Michigan with lots of family up north, I feel like we've done the log cabin amidst the pines thing about to death. Oddly enough, DH & the kids don't share that view - they all think the Lodge looks fabulous, and since CR was unavailable for our dates and DH vetoed the Poly based on price, we're booked for WL anyway. I'm sure I'll love it once we're there, but the theme just doesn't call to me the way POR/FQ, Poly, CSR and YC/BC do.

 

[McKelly]

That is a real good point, now I can see why I wasn't in a hurry to book at the Wilderness. I think it is beautiful and all, but I am already surrounded by evergreens and nature galore at home. To top that off, we go camping in Wiscosin all summer long. So it to me is just like being home, and I want to vacation someplace I have never been before. Makes sense to me.

Yes, same here. We live in WI, and the WL seems too much like home. Even many of our local hotels are themed in the "woodsy" theme. So when we go on short weekend getaways, we seem to always get that theme!! Granted, they aren't quite as good as the WL, but still very similar. When I go to Florida, I want tropical!! So the Poly it is!!

 

[PoohsGang]

Im from NH and still love Beach Club and Boardwalk area because it feels like Disney in my back yard.......

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

this year thats why we chose AKL over BC. I live 15 minutes from a Town that looks just like the BC. I go to the beach several times per week over the summer, in fact I'm taking the kids today since its supposed to be nice...I'd be much more interested in trying WL, the Poly, and GF over BC...although I have to say I might consider BC for 09 just because of the location...but not because of the theme-ing.