Has Disney Declared War on Theming?

[Nancyg56]

They couldn't sleep in the original Polynesian or Beach Club rooms because of theming? That's hard to believe.

Perhaps hard to believe, but I bet that for some of the resorts the themeing was made to be more subtle in order to be more relaxing. I knwo I am a fan of the cleaner lines of the refurbished rooms, especially at teh Grand. OMG, those rooms were so darn busy I never would have found a place to put myself, but I love the new rooms and each stay was lovely.

Disney is very stimulating and so the rooms now provide a respite from the "noise."

 

[huntconn]

Like some pp's mentioned, I strongly believe this is simply Disney following the current trends in hotel room designs. A little disappointing imo because Disney used to be innovators not followers but that just seems to be the current state of things. I think the current trend works very well at the CR but not so much in the other resorts. But don't worry folks, just like the weather in Florida, if you stick around...it will change!

 

[disneydreamer781]

I can't speak for the other resorts quite yet but we stayed at BWV last December and I absolutely loved the new decor. So much so we are staying there again this year. We are also staying at the Copper Creek villas and I love the way they look. I much prefer the color scheme Disney is using now than those disgusting pepto-bismol walls at the Boardwalk villas. The Beach Club villas also look nice. I was never really impressed with the old theming of the previous rooms at that resort anyway. The new colors to me are much more relaxing than they used to be.

 

[disneydreamer781]

We usually stay offsite because I have a bigger family...but the homes that are Disney themed that are available for rent are constitently more expensive and harder to book so apparently the demand for Disney theming is there; maybe the resorts are just trying to bring the rooms more modern...kinda sad they would lose their personality in the process though

I don't think they are losing their personality at all. They just have a new personality now. The vibe is quieter, relaxing and much classier.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Wasn't this just discussed at length in another recent thread?

I like the updates. They're cleaner and classier. Period.

 

[glocon]

Have they de-themed the rooms at AKL? You've still got animals and the gorgeous lobby. CR never appealed to me in any part, but I have never seen the rooms.

I'm not going to complain about the refurbishments. I like what I have seen so far.

I haven't seen the AKL rooms lately and I hope they haven't changed- they were themed perfectly for AKL when we were there and I love that!

 

[Regan117]

Is there ever a "period" involved in matters of design preference?

No, there's a period involved in my opinion (not the topic), which was discussed AD NAUSEUM in another thread about a couple weeks ago. Talk about redundant!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-up-with-de-theming-the-resort-rooms.3611916/

 

[Scott MC]

No, there's a period involved in my opinion (not the topic), which was discussed AD NAUSEUM in another thread about a couple weeks ago. Talk about redundant!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-up-with-de-theming-the-resort-rooms.3611916/

So there are two threads about it? Perhaps that means it's a hot topic among Disney resorts! I'll find this redundant when a day goes by when there aren't five or more threads posted about what kind of view people should request at the GF, which rooms have daybeds or full balconies at BC, which rooms are closest to the GCH at the Poly and which are closest to bus transport and have a king bed at Pop.

 

[Regan117]

So there are two threads about it? Perhaps that means it's a hot topic among Disney resorts! I'll find this redundant when a day goes by when there aren't five or more threads posted about what kind of view people should request at the GF, which rooms have daybeds or full balconies at BC, which rooms are closest to the GCH at the Poly and which are closest to bus transport and have a king bed at Pop.

That doesn't make it less redundant.

 

[mom2rtk]

That doesn't make it less redundant.

If redundancy is against board rules, then I'm sure they'll close the thread.

 

[Shanti]

If redundancy is against board rules, then I'm sure they'll close the thread.

If redundancy is against board rules, they'd have to close the whole message board.

 

[adelaster]

So, because I couldn't find it elsewhere, I did a little "sample" of the Grand Floridian via review images. If all the other resorts are moving like this I have to agree that it is just updating with the times- and honestly it looks like they were slow to do so.








I also have to agree with previous posters about "visual clutter". If you are sensitive to it the experience is overwhelming. However, I do think it is a personal preference- as I have been in homes that range from clean and minimal to places where the walls are filled with things, and everything has a busy look to it. I will say I think it is sad the resorts stopped using runners and decor pillows- even if it is more sanitary- simply because people were stealing them.

 

[Lisann]

Not sure but I think in some of the cases they are convention resorts and they are trying to appeal to the convention people

Disney doesn't design/decorate it's rooms for conventioneers. I really don't know where that idea ever started.

I tend to agree with the OP. For example, I thought I would like the Poly refurb, but the green was ghastly. Just plain green on the sofa bed, and green paint on the walls (not even a nice green color either). Even GF looks like a NYC art deco hotel in the rooms, and not Victorian at all. And it doesn't even match the carpeting outside the door (citrus-y colors in the carpet, but dark reds and taupes in the rooms...yuk).

BC did a decent refurb, but who's bright idea was it to use a solid color carpet that will show every stain imaginable to mankind? I like carpeted bedrooms, so I'm okay with carpet, but really? Solid? And I think the majority of these wood flooring choices are going to bite them in the *(&% too. They can get quite dirty, sticky, dusty, etc. And they are loud.

Even AKL has toned down their theming, and those rooms were incredible.

Overall, I'm not happy with a lot of the refurbs either. I want to be completely hit in the face with Disney when I enter the room, and that doesn't have to mean garish theming choices either. One of the most beautiful rooms in all of the resorts used to be the Alice in Wonderland room at the GF. Beautiful and magical all at the same time. Disney has done it once, they can do it again. But I guess are choosing not to.

 

[Catvondita]

Redundant to you doesn't mean it's redundant to other people. And it seems like there are only 2 threads about it. By comparison there's like 5 threads about the Pirates Auction scene change lol

 

[Lynne M]

If redundancy is against board rules, they'd have to close the whole message board.

Yeah, we don't have a limit on how many times a topic can be posted.

 

[JerseyJanice]

No, there's a period involved in my opinion (not the topic), which was discussed AD NAUSEUM in another thread about a couple weeks ago. Talk about redundant!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-up-with-de-theming-the-resort-rooms.3611916/

That doesn't make it less redundant.

I'm here frequently and somehow missed that first thread you linked. Obviously, I'm not alone since we're a couple of pages into discussing the topic on this thread.

The title of this thread is very clear. If you didn't want to read another thread on the subject, you shouldn't have opened it.

 

[adelaster]

Even AKL has toned down their theming, and those rooms were incredible.

At which point? These comments are so frustrating, as I have no idea when everyone's "peak" room experience was.

 

[Disneylover99]

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At which point? These comments are so frustrating, as I have no idea when everyone's "peak" room experience was.

Those busy comforters on the bed look horrific to me at all the resorts. I really love the runner on the white, but I don't love the plain white without the runner that resorts seem to be moving to.

 

[Scott MC]

I'm here frequently and somehow missed that first thread you linked. Obviously, I'm not alone since we're a couple of pages into discussing the topic on this thread.

The title of this thread is very clear. If you didn't want to read another thread on the subject, you shouldn't have opened it.

Thank you!
It's clearly something people are noticing, and the vast majority of recent pictures online show the beds with some kind of runner or decorative pillow, but I tell you, if you search TripAdvisor and poke around for pictures of these resort rooms, you'll find pics since April-ish of this year when they yanked these decorations and the rooms look grossly undone. The Poly and BC seem to have held onto the bolster pillows which makes them look the most "done" in my opinion, but there's still something lacking.
On another thread, someone who seems to be a resort CM or has a loved one who is a CM verified that the bed runners were indeed being kept as "souviners," resulting in them being removed, and that's really....really sad. Take the shampoo.....leave the room decorations!

BTW....I LOVE the older GF rooms with the Alice/Mr. Toad designs....I would have never left that room! And I've stayed at the Grand when it looked like the rooms in the pics from 2012 and 2014 and loved them both! At least a theme was picked and run with!

I personally like the new Yacht Club rooms but what would send them into perfection for me, would be a pillow on the bead with something like Donald's hat (which is a sailor hat...get it?) on them. Then you'd have elegance, but still wink at the fact that you're at WDW.

 

[adelaster]

One of the most beautiful rooms in all of the resorts used to be the Alice in Wonderland room at the GF. Beautiful and magical all at the same time.

BTW....I LOVE the older GF rooms with the Alice/Mr. Toad designs....I would have never left that room!

Is this the room you are both referring to?