Has Disney Declared War on Theming?

[Shanti]

It seems that every time a resort is renovated, the renovated rooms are much more generic than what they replaced. Maybe a semi-themed piece of artwork on the wall, but no more immersive theming. To only name a few examples, this trend has shown up in the renovated Yacht Club rooms, Beach Club rooms, Boardwalk DVC, and now Caribbean Beach.

I've always figured they're doing this because it's cheaper. For example, if you compare one of the recently renovated Boardwalk Villas to an unrenovated Boardwalk Inn resort room, you can see how much more money likely went into the creation of the Inn rooms many years ago, with their characters carved into the backs of wooden chairs, ceramic figurines, decorative wallpaper, and so many other detailed touches throughout the room that match that resort room to its resort's specific theme.

Is this just another cost-cutting move by Disney? It seems so brutal, robbing the resorts of their charm. The charm is a primary reason why we stay there, right up there with convenience and perks. There is a much less expensive Hilton at Bonnet Creek that we could begin staying at if becomes too hard to tell the difference between a Disney resort room and a Hilton room. I guess I just don't fully understand why this is happening.

Does anyone have any insider knowledge on why this anti-theming trend of the rooms is occurring? Is it just money-saving? Did they hire someone from Crate & Barrel as their head of design? Do they think they need to keep up with the Hampton Inn?

It's sad to see so much less imagination at work.

 

[mickeynut1]

It seems that every time a resort is renovated, the renovated rooms are much more generic than what they replaced. Maybe a semi-themed piece of artwork on the wall, but no more immersive theming. To only name a few examples, this trend has shown up in the renovated Yacht Club rooms, Beach Club rooms, Boardwalk DVC, and now Caribbean Beach.

I've always figured they're doing this because it's cheaper. For example, if you compare a Boardwalk Villa to a Boardwalk Inn resort room, you can see how much more money likely went into the Inn rooms, with their characters carved into the backs of wooden chairs chairs, ceramic figurines, decorative wallpaper, and so many other detailed touches throughout the room.

Is this just another cost-cutting move by Disney? It seems so brutal, robbing the resorts of their charm. The charm is a primary reason why we stay there, right up there with convenience and perks. There is a much less expensive Hilton at Bonnet Creek that I will begin staying at if becomes too hard to tell the difference between a Disney resort room and a Hilton room. I guess I just don't fully understand why this is happening.

Does anyone have any insider knowledge on why this anti-theming trend of the rooms is occurring? Is it just money-saving? Did they hire someone from Crate and Barrel as their head of design? Do they think they need to keep up with the Hampton Inn?

It's sad to see so much less imagination at work.

I can't answer as to the reasoning, but I have felt this way from the beginning of the new renovations. I think it's great that the rooms are getting a total refurb, but I don't like that most of the Disney touches have been taken away. You can find mickey heads, for example, on window coverings, shower curtains, etc., but I feel the overall Disney vibe has been taken away (just my opinion). I love walking into our room and seeing Disney/Mickey everywhere I turn, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Like you, I now find the rooms rather generic .

 

[loves to dive]

Not sure but I think in some of the cases they are convention resorts and they are trying to appeal to the convention people. I think there may be some people who are there for business purposes who 1. didn't really have a choice that was where the convention/class was being held and 2. don't really want to have Mickey in their face. Not saying it's right or wrong but I think that might be the reasoning behind some of it. Personally, I don't need Mickey in my face in my resort but I do kind of like it to match it's back story. If BW is supposed to be based on an old BW type resort, I'm guessing the rooms should have that theme, whatever that might be. I remember the YC rooms used to have a distinct sailing theme to them, would it cause me not to book there because of lack of that in the rooms? Probably not since the location is my only reason for booking there but I agree it's a little sad.

 

[Farro]

I think they look fantastic.

A theme doesn't have to be in your face, or garish. Some of the rooms looked a bit dated. All of the refurbs I've seen still have the "theme" of the hotel, just in more subtle ways. The furniture looks nautical, wall art is nautical, pillow fabrics are nautical...

This may not be to your taste, but it doesn't mean Disney is doing something wrong.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I think they look fantastic.

A theme doesn't have to be in your face, or garish. Some of the rooms looked a bit dated. All of the refurbs I've seen still have the "theme" of the hotel, just in more subtle ways. The furniture looks nautical, wall art is nautical, pillow fabrics are nautical...

This may not be to your taste, but it doesn't mean Disney is doing something wrong.

I agree.

Plus I prefer white bedding on a hotel bed than those crazy comforters and stuff. I think it all looks cleaner and probably IS.

 

[rosiebean]

The new rooms at BC are very subtlety themed...too much so, IMO. I didn't find the old BC rooms to be overly themed, so the de-theming (and, yes, I think they're de-themeing the rooms) is disappointing.

By de-theming, I don't mean getting rid of crazy wallpaper and bedspreads that were covered in hidden mickeys. I mean, they're getting rid of the smaller touches that personalized the rooms to the resort, such as the Mickey Mouse lifeguard lamp that was adorable, and the Hawaiian themed pillows and bed runners at Poly. We stayed at BC last December and loved the resort for the location and pool, but our room felt like it could have been anywhere.

The only redone room I like so far are those at YC (I love the constellation curtains, and I think the room has the feel of a state room), but I don't really like the other rooms I've seen (the new Pop rooms = hospital chic ). I know that some guests will love the new approach to rooms, but I find them a bit sterile, personally.

 

[Shanti]

Not sure but I think in some of the cases they are convention resorts and they are trying to appeal to the convention people... who are there for business purposes who...don't really want to have Mickey in their face... Personally, I don't need Mickey in my face in my resort but I do kind of like it to match it's back story. If BW is supposed to be based on an old BW type resort, I'm guessing the rooms should have that theme...I remember the YC rooms used to have a distinct sailing theme to them, would it cause me not to book there because of lack of that in the rooms? Probably not since the location is my only reason for booking there but I agree it's a little sad.

Yes, what you put in bold is the kind of theming I'm referring to. I'm not referring to the kind of theming at Art of Animation, where the rooms look cartoonish. The traditional theming at the deluxes was subtle but very well thought out and specific to that resort's theme, as I described for Boardwalk Inn, and that is mostly gone at Boardwalk Villas. Animal Kingdom Lodge resort rooms have the kind of specific theming I'm referring to, as well. The AKL DVC villas have less of that, because they have been recently renovated. The fact that the recent DVC renovations reveal this tendency the most leads me to think this trend is not about conventioners...

 

[JerseyJanice]

I wonder if the lesser theming is the result of focus groups or surveys.

Most of us are big Disney fans here, but I can't tell you how many times I've read comments like "over the top theming" and "Disney in your face 24 hours."

To me, over-the-top themes refer to the big icons at the value resorts, but maybe Disney has gotten negative feedback about cutesy or fake theming.

They may have young blood in their resort interior decorating department that has decided to get away from "cute" decor.

The latest trends in home decor is kinda industrial looking--granite counters, stainless steel appliances, nickel plumbing fixtures, neutral colored furniture, etc. You don't see much whimsy in modern homes.

IMO, it is this trend that is changing the way that Disney used to decorate.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Anything themed is also apparently high-risk to grow some legs and wander off back home with guests.... which I don't understand... leave your vacation ambiance on vacation or it won't BE a vacation anymore!

I imagine it's a lot easier to deal with supply companies and such if they are all using the same linens and towels. I wonder if there were contract changes with the supply companies?

 

[Shanti]

The latest trends in home decor is kinda industrial looking--granite counters, stainless steel appliances, nickel plumbing fixtures, neutral colored furniture, etc. You don't see much whimsy in modern homes...IMO, it is this trend that is changing the way that Disney used to decorate.

Maybe so. It's strange that they would want to base the style of a themed vacation resort on people's ordinary homes, though.

Anything themed is also apparently high-risk to grow some legs and wander off back home with guests....I imagine it's a lot easier to deal with supply companies and such if they are all using the same linens and towels. I wonder if there were contract changes with the supply companies?

I could see theft being an occasional issue with smaller items, but the theming of things like mirrors, walls, beds and chairs can't be based on concerns about petty theft. I can't remember the towels or bed sheets ever being different for different resorts, so I don't think that's really an issue.

I guess my theory is still that the new way is just cheaper.

 

[dansdad]

I wonder if the lesser theming is the result of focus groups or surveys.

This, 100% this.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

IMHO it has more to do with broader hotel/resort styles and design trends these days than any sort of cheapening/cost savings approach (although if a design is cheaper to implement, I'm sure Disney isn't going to say no!). Today's trends are minimalist, modern, clean lines, hard surfaces, muted colors - sort of the opposite of the 90's-00's heavy theming that dominated much of Disney room styles.

I travel a lot for work and some of the newer room renovations remind me of what I see in other places, even very 'expensive' hotels.

Styles and trends come and go, I think we're in a period where Disney is following the herd like everyone else.

 

[Doug S]

EasyWDW made a good point in his CSR room review that most people really don't care if the room screams Disney. You're likely coming back to the room after a day in parks where you're constantly bombarded by the fact you're at Disney. Your room decor doesn't need to remind you.

I like the new "tone downed" feeling of the new rooms. They feel modern and nicer than what than I have it home, which is what I want in a hotel. What they're really trying to do is match what Hyatt's, Marriott's, etc. look like now. I've stayed at Hyatt's for under $100/night thanks to Hotwire and they blow away any room at Disney you could get for $100. I know that's a bit of a silly argument because a Hyatt in St Louis isn't WDW, but for someone who has spent so much money to go to Disney, it matters to them.

I think it will be hit or miss with everything getting the modern design overhaul. I personally think the new Flying Fish looks a million times classier than the previous design. But the new market at YC feels barren and no different than many coffee shops/restaurants in major cities.

 

[Shanti]

What they're really trying to do is match what Hyatt's, Marriott's, etc. look like now.

It seems so, but I don't really get why, since people have consistently over many years paid much more to stay at Disney resorts than at the Orlando-area Hyatts & Marriotts...

The new market at YC feels barren and no different than many coffee shops/restaurants in major cities.

Exactly.

 

[Nanaberry]

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

 

[wilkeliza]

I've heard enough people complain that they couldn't get their kids to sleep in the original theme rooms. I like the new rooms I've been in. They are still beautiful and fit in with their resort theme.

 

[Amelia :)]

It's all personal taste isn't it, you can't please everybody. I loved my room at Wilderness Lodge, but the amount of people that complain they are "too dark" or "too rustic looking", I would'nt be surprised if they toned down the theming in those eventually.

 

[Shanti]

I've heard enough people complain that they couldn't get their kids to sleep in the original theme rooms.

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

 

[Farro]

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

Maybe the off-site Disney themed places go quicker because the themes make people feel like they are staying on-site.

I don't know what Boardwalk rooms look like new, so can't comment.

Polynesian looks about a zillion times better than it did before.
Yacht Club looks great.
POP and Coronado Springs look AMAZING!

 

[wilkeliza]

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

I was talking more Pop Century and then actually the fact my nephew was wound up at Art of Animation. With Poly I still feel like I'm in the South Pacific so not sure what more theming people want.