Pop Century....Disney should have.........

[Kim&Chris]

I often wonder why Disney did not bank on the success of their All Star Movies resort, and build the Pop Century to be a sorta "All Star Movies, Part 2"-type resort.

I've been reading alot of negative feedback on many aspects of Pop Century, mostly the appearance of it. Gigantic bowling pins?? Monster-sized Rubik's Cubes?? Yikes, what were they thinking??

It's a shame they didn't make this resort more like the Movies, by banking on some of the films that weren't featured in the current All Star Resort. I can picture a Jungle Book area, a Princess area (what little girl wouldn't LOVE to stay in a princess-themed resort??), a Fab Five building, etc.

Just my $.02

 

[GinB]

Just an update--- I called CRO today, and while on the phone, I asked if there was any chance that Pop Century would open in time for our July trip. The CM said that it would not open in 2003 AT ALL!

Can anyone confirm this, or was she just tired of answering that question?

Thanks!
Ginger

 

[CarolA]

There was a lot of negative feedback on the All Stars before they opened. Giant Megaphones etc...

Since no one has actually stayed there the feedback is actually pretty useless.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Kim & Chris, many of us have often wondered the same thing. To me, only the AKL and AS Mo really portray a Disney theme. But no resort does is as tastefully and gracefully as the AS Mo...

With so many characters left out of it, I wonder why they didn't dedicate a section of Pop Century to Disney princesses, one to villains and dinosaurs, one to Pooh & friends, one to Jungle Book and one to Lion King, for example. Instead, someone lost sense of taste and put up hideous cut outs and phrases... Instead of "platform shoes" and "where's the beef?" nonsense they could have posted "hakuna matata" and "huphalumps and hunny" sections. If they wanted to stay decades behind, Snow White and black and white cartoons would have given awesome themes to that resort. It is a matter of talent and good taste...

I am disappointed and infuriated that Disney fell to such depths in the design of this hideous place. It is even an insult to the guests who choose to stay in a value resort (or need to).

I honestly hope they redo it and keep the faith that their financial loses (especially in their resorts) will be a strong motivation...

 

[DMRick]

I am disappointed and infuriated that Disney fell to such depths in the design of this hideous place.

Guess hubby and I have no taste. We have been watching them build Pop Century..and we see so many memories for us there. The big wheel reminds me of "clipping" off the noisemaker on our own kids, so as not to drive the neighbors nuts as they rode up and down the street. The bowling pins..heck, isn't that where everyone hung out..a really cheap date? And the "what's the beef" and Duh..would you believe those were things often said during my teen years..the older lady who played in that commercial did a great job of it! And Rubik's cube..darn, I wish I had saved my original one, when I saw what it got on eBay a couple of years ago. We can't wait for it to open..I've loved looking at the sky high photos someone posted in another post. Boy, do I ever remember the talk about the All Stars when they were being built. No one was going to stay in that place..yeah, right LOL!

Also, I don't understand..what makes AKL more Disney than other places? Movies is the only place I really think is Disney movies..but we love music because of the music icons..some of whch match Disney movies. I never would have thought Disney, if I had stayed at AKL outside of Disney..the thought wouldn't have crossed my mind. I think it's a beautiful building, but way too dark and dreary for my tastes. Luckily, DW has something for everyone.

 

[ceecee]

Now that is a GREAT idea.........Princess section, villian section, jungle book! An ALL STAR greatest hits!

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

I don't see anything wrong with Pop Century either... probably because I remember so many things being emulated there also.

However, I DO think it's a FABULOUS idea to have a resort that is themed like some others mentioned on this thread also. Only problem is I could see now with 3 kids I'd have a hard time trying to figure out where to "request" we'd be staying. Can you imagine how hard people would be fighting over the "princess" rooms? LOL

Ah, we'll just take Pooh. Eeyore building please.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Oh my, DMRick, having the AKL right up next to Disney's animal park extending the atmosphere into the resort is one of the strongest Disney resort themes to me...

Maybe PC appeals to an older crowd but the danger of not including themes that the younger generations are attracted or familiar with is a dangerous marketing strategy, as it really reduces the niche of guests willing to stay there. The other resorts appeal to all ages because of universal themes.
Those most critical of PC may be the ones with (oh gawd, I mean no insult at all here) more decades available to pay for a resort stay.

And maybe it would not look so bad if it didn't have impersonal cut outs and hideous phrases. Maybe the whole concept of appealing to an older generation and keeping their memories alive was not a bad idea at all. But many consider the outcome in bad taste, with no sense of beauty... Maybe it was just a matter of hiring talented artists with the gift of the ability to make it appeal to everyone.

 

[DMRick]

Oh my, DMRick, having the AKL right up next to Disney's animal park extending the atmosphere into the resort is one of the strongest Disney resort themes to me...

See, that's why Disney does all different types of hotels. AK park is not my favorite, and other than some animals outside the hotel, I don't see much of a connection. It has African theming, but that doesn't make it Disney..it makes it African.

I know WL is an extension of the campground, but being from the Adirondacks, I just see a really nice hotel there too..one people stay at because it's nice, not because it's got a Disney theme. Same with Beach Club..beautiful, but not Disney in the way you are talking about. With the thousands and thousands of people going to Disney, I have no doubt a lot will pick Pop Century..and some, not because they remember the theming, but because they want to experience it, see a little into their parents and grandparents past. I don't think Disney builds aything without a lot of research, so I'm confident they know this hotel will be a hit.

I think you are wrong thinking that PC will only be used by older people. We bring our small grands down every other trip, and that's where they have picked to stay as soon as it opens. The best part of being "my generation" is I'll do 3-4 Disney trips a year, since it's prob more affordable to me money and time wise, since we're retired, kids are through college, and on their own, etc., so they'll get their money's worth out of me before I leave this earth (and believe me, I have lots of years to go LOL).

Believe it or not, not all people pick their hotel based just on it's connection to Disney..some like to stay just for the fun of it...and it looks like that will be a fun hotel. Just as an aside..in the warmer months when just hubby and I come down, we like to stay at POR for the shade and less crowded feeling. Our grands asked if we could switch the next time and go to a "funner" hotel....they love all of the All Stars the best. We did drive them over to visit the AS last visit, becasue they missed it so much (we often stay at Music or Sports). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Yup, we disagree on PC, I'll give you that but

other than some animals outside the hotel, I don't see much of a connection. It has African theming, but that doesn't make it Disney..it makes it African.

...Not really. Disney has a whole park dedicated to wild animals. The extension of that park into the theme of the AKL is a very obvious connection that makes it Disney! The AK park is Disney's, it is meters away from the AKL resort, the theme, CMs and decor match the theme of Disney's AK park...
It is still not Disney theme to you?

Integrating African and Asian elements into stories like The Lion King and Jungle Book does not make them only African, it makes them Disney!

 

[DMRick]

...Not really. Disney has a whole park dedicated to wild animals.

Yes, they have a park that they can connect to a few of their movies...and they then have a hotel with some animals in the courtyard, and an African theming to connect it to the park. Once inside the hotel, however, it's hard to tell it's a Disney Hotel. Disney is not stupid, they know what will interest people. O course, luckily, not everyone likes the darkness of AKL, so rooms will continue to be available for those that do.

I guess looking around at other Disney hotels, it's not just Disney theming that makes the hotel have a draw (although that is a part of it..for little kids, it's been a real draw to the Movies, although even they are not filled every day)..it's memories. I live just outside Saratoga, and one of Dis's newest VC hotels will be Saratoga. I hardly think that will draw people with little kids based on Disney theming...however, I think people will flock there based on the Saratoga "olden" times experience many will also want to experience. Just like POR-FQ..it's something that people want to try, without going to New Orleans.

One of Disney's most popular resaturants is 50's Prime Time...that tells me that in these troubled times, a lot of people want to go back in time..which it looks like PC will do.

Until the hotel is actually opened, no one can really review it..so I think people are premature to insist (and be infuriated at Disney for building it) it's a flop. Again, how well I remember the views on the original All Stars. I think so far, each of the Disney hotels fills a need for what people like...some you'll love, some you'll hate. Thank God we all don't love the same things, what a pain it would be getting rooms in our favorite resorts LOL!

 

[DMRick]

Maybe the whole concept of appealing to an older generation and keeping their memories alive was not a bad idea at all.

Just a comment on this. What do you thing is the "older generation"? That Big wheel and rubic's cube belonged to my children, who are 34, 32, and 27..are they the older generation, since many of these icons are from their youth? There very familiar themes to my children..and they are looking forward to sharing them with their children. The memories will be theirs as much as mine (although the 45 records I'll claim all for myself! LOL).
Keep in mind that much of Disney hotel theming such as the Floridian, Saratoga (yet to come), Key West might not look Disney, but have appeals to older and younger for different reasons. Not everyone comes to Disney just for the Disney animated children's movies.

 

[sm4987]

DMRick- I know what you mean. My husband and I are 28 and don't consider ourselves old at all. I loved the rubix cube and the big wheel when I was a child. I think Pop Century is rather cool and would love to stay there when it opens.

 

[Poohbear123]

Paitently for this Hotel to open. It looks to me, by the photos that was on my thread last week, that the first section is set to open, but they still have a lot to work on at the other half. I hope they re-consider and decide to take ressies for the 1st half.

 

[Belle5]

I don't mind the toy icons, at all. I think it's the words and phrases that turn so many folks off. We think that looks "cheap" instead of fantasylike. I wouldn't mind if they would enhance the rooms with the phrases (like maybe a shower curtain with little words on them) but when they're right there on the outside of the buildings...yikes! Surely they've had a ton of negative feedback about the appearance of this place. Is it too late for them to knock the words off the buildings?

 

[TreeOfLife]

Yup, Belle... I agree. It is the cutouts and those obnoxious phrases that make it a turn off to most guests...

Few complain about the toys here and there...

 

[DMRick]

Yup, Belle... I agree. It is the cutouts and those obnoxious phrases that make it a turn off to most guests...

Again, wait until it opens to see if lots of people agree with you. Some think the sayings just part of the whole design..I happen to be one of them. I've not seen a large amount of people not like it..or at least not anywhere as many as complained about the older regular Allstars. Disney doesn't do anything this big without lots of research..far more reaching than our polls on this board...they are out to make money (if the economy ever goes again and people travel), and if anyone in the past knew how to do it, it's Disney. You are welcome to print this out and see if you have to throw my words back at me..but I'm betting this will be as popluar as any other resort they have opened..if they ever open it. These two posts have not been anymore negative that any of the resort posts on this board. There is always some people like, and some they don't. Good to keep in mind that people who have something negative to say, are more likely to post, so there may be a large amount of people out there who just love it, and won't post, since there is no reason to...I mean it's not even open yet and some are already dising it..gotta love these boards LOL.

 

[ilovefh]

Just a comment on this. What do you thing is the "older generation"? That Big wheel and rubic's cube belonged to my children, who are 34, 32, and 27..are they the older generation, since many of these icons are from their youth? There very familiar themes to my children..and they are looking forward to sharing them with their children. The memories will be theirs as much as mine

I have to agree with you on that one. I am only 22 and I played with rubix cubes and had a cabbage patch big wheel. And I do remember "Where's the Beef." These things are what make the resort "Pop Century" It is things from popular culture. And yeah there was a ton of backlash before all star opened. So let's just wait until it opens and we see the finished product before we get all "infuriated" And when its done, if you still dont like it, dont stay there, plain and simple!

 

[TreeOfLife]

gotta love these boards LOL

Sure do, DMRick... Take a deep breath now, hun

 

[DMRick]

Sure do, DMRick... Take a deep breath now, hun

Because...?