What does "not themed enough" mean?

[BroganMc]

Ok something's bugging me. In that BWV vs SSR thread a potential owner started, the comment that SSR is "not themed enough" keeps coming up. I've heard it here many times over usually by owners at other resorts. It's never really made sense to me.

There are hidden mickey's in the railing cutouts. The building colors are all a bright pink or green (lots of colorful pastels). All the buildings face lakes, gardens or golf course greens. There's a carousel pavilion in the carousel section. The resort clock chime is the sounding of the race horn. The main pool has a waterfall feature from the top where Artist's Palette is located. Donald Duck crowns the splash area. Artist's Palette has easels on the tables with crayons for kids to practice their artwork. Drawings are always put up on a community board through the day. Crystal chandeliers hang from the art deco rafters. And the furniture and room decor carries out a mix of Disney color and upstate NY elegance. The whole place reminds me of an artsy health resort with a Disney twist.

Now I've been to many other resorts over the years. They all have their own "Disney copies the real world" feel to them. The only place I could truly say is 100% Disney-inspired are the Value resorts. (Giant Andy's Door entrances and Goofy's Goalposts in the courtyard.) And perhaps Contemporary (Walt's vision of the future).

So what is it that people mean when they say they are looking for "more theming"?

 

[ChelleinNC]

I've never understood that and really don't know what people are looking for. I lived in the "real" Saratoga Springs and I love the attention to detail at SSR. Perhaps a lot of people don't really know anything about Saratoga Springs, NY so they don't realize that Avenue of the Pines and Broadway and Union Ave are major/main roads in town. There really is a Congress Park, horse racing is what the summertime is all about, so Paddock & Grandstand fit right in. The Springs are an integral part of Saratoga Springs NY. There have been "spas" in Saratoga for years, because of the healthy bubbly spring water that comes up naturally in springs around town.

 

[doconeill]

"Not themed enough" == "Doesn't look like Pop Century"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Some people just don't "get" the theme.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think that's a rhetorical question!

Bobbi

 

[dizfanz]

Subtlety can be lost on some people. We need not be reminded we are at Disney every second we are at our resort.

 

[OlderMan]

As a former resident of Saratoga Springs, NY, the SSR resort--in some areas--looks like the real thing.

All the pictures and paintings over the check in area are real places in the real Saratoga Springs.

Ironically, the one time I was there I ran into someone I knew from Saratoga Springs, NY!

 

[tjkraz]

I think "not themed enough" is a misstatement. What people mean to say is that the theme of resorts like SSR isn't as recognizable as others.

When you see the Poly, you think Hawaii.

When you see the BoardWalk, you think NJ Boardwalk.

When you see POFQ, you think New Orleans.

Saratoga Springs, NY isn't well-known enough for people to make the same association. On that basis alone, some people tend to dismiss it.

IMO, the "not themed enough" line is sort of a lazy way of saying "I don't know what it's supposed to represent so Disney must not have done a good enough job." People are unwilling to get over that hurdle and appreciate the details that have been put into the resort.

Maybe if the Imagineers had placed 20' tall statues of famous Disney horses next to each building, some would appreciate it more. "Sir you're booked into the 'Philippe' building. Go down the road, take a left at 'Pegasus', and it will be straight ahead."

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

When we bought into DVC, our guide asked us where we stayed before at WDW and we told him at WL and AKL and he said wow you guys started with our "most themed" hotels!

Regarding the "theming" at SSR, I live about 30 miles south of Saratoga and I have to say that considering the subject the Disney people did a good job with the horse racing aspects of Saratoga. For 10 months of the year, it is a small upstate town but for about two months every year in the summer, Saratoga is the horse racing capital of the world and it becomes quite the place to see the rich and famous. If you've never been to the racetrack there in August, it is quite an experience! The names for the buildings are authentic and have a connection to Saratoga. The architecture and the white fences all have a touch of Saratoga in them. I thought it was an odd choice for a theme when I first heard about it but I think it has been well done.

 

[BlakeNJ]

When you see the Poly, you think Hawaii.

When you see the BoardWalk, you think NJ Boardwalk.

Boy, I can't resist this one....being from NJ, the Boardwalk certainly does not remind me of a boardwalk in NJ--it's missing a few things if you know what I mean....Although, the water surrounding the Disney Boardwalk is a similar color to the Atlantic Ocean up in Jersey. That's one similarity.

Maybe I'd recognize it as a NJ Boardwalk if I was around 80 years old!

 

[Starr W.]

I guess I must be one of the few people outside of upstate New York that know about Saratoga Springs ties with horse racing, spas and it's also the summer home of the NYCB.

As for the Boardwalk representing NJ seashore, I think Blake is spot on with his timeframe for the BW. .

The Beach Club lobby it reminds me more of Grand Central Station than a NE beach hotel.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

I spent many summers in the Saratoga area growing up and the theme of SSR fits for me. On one hand I think some people really may be looking at it as lacking blatant Disney theming or being in the backyard of a park. Others may not realize the subtle details put into designing SSR to match its namesake town.

Now if they require ladies to wear hats and gloves for summer race season and get some horses running, then the theming will be complete lol

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I guess I must be one of the few people outside of upstate New York that know about Saratoga Springs ties with horse racing, spas and it's also the summer home of the NYCB.

As for the Boardwalk representing NJ seashore, I think Blake is spot on with his timeframe for the BW. .

The Beach Club lobby it reminds me more of Grand Central Station than a NE beach hotel.

Now you must explain!

 

[global_mom]

DH and I love SSR and its theme. We find it to be quiet and not as "in your face" as some of the other resort themes. Now mind you, we love "in your face" theming at Disney!

However, our children took one look at SSR and said "Huh?" . They have no idea what Saratoga NY is, even though we explained it all to them. They found SSR to be very nice but beg to stay at other resorts b/c they dont "feel like they are at Disney".

So, I see both sides of the theme debate. It is loved by some and lost on others. Those that dont "get it" tend to blame that on Disney and declare SSR to be unthemed when that is not the case at all.

 

[BroganMc]

Perhaps a lot of people don't really know anything about Saratoga Springs, NY

Now that I think about it, I wonder if that isn't the source of the issue.

But before touring SSR and actually staying there I had never even heard of Saratoga Springs. I focused more on the word "Springs" so started to understand it as a health resort sorta place. I never got the horse racing angle until I took that pathway from Carousel to Grandstand through the golf course and saw white fences and paddocked fields. (Paddocks is misnamed IMHO. Makes more sense to call Carousel Paddocks and vice versa.)

But I grew up with an Atlantic boardwalk resort here in MD. The mismatch of building facades and wooden plank boardwalk, even the model carousel in BWV's lobby reminded me a bit of OC. The dismal Florida lake, lack of any real amusement park rides, $5 t-shirt shops or Playland arcade games kills it for me though. That's why I see Disney theming of resorts more of a "let's take a few of the stereotypical details and dress our cookie cutter building techniques with it".

 

[luna99]

I think "not themed enough" is a misstatement. What people mean to say is that the theme of resorts like SSR isn't as recognizable as others.

When you see the Poly, you think Hawaii.

When you see the BoardWalk, you think NJ Boardwalk.

When you see POFQ, you think New Orleans.

Saratoga Springs, NY isn't well-known enough for people to make the same association. On that basis alone, some people tend to dismiss it.

I'm the OP of the thread in reference and I think this sums up what I meant well. I currently live in Central New York (moved here 3 years ago from the south) but honestly, I have never been to Saratoga Springs, NY and I had never even HEARD of it until Disney made it a theme for a resort. I didn't mean to dimiss it, it just doesn't feel as familiar to me as some of the other 'themes" (caribbean, new orleans, south west area, etc).

 

[DVC Mike]

While SSR is a beautiful resort, it does have a rather understated, subdued theme -- especially when compared with AKV and VWL.

When driving through SSR, my wife remarked that we could be driving through an upscale condo or apartment complex anywhere. It just doesn't have that Disney "feel" to her (and everyone will have a different definition of what that is to them).

On the other hand, she happens to dislike the over-the-top theming at Pop Century and the All Stars resort as too "garish" and "in-your-face".

Everyone will have their own individual preferences and rank their favorite DVC resorts accordingly. As long as we respect each other's different opinions and don't "dump" on a particular resort, I think we're doing OK.

 

[gppnj]

On the other hand, she happens to dislike the over-the-top theming at Pop Century and the All Stars resort as too "garish" and "in-your-face".

I don't consider those places to be themed - or at least they're not themed in a way that I respond to. Those resorts are "themed" by builidng a generic motel that could be anywhere and then throwing around a few garish, oversized props. If some people like that, that's fine, but I don't want any part of that.

The Disney resorts other than the value ones are themed in that the buildings are created and decorated using designs and architectural details that are associated with a certain place and period. For example, Wilderness Lodge doesn't need a 30-foot tall moose out front to convey the theme. The theme is in every light fixture, piece of furniture, and wall decoration. That's the kind of theming I like.

I do consider SSR to be themed. I suppose the theme is somewhat less exotic to most people than the themes at some other resorts. But that's not terrible.

 

[MEM]

Boy, I can't resist this one....being from NJ, the Boardwalk certainly does not remind me of a boardwalk in NJ--it's missing a few things if you know what I mean....Although, the water surrounding the Disney Boardwalk is a similar color to the Atlantic Ocean up in Jersey. That's one similarity.

Maybe I'd recognize it as a NJ Boardwalk if I was around 80 years old!

I have always though the Boardwalk looks like Rehoboth Beach, DE - I spent the first 45 summers of my life there.

And FWIW, I love the "theme" of SSR and discovering neat little relevant details around every corner. I wouldn't change a thing...

 

[BroganMc]

I'm the OP of the thread in reference and I think this sums up what I meant well. I currently live in Central New York (moved here 3 years ago from the south) but honestly, I have never been to Saratoga Springs, NY and I had never even HEARD of it until Disney made it a theme for a resort. I didn't mean to dimiss it, it just doesn't feel as familiar to me as some of the other 'themes" (caribbean, new orleans, south west area, etc).

Travel broadens the mind.

For years my brother kept telling me Kansas was just a giant field in the middle of nowhere. (He was stationed out there for work.) He told us to never ever come. Then one year we decided to drive cross-country from Maryland to Denver, straight through Missouri and Kansas. As soon as we got past Kansas City and drove through the Flint Hills of Eastern KS, that's when all those stories of Indian attacks on wagon trains magically made sense. I never could understand how Indians could sneak up on passing wagon trains in the middle of a flat open field. But the Flint Hills are decievingly NOT flat. You think they are (at the bottom) but as soon as you crest a slope you can suddenly see for miles.

I figure someone in Disney Imagineering looked at the old Disney Institute site and said "Hey, this reminds me of home." The rest figured it was exotic enough to give it a try. After all, they already have a Mexican resort, a Key West resort, a Louisianna resort, Atlantic beach, Hawaiian, Rocky Mountain and African resorts. What else is there to do?

 

[crisi]

That's why I see Disney theming of resorts more of a "let's take a few of the stereotypical details and dress our cookie cutter building techniques with it".

Disney's most successful theming is when those stereotypical details take you to a time and place. The Poly really doesn't take me to Hawaii, but the theming is intense enough and out of place in Florida enough that I feel like I've stepped out of Florida and into some persons imagination of what a Polynesian island might be like (if it were a hotel filled with tourists). The WL takes me out of Florida and does make me feel like I'm somewhere else, if not out at Yosemite, in someone's big Yosemite set on a huge stage. AKL is the same, I can actually pretend I'm in Africa. And it doesn't take much - a change in folliage, a color palate, a few architectural details and a little tiki god on the signs and - look! the South Seas.

I can get that, to a lesser extent and frankly sort of barely, at the Boardwalk - I'm in someone set piece about the Boardwalk at the turn of the century. A clean tidy turn of the century Boardwalk that - like most of Disney's themes - never really existed anymore than Main Street did. I don't get it over at the Beach Club because it doesn't really remove me in time from Florida, it doesn't feel like New Jersey at any point in time to me. The Boardwalk pool is themed appropriately for the resort (and frighteningly for Stephan King fans), the Y&BC pool is impressive and themed, but doesn't do much for me in setting the place.

SSR is really pretty (as is the Y&BC), but I'm not inspired to pretend I'm anywhere other than Disney while I'm there. Perhaps its just that Saratoga isn't an inspiring place to pretend you are. And OKW is themed like Florida - not a lot of "scope for the imagination" there - though it is a well themed resort - just it doesn't remove you from Florida.

Its like Vegas. Paris and New York New York do a wonderful job with their theme. The Luxor, Excalibre and Mirage don't inspire me to pretend. And the Stardust, well, it does a wonderful job if the theme is Vegas.

As a final point, to some people (including myself) theme is a really important thing. I think going to Florida and "being" at Yosemite is cool. Its a disappointment to me that home is BWV where I'm less inspired. To other people, why would you want to pretend you are somewhere you aren't?