Why did PO & DL merge?

[lenshanem]

I stayed at both Port Orleans and Dixie Landings years ago before they merged. I'm just curious as to why they did this? Did it make any difference? I haven't stayed at either since, but hope to try POFQ next February before we check into VWL.

Thanks for any info. I've just always wondered why.

 

[manning]

One rumor is it was for political correctness.

 

[umbluegray]

Originally posted by manning
One rumor is it was for political correctness.

By political correctness do you mean the "dixie" part?

 

[Chuck S]

They may also have been able to save a good chunk of change by combining the staffs.

 

[lenshanem]

But, isn't there still two separate check-ins? Two food courts? (I think one of the restaurants was closed? Was it at the Dixie Landings side?) They still have to have enough mousekeeping, grounds, etc. As far as less staff that is across the board anyway all over WDW...
Seems to me it would have cost money to change all the signs, etc.
I just don't get it. I don't think Dixie is offensive, does anyone here?

 

[WDSearcher]

The term "Dixie" is often associated with the Old South, and therefore with slavery and plantations and the Confederate flag and other things that, to some people, are offensive. The song "Dixie" is also the 'battle cry' of many white supremacy groups.

I don't find it offensive either, but this is one line of reasoning as to why it might be.

 

[DancingBear]

I believe it was mostly to save the cost of operating the separate check-in at the original Port Orleans, which I believe was the smallest resort. At the same time that they consolidated this function, they closed the table service restaurant at Port Orleans.

 

[caseymaureen]

They both still have their own seperate check-ins, pools, and foodcourts, but the sit down restaurant at Port Orleans French Quarter was closed. The cast still have different costumes and schedules for the 2 sections of the resort, so not too much has changed.

 

[Kaitysmom]

The merchandising is all the same at both resorts now. I guess this saves them in that regard. It might have been to allow more guests to use the facilities at both resorts, pool hopping, larger range of choices at DL. I was also told that resort name was not PC, so combining them got rid of that "problem" too. I wish they had left it alone...

 

[sanapunk]

Heck, I'll still call it dixie landings. Now it seems more confusing, especially for first time guests. You never know, they might try to check in at the wrong place!

 

[Chuck S]

While I'm certain PCness played a part in merging the two resorts, there must have been some financial savings as well, or else the resort would still be operating completely separately but have only been re-named something like "Riverside Landings Resort" or something. Disney has re-named resorts before, though not for PC reasons.

 

[Dznefreek]

They may also have been able to save a good chunk of change by combining the staffs.

Only 11 people were reassigned when the resorts merged.

 

[Chuck S]

Not knowing what CMs actually make, I'll use the minimums and assume that they were full time.

At $5.50 per hour for 40 hours per week, those 11 re-assignments would be a savings of $125,840. Add to that employment taxes, medical benefits etc, and it could easily be in the neighborhood of $175K per year. While not very significant in the overall scheme of Disney, a savings none the less, especially when tourism was low after 9-11. Again, Disney has simply renamed resorts before (Golf Resort was Re-named Disney Inn, Village Resort renamed and Expanded to Disney Institute, Disney Vacation Club resort renamed Old Key West) So something other than a simple PC name change led to the actual "merger".

 

[All Aboard]

The savings came from the elimination of one full service restaurant (Bonfamille's on the French Quarter side) and the elimination of the marina (also on the French Quarter side.) Theory being, call it all by a single name and you don't have to have as many redundant services. If I remember correctly, there were rumors flying around about more consolidation (check-in being one of them) but in the end only Bonfamille's and FQ's boat rentals perished.

Since so much was made of the PC-driven motivation, I tend to believe that, as well. Sort of a "two birds with one stone" outcome.

Pool hopping has been permitted between the two resorts for as long as I remember - well before the consolidation.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

The number of people being reassigned does not include senior management, and finance personel who were also moved when the resorts merged. The cost savings comes mostly from the combined management, planning, and finance ares, not from operations. That has been the big occurance around WDW for the last 4 years. As senior managers leave they are leaving their positions open (or eliminating them) and extending the responsibility of other managers.

 

[Amphigorey]

The two resorts were originally planned to be operated as one resort with two different sides. When it opened, they decided that it was too big to be one resort, and it was split in two. I guess they decided that it wasn't too big to operate as one after all.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I think most of the original theories have been covered. Unfortunately the real reasoning for the change will never be known to any of us.
Dixie landings was the first resort we stayed at while visiting WDW in 1993. We were immediately hooked on the theming and the quality of the resort, even though we dont stay there much any more (DVC owners) we always spend time there during our visits to WDW. The place is forever in our hearts because it was the start of our Disney obsession.
I personally was disappointed when the name was changed, I thought the original Dixie Landings name fit the resort perfectly.
The sad part is that it proves just how succesful society has been at demonizing the deep south and the confederacy. This started in 1865 and continues today in the factually challenged trash taught in most public schools.
Somewhere, somehow, good people have to stand up and say enough of the PC trash, a relatively minute percentage of people are wielding far too much influence.

I yield the soap box

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by OnWithTheShow
The number of people being reassigned does not include senior management, and finance personel who were also moved when the resorts merged. The cost savings comes mostly from the combined management, planning, and finance ares, not from operations. That has been the big occurance around WDW for the last 4 years. As senior managers leave they are leaving their positions open (or eliminating them) and extending the responsibility of other managers.

That's just the way large corporations have been going for quite some time. Same thing has been happening at my firm for the past 3+ years.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by bigdisneydaddy

The sad part is that it proves just how succesful society has been at demonizing the deep south and the confederacy.

While the South overall has certainly made tremendous strides in the area of human rights in recent years...there are still pockets that need no help being "demonized". I reside in a former Confederate state. Prejudice still clings heavy in the air in some regions. We still see "The South Shall Rise Again" bumper stickers, Confederate Battle flags, and active "chapters" of the KKK.

George Wallace on the steps of the University of Alabama was in the 20th century. James Byrd was dragged to death behind a truck simply because two white kids were looking for some fun in the 1990s. No, all is not honeysuckle and mint juleps, but it is improving. And I can fully inderstand how some people may have found Dixie Landings somewhat uncomfortable, not necessarily offensive. I think Disney was certainly correct to address that concern by changing the name of the resort. Like I said, they have changed resort names before.

 

[DisneyDude10171]

I believe that 99% of the cause for Dixie Landings becaming Port Orleans French Quarter has to do with PCness. This evidenced by other things previously mentioned and the fact that select additional components of DL were renamed:

*Colonel's Cotton Mill -> The Riverside Mill
*Cotton Co-op Lounge -> River Roost Lounge
*Dixie Drive -> Riverside Drive
*Dixie Landings -> PORS
*Dixie Levee -> (new name which I am unsure of)

Additionally, a painting of a cotton blossom on "The Riverside Mill" sign inside has been replaced with a less-recognizable flower.

Pretty much all references to Dixie or cotton has been removed, and with good intents. If it were for any other reason, why would only these names have changed, and not more in order to more seemlessly connect the two resorts?

Of course, the word "Dixie" has its origins in the French. "Dix" or "ten" appears in large type on 19th Century notes issued in Louisiana. Recall that French was the prominent language in some states prior to The Louisiana Purchase. The South later adapted "Dixie" as a nickname for the Confederacy.

The other 1% of the cause could have to do with Dixie Landings having been a more popular resort, the more popular Doubloon Lagoon pool at PO(FQ), or simply to combine two resorts which were already sisters .

Sources:
Walt Dated World. 05.21.2004 http://www.waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id147.htm
http://www.syngraphics.net/pmdictionary/DICT-D.html