Why the name change from Dixie Landings?

[kirsangel]

Just curious why they did this in the first place, and I know this is THE place for an answer. We stayed at Port Orleans-Riverside and it is separate from French Quarter excepting the bus sharing. They have separate check-ins, pools, lounges, restaurants, etc. So why did they "combine" these two resorts?? I don't see how it has changed operationally. If this was a cost saving measure, I just don't see how. Could someone please expain? Thanks in advance.

 

[Missytara]

Disney has never officially said why they merged the two resorts and changed the name.

They also changed some of the names of locations around the resort.

However, there has been some speculation about why they did it. It has been speculated that it removed any negative connotations or thoughts about that particular time period in history.

 

[kirsangel]

Thanks! I guess that makes some sense. I know they don't sell Song of the South anymore.

 

[wcpamotm]

Disney has never officially said why they merged the two resorts and changed the name.

... so that leaves us free to speculate on our own!

Officially, it's one big resort, although for any and all practical purposes they might as well be separate, even down to room reservations.

In terms of cost savings, it allowed them to close down Bonfamille's and the Port Orleans Marina, while still being able to claim that each moderate resort has a table service restaurant and marina.

 

[spiceycat]

politics. that is the only reason.

dixie says the south. really think at times Disney would not pretend that Florida is not in the south.....

 

[brekin67]

Yet they still have the splash mountain theme. (Song of the South)

 

[cvjw]

The word dixie is now politically incorrect, so Disney won't use it.

 

[CaptainAlex]

I don't think it had anything to do about politics or being PC. I agree with the earlier post about it being all about the economics. Cut costs and still be able to provide the same level of service. Seems to make sense in this day and age.

Although I do have very fond memories of some wild times after hours at the original POR in the early 90's.

 

[Liberator]

Here in Germany a "Dixi" is the most common word for a "portable toilet" used on festivals, outdoor events etc.

I don't know if you have Dixi's in the US, too.

But I can tell you that 95 % of every German inhabitant would think about those toilets when he hears "Dixie Landings"

I bet that's not the reason why they changed the name, but that was just my thought about "Dixie"

 

[dairyqueenmom]

Fond Memories of Dixie Landings, Disneymooned there in 1995. I had heard it had to do with the Dixie brought up to much conotations with the confedercy.

 

[kaligal]

There are many people for whom the word carries a negative connotation.

 

[stargazertechie]

I just hate it when companies are pressured to change names because they might offend "somebody".

I'm from Michigan, and our major coffee retailer changed their name 4 years ago now. It's now called Biggby (Big-B). It used to be a word that I guess offends a segment of the American population. Before it hit the news, I never knew the other name was a racial slur.

I mean, I don't get offended when I'm driving and I see a Cracker Barrel. C'mon folks, it's all about context.

 

[princesscharming]

What will they do with dixie cups?

 

[Matty_Disfan]

I'm from Canada and I think the change is well founded. "Ol Dixie" is usually a reference paid to the secession states of the south who were pushed into fighting to (amongst other things) preserve slavery as an economic model.

I know there are many other references to Dixie than this one (Dixie-land jazz, 'Dixies' as currency in Louisiana, Mason-Dixon line). But for an outsider to American Historical instruction, this remains the most enduring reference to Dixie.

I hear the word 'Dixie' and I see the Confederate flag. I don't see the hospitality of the south, the hard-working southern mind-set, the gentility and easy-going nature of people I have come to know and love in Georgia and Florida.

I guess I am saying that the word 'Dixie', to an outsider, betrays the true nature of the South and misleads those who would otherwise love this most beautiful part of our Continent.

 

[KJay]

I'm from Canada and I think the change is well founded. "Ol Dixie" is usually a reference paid to the secession states of the south who were pushed into fighting to (amongst other things) preserve slavery as an economic model.

I know there are many other references to Dixie than this one (Dixie-land jazz, 'Dixies' as currency in Louisiana, Mason-Dixon line). But for an outsider to American Historical instruction, this remains the most enduring reference to Dixie.

I hear the word 'Dixie' and I see the Confederate flag. I don't see the hospitality of the south, the hard-working southern mind-set, the gentility and easy-going nature of people I have come to know and love in Georgia and Florida.

I guess I am saying that the word 'Dixie', to an outsider, betrays the true nature of the South and misleads those who would otherwise love this most beautiful part of our Continent.

Precisely. Well said.

 

[iheartdisney]

Maybe...
When Brawny took over the sponsorship of the paper products in the park, they didn't want a resort named after the competition. So Dixie had to go!

 

[pixie08]

I'm from Canada and I think the change is well founded. "Ol Dixie" is usually a reference paid to the secession states of the south who were pushed into fighting to (amongst other things) preserve slavery as an economic model.

I know there are many other references to Dixie than this one (Dixie-land jazz, 'Dixies' as currency in Louisiana, Mason-Dixon line). But for an outsider to American Historical instruction, this remains the most enduring reference to Dixie.

I hear the word 'Dixie' and I see the Confederate flag. I don't see the hospitality of the south, the hard-working southern mind-set, the gentility and easy-going nature of people I have come to know and love in Georgia and Florida.

I guess I am saying that the word 'Dixie', to an outsider, betrays the true nature of the South and misleads those who would otherwise love this most beautiful part of our Continent.

I have to agree.

 

[eliza61]

I just hate it when companies are pressured to change names because they might offend "somebody".

I'm from Michigan, and our major coffee retailer changed their name 4 years ago now. It's now called Biggby (Big-B). It used to be a word that I guess offends a segment of the American population. Before it hit the news, I never knew the other name was a racial slur.

I mean, I don't get offended when I'm driving and I see a Cracker Barrel. C'mon folks, it's all about context.

I think its actually pretty smart.

A conservative estimate is that African americans (of which I'm one) spend ~45 billion bucks on vacation. Now if I own a company as a vacation destination, the smart thing would be for me to try to rake in some of that disposable money. Why do you think companies have target advertisement? So they can pinpoint a specific demographic. If changing a name of a hotel to some thing a little less offensive to a large part of the population helps me get some of that revenue, I'd be stupid not to do it.

And personally, I can tell you when my family and I travel to Charleston or Savannah, I do not ever stay at a place with the word "plantation" in it. NO matter how great the place or the deal. Why would I?

 

[iheartdisney]

I just hate it when companies are pressured to change names because they might offend "somebody".

I'm from Michigan, and our major coffee retailer changed their name 4 years ago now. It's now called Biggby (Big-B). It used to be a word that I guess offends a segment of the American population. Before it hit the news, I never knew the other name was a racial slur.

I mean, I don't get offended when I'm driving and I see a Cracker Barrel. C'mon folks, it's all about context.

ITA, and Disney is the WORST!!!!
The fact that classic movies are either not released (song of the South) or horribly edited (Pecos Bill) is a bad business decision. Erasing history does no one any justice.
Loony Tunes made the brave decision to release their classics, but put a disclaimer at the beginning of the disc, "this is not appropriate today, but is part of our history" when the disc contains Speedy Gonzales cartoons.

 

[disfan07]

I think its actually pretty smart.

A conservative estimate is that African americans (of which I'm one) spend ~45 billion bucks on vacation. Now if I own a company as a vacation destination, the smart thing would be for me to try to rake in some of that disposable money. Why do you think companies have target advertisement? So they can pinpoint a specific demographic. If changing a name of a hotel to some thing a little less offensive to a large part of the population helps me get some of that revenue, I'd be stupid not to do it.

And personally, I can tell you when my family and I travel to Charleston or Savannah, I do not ever stay at a place with the word "plantation" in it. NO matter how great the place or the deal. Why would I?

This is Off topic but I had to say, I LOVE the quote in you sig.

I agree that we can't erase history (as much as I would love to erase some of history) however, why is it so important to leave something in place that would offend a significant portion of the population or that has a menaing that would reflect that negative part of history. We can never erase history but why is it so wrong to want the negative parts to be less noticable on a daily basis.