Why was Dixie Landings converted to Port Orleans?

[pilferk]

Buildg stopped over at Pop Century and has never resumed. There is an eyesore that ruins the view over the water at Pop, no one seems to know when they will ever resume that........yet DVC continues to build on. Disney's money is now going to timeshares instead of hotels. I guess that how they want the future vacationing guests to be.... owners not guests That way when a hurricane comes by and damages it, they can pass off the damages in forms of assesments for DVC and higher room fees for the hotels....

Or, maybe, there is a larger demand for timeshares than there is for increased hotel capacity at this point. So Disney chooses to build what there is demand for, rather than rooms they suspect will remain empty.

FYI, DVC buildings are insured for HUGE amounts of money...the only way an assessment would hit owners is if the insurance didn't cover the repair/replacement/remodel costs. Possible, for sure...but not really very likely. Our dues would likey just go up to cover the increase in insurance premiums.....

 

[MiaSRN62]

FYI, DVC buildings are insured for HUGE amounts of money...the only way an assessment would hit owners is if the insurance didn't cover the repair/replacement/remodel costs.

Agreed. I've been a DVC Member for 7 years and despite several hurricanes that have hit and damaged DVC resorts in the years that we've owned, we have had no assessments. Yes, our dues have gone up, but not an amount that was not to be expected.

 

[drogerstn]

"Yankees"?!? I don't see how you can overlook the issue of offensiveness to African Americans. ...

Mabye its offensive to some black people and some white folks as well. Its offensive to me when someone thinks that all people of one race or color have the same opinion as everyone else in that race or color.

 

[Sammie]

They opened under different names, but they were also operated by the same management team. I know the GM who was there.

Some will say the name was offensive, but that is not Disney's story. That is rumor.

According to Disney since the resort were already one management team it was easier to simply be one name, two divisions. And as LewisC it was a money saving venue. At the time of the merger Disney was in a travel slump.

Do any of remember that for a time they completely closed POFQ?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Do any of remember that for a time they completely closed POFQ?

Yes I do Sammie....but can't recall what time period that was or for how long ? It was less than a year that it was closed, wasn't it ?
My memory evades me now.........

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ok....found some info on these boards : http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=13503

Looks like it closed for a few months in Nov 2001, and then again for a several months in May 2003. This was for a slump in reservations as well as rehab.

 

[Sammie]

Ok....found some info on these boards : http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=13503

Looks like it closed for a few months in Nov 2001, and then again for a several months in May 2003. This was for a slump in reservations as well as rehab.

Yes it was near 9/11. While they had it closed they did work on reburbishment. I remember going to the Beach Club during that time and floors being closed.

You would think that with all the upgrades from Pop during free dining due to be over booked, they would go ahead and finish it.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Just another change wrought by the idiot Michael Eisner to appease his Hollywood liberal elite friends.

I still don't get why Eisner is called and idiot? He marketed and sold the pants out of the Disney idea and everything else... seems to me that if it weren't for HIM the Disney we know and love just might not be here... they are a buisness... one that we all have deep emotions for, but a buisness. (sorry for the rambling.. )

 

[gk90]

Mabye its offensive to some black people and some white folks as well. Its offensive to me when someone thinks that all people of one race or color have the same opinion as everyone else in that race or color.

"Maybe" it's offensive? Yes, it is offensive to many people--black, white, brown, yellow, blue, red, green, whatever.

 

[Lewisc]

But Disney still had to decide which name to keep. Wasn't Dixie Landings the larger resort? Admitting the name was changed, because it was offensive, would lead some people to ask why Disney chose an offensive name in the first place.

The merger gave Disney an opportunity to change the name without having to give a reason.

They opened under different names, but they were also operated by the same management team. I know the GM who was there.

Some will say the name was offensive, but that is not Disney's story. That is rumor.

According to Disney since the resort were already one management team it was easier to simply be one name, two divisions. And as LewisC it was a money saving venue. At the time of the merger Disney was in a travel slump.

Do any of remember that for a time they completely closed POFQ?

 

[drogerstn]

"Maybe" it's offensive? Yes, it is offensive to many people--black, white, brown, yellow, blue, red, green, whatever.

Too many people looking for something to be offensive instead of just accepting things for what they are

I find blue people and green people to be offensive

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I can't see how the word Dixie can be offensive. I remember when Dixie Landings was called that and I wanted to stay there becasue of its Southern theme. I am staying there this summer only in the FQ.

 

[Lewisc]

Too many people looking for something to be offensive instead of just accepting things for what they are

I'm not all that politically correct and enjoy comedians that are far from politically correct.

I certainly can accept things for what they are and Dixie is symbol of a time and place where blacks were slaves and later subjected to discrimination. A poster was kind enough to give you a couple of links.

Some people don't see a problem because they don't understand what Dixie represents. Some people don't see a problem because they're racist. A few people might not see a problem, because they like the southern theming and can ignore the implication of Dixie. Those people shouldn't have a problem with the name change since the resort still has the same theming.

The fact is a number of guests were offended and there isn't any reason to offend guests.

MGM, LasVegas, reduced the size and number of lion statues at the entrances. In some cultures the lion is a symbol of bad luck and MGM didn't want to upset customers.

edited to say it doesn't matter if I'm offended or if a given individual or poster is offended. The question is if a number of guests are offended, due the symbolism of Dixie. Once the question is yes then it doesn't make any sense to keep the name.

 

[drogerstn]

...I certainly can accept things for what they are and Dixie is symbol of a time and place where blacks were slaves and later subjected to discrimination. ...

Not in the context it was presented at Dixie Landings.

edited to say it doesn't matter if I'm offended or if a given individual or poster is offended. The question is if a number of guests are offended, due the symbolism of Dixie. Once the question is yes then it doesn't make any sense to keep the name.

This makes good business sense.

I have not seen any evidence that having the word "Dixie" in the name and theme for POR was offensive to a number of people nor that the name was removed for that reason except for some guesses by some CM's and forum members.

 

[Robert P]

In the spirit of making information available, and not taking a particular side of this discussion, here is the link to wikipedia. While I don't hold this to be the end all source, it does contain some good information regarding the term Dixie.
(you may have to paste this into your browser).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie

 

[Lewisc]

Disney decided to merge the resorts for business reasons. We don't know why Disney decided to keep the name of the smaller resort and get rid of the name of the larger resort.

Admitting some guests found "Dixie" offensive would only lead to further questions.

This is a case where CM "rumors" count for something. CMs may be "echoing" what they've heard from guests. CMs think Dixie is racist then guests probably think the same thing. Once the decision to merge and change the name was made it made great business sense to drop a name that some people found offensive.

Song of the South was never released to the US market. Many of us think it's because a lot of people consider the movie to have racist elements. Disney will never admit that's the reason.

This makes good business sense.

I have not seen any evidence that having the word "Dixie" in the name and theme for POR was offensive to a number of people nor that the name was removed for that reason except for some guesses by some CM's and forum members.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

MGM, LasVegas, reduced the size and number of lion statues at the entrances. In some cultures the lion is a symbol of bad luck and MGM didn't want to upset customers.

You're right up to a point with this analogy. I don't think the reason MGM removed the lions was not entirely because their customers offended. I think they didn't want the cultures who recognize a lion as a symbol of bad luck NOT to gamble there.

Disney getting rid of the Dixie name is so as not to offended people, not bestow "bad luck" on their gaming.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks for the link.

Let's see Dixie:
Preserves the name of a slave owner.
Was the unofficial anthem of the Confederate States of America.

No need to "take sides". I can understand enough people being offended, even it doesn't necessarily offend others, to justify using the other resorts name when the resorts were combined.

No reason to maintain use of a name that is offensive to part of your customer base.

I don't think a Lions head is "bad luck" but I understand MGM making some changes so as not to offend a part of their customer base.

In the spirit of making information available, and not taking a particular side of this discussion, here is the link to wikipedia. While I don't hold this to be the end all source, it does contain some good information regarding the term Dixie.
(you may have to paste this into your browser).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie

 

[Lewisc]

To be more exact:

The lions caused some customers to avoid patronizing the casino because they represent bad luck.

The name "Dixie" may have caused some customers to avoid Disney because the name represents an time associated with slavery and racism.

Again Disney didn't drop the name Dixe, rather they decided to use the other resorts name when the resorts were combined. We don't know the reason Orleans was picked over Dixie.

The rumors could be true or the people who made the decision may just like visiting New Orleans.

You're right up to a point with this analogy. I don't think the reason MGM removed the lions was not entirely because their customers offended. I think they didn't want the cultures who recognize a lion as a symbol of bad luck NOT to gamble there.

Disney getting rid of the Dixie name is so as not to offended people, not bestow "bad luck" on their gaming.

 

[Robert P]

I believe this has been an interesting discussion so far.

Some people take the term 'Dixie' as offensive, and representing slavery, while others take it to mean a Southern lifestyle, or representing the Southern States (not specifically slavery).

I see 2 developments here:
1 - Nobody can say 'absolutely' what the term Dixie should or should represent for any other individual. It is a personal opinion, what the term means to each person.
2 - The merger of the 2 resorts gave WDW the perfect opportunity to change the name, without giving a reason.


I can agree with Lewisc on:
"Most of us think "political correctness" is the reason the name Dixie Landings was dropped as part of the merger process."