Disney World's Recent Resort Changes Disappoint Guests
Sometimes change is a hard thing, especially when these changes strip away pure Disney magic. See why we are not happy with these recent resort changes.
Disney Resort Refurbishments
Disney offers a variety of resort options to best fit each guest's needs and price points. These include value resorts, moderate resorts, and deluxe resorts.
Over the past year, Walt Disney World has worked to refurbish several of the Value Resorts. This has brought welcome changes, such as the addition of a new coffee shop at Disney's Pop Century.
However not all of the changes are as welcome. Many guests feel that Disney is muting down the overall theme and magic of these resorts.
Disney Value Resort Disppointing Changes
Previously, at the All-Star Resorts (All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, and All-Star Sports), the Resort Lobby displayed iconic pictures and memorabilia that were unique to this resort (as featured in the picture above).
During the recent refurbishments of the All-Star Resorts all resort lobbies now have a similar mural with only slight changes (as pictured below).
Disney describes these new murals: "These brand-new character murals that add humor, charm, and plenty of hidden details for Disney fans to discover." Many feel as though these come across as generic and that Disney could do much more to create unique theming to Disney Value Resorts.
Changes at Disney's Pop Century
Starting near the end of July, Disney began refurbishment on the lobby at Disney's Pop Century Resort. Guests were promised a "retro-inspired refresh". For several weeks construction walls were in place throughout the lobby, and today the first walls came down.
Nostalgic decade shadow boxes are not missing at Disney Pop Century's lobby.
To our surprise, the nostalgic shadow boxes that featured popular memorabilia from each decade are now missing. These visual time capsules are now replaced by murals of Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck with a retro pattern created from records, bowling pins, and classic cars.
Cast Members shared that the shadow boxes are not planned to return much as was the case with the Disney All-Star Resort lobby refurbishments. Thanks to DisneyGuyBry for sharing this first look:
@disneyguybry POP Century Refurbishment Update! #disneyworld #disney #popcentury
♬ Do You Believe in Magic? - The Lovin' Spoonful
In my (Donna) opinion, this seems like a step back from bringing charm to the Walt Disney World Value Resorts.
What do you think? Do you like this cleaner design or do you prefer the nostagic memorbilia in the resort lobbies? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with your Disney pals.
no suprise here !
More drab Disney IP. WhileWell the shadow boxes were dated and allowed to self deteriorate, the rest of the resort will get the same treatment. Whatever IP costs them even a penny, they will remove it !
The variations of brands from the past made the Pop Century resort unique. But as corporate thinking goes only ABC / Disney owned Properties will be allowed.
While the park down the street is the polar opposite.
It's like watching an artist paint himself into a corner of a room, only then realizing he left no way out.
I could see this coming a mile away. The removal of check in area is next to go.
With self check in kiosks to replace human interaction.
It is the new Walmart of hotel experiences.
Online or on your phone and a foreign help desk for any issues and problems. And self check in and out.
Just like your purchases at Walmart.
Do it yourself !
The future of customer service is the equivalent of being put in a corn maze, and you have to find your way out !
no suprise here !
More drab Disney IP. WhileWell the shadow boxes were dated and allowed to self deteriorate, the rest of the resort will get the same treatment. Whatever IP costs them even a penny, they will remove it !
The variations of brands from the past made the Pip Century resort unique. But as corporate thinking goes only ABC / Disney owned Properties will be allowed.
While the park down the street is the polar opposite.
It's like watching an artist paint himself into a corner of a room, only then realizing he left no way out.
I could see this coming a mile away. The removal of check in area is next to go.
With self check in kiosks to replace human interaction.
It is the new Walmart of hotel experiences.
Online or on your phone and a foreign help desk for any issues and problems. And self check in and out.
Just like your purchases at Walmart.
Do it yourself !
The future of customer service is the equivalent of being put in a corn maze, and you have to find your way out !
I believe there is a typo within this article. Towards the end of the article, the large box states that "Nostalgic Shadow Boxes are Not Missing" I think it's supposed to state that they are NOW missing, as opposed to NOT. Although, if it were accurate with the word not, I would be happy.
I think Disney has been doing this with all the resorts. They are all going generic and not like when we first visited DW and were overwhelmed with the magic. Now it just pops up here and there and otherwise like and nice hotel.
They keep moving away from all the special Disney magic and will continue to do so because it is cheaper.
I completely agree. They are being stripped of what once made them unique for a bland, uniform design.
@Marcy, I agree! It's so sad to see considering the costs just continue to rise. This definitely looks like a cheaper option & WAY less magical. I loved the nostalgic shadow boxes!
Just another….in a long list of steps taken “backwards” by Disney over recent years..
Maybe they will decide to hang some of pictures back up, if there is enough backlash.
That is what I am hoping for as well. I hope that they will once again find a home for these shadowboxes. Sometimes I wonder if Disney even understands their target audience with some of the decisions they make.
They aren't bringing the love and joy to this resorts.
These aren't good changes ,they are horrible. They need to stop, now !
I completely agree