MK Villains Land Announced for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

[Agent H]

That's not over the top, though. Over the top implies cartoony garishness.

The Wilderness Lodge is detailed and highly themed, but over the top isn't the phrase I would use.

I guess that explains it. I don’t think the phrase over the top implies cartoony garishness but that’s just me. As for the Rivera I guess those are valid points. I personally think the overall vibe something gives off is just as important in getting me to buy into the stated theme as actual theming.

 

[UNCgolf]

Perhaps the broader issue is that it is themed as a generic broad-based European hotel to begin with. If it was a building in Europe, they'd slap a Le Meridien or Westin branding on it. I know it's splitting hairs, but Riviera just isn't what Marriott's actually look or feel like. I know the brand standards well, I'm a Lifetime Platinum. I'm literally in a Courtyard right now.


I'm actually on your side in the grander sense, they could have done a much better job. I just think the hyperbole over Riviera is so silly. There's a complete disconnect between older fans and newer fans. Riviera is shockingly embraced by new guests to the resorts, which I know probably is what causes so much consternation. I personally rather dislike a whole slew of the timeshares a lot more than Riv. Saratoga for starters. Or really anything with external hallways being pitched as "deluxe"

For comparison, here's the Westin Anaheim.

View attachment 850896

I don't disagree about Marriott specifically; I think people are mainly using that as a stand-in for generic rather than claiming it's identical to a Marriott.

There are some classic luxury French Riviera hotels they could (should) have used as a basis (like they used the del Coronado for the Grand Floridian) -- the Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo, e.g. -- but either they didn't or they did it in the blandest, cheapest way possible. Even those wouldn't be as unique as something like the Wilderness Lodge or the Animal Kingdom Lodge (and why I'd agree that the choice of theme in general probably wasn't the best), but it would at least look like something other than a big city hotel.

I also agree that Saratoga is not great. I do think it's a bit better than Riviera, but it's close. I also forget it even exists (and that it's considered a deluxe).

 

[Sir_Cliff]

There's a complete disconnect between older fans and newer fans. Riviera is shockingly embraced by new guests to the resorts, which I know probably is what causes so much consternation.

Interesting. How do we know this?

 

[Centauri Space Station]

I think you mean lacks in theming, period -- no Disney hotel has over the top theming (well, maybe the values, but I don't know that I'd call what they do theming). Riviera just doesn't have theming.

Anyways, the rest of that is a separate discussion from the architecture/theme aspect. I don't think the Riviera is a bad hotel in a vacuum (well, I guess it's technically a timeshare building, not a hotel); it's relatively nice. If I'm going to stay in a Disney deluxe, though, it would definitely be at the bottom of the list other than maybe the Contemporary. I don't think it's really comparable to any of the others.

I’ve stayed there several times and think it has lots of great theming. Not as over the top as other resorts but the bakery, library lounge, bar riva, primo piatto, the murals to the skyliner, topolinos, the rooms, the skyliner area are all well themed.

 

[xxlove]

Funny you mention that……

 

[UNCgolf]

I’ve stayed there several times and think it has lots of great theming. Not as over the top as other resorts but the bakery, library lounge, bar riva, primo piatto, the murals to the skyliner, topolinos, the rooms, the skyliner area are all well themed.

Themed to what, exactly?

I think people are conflating theme with quality. I'm not saying the quality is poor. I think the Riviera is relatively nice, but the places you mentioned generally aren't really themed to anything. You could sub them in at any mid-high level hotel.

EDIT: I just noticed this is the Villains land thread so this is way off topic. I don't know how we even got into this discussion here but obviously not the right place.

 

[BrianLo]

Interesting. How do we know this?

Cash booking turnover and reviews. It's one of their most popular properties for them to flip to cash guests and they have little issue filling the undeclared room inventory.

But I think it also self-selects for other reasons (being the only Deluxe Skyliner resort) and a bit of a modern preference towards a tower than sprawl.

I'd certainly go out on a limb and say it's easily the most divisive property. Some people really like it, many hate it. Even the timeshare people have a love-hate relationship with it because of resale restrictions, which are somewhat extrinsic to it as a property.

Edit also whoops, I had no idea I was in the villains thread, thought this was the lakeshore one.

 

[MisterPenguin]

This thread will wind up winning this year's Most Sidetracked Thread award.

 

[Moth]

This thread will wind up winning this year's Most Sidetracked Thread award.

Tough competition, it's going up against PLAY! with the discussion of Body Wars and why the body shouldn't be a female body and the Figment containment unit which had Dragon Tales.

 

[Lord Fozzinator]

I’d say what the Rivera lacks in over the top theming it makes up for in the little things. Great artwork everywhere. Charming and intimate grounds. Some of the best food on property.

I’d much prefer over the top theming, that’s how we got Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge. We could have got this

Instead we got this

 

[Lord Fozzinator]

Also, isn’t this supposed to be a villains thread. I guess you can call Disney detheming resorts a villainous act

 

[Agent H]

Tough competition, it's going up against PLAY! with the discussion of Body Wars and why the body shouldn't be a female body and the Figment containment unit which had Dragon Tales.

Let’s not forget the animation courtyard thread. That one has gone in a lot of different directions. I admit I’m responsible for some of them. Also figment containment unit. That’s hilarious

 

[RosR9]

Still hoping we get the haunted mansion B&B style hotel that came out of the leak

 

[Bocabear]

Still hoping we get the haunted mansion B&B style hotel that came out of the leak

I don't believe this current leadership would be able to pull anything like this off...it would be another Marriott style hotel with a couple light nods to that haunted mansion attraction...maybe some sketches or concept work framed in the sterile charmless lobby....

 

[RosR9]

I don't believe this current leadership would be able to pull anything liker this off...it would be another Marriott style hotel with a couple light nods to that haunted mansion attraction...maybe some sketches or concept work framed in the sterile charmless lobby....

Ugh it’s just such a shame like you see some of the stuff they do for DCL and the Tokyo parks and it’s like we know they’re capable but leadership is just like hmmm no thanks

 

[Bocabear]

I know they have the talent, but they just don't have the leadership to guide the talent and approve the budgets necessary...I am concerned about the rising costs of construction material completely downgrading anything announced... Hopefully they will fully know that before they start the destruction of the ROA area....

 

[eddie104]

I love the Rivera Hotel and I think it looks good but that’s just my opinion.

However this is the Villains Land thread so when you guys think they will get moving on this project?

 

[nickys]

I love the Rivera Hotel and I think it looks good but that’s just my opinion.

However this is the Villains Land thread so when you guys think they will get moving on this project?

Honestly, I don’t think we’ll see anything more than ground preparation work until Cars is pretty much done.

 

[doctornick]

Cash booking turnover and reviews. It's one of their most popular properties for them to flip to cash guests and they have little issue filling the undeclared room inventory.

But I think it also self-selects for other reasons (being the only Deluxe Skyliner resort) and a bit of a modern preference towards a tower than sprawl.

Beach Club and Boardwalk?

To the point of the discussion I will say that the people I've spoken to who have stayed at Riviera seem to really like it. I haven't been inspired to stay there myself.

 

[BrianLo]

Beach Club and Boardwalk?

To the point of the discussion I will say that the people I've spoken to who have stayed at Riviera seem to really like it. I haven't been inspired to stay there myself.

Oh yes, for some reason I overlook them as Skyliner. No doubt they would likely be the most popular DVC to buy if they weren’t 2042’s.

The Boardwalk DVC though is not terribly a Skyliner resort, but some of the cash rooms are somewhat. Those DVC rooms are halfway to Hollywood Studios at the best of times and essentially wedged between both termini.