Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

[Tha Realest]

Just saw this on FB

 

[aladdin2007]

Just saw this on FB

View attachment 886744

I dare say I like it? I think? Even if a bit dark. At least they are still check in desks and not little portable stands. Still irks me you have to go through someone else first standing in front of them, before your allowed to walk up to the desks. This was really irritating at the Lodge to have to stand there in the middle with someone on their ipad and give out all this info instead of at the actual desk.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Blog Mickey has a bunch of pics of the area.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This was really irritating at the Lodge to have to stand there in the middle with someone on their ipad and give out all this info instead of at the actual desk.

Reminds of the Nate Bargatze standup - “how about we do it like a regular normal business?”

Just let me walk up to the check in counter and check in. That’s all I want. Please? Haha

 

[Supernova]

I get people’s complaints about the light fixtures. They could have been a lot more creative. But anyway, this does look ALOT better overall.

 

[James Alucobond]

I'm hoping the kiddie table and television in that new seating area means they're getting rid of the awkward nook they previously had set up for that same purpose beside the elevator.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I'm hoping the kiddie table and television in that new seating area means they're getting rid of the awkward nook they previously had set up for that same purpose beside the elevator.

I thought that was a nice addition and use of space now that check-in is a lot smaller! I'd assume that is a relocation, would they keep another similar space?

 

[James Alucobond]

I thought that was a nice addition and use of space now that check-in is a lot smaller! I'd assume that is a relocation, would they keep another similar space?

It's more that I'm unsure if it's permanent or temporary while the elevator area is being refurbished.

 

[LAM378]

I will forever miss the wall of key cubbyholes that used to be behind the check in desk. Reminded me of my childhood. I like the way this is coming along, though.

 

[jmuboy]

I will forever miss the wall of key cubbyholes that used to be behind the check in desk. Reminded me of my childhood. I like the way this is coming along, though.

The key boxes are there - just now they are a natural wood - not white painted wood

 

[Casper Gutman]

Just saw this on FB

View attachment 886744

It just doesn’t seem themed.

Based on this single image, would you be able to determine the hotel’s theme? Or that it was themed at all?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

these are just from google image search - no disrespect of the owners - but an idea of what this area has looked like over the years to compare.

 

[LittleBuford]

It just doesn’t seem themed.

Based on this single image, would you be able to determine the hotel’s theme? Or that it was themed at all?

It's clearer from the Blog Mickey photos mentioned earlier by @Disney Analyst what look they were going for:

New Check-In Area Unveiled as Grand Floridian Lobby Reimagining Moves to Main Seating Area

Walt Disney World has revealed a new look for the Grand Floridian Resort check-in area as the lobby reimagining continues

blogmickey.com

Based on the adjacent seating area especially, I would say the intended flavour is "whimsical vintage". I can't say it works well in this setting. They should have stuck to the Victorian resort theme.

 

[James Alucobond]

It just doesn’t seem themed.

Based on this single image, would you be able to determine the hotel’s theme? Or that it was themed at all?

As far as interiors go, I think they've long since generally moved away from explicit period theming to period "inspiration" with many a concession to modern expectation and convenience, plus Disney IP touches that extend what is seen in the guest rooms in ways that might be overly whimsical or modern (e.g. the Mary Blair elements of the redone Contemporary lobby or the Poppins Returns-lite elements seen here with the birds and furnishings).

Please note that this is not intended as an excuse; I am not necessarily in agreement that this is a preferred path forward. However, I do think it's perhaps partially a response to perceived value when something incredibly expensive also looks to the uneducated observer to be "tired" or "stuffy". The Victorian style isn't really experiencing the same resurgence in popularity that its midcentury counterparts recently did, nor is the style as intrinsically tied to the era of the resort itself.

 

[Nunu]

The new light fixtures and check-in desks are giving me more Art Deco vibes than Victorian. They got the era wrong, imho.

 

[James Alucobond]

The new light fixtures and check-in desks are giving me more Art Deco vibes than Victorian. They got the era wrong, imho.

I get the impression that they wanted them to look vaguely like swing perches, but I agree that the ultimate effect is more anachronistic than anything.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I get the impression that they wanted them to look vaguely like swing perches, but I agree that the ultimate effect is more anachronistic than anything.

This is where I wonder how they are going about designing these new interiors.

I understand they need to balance theming that feels authentic to the time and place in which the hotel is set and modern expectations of what a hotel should be, including feeling comfortable, clean, etc. according to current sensibilities. It may appear to be a small detail, but those lighting fixtures seem like exactly the sort of thing in the past that would have led Imagineers to pull out designs of lighting from the period in order to design something that both felt appropriate to the time period but that fit the needs of the present.

The more recent refurbs feel like they hire designers who go through catalogs of available furnishings and make 'artistic' judgements such as the one you note about what would be more appropriate for the space.

 

[Tha Realest]

It just doesn’t seem themed.

Based on this single image, would you be able to determine the hotel’s theme? Or that it was themed at all?

No, not at all. It feels far more Gensler than Hotel del Coronado. Nothing about that is evocative of the theming of the resort.

 

[Tha Realest]

This is where I wonder how they are going about designing these new interiors.

I understand they need to balance theming that feels authentic to the time and place in which the hotel is set and modern expectations of what a hotel should be, including feeling comfortable, clean, etc. according to current sensibilities. It may appear to be a small detail, but those lighting fixtures seem like exactly the sort of thing in the past that would have led Imagineers to pull out designs of lighting from the period in order to design something that both felt appropriate to the time period but that fit the needs of the present.

The more recent refurbs feel like they hire designers who go through catalogs of available furnishings and make 'artistic' judgements such as the one you note about what would be more appropriate for the space.

There is a dismaying tendency, by the time they get to the little touches, to just go for really cheap looking and off the shelf type additions. These lighting fixtures would fit well in a newly constructed McMansion.

 

[Supernova]

Looks like the carpet is installed now