While I agree every time Disney does step out of said box they get slapped by the general public (ie 95% of their client base). If the name "Disney" is attached to anything people expect characters. Epcot is a perfect example. Initially it was done character free save for Dreamfinder and Figment and guests lost their minds about it.
It does make me think about what piece of PoP I would love to have if they sold them off...Which makes me wonder: What in the WORLD will they do with all of those 3 and 4-story tall icons from the buildings? Sure, I'd love the giant yo-yo....but I just don't think it'll fit in my garage.
) or maybe a heavily decorated old fashioned bed if you were to stay in the captain quarters. The bed being a ship actually takes you out of the story.Well, the thing I don't like, is that indeed these rooms are sold as great "story-telling". See this post on the Disney Parks Blog. Here they are specifically called "Disney Story Rooms". And my argument would be that they don't tell a story, they showcase elements which are taken from a story, but that is different. Let's take the pirate rooms: if you were to tell the story of being a pirate, the bed would not look like a ship, but would either be a hammock (yes, not very practical in a hotel...
However, I also think that this a larger trend all over Disney that instead of inventing new stories - like travelling on a train in the foothills of Mt Everest and encountering the Yeti - or travelling through a Haunted Mansion encountering various ghosts - they just rely on stories which already have been told before. It is not only the Animation Resort, it is also most of the recent projects - from the Beauty and the Beast restaurant in the FLE to Carsland and Avatarland. This of course has always been part of the parks since the beginning, but not in that exclusivity and scope as it seems to be done today.
I get the feeling that they don't trust their audience anymore to be able to have the fantasy to live inside stories which haven't been played out in detail for them before. And that I think is sad. Where else do you have the possibility to imagine to be in a far away place which might be different for me from the place you imagine to be in because there is the space for our imagination to shape the place?
And to your argument about those rooms only being at the values: Well, the cheapest rate at AoAR is $ 97 for a weekday in value season, in the summer it is $ 139 for the weekday, $ 164 for the weekend, actually $ 5 more expensive than Pop. And the suites at AoAR start at $ 249. Not really cheap accommodation in any case. If you look at the Royal Rooms at POR, those start at $ 189 in Value season. And depending on view/location, in the summer they could cost up to $ 265 for a weekend night. Christmas and Easter would be even more expensive. For the Royal Rooms the premium for the decoration is between $ 30 and $ 40 per night!
Well, the thing I don't like, is that indeed these rooms are sold as great "story-telling". See this post on the Disney Parks Blog. Here they are specifically called "Disney Story Rooms". And my argument would be that they don't tell a story, they showcase elements which are taken from a story, but that is different. Let's take the pirate rooms: if you were to tell the story of being a pirate, the bed would not look like a ship, but would either be a hammock (yes, not very practical in a hotel...
However, I also think that this a larger trend all over Disney that instead of inventing new stories - like travelling on a train in the foothills of Mt Everest and encountering the Yeti - or travelling through a Haunted Mansion encountering various ghosts - they just rely on stories which already have been told before. It is not only the Animation Resort, it is also most of the recent projects - from the Beauty and the Beast restaurant in the FLE to Carsland and Avatarland. This of course has always been part of the parks since the beginning, but not in that exclusivity and scope as it seems to be done today.
I get the feeling that they don't trust their audience anymore to be able to have the fantasy to live inside stories which haven't been played out in detail for them before. And that I think is sad. Where else do you have the possibility to imagine to be in a far away place which might be different for me from the place you imagine to be in because there is the space for our imagination to shape the place?
And to your argument about those rooms only being at the values: Well, the cheapest rate at AoAR is $ 97 for a weekday in value season, in the summer it is $ 139 for the weekday, $ 164 for the weekend, actually $ 5 more expensive than Pop. And the suites at AoAR start at $ 249. Not really cheap accommodation in any case. If you look at the Royal Rooms at POR, those start at $ 189 in Value season. And depending on view/location, in the summer they could cost up to $ 265 for a weekend night. Christmas and Easter would be even more expensive. For the Royal Rooms the premium for the decoration is between $ 30 and $ 40 per night!
If that is what the majority of Disney's customers want, why is Disney at fault for giving it to them?
I do not have a problem with Disney decorating a "value" resort with characters though. That is what the Value resorts themes are all about. Characters and larger than life items like football helmets, Big Wheels, Foosball, Lady and the Tramp, Woody and Buzz, etc... I have to agree with previous posters though when I say that they need to keep the "Disney" at the other resorts to a minimum. It does seem that they are going a little overboard and saturating the designs with "not so hidden mickeys". I mean, if you're paying the goofy stupid price for a Deluxe then you shouldn't have to be drowned by Disney characters and Disney theming every time you look around. BUT, in keeping the "over-theming" and characters out, Disney should still keep the design up to Disney high quality standards.
Yeah....I don't know what I was thinking.It is a commonly held belief around these parts that Disney should not make decisions based on what the majority of their guests want. Instead, Disney should base their decisions on the desires of the less than 1% of guests who actively participate in forum discussions. A small percentage that in all honesty will continue to spend their money at Disney no matter what they do.
That makes perfect sense, right?
And since the tiny vocal minority on the forum can't even reach a consensus on most things, what these posters really believe is that Disney should cater to them. But most aren't honest enough to admit that.
Frequently when fans complain about a trend, it's because Disney is catering to the vast majority of their paying guests.
If you are referring to meet n greets, this is purely guest demand. If management had its way there would not be a single meet n greet in WDW as most attractions operate at a much lower cost per guest than a meet n greet.True. It seems that some people forget that they may be in the minority when it comes to things "Disney". They do not like what ever it may be that Disney is doing and they cannot understand why Disney is even bothering with it. The fact is, the majority of people do want whatever it is that Disney is doing. Contrary to what some think, TDO doesn't just sit around in a room and think up ways to screw around with the company and the parks. LOL I agree with you, it is what the majority of the people want that makes up Disney's mind to do things. Focus groups and general polling.
All that being said, I am dissapointed as well that they continue to put characters in spots when an attraction closes. But I suppose that is what the majority wants.
I'd rather have a station in each park like EPCOT has and have all of them in one area for this. Then they could have a few characters throughout the parks, but not for meet-n-greets, just for the "show" effect. But again, I think I may be in the minority here so it will likely never happen. 
We unfortunately are. Character meets use to be random and somewhat special but due to so many guests demanding such an experience they were forced to set up a hug n shove assembly line.Sorry. I meant the meet-n-greets.
