News Caribbean Beach Expansion

[Casper Gutman]

When did you visit?

I’m sure you ask the exact same question of people who are praising the new look, right?

And let’s drill into this. The poster you are responding to clearly thinks that pictures, even those Disney is using to promote the place, make the new CBR look dull and uninteresting. Your response is, hey, you better spend your time and money to go to the place that looks dull and uninteresting or else your opinion is invalid. And since that’s unlikely to happen - since that poster and most others with a negative impression of the remodel are unlikely to visit - you’re pretty much just looking for a way to dismiss negative opinions out of hand.

It’s rather nasty gatekeeping.

 

[peter11435]

I’m sure you ask the exact same question of people who are praising the new look, right?

And let’s drill into this. The poster you are responding to clearly thinks that pictures, even those Disney is using to promote the place, make the new CBR look dull and uninteresting. Your response is, hey, you better spend your time and money to go to the place that looks dull and uninteresting or else your opinion is invalid. And since that’s unlikely to happen - since that poster and most others with a negative impression of the remodel are unlikely to visit - you’re pretty much just looking for a way to dismiss negative opinions out of hand.

It’s rather nasty gatekeeping.

I haven’t given my opinion on this project anywhere in this thread yet as I have not actually seen it. I also don’t believe Disney has released any promotional marketing shots of the new facilities yet. Everything has been third party. The reviews I have read from people who have actually been there have all been positive.

Let’s not pretend that the custom house or the latest version of Old Port Royal were the pinnacle of Disney themeing.

I’m not saying you can’t judge the project or form an opinion based on photos alone. But it’s impossible to access the vibe of the venue without experiencing it.

 

[Bocabear]

What baffles me is they are so hot to pump IP into everything, why did they not give the entire resort a Pirates overlay... Make it look more like the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino when it first opened... Why is there not a pirate ship moored in the lake? Seems like if they took a step off the Safe Design Marriott Hotel Playbook, they co8uld have created an amazing, beautifully themed resort that every kid would want to stay in... It could have been a real wow instead of an ...Oh yeah, thats nice shrug....

 

[Andrew C]

What baffles me is they are so hot to pump IP into everything, why did they not give the entire resort a Pirates overlay... Make it look more like the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino when it first opened... Why is there not a pirate ship moored in the lake? Seems like if they took a step off the Safe Design Marriott Hotel Playbook, they co8uld have created an amazing, beautifully themed resort that every kid would want to stay in... It could have been a real wow instead of an ...Oh yeah, thats nice shrug....

Save those ideas for the value resorts. They don't need to theme every resort to kids. The theme of CBR has never really been over the top, in your face...and it doesn't need to be.

 

[Incomudro]

What baffles me is they are so hot to pump IP into everything, why did they not give the entire resort a Pirates overlay... Make it look more like the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino when it first opened... Why is there not a pirate ship moored in the lake? Seems like if they took a step off the Safe Design Marriott Hotel Playbook, they co8uld have created an amazing, beautifully themed resort that every kid would want to stay in... It could have been a real wow instead of an ...Oh yeah, thats nice shrug....

Because they're not that eager to do those things.

 

[Bocabear]

If you had ever been to the Treasure Island resort in 1993 when it first opened, the details were amazing. It was simultaneously over the top theme and at the same time elegant and beautifully done.
They have refurbished it dozens of times since then and all the original details are long gone, but boy was it something.
You can amp up the theme without it looking like an All Star value crapfest. Look at the Yacht and Beach club hotels with their over the top pool area including a shipwreck...that resort complex is so much more special for having that versus the usual plain Disney hotel pool...Better quality theming makes the property more unique and special...I am not talking about giant tacky fiberglass props scattered around the resort...

 

[Flynnwriter]

What baffles me is they are so hot to pump IP into everything, why did they not give the entire resort a Pirates overlay... Make it look more like the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino when it first opened... Why is there not a pirate ship moored in the lake? Seems like if they took a step off the Safe Design Marriott Hotel Playbook, they co8uld have created an amazing, beautifully themed resort that every kid would want to stay in... It could have been a real wow instead of an ...Oh yeah, thats nice shrug....

That would involve spending money and delivering old Disney theming.

 

[Flynnwriter]

Let’s be honest Animal Kingdom Lodge will be the last great Disney resort. It seems the new regime demands nothing more than what the competition is offering. Unless something changes drastically they won’t even remember what level of detail and quality looks like in the resorts.

 

[peter11435]

Let’s be honest Animal Kingdom Lodge will be the last great Disney resort. .

Should add.. at Walt Disney World to that.

 

[Flynnwriter]

Should add.. at Walt Disney World to that.

At Disney World. Agree

 

[Flynnwriter]

Sorry I just can’t let this go. I just got back from the new Port Royale. It’s much worse in person. How can so many bright colors be so depressing? Dispite a small handful of details here and there- the overall Interior design is institutional, cheap, cold and designed at the lowest common denominator. Let’s all find out who or what company did this below run of the mill design. A abundance of blank white walls, cheap materials and off-the-internet art, accessories, furniture and carpeting has no overall art direction or unified vision. This screams of local design firm just off a job at the Hilton Garden. Sad Disney, really sad.

 

[peter11435]

Sorry I just can’t let this go. I just got back from the new Port Royale. It’s much worse in person. How can so many bright colors be so depressing? Dispite a small handful of details here and there- the overall Interior design is institutional, cheap, cold and designed at the lowest common denominator. Let’s all find out who or what company did this below run of the mill design. A abundance of blank white walls, cheap materials and off-the-internet art, accessories, furniture and carpeting has no overall art direction or unified vision. This screams of local design firm just off a job at the Hilton Garden. Sad Disney, really sad.

After finially visiting the new Old Port Royal yesterday I have to feel like you and I visited different resorts. While certainly not the pinacle of Disney theming or resorts it’s IMO an improvement over the most recent OPR incarnation.

 

[Thebolt]

Let’s be honest Animal Kingdom Lodge will be the last great Disney resort. It seems the new regime demands nothing more than what the competition is offering

The Galaxies Edge Hotel has the potential to deliver amazing theming...
Unless they make it the Tatooine Travelodge theme.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Let’s be honest Animal Kingdom Lodge will be the last great Disney resort. It seems the new regime demands nothing more than what the competition is offering. Unless something changes drastically they won’t even remember what level of detail and quality looks like in the resorts.

I must not have refined tastes. I like Bay Lake Tower, the updated Poly, the Villas at the Grand Fla, the new Wilderness Lodge grounds (don’t care for the Copper Creak rooms, though), and the new look at CBR.

I find many of the previous room looks (especially values and mods) to be gaudy. Don’t miss the starchy, migraine-inducing comforters.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Are you saying Disney doesn't care about their fans anymore!?!?!

The Jungle Cruise called...they want their jokes back.

 

[WDWtraveler]

Photo update as of Friday, October 12, 2018. The old Caribbean Beach Resort entrance was closed to guest traffic on Monday. As of today, Friday, the original ground level entrance sign / monument has been removed.

 

[Missing20K]

The Galaxies Edge Hotel has the potential to deliver amazing theming...
Unless they make it the Tatooine Travelodge theme.

This is an idea I can love. Gritty, seedy. Showing the underbelly of the Galaxy. Nuts to the sterile space cruise to nowhere.

the Villas at the Grand Fla

Everything you else said, sure I can understand people have different tastes. But that building makes a strong case for ugliest on property. Total dime store knock-off of the gorgeous complex to it's north.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Everything you else said, sure I can understand people have different tastes. But that building makes a strong case for ugliest on property. Total dime store knock-off of the gorgeous complex to it's north.

So true. I’ve stayed in that building before and it’s perfectly nice on the inside! But the exterior is so hideous and poorly executed (especially from the Polynesian and monorail) that I can’t help but wish it didn’t exist.

 

[Rteetz]

 

[TiggerDad]

they could have made some serious upcharge money by letting us help destroy that place.