Contemporary Concourse Refurb

[mousermerf]

Hey guys, just back from a few days with the mouse.

The biggest news is the that concourse level at Contemporary has started major refurb today. They are tearing down the pin shop and there are walls all down the concourse, making little hallways to the shops.

The convention level (2nd floor) is also behind walls and being torn apart, and well, there's lots of construction going on.

I have more info, photos, and such, but I just got home and i'll update ASAP.

 

[metscool]

Good it needs some help. NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO. Not the pin shop. That is the place I buy my pins. Now I have to go to Downtown Disney.

 

[ddank]

rumor for another board is that the arcade is going where the current fantasia shop is... first time I heard that one..

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

I think it's beyond rumors and almost definitive at this point. With the arcade replacing Fantasia and the "Chef Mickey's Express" counter-service area replacing the Concourse Steakhouse, it's going to be kid central 24/7 in the Grand Canyon Concourse from now on.

 

[mousermerf]

Here's the "money shot"

There is a lot going on in this photo..

First of all, the walls down the concourse, essentially from the windows all the way to the mural, with tiny opening to get to the shops.

Second, the man is stepping over a chalk line. What does it mark? Who knows...

Third, the old comfy benches with the weirdo lights are being pulled apart. One is taken apart to allow the walls to be up, but the others are being takne apart too. Turns out they're an overlay of the original design for the concourse, as they're actually just planters that didn't originally have benches.

The pin station is obviously being torn to pieces.

Painters are getting ready to paint the refurb walls, and a man on a ladder works on installing lighting on the walls - they're gonna be there for a while.

Workers can be seen napping on the final bench, the only one that's not atleast partially in pieces.

And finally, monorail Yellow heads to MK, while Lime loads and unloads.

 

[Horizons78]

I think it's beyond rumors and almost definitive at this point. With the arcade replacing Fantasia and the "Chef Mickey's Express" counter-service area replacing the Concourse Steakhouse, it's going to be kid central 24/7 in the Grand Canyon Concourse from now on.

I was always taught that you never make statements such as "always", "never", "worst", or "best" - BUT.....

This has to be pretty darn close to the worst idea for the move. I would venture to go so far as to say they are not just pushing the envelope, they are licking it and cutting themselves on the edge.

We stayed in the tower over the pre July 4th holiday weekend. The view was great, the new room was incredible, but the one thing I noticed was the noise.

I like to think that I am not simply a complainer in life and that I always look for the positive side of things, especially at Disney when there are plenty of others to point out every little thing they don't like. I do have to admit that the noise from Chef Mickeys in the mornings was irritating. It doesn't help that you pay premium dollars to stay in a premium hotel and then have a noise issue.

To my memory, every single time I have been down to the arcade during the morning, afternoon, and even early to late night, it has been an absolute madhouse. I can't imagine a worse idea than moving it up into a structure that could serve as a testbed for yodeling competitions with all the reverberation.

On a less technical more sentimental note - I will miss breakfasts at the concourse steakhouse watching the monorails gliding through raising the expectations for the day. That was a tradition going all the way back to my earliest memories at the World. I guess nothing stays the same forever - and many times it shouldnt as change can be positive.


I just hope they don't blow this one. C-ya.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

That's a great shot!

 

[Nemo14]

Here's the "money shot"

There is a lot going on in this photo..

First of all, the walls down the concourse, essentially from the windows all the way to the mural, with tiny opening to get to the shops.

Second, the man is stepping over a chalk line. What does it mark? Who knows...

Third, the old comfy benches with the weirdo lights are being pulled apart. One is taken apart to allow the walls to be up, but the others are being takne apart too. Turns out they're an overlay of the original design for the concourse, as they're actually just planters that didn't originally have benches.

The pin station is obviously being torn to pieces.

Painters are getting ready to paint the refurb walls, and a man on a ladder works on installing lighting on the walls - they're gonna be there for a while.

Workers can be seen napping on the final bench, the only one that's not atleast partially in pieces.

And finally, monorail Yellow heads to MK, while Lime loads and unloads.

Nice to see the ladder again!

 

[mousermerf]

But it's yellow, so it's not Ladder, but his cousin Phil. He works resorts.

 

[Nemo14]

But it's yellow, so it's not Ladder, but his cousin Phil. He works resorts.

He might have had a refurb......

 

[mousermerf]

I'd like to comment that less than a week ago I was standing on the Concourse near the pin shop and talking to a friend about the sad state of the canopy thingy. We agreeded it needed to go, because the rotating color light inside was long dead and the thing was horribly dirty. So, either my Imagineering stalker was listening, or someone has some common sense

PS: Living Seas is now completely walled up on the lower level, so much for seeing anything else.

 

[metscool]

Second, the man is stepping over a chalk line. What does it mark?

Third, the old comfy benches with the weirdo lights are being pulled apart. One is taken apart to allow the walls to be up, but the others are being takne apart too. Turns out they're an overlay of the original design for the concourse, as they're actually just planters that didn't originally have benches.

The pin station is obviously being torn to pieces.

And finally, monorail Yellow heads to MK, while Lime loads and unloads.

First maybe the chalk line means that something is going there. That are what chalk lines mean.
Second they probly needed to take it apart to put the walls up around it. Like i said before it is sad to see the pin station go. I never saw both lime and yellow monorails on both line at the same time.

 

[Shiloh]

Glad Im not staying there in the near future.. The rehab doesnt look very inviting to guests. I am assuming Chef Mickeys and the concourse steakhouse are open during rehab??

 

[mousermerf]

Yup, the other half i open, the second floor down below is wall-land, so if you you're used to using the escalators tog et from the lobby to the 4th floor, it's not pretty.

And, though they're trying, it's very loud during the day.

 

[animay]

Wow, I haven't been keeping up with this one. If the arcade is going to the 4th floor, what's down on the 1st floor in the old location?

 

[wdwjmp239]

He might have had a refurb......

The ladder came along way since the Mission: Space construction days. Welcome back, ladder!

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

Yeah, now that I think about it, I think they're going completely backwards with all of this. The Contemporary should be a mature, sophisticated hotel. If they're going to move the Food & Fun Center, they should put Chef Mickey's in there, there's no stellar reason that it HAS to be in the Concourse. Quite the opposite, in my opinion. Move the arcade out into those buildings by the pool, and the counter-service restaurant onto the second floor. They built that huge, ugly convention center outside, they can sacrifice a couple of those ballrooms up there. It'd be easier to get to from both the tower and wing rooms, I'd imagine, too.

 

[unkadug]

...Workers can be seen napping on the final bench, the only one that's not atleast partially in pieces...

Uh oh...I hope he doesn't lose his job over this. :lol:


Anyway...great picture. But why really bother with the walls, since anyone and everyone except those on that floor alone will be able to see what's going on ?!

 

[metscool]

If they are moving the game room. They better keep the color game. I love that game. It is the one that you could win 25, 50, 75 or 125 tickets. That is the one that gives you the most tickets in the game room. Once I have gotten over 500 tickets just playing the game.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

Wow, I haven't been keeping up with this one. If the arcade is going to the 4th floor, what's down on the 1st floor in the old location?

Since the Concourse Steakhouse is being sliced and diced by Chef Mickey, a restaurant will be opening in its stead in the soon-to-be-former location of the Food & Fun Center.