Immersive hotel theming?

[_caleb]

I've often wondered why Disney hasn't thought more outside the box when it comes to resort theming. With the recent announcements of the Star Wars themed hotel, it seems they're more open to immersive theming. Does anyone know why Disney doesn't build resorts that would allow guests to stay in treehouses, caves, pirate ships, moving trains, underwater bases, castles, etc.? I'm a big fan of the current resorts, but at the end of the day, they are decorated hotels rather than immersive places. Obviously, this would be expensive, but

 

[epcotisbest]

I've often wondered why Disney hasn't thought more outside the box when it comes to resort theming. With the recent announcements of the Star Wars themed hotel, it seems they're more open to immersive theming. Does anyone know why Disney doesn't build resorts that would allow guests to stay in treehouses, caves, pirate ships, moving trains, underwater bases, castles, etc.? I'm a big fan of the current resorts, but at the end of the day, they are decorated hotels rather than immersive places. Obviously, this would be expensive, but

I think you answered your own question...expensive and they just don't need to in order to attract guests....seems they are drawing crowds with what they do offer. Decorated hotels have a better ROI I'm guessing.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I've often wondered why Disney hasn't thought more outside the box when it comes to resort theming. With the recent announcements of the Star Wars themed hotel, it seems they're more open to immersive theming. Does anyone know why Disney doesn't build resorts that would allow guests to stay in treehouses, caves, pirate ships, moving trains, underwater bases, castles, etc.? I'm a big fan of the current resorts, but at the end of the day, they are decorated hotels rather than immersive places. Obviously, this would be expensive, but

- Saratoga Springs has treehouses, to a degree...
- true underwater may be an issue with the water table and swampland in Florida - but you could simulate it in other ways
- they tried having a true train for transportation at Ft Wilderness years ago, but the sand and soft footings etc caused issues.

I am sure they could do anything that they wanted to and put enough money into, but that is the rub as you said - the expense.

 

[_caleb]

I had forgotten about the "Treehouses" at Saratoga Springs! As least those are a little bit out of the box.

I do think ROI is the thing. Maybe I'm overestimating the value of going all-in with immersion.

 

[danlb_2000]

They did start doing themed rooms in some of the resorts. I believe Carbbiean Beach has some pirate themed rooms. Not sure whatever happened to this.

 

[Dave B]

Star Wars hotel will be for sure, maybe more after that

 

[DisneyJoe]

They did start doing themed rooms in some of the resorts. I believe Carbbiean Beach has some pirate themed rooms. Not sure whatever happened to this.

They still exist - in the Trinidad South group of rooms.

 

[_caleb]

They did start doing themed rooms in some of the resorts. I believe Carbbiean Beach has some pirate themed rooms. Not sure whatever happened to this.

Yeah. To me, those seem more like "traditional hotel rooms decorated with pirate stuff." I guess I'm wondering about rooms that might actually feel like Captain Hook's quarters. It would certainly be more expensive, but an authentic pirate room would definitely age better than the decorated hotel-style rooms.

 

[kap91]

The idea that people would want a 24/7 immersive themed experience is fairly new. Disney World started off as a vacation resort. Ie a place for escape and relaxation. Even the idea that people would want to spend multiple days at the park was a bit unthought of in the beginning - hence the emphasis on the other amenities of the resort at the time - golf, shopping villages, water sports, etc. Even to this day, most guests find a full day at the parks exhausting and want to come back to a neutral, relaxing, subdued place. Most of the original hotels reflect that. Keep in mind also Disney was being designed with the idea that it would be a city at that time too. Presentational design was at its height in the 70s through 80s as well. Deep immersion and explicit stories were not really being sought after

All that being said, within those lenses Disney certainly has gone out of the box for hotels in the past, just more by the standards of the day. For example Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside for the time was an extremely immersive hotel. They built a full bayou and river system, all the rooms look like actual buildings - and the main lobby area is practically a mini theme park. The Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge area is also a prime example of themed design, my favorite on property - miles of nature trails, two settlements, and at one point the train and river country. Animal Kingdom Lodge is another prime example - with its own private Savannah. These are all examples of very sophisticated immersion and theming being applied to a hotel - though they all still fall into the design language of “hotel” at the end of the day, which is really what seems will be breaking with the Star Wars hotel.

 

[SeaCastle]

I don't really mind that the resorts aren't hyper-themed. There is so much IP and sensory overload in the parks as it is, IMO. It's for that reason we'll probably avoid the Star Wars hotel like the plague. Having lightly themed rooms and hotels is nice, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge is probably the best hotel for immersive theming that isn't overwhelming. But our favorite hotel (Beach Club) probably has the blandest theme around.

All this being said there is no reason the hotels can't have little touches like LEDs embedded in the concrete, train sets/tiny towns, water features, little courtyards, etc. to enhance the experience.

 

[_caleb]

Lol!
Disney Files Patent for Immersive Multimedia Hotel Room Shows

 

[LUVofDIS]

All that being said, within those lenses Disney certainly has gone out of the box for hotels in the past, just more by the standards of the day. For example Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside for the time was an extremely immersive hotel. They built a full bayou and river system, all the rooms look like actual buildings - and the main lobby area is practically a mini theme park. The Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge area is also a prime example of themed design, my favorite on property - miles of nature trails, two settlements, and at one point the train and river country. Animal Kingdom Lodge is another prime example - with its own private Savannah. These are all examples of very sophisticated immersion and theming being applied to a hotel - though they all still fall into the design language of “hotel” at the end of the day, which is really what seems will be breaking with the Star Wars hotel.

These are examples of how it should be done. I don't want to be slapped in the face with theme, I like it better if it is subtle to a point.

Now the Star Wars Hotel will be something different all together, almost like a West World idea. It would be interesting to live the part for a few days with no break from it. I like Star Wars but I am not in love with it. I would still like to live the part though, if nothing, just to experience it. Of course that will depend on cost.

 

[Gainesvillain]

My daughter dreams of being an imagineer, and one of her first thoughts was a HM hotel!

 

[_caleb]

My daughter dreams of being an imagineer, and one of her first thoughts was a HM hotel!

That’s a great idea!

 

[JIMINYCR]

The Star Wars themed hotel is catching the immense fan base that will more than likely guarantee capacity bookings. Its not only a themed hotel but an entire experience built around the stay. To design entire resorts like you are thinking would not be cost effective because not enough guests would want to pay for the added theme. As it is many guests stay at the cheaper valued places because its the parks they look at as more important and the resort to them is just a place to sleep. Designing a small portion of a resort for guests who are looking for the specially designed rooms they find appealing makes more sense.

 

[Robbiem]

I think the biggest issue with WDW hotels is the blandness of the themes. The original ideas were much more exotic - something like the asian, venetian or persian hotels would have been much more exotic and exciting than what was built. Rather than create a fantasy hotel environment like las vegas does disney went down the route of provide a version of a place where people in the US Vacation already and add a few themed touches so we get florida beach, key west, mexico etc. It is only realy the values which break this trend. I think this is all a bit of a shame. Rather than stay in Disney’s version of a national park lodge how much more fun would it be to stay in a Japanese castle, a venetian plazzo or a European stately home, experiences you dont get in the vicinity of Florida.

 

[mousekedoc]

I’ve got two thoughts about theming in WDW hotels.
1. More time in rooms equals less times in parks spending money.
2. The cost would be prohibitive to the average guest.
Personally, I remember the first time on property. I was thrilled with the little touches, the hidden mickeys.
Ten years and 26+ visits later, I’m still thrilled with the hidden mickeys (and mehuni in Aulani).
The kids these days seem happy to be at the hotels in the pools (at my daughters age I’d have died with any downtime at the hotel while the parks were open). So I get the idea of how nice it would be to have heavily themed resorts, but I just fall back on it would result in less park time and therefore less revenue unless WDW charged huge fees. So, I guess, the boutique Star Wars hotel to come.
I guess that hotel will be a beta test to see if people will pay and will those stay longer, so that they get the hotel experience and then the parks experience. Could we end up with a subgroup of guests that, like those who cruise, book a 3 night in an immersive resort and then more over to a moderate or value for a 4-7 nighter?

 

[_caleb]

Could we end up with a subgroup of guests that, like those who cruise, book a 3 night in an immersive resort and then more over to a moderate or value for a 4-7 nighter?

This is exactly what I was thinking. An immersive hotel would be a destination itself. And Disney could charge a bajillion dollars per night.