Immersive Themed Hotel

[danlb_2000]

I have been wondering why Disney has never done a highly themed immersive IP based hotel? We have things like Art of Animation which is just light theming that doesn't really try to immerse you in an environment. At the other extreme of course was the Star Cruiser which was a full experience that you just happen to be able to sleep over in.

What I am thinking of is a standard hotel but one that immerses you in the world of a movie, for example an entire Pirates of the Caribbean themed hotel? They have done this with individual rooms, but never whole hotel.

 

[Agent H]

I would gladly take out 5 mortgages on my future house to stay in a haunted mansion hotel.

 

[Agent H]

probably because Disney considers it too niche it is a cool idea though.

 

[danlb_2000]

I have to wonder if Universal had a desire to do a Harry Potter hotel but Rowling vetoed it, seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[Agent H]

I have to wonder if Universal had a desire to do a Harry Potter hotel but Rowling vetoed it, seems like a no brainer to me.

Universal was probably watching the star cruiser very closely and when that went belly up they just moved on

 

[phillip9698]

I wish some of the rooms were themed as well as the rooms at Efteling Hotel. Those are experiences people would pay for. The most you get in a Disney World room is a headboard with an LED light.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I said this when the “Star Disaster” was announced…a POP type resort with the OG Star Wars characters, with 100% immersion.
Take it a step further, with a Disney’s Art of Movies resort…instead of 50’s, 60’s etc. themed buildings, it would feature a Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, Muppets building etc. surrounded by a giant “Craft Service” dining QS and a movie themed TS restaurant…I’m thinking a constant sold out resort…but hey, what do we diehard Disney fans know…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Please don’t encourage this…

 

[lazyboy97o]

The next time you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and go to the restroom take a moment to observe the finishes. In stark contrast to the land, the finishes in the restrooms are not aged. The color palette is also different, brighter and whiter than the more earthy tones outside. A restroom that more closely matched the aesthetic outside would immediately be plagued with complaints of uncleanliness. This is also part of why contemporary hospitality design has become so hard and monotone, it feels cleaner to people. In the story of Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon had recently been restored, a device that explained its pristine appearance in a universe known for its gritty and worn aesthetic.

The renders of the announced but not built Haunted Mansion rooms looked incredibly plastic because a cobweb in a queue is a nice detail but a cobweb in your room is unacceptable. People are going to have negative reactions to aged and worn finishes in a hospitality setting. It’s also materials that are going to be harder to clean quickly. The result of addressing these issues is the very plastic look of those Haunted Mansion rooms.

The whole purpose of using IP is familiar imagery. Most properties aren’t set in sleeping rooms and hallways. People want to see the things that signify the property which is how you get something silly like the Doombuggy beds in those Haunted Mansion rooms or the ship beds in the Pirates of the Caribbean rooms.

 

[Agent H]

The next time you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and go to the restroom take a moment to observe the finishes. In stark contrast to the land, the finishes in the restrooms are not aged. The color palette is also different, brighter and whiter than the more earthy tones outside. A restroom that more closely matched the aesthetic outside would immediately be plagued with complaints of uncleanliness. This is also part of why contemporary hospitality design has become so hard and monotone, it feels cleaner to people. In the story of Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon had recently been restored, a device that explained its pristine appearance in a universe known for its gritty and worn aesthetic.

The renders of the announced but not built Haunted Mansion rooms looked incredibly plastic because a cobweb in a queue is a nice detail but a cobweb in your room is unacceptable. People are going to have negative reactions to aged and worn finishes in a hospitality setting. It’s also materials that are going to be harder to clean quickly. The result of addressing these issues is the very plastic look of those Haunted Mansion rooms.

The whole purpose of using IP is familiar imagery. Most properties aren’t set in sleeping rooms and hallways. People want to see the things that signify the property which is how you get something silly like the Doombuggy beds in those Haunted Mansion rooms or the ship beds in the Pirates of the Caribbean rooms.

I know but it’s somewhere I would really like to stay

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I agree that it might be hard to really do most themes in way that people would enjoy.

Though not IP, AKL and the treehouses are pretty heavily themed. Though not tied to an IP, the treehouses at SSR are also kinda neat. (Or at least they were when I stayed there.)

The rooms at CR are themed to Incredibles, but I wouldn't want WDW to get rid of the Mary Blair artwork. They also kinda did the CR in-room theming on the cheap, so it is okay, but the prior decor was better IMO.

I just stayed at the brand new Stella Nova, and though it is not tied to a specific IP, the rooms are nicely themed, esp for inexpensive rooms. they even bothered to have themed shampoo.

that reminds me, GF used to have themed toiletries, themed to Alice in Wonderland, but that was before they added the themed splash area. I always thought they should have taken the idea further than they did. Alice in Wonderland could be a fun hotel theme.

 

[thomas998]

I would say wait until Disney can provide a ride with all the parts working before asking them to try to do a full IP hotel. It may be a bit annoying if the Yeti isn't working... but if your pirate's loo isn't working 24/7 you've got more than an annoyance.

 

[DisneyHead123]

The hotels in Japan and China look much more immersive so maybe they don’t see the market for it in the US.? In the thread about the new Poly Tower there was discussion about how minimalist, “sad beige” themes seem to be dominant in the US right now.

 

[Baloo124]

I would love to sleep in a 20,000 Leagues themed room, as if you're on the submarine.

A neutral, basic room like this where the large window screen sets the story in place. Would be even better if guests had the option to change the story through the window to different environments from 20k, Star Wars, etc etc. A "Choose Your Own Adventure" kind of resort where you pick the ambience / theme in your own room.

 

[nickys]

I haven’t stayed at Hotel New York: Art of Marvel hotel at DLP, but my impression from visiting was that the public areas were definitely highly themed.

The Skyline Lounge, the Marvel exhibits and so on were reminiscent of AKL - with the lobby and art exhibits.
They have individual weapons training sessions with Marvel characters, a la Jedi Training Academy.

Does that make it immersive? I don’t know but it’s more so than most WDW resorts. And IP based. I don’t know if it could be replicated at WDW - I have to assume they’ve looked into it.

 

[osian]

I wish some of the rooms were themed as well as the rooms at Efteling Hotel. Those are experiences people would pay for. The most you get in a Disney World room a headboard with an LED light.

And Europa Park, and Phantasialand, and Heide Park! And the best thing is...not a move IP in sight. True storytelling and placemaking from people who still know how to do it.