Every one of these so-called "official" Disney hotels needs a serious facelift. They're all drab. Their designs are outdated. Their paint colors are dull and faded. Their entrance signs are old and have lost their luster. Don't these hotels, as "official" hotels of WDW that sit INSIDE Disney property, don't they have an obligation to keep up and look just as pristine as any other Disney hotel? Furthermore, for many visitors, Hotel Plaza Blvd is the very first thing they see when they enter through the welcome signs from SR 535. It's the "Main Street USA" of the entire property, if you will. Walt Disney World deserves better.
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It's time Hotel Plaza Blvd got a MAJOR makeover
- Thread starter retroeric
- Start date
wolf359
Well-Known Member
The only two hotels I've ever seen before are the Hilton and the Wyndham, because they're right across from Downtown Disney. I wouldn't even know the others were there without books or the internet and I seriously doubt I could even tell one from the other if shown pictures.
I'm sure Disney wants them looking just good enough, but not so nice that someone might want to stay there instead of one of their own resorts.
I'm sure Disney wants them looking just good enough, but not so nice that someone might want to stay there instead of one of their own resorts.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
I stayed at The Grosvenor (Wyndam) and was my first solo vacation in 2004. It was nice..(Except the resort fee) but it was close to DTD. But, didn't most of them get fixed/refurbished since the last tropical storms/hurricanes that whipped thru?
deanaandrich
Well-Known Member
The outsides may be plain and tired looking, but the interiors are all updated and modern.
Unfortunately none of that affects the outside as people are driving through the "Main Street USA" of the property. This is the only entrance at WDW with stuff to look at. It should have curb appeal. This is the gateway to Disney World not some street in Tampa.
Also, don't these hotel companies know that having a property on Disney land is not only a huge honor and validation of their company brand (just like being a corporate sponsor) but it's also a wonderful opportunity to showcase their brand? I would think Holiday Inn or Double Tree would want to do everything humanly possible to make their Walt Disney property look among the very best in their entire fleet, at least on the outside. These hotels get seen by so many people. Look what Sheraton/Westin did with the Dolphin and Swan. I'm sure Disney placed some limitations on these properties, but I'm also sure they can look a heck of a lot more impressive than they currently do.
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I actually think that block is a very pretty entry way to WDW. All the mature trees, flowers, plants, and lawns and the meandering road make it seem like you are driving through a park. As a result, many of the buildings are covered by the trees and not so easily visible from the road. The Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Wyndham are the worst looking in my opinion but you can hardly see them. I actually like the signs for the hotels. It is nice that they are cohesive and all match. They blend into the landscape and look a lot nicer than the ones for hotels outside Disneyland.
However the interiors are all updated and I am sure that most guests would rather have an updated room on the inside rather than an updated hotel exterior. Save the money for an exterior renovation and reallocate it towards new guests amenities. If the hotel companies really felt that their brand was being compromised by the appearances, I am sure they would have updated the exterior. But it probably isn't that big of a deal.
I actually kind of like that they have keep most of them the same. It is very old school Disney World as most were built in the early-mid 70s. It is a reminder of how things used to be at Disney World and the original design aesthetic. If every building was torn down because it looked old compared to current trends, the world would constantly be under construction. It's not that big of an issue in my opinion. When I drive through, I'm thinking about how excited I am to actually be at WDW. Disney probably doesn't want those hotels upstaging their own resorts.
However the interiors are all updated and I am sure that most guests would rather have an updated room on the inside rather than an updated hotel exterior. Save the money for an exterior renovation and reallocate it towards new guests amenities. If the hotel companies really felt that their brand was being compromised by the appearances, I am sure they would have updated the exterior. But it probably isn't that big of a deal.
I actually kind of like that they have keep most of them the same. It is very old school Disney World as most were built in the early-mid 70s. It is a reminder of how things used to be at Disney World and the original design aesthetic. If every building was torn down because it looked old compared to current trends, the world would constantly be under construction. It's not that big of an issue in my opinion. When I drive through, I'm thinking about how excited I am to actually be at WDW. Disney probably doesn't want those hotels upstaging their own resorts.
I guess it's a matter of opinion, but mid-70s hotel design isn't exactly easy on the eyes.
And while, yes, the signs all "match", they are extremely drab and underwhelming. If they can't do a major exterior renovation to the buildings, at least re-do the signs.
I guess it's a matter of opinion, but mid-70s hotel design isn't exactly easy on the eyes.
And while, yes, the signs all "match", they are extremely drab and underwhelming. If they can't do a major exterior renovation to the buildings, at least re-do the signs.
I understand where you are coming from but I think the signs are like that on purpose. Disney probably doesn't want these hotels calling too much attention to themselves. They want them to blend into the landscape, almost like they are not even there. Keep people focus on the Disney stuff.
Its also noteworthy that both Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris also have a group of official hotels similar to Hotel Plaza onsite at their resorts. Tokyo's were built with the opening of the park and Paris' were built later on because they couldn't afford to build their own hotels even with increased demand.
Disney probably wishes that Hotel Plaza didn't exist anymore. You don't see them advertising these hotels at all on their website even though they are "official".
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Blufusion
Member
It's funny you mention this . i was looking up when most of the hotels were built yes it 70's designs. My 1st visit to W was in 1982 I stayed at the Travel Lodge and for me it was kinda rundown then. it was old I could tell. But from my room I was seeing the construction of The Buena Vista Palace . I stayed there in 1985 and 1986. It was relatively new.
I then went back and stayed there in 2003. Yes it was still the same on the inside 80's style and the room smelt of mold and mildew. I was so disappointed that I refuse to stay there again or in any hotel at Disney. Lucky for me I have a partner that works for Marriott and for what Disney would charge me for a 5 night visit I can stay at the JW Marriott or even the Ritz for a 6 night stay there and drive away from the madness.
Example last year I had the money to do WDW like I always wanted 6 nights at the CR. Do the bucket list of things I wanted to do. We decide not to do that. We went to Oahu and we looked at doing Aulani. Get away and do a little Disney but Hawaii most of all.We checked with Disney and the room for just 5 nights was more than the whole cost of the trip. Just a regular room.
My partner thru his work at Marriott we went to Marriotts Ko Olina Resort right down the path from Aulani. Last resort on the island away from everything. We stayed 8 days in a villa not a regular room or suite overlooking the ocean and rental car and round trip airfare for 2 from Tampa Fl. to Hawaii and a 1 hr helicopter ride over the island for a total not per person total cost was $4000.00.
Maybe it's just me. But having that kind of discount and I'm still a big WDW fan. But I have gotten burned out on their overpriced old refurbished hotels. I will go back but I can wait the 20 minute drive to WDW and save a ton of money and still enjoy what used to be fun. But now it's just a money pit to say I did that. I did my thing in the 80's and early 90's .The Golden Age of WDW. It was better then and it's just not worth the cost anymore. I admit I'm lucky to have the discount. But we are going back in 2015 to do it again and it will still be just as much as it cost us or a little be less.
Disney is great at what they do. But they have left this long time visitor. I haven't been in 6 years and I live in Florida. There is just more to life than Disney. But for me it's just another theme park. And for me thats a sad thing to say. I miss my WDW of the Golden Age
I then went back and stayed there in 2003. Yes it was still the same on the inside 80's style and the room smelt of mold and mildew. I was so disappointed that I refuse to stay there again or in any hotel at Disney. Lucky for me I have a partner that works for Marriott and for what Disney would charge me for a 5 night visit I can stay at the JW Marriott or even the Ritz for a 6 night stay there and drive away from the madness.
Example last year I had the money to do WDW like I always wanted 6 nights at the CR. Do the bucket list of things I wanted to do. We decide not to do that. We went to Oahu and we looked at doing Aulani. Get away and do a little Disney but Hawaii most of all.We checked with Disney and the room for just 5 nights was more than the whole cost of the trip. Just a regular room.
My partner thru his work at Marriott we went to Marriotts Ko Olina Resort right down the path from Aulani. Last resort on the island away from everything. We stayed 8 days in a villa not a regular room or suite overlooking the ocean and rental car and round trip airfare for 2 from Tampa Fl. to Hawaii and a 1 hr helicopter ride over the island for a total not per person total cost was $4000.00.
Maybe it's just me. But having that kind of discount and I'm still a big WDW fan. But I have gotten burned out on their overpriced old refurbished hotels. I will go back but I can wait the 20 minute drive to WDW and save a ton of money and still enjoy what used to be fun. But now it's just a money pit to say I did that. I did my thing in the 80's and early 90's .The Golden Age of WDW. It was better then and it's just not worth the cost anymore. I admit I'm lucky to have the discount. But we are going back in 2015 to do it again and it will still be just as much as it cost us or a little be less.
Disney is great at what they do. But they have left this long time visitor. I haven't been in 6 years and I live in Florida. There is just more to life than Disney. But for me it's just another theme park. And for me thats a sad thing to say. I miss my WDW of the Golden Age
Communicore
Well-Known Member
I'm now having a newfound appreciation of these 70's hotels. They should be preserved.
daisyduckie
Well-Known Member
I agree it is a matter of opinion---and I think they look good.