News Mizner's Lounge to be expanded at Disney's Grand Floridan Resort into a Beauty and the Beast inspired lounge

hpyhnt 1000

hpyhnt 1000

Well-Known Member
FigmentFan82 said:
I'm reserving judgement until everything is finished and we have the full view in our sights. I had some good times at Mizner's. But ity's decor was nothing special at all. That room could have been in any old hotel up and down the est coast. Not saying that Enchanted Rose (what we've seen so far) is Trader Sam's level themeing, but I think once they open the doors people will be more receptive to it and possibly discover more nuanced detailing that links to BatB.
Click to expand...

The old Mizner's was certainly nothing special, and it needed an update. I don't think anyone was expecting, or wanting, Trader Sam's level theming. Instead, what most of us wanted was a design that complemented the existing theming of the Grand Floridian Resort, that of turn of the 20th century Victorian architecture and design. That used to be what Disney projects delivered in the past, but rarely do today.

BatB in no way fits with the Grand Floridian, and that's ultimately the problem. I say we actually don't need more BatB details and references because that would make things worse and even more out of theme at the resort. It's a ham-fisted IP overlay done for no discernible reason other than a decree from the top that the parks need more Disney film IP. It's dumb and is unnecessary, especially as the Grand is already one of the more elaborately themed resorts at WDW.

And as lousy as the BatB overlay is, the implementation is proving to be even more clumsy. The furniture and materials we've seen thus far completely clash with the existing lobby, which you can see in the photo below. Compare the new lounge furniture to the furniture in the main lobby. Nothing about the new stuff - the style, the design, the colors, the materials - fits into the Victorian theme. Even the parquet wood floor is in conflict with the elegant marble and plush carpeting found throughout the rest of the lobby. Whether or not you like those pieces of furniture on their own (and I actually do), they simply don't belong in that space.

Put another way, you don't expect to see a Tomorrowland light fixture used in Liberty Square, and if you did, it would probably strike you as being completely out of place. But that's exactly what's happening here. Modern, vaguely French-chic design does not belong in a Victorian era themed resort.

415977
 
Bocabear

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
$18.00 for Grey goose and grapefruit juice?...unless this is served in a bathtub martini glass, i think people are going to start to feel fleeced.
I think they are hitting their tipping point...
Add the dreadful mid-century mod furniture and the too subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast and you end up with a lounge that is a real head scratcher...(for the record, I love mid century, just not in a Victorian seaside hotel)
The outsourced creative team needs to lose their contract over this...
Boo!
*note If this were a Trader Sam's level of theming in a magical theatrical environment they could get away with the prices...but for a Hilton Hotel styled lounge that is painfully out of step with the rest of the hotel... Not so much.
Upper management REALLY needs to look at this and try to figure out how they have gotten so far off the path.
 
jmuboy

jmuboy

Well-Known Member
Wow

Hideous for the GF!

hpyhnt 1000 said:
The old Mizner's was certainly nothing special, and it needed an update. I don't think anyone was expecting, or wanting, Trader Sam's level theming. Instead, what most of us wanted was a design that complemented the existing theming of the Grand Floridian Resort, that of turn of the 20th century Victorian architecture and design. That used to be what Disney projects delivered in the past, but rarely do today.

BatB in no way fits with the Grand Floridian, and that's ultimately the problem. I say we actually don't need more BatB details and references because that would make things worse and even more out of theme at the resort. It's a ham-fisted IP overlay done for no discernible reason other than a decree from the top that the parks need more Disney film IP. It's dumb and is unnecessary, especially as the Grand is already one of the more elaborately themed resorts at WDW.

And as lousy as the BatB overlay is, the implementation is proving to be even more clumsy. The furniture and materials we've seen thus far completely clash with the existing lobby, which you can see in the photo below. Compare the new lounge furniture to the furniture in the main lobby. Nothing about the new stuff - the style, the design, the colors, the materials - fits into the Victorian theme. Even the parquet wood floor is in conflict with the elegant marble and plush carpeting found throughout the rest of the lobby. Whether or not you like those pieces of furniture on their own (and I actually do), they simply don't belong in that space.

Put another way, you don't expect to see a Tomorrowland light fixture used in Liberty Square, and if you did, it would probably strike you as being completely out of place. But that's exactly what's happening here. Modern, vaguely French-chic design does not belong in a Victorian era themed resort.

View attachment 415977
Click to expand...
 
ThatMouse

ThatMouse

Well-Known Member
That menu is pretty ridiculous. You can order normal drinks for under $10. When I was little I had a "Mickey Mouse" at a Disney bar. It was a Shirley Temple. The big question is will they pipe in the live jazz band music or will they play beauty and the beast music over top them?
 
K

Kkar

Member
hpyhnt 1000 said:
The old Mizner's was certainly nothing special, and it needed an update. I don't think anyone was expecting, or wanting, Trader Sam's level theming. Instead, what most of us wanted was a design that complemented the existing theming of the Grand Floridian Resort, that of turn of the 20th century Victorian architecture and design. That used to be what Disney projects delivered in the past, but rarely do today.

BatB in no way fits with the Grand Floridian, and that's ultimately the problem. I say we actually don't need more BatB details and references because that would make things worse and even more out of theme at the resort. It's a ham-fisted IP overlay done for no discernible reason other than a decree from the top that the parks need more Disney film IP. It's dumb and is unnecessary, especially as the Grand is already one of the more elaborately themed resorts at WDW.

And as lousy as the BatB overlay is, the implementation is proving to be even more clumsy. The furniture and materials we've seen thus far completely clash with the existing lobby, which you can see in the photo below. Compare the new lounge furniture to the furniture in the main lobby. Nothing about the new stuff - the style, the design, the colors, the materials - fits into the Victorian theme. Even the parquet wood floor is in conflict with the elegant marble and plush carpeting found throughout the rest of the lobby. Whether or not you like those pieces of furniture on their own (and I actually do), they simply don't belong in that space.

Put another way, you don't expect to see a Tomorrowland light fixture used in Liberty Square, and if you did, it would probably strike you as being completely out of place. But that's exactly what's happening here. Modern, vaguely French-chic design does not belong in a Victorian era themed resort.

View attachment 415977
Click to expand...
This. Perfectly stated.
 
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Bocabear said:
But what guests have said "Hey, I sure wish the Grand Floridian looked more like a Springhill Suites with Ikea furniture!"...I suspect no guest has complained that they wanted less themed and more bland modern spaces in their Disney hotels...I think Management has probably completed an exhaustive study that was heavily skewed to back up this decision to remove all the special and magic from the Disney hotels... Quite frankly for a lot less money I can stay at a Marriott Westin or Hilton... If anything, for the prices they charge, the hotel should be getting even more elaborate...All of the premium hotels should actually be getting more beautiful and lavish... rather than more stripped down and ordinary...
And honestly, let's not forget that NONE of the Disney hotels are even that themed...Yes furnishings and accessories that help convey a time and place, but they are far from immersive experiences... They have always been nice and modestly done...
It is odd when leadership forgets what actually made Disney Parks and Resorts worthy of the prices they charge...
Perhaps Universal will continue to up their game with the new park and offerings...
Click to expand...

I stayed at the Mariott Springhill Suites at Flamingo Crossings on MLK weekend. Quite nice actually. Same type of furniture as Mizners. Free breakfast buffet too. And right outside the WDW gate and for a reasonable price.
 
Last edited:
rreading

rreading

Well-Known Member
At those prices, at least it won't be too crowded

edit to add: actually, this very well may be the point. WDW may be realizing that - especially at GF - there is a demand for the high end and that if there are those spending Club 33 money for a little away-from-it-all then this may be more of the same. This one is available to all, but if you're willing to pay the $$. I would think that I would spend the extra money to be in the Club Level and spend my time over there but we are DVC members and it's not an option. Were we there without the kids, I'd probably consider stopping in for one drink.
 
Last edited:
JayKZ

JayKZ

Well-Known Member
Sitting in Enchanted Rose having a drink right now. Sorry to disappoint, it's lovely. A mix of traditional, contemporary, and whimsical furnishings that, taken as a whole, seem to work pretty well. Furniture shown in the earlier post is not in evidence. The crowd for the soft open seems to be enjoying itself, despite the high prices, which are not inconsistent with those at other locations within GF, in my experience.
 
Kman101

Kman101

Well-Known Member
It looks nice, personally, but doesn't at all match the GF. But I guess it's "Disney" so ... anything goes now?
 
durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
JayKZ said:
Sitting in Enchanted Rose having a drink right now. Sorry to disappoint, it's lovely. A mix of traditional, contemporary, and whimsical furnishings that, taken as a whole, seem to work pretty well. Furniture shown in the earlier post is not in evidence. The crowd for the soft open seems to be enjoying itself, despite the high prices, which are not inconsistent with those at other locations within GF, in my experience.
Click to expand...
Looks nice! I'm looking forward to a good Old Fashioned or their equivalent of the Manhattan with the Whistle Pig Rye. Nice to know they take TiW
 
durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
JayKZ said:
Sitting in Enchanted Rose having a drink right now. Sorry to disappoint, it's lovely. A mix of traditional, contemporary, and whimsical furnishings that, taken as a whole, seem to work pretty well. Furniture shown in the earlier post is not in evidence. The crowd for the soft open seems to be enjoying itself, despite the high prices, which are not inconsistent with those at other locations within GF, in my experience.
Click to expand...
I was one of the early naysayers but am glad to be proven wrong. Especially since my wife and I will be there 4 weeks from today!
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom