New American Adventure Restrooms now open

Rob562

Rob562

Well-Known Member
COProgressFan said:
Has that bathroom ever been renovated? I was in the mens room maybe 2 or 3 years ago and it was still pure 1982 Epcot. Didn't even have the faucets that turn on automatically. Very old school. And tiny. Surprised about the lack of a changing table though. Maybe it's just too small to fit one?
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The Katsura Grill bathrooms used to be backstage bathrooms for the cast, but they were re-purposed for Guest use at some point after the park opened. Hence why they're tiny and don't have things like baby change facilities.

And like Chris, I've been wishing for years that the bathrooms between World Showcase Plaza and Canada would be torn down and replaced with a much larger facility.

-Rob
 
Communicore

Communicore

Well-Known Member
COProgressFan said:
Has that bathroom ever been renovated? I was in the mens room maybe 2 or 3 years ago and it was still pure 1982 Epcot. Didn't even have the faucets that turn on automatically. Very old school. And tiny. Surprised about the lack of a changing table though. Maybe it's just too small to fit one?
Click to expand...

Those bathrooms are definitely a relic, and it's dark too. I like it. I think the only people who use them are Katsura eaters.
 
Bryner84

Bryner84

Well-Known Member
If this is themed to resemble a period building that has been retrofit, then the detail of the brick over the large opening was a definite oversight. A period building would have been built using brick as a structural element, and brick does not span an opening unless it is built into an arch, a jack arch, or has some discernible beam element out of stone on which the brick bears. By running the brick across the opening in a simple running bond pattern, it is obvious the brick is just a pretty wallpaper being supported by a modern steel beam that is hidden. This may sound trite, but when the original buildings were so painstakingly detailed, it is a shame to see the new additions not follow suit. Gone are they days where imagineering brags about Moroccan artisans being used as consultants...and don't even get me started on that giant white box they are trying to convince us is an entablature.
 
Bryner84

Bryner84

Well-Known Member
And I am going to add to my rant by asking, why does the current Disney design philosophy promote the glorification of the restroom? The best restrooms serve their purpose discreetly. Proper design would be to disguise them and tuck them away rather than to put them out front of stage as though they are the star of the show. Does the whole world have to see me enter the temple of toilets?
 
Bairstow

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Bryner84 said:
And I am going to add to my rant by asking, why does the current Disney design philosophy promote the glorification of the restroom? The best restrooms serve their purpose discreetly. Proper design would be to disguise them and tuck them away rather than to put them out front of stage as though they are the star of the show. Does the whole world have to see me enter the temple of toilets?
Click to expand...

Which restrooms are you referring to?
These and Tangled?
Remember that the Tangled area is only as nice as it is because there was supposed to be a rather elaborate meet-n-greet area off to the side which justified the rest of the area. When that got shelved, they went ahead and built up the rest of the area as designed, which I consider to be a heck of a nice bonus considering the way Disney usually does business.

I see your point about the arches, but doesn't the A/V building across from the show building already have an un-arched doorway?
usa.jpg


The weird exposed wooden awning thing over the new restroom doors seems much more out of place than the shape of the doors themselves.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
Bryner84 said:
If this is themed to resemble a period building that has been retrofit, then the detail of the brick over the large opening was a definite oversight. A period building would have been built using brick as a structural element, and brick does not span an opening unless it is built into an arch, a jack arch, or has some discernible beam element out of stone on which the brick bears. By running the brick across the opening in a simple running bond pattern, it is obvious the brick is just a pretty wallpaper being supported by a modern steel beam that is hidden. This may sound trite, but when the original buildings were so painstakingly detailed, it is a shame to see the new additions not follow suit. Gone are they days where imagineering brags about Moroccan artisans being used as consultants...and don't even get me started on that giant white box they are trying to convince us is an entablature.
Click to expand...
* worship *

We've been discussing these stylistic incongruities in the Eddie Sotto thread. Come check it out!
 
Bryner84

Bryner84

Well-Known Member
Bairstow said:
Which restrooms are you referring to?
These and Tangled?
Remember that the Tangled area is only as nice as it is because there was supposed to be a rather elaborate meet-n-greet area off to the side which justified the rest of the area. When that got shelved, they went ahead and built up the rest of the area as designed, which I consider to be a heck of a nice bonus considering the way Disney usually does business.

I see your point about the arches, but doesn't the A/V building across from the show building already have an un-arched doorway?
usa.jpg


The weird exposed wooden awning thing over the new restroom doors seems much more out of place than the shape of the doors themselves.
Click to expand...

That door at least makes an attempt at representing a wooden lintel over the door, which could conceivably support the brick above, although it is a poor execution as it doesn't itself appear to "bear" on anything...it would need to extend beyond the width of the door. The windows also make an attempt at a jack arch, although from the pic (can't remember) it looks like a soldier course rather than a proper jack which has a diminishing radius point. So no it isn't great but it at least acknowledges the need for something.

Your point about the meet and greet is noted, but my question to that is should a bathroom set the stage for a meet and greet? Should the sounds and smells of a bathroom form the background for a character experience? Even if it had been carried through, it's still of a heck of a lot of visual attention given to a bathroom.
 
Bairstow

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Eh. I'm not going to complain. There's no such thing as too much qualit, and if nothing else the Tangled restoorm area was an important thematic area for making the transition from Liberty Square to Fantasyland. The old skyway alpine mini-land worked pretty well on providing a midstep between Liberty Square and the castle tournament area of Fantasyland and the pastoral Tangled mini-land works even better.
I mean, the rest area has it's own unique music loop for goshsakes.
The real question shouldn't be why is imagineering putting so much effort into rest areas now, but why weren't they always building like this?

But that reinforces your point on the American Adventure restrooms. It was a good opportunity to continue the architectural statements made by the rest of the pavilion and they blew it.
 

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