New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

[castlecake2.0]

And therein lies the problem. The optimal word in your post is "cheaper" and that is what will affect them profoundly in the end. As others on this thread have rightfully pointed out, Disney properties (to include the parks) were built on the idea that they are offering something you can't get anywhere else. They are homogenizing everything to a regressive point that only feeds into the horrible reputation they are building with each misstep. It's going to affect them in a profoundly negative way in time.

Exactly. If an in house company segment is more expensive to use than an outside contractor, what’s even the point of having it? WDI needs to be reigned in.

 

[AMartin7777]

Exactly. If an in house company segment is more expensive to use than an outside contractor, what’s even the point of having it? WDI needs to be reigned in.

To add, upon his return Iger stated that there would be a refocus on "storytelling". These resort changes, are not it. The only apparent story being told by these changes is, "There once was a great company that prided itself on it's ability to deliver charming and beautiful stories through it's experiences for guests but alas, the all-mighty dollar soon ruled the land."

 

[MagicRat]

Surely you people remember the old sundry shop? It was a place to pick up items you should have remembered to bring or buy a drink. The souvenir items inside were a poor excuse for a lazy parent who wouldn’t walk down the steps to the promenade.

The coffee shop/bar on the other side of the resort was a filler for over 20 years.

This filled a purpose and the clientele who are complaining about it, is the same ones who go to bland Starbucks.

Let’s not make this more than it is,

 

[castlecake2.0]

Surely you people remember the old sundry shop? It was a place to pick up items you should have remembered to bring or buy a drink. The souvenir items inside were a poor excuse for a lazy parent who wouldn’t walk down the steps to the promenade.

The coffee shop/bar on the other side of the resort was a filler for over 20 years.

This filled a purpose and the clientele who are complaining about it, is the same ones who go to bland Starbucks.

Let’s not make this more than it is,

Although not the height of imagineering, the space definitely had more charm in its previous version. Bland Starbucks aren’t charging $600+ a night to be immersed in storytelling.

 

[TDLFan]

Yes, even Dundy's had little woodwork details that were stripped down and removed. This refurb looks like it was done in spite by people who hate fun.

 

[MagicRat]

View attachment 688294

Although not the height of imagineering, the space definitely had more charm in its previous version. Bland Starbucks aren’t charging $600+ a night to be immersed in storytelling.

No you are right, nothing screams imagineering like a wooden magazine rack!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

View attachment 688294

Although not the height of imagineering, the space definitely had more charm in its previous version. Bland Starbucks aren’t charging $600+ a night to be immersed in storytelling.

Agreed. Stained glass window, period appropriate tile floor, period appropriate lighting fixture. Definitely looks nice.

 

[LSLS]

Surely you people remember the old sundry shop? It was a place to pick up items you should have remembered to bring or buy a drink. The souvenir items inside were a poor excuse for a lazy parent who wouldn’t walk down the steps to the promenade.

The coffee shop/bar on the other side of the resort was a filler for over 20 years.

This filled a purpose and the clientele who are complaining about it, is the same ones who go to bland Starbucks.

Let’s not make this more than it is,

People aren't complaining that a coffee place was put in, they are complaining that the design of it is terrible. There are examples on this site where even the biggest bashers have given full credit for a nice refurb.

 

[The Colonel]

This is not surprising at all to anyone who has seen the Beaches and Cream expansion.

 

[Tha Realest]

To add, upon his return Iger stated that there would be a refocus on "storytelling". These resort changes, are not it. The only apparent story being told by these changes is, "There once was a great company that prided itself on it's ability to deliver charming and beautiful stories through it's experiences for guests but alas, the all-mighty dollar soon ruled the land."

Actually, the story is, “Welcome to college, class of 2005 graduate. Sorry you didn’t get in one of the many cool dorms on campus, but the lines at your coffee stop are always short.”

 

[Tha Realest]

What is going on at WDI? Did they even have any involvement in this?

Fun fact- the Boardwalk rooms are set for an extensive remodel, and if this coffee shop is any indication of the sort of direction they’re going in…

 

[𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓜𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮]

It’s like they’re using AI interior design software and they plugged in - make design cost the least.

I used an AI image generator and prompted "indoor coffee shop carousel" and got the following:

Not sure what they were (or weren't) thinking. It's just sad.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why though? Isn’t their whole purpose to design things for parks and resorts?

It’s supposed to be cheaper. It’s the big change that Bob Weis was going to implement across the board at Walt Disney Imagineering to make them leaner and cheaper like Universal Creative was when they largely used an outsourcing model.

Outsourcing and involving other designs in itself is not inherently an issue. The Boardwalk itself is an example of outsourced design work. Outsourcing though can’t overcome the ever bloating bureaucracy and over specialization that has plagued Disney for too long and has also infected Universal.

 

[mattpeto]

Please keep the brains behind this stale taste away from Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

I saw my BIL/SIL over the weekend for Christmas. We were chatting about the Universal/Disney trip they took in 2019. I wouldn't consider them diehard theme park people by any means. But even they said there's a stark difference between appearances at Universal and Disney. They felt like Universal is giving it their all to really close the competition gap, but Disney seemed lazy. I completely agreed with them. And sadly this new coffee shop is a prime example of Disney's laziness. Our conversation made it clear to me that not only do diehard fans see Disney's lack of caring, but casual fans are seeing it too. It makes me wonder, WHEN will Disney start making an effort again...or will they ever?

 

[BrianLo]

Aside from looking utterly generic, they don't even consider how it doesn't work on a cohesive/storytelling level. There's no way the guy who decorated Belle View, picked out nanny chairs, a chandelier of horse mermaids, a circus tent by the pool, and hundreds of glass fish on the ceiling of his restaurant, decided that the seating area and coffee shop in the center of his elaborately embellished hotel, should be devoid of all charm and theme. It just makes it even more obvious these folks in charge are clueless.

Story makes sense to me?

That Belle View guy dies, a corporation in the 20th century buys it out from the family and then springs for a modern coffee shop off the lobby.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

It’s like they’re using AI interior design software and they plugged in - make design cost the least.

Honestly, these days AI can do better. Here's what Midjourney popped out for me in 2 minutes:

 

[Disone]

It is often cheaper to use an outside design firm than to use WDI - as crazy as that sounds.

Maybe they should have paid the WDI price?

And therein lies the problem. The optimal word in your post is "cheaper" and that is what will affect them profoundly in the end. As others on this thread have rightfully pointed out, Disney properties (to include the parks) were built on the idea that they are offering something you can't get anywhere else. They are homogenizing everything to a regressive point that only feeds into the horrible reputation they are building with each misstep. It's going to affect them in a profoundly negative way in time.

Agree. Current resort management does not seem to understand the idea of theme taking you to a time and a place. Today's WDW refurbishments are theme by signage like DCA 1.0 was. Unlike DCA 1.0 which was a full reveal all at once, this is being done incrementally and slowly piece by piece. So there is much less of a chance of being a great uproar but the general public.

No you are right, nothing screams imagineering like a wooden magazine rack!

An attempt to make a point or genuinely do you not see any of the details in the former retail shop that are completely void and missing in the now "carousel" coffee shop.

Agreed. Stained glass window, period appropriate tile floor, period appropriate lighting fixture. Definitely looks nice.

Thank you. The Sundries store was never a highlight of the resort but it did fit the feel of the resort. This coffee shop looks extremely generic and could fit in anywhere. And thus it does not fit here. However, it is alarming trend. The new candy store have the Magic Kingdom, Most of the Riviera, And now this coffee shop all have the same very generic look. And yet we are all told it is themed to their environment.

And sadly most take them at face value. Oh wow, the Riviera is amazing! The new candy store is such an improvement! And "let's not make this more then it is".

 

[aladdin2007]

get ready for the grand floridian lobby makeover

 

[Animaniac93-98]

get ready for the grand floridian lobby makeover

Can't wait for it to look like a hospital or office building when it's done.