Challenge 3 - The Art of the Resorts
Prologue
In 2010, at the start of a new decade, Team Disney Orlando is looking to invest in the almost decade long abandoned project of the yester-years across from the Pop Century Resort. However, rather than simply go with the past, why not look into the past, and use the past to propel you into the future!
At Disney, inspiration can come from a variety of areas, and some from even their past endeavors. One idea in particular that still resonates in the Disney community today is the concepts that reign in classics such as the Carousel of Progress, and extinct attractions such as Horizons at Epcot. What these have in common is a core value of Walt Disney World, in that - if you can dream it, you can do it.
As Disney's Pop Century Resort represents the greatest hits from the 50s-90s, its sister resort across the Hourglass Lake will look not towards the past...but towards
the great big beautiful tomorrow, just a dream away!
Inspired by innovation, future living, and the promise of tomorrow - opening in 2012 across from Disney's Pop Century Resort will be....
(Lobby Sample Music Loop - see later on)
Resort Introduction
Have you ever looked beyond today, into the future? Disney's Dream Village Resort evokes the childlike sense of wonderment and awe at what the future can hold - a new horizons for you and me. Contrasting the themes of Pop Century, Dream Village chronicles the quest for a better tomorrow. From its architectural design to its color pallets and thematic locations, the resort depicts life in the future, utilizing an eclectic display of artistic prowess and engineering marvels.
You are transported to the world of tomorrow as soon as you arrive on property, as the lush Perfect Park Acres of land beckons you to the main entrance. The clean green space as you approach gives you a sense of environmental efforts and a beautiful surrounding which represents the "opening act" of the resort's story.
Resort Map Overview
Map - Key
1 - Brava Centauri
2 - Mesa Verde
3 - Alpha Centauri
4 - Sea Base Castle
5/6 - FuturePort and Transportation Hubs
In order create a mirror image of the past (Pop Century) and the future (Dream Village), across the Hourglass Lake, the design of the buildings and main hall are roughly symmetrical. When looking at the two resorts from above, their parallel designs add to their symmetry of past and future themes.
This story aspect and thematic relevance gives them a better connection and unity, rather than having two completely different themes (in Pop Century and Art of Animation) as it is today. The connection in theme gives it relevance and places it alongside other dual Disney resort themes such as the Yacht and Beach Club, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside, the Swan and Dolphin, All-Star Resorts, etc.
The map depicts the varied locations in the resort. Inspired by the extinct Epcot attraction, Horizons, you and your family can stay in one of 3 distinct landscapes of the future.
Mesa Verde - the most advanced desert reclamation complex in the western hemisphere, invites you to explore its wide range of possibilities.
Brava Centauri - newest of the Centauri series of space stations offers remarkably rewarding opportunities in earth support locations. Alpha Centauri, the original Centauri station, is also available to guests where they can work, live, and play, together.
Sea Castle - the newest and most exciting floating city in the Pacific, invites you and your family to come away with us to the sea.
FuturePort Lobby Description
As you pull up to the unload area of the resort, you enter below a chrome overhang, and disembark either your Magical Express bus, or your vehicle. Walking inside the lobby area, your first instinct is to notice the neon boarder design of the automatic doors as you enter, almost as if you're "transported" inside the lobby. In addition, a keen ear will notice the uplifting background instrumental music loop which includes a variety of classic Epcot songs along with a rendition of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow", along with other varied soundtracks to add to the positive vibes entering the resort.
The one floor lobby is wide and indented with curvatures as you wave down the check-in desks. The neon boarders continue from the entrance, and the check-in pods illuminate in a variety of reds, purples, and blue colors, adding to the ambiance.
On the wall to the right, chronicles world progress since the turn of the century (1900) - as a subtle easter egg to the yester-years project, and continuing into the 1950s-1990s, as a direct correlation to Pop Century. However, the progress doesn't stop in 2012. It continues on into the 2050s and beyond, before ultimately ending on canvases of the three locations that you can stay in at Dream Village.
Painted canvases of Brava/Alpha Centauri, Mesa Verde, and Sea Castle Base line the posterior end of the lobby. As another easter egg, adding to the decor behind the check-in desk to the left, a FuturePort transportation sign is posted, depicting the futuristic travel arrangements to get to the destinations around the resort.
On the background music soundtrack itself, some of the songs are interrupted with travel announcements to make the guests feel as if they are actually in a future transportation hub in the lobby.
Lastly, as you check in, kids have an "edutainment" area in the lobby. A television plays a loop of different "future" areas of the world, such as floating cities, soaring skyscrapers, and more. The interactive area has games as well, such as a digital game where kids can design building and vehicles of the future. Once you are checked in, you can proceed out to the exit "checkpoints" and venture to your destination.
-- Resort Lobby Music Loop --
"If we can dream it, then we can do it" - from Horizons (5:00)
"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow" - Sherman Bros (2:37)
"Tomorrow's Child" - from Spaceship Earth (3:34)
"Horizons Exit Music" - from Horizons (17:00)
"Assorted Melodies" - from Epcot area music (15:00)
Resort Area Descriptions
--
Brava and Alpha Centauri
Approaching these space station themed wings of the Dream Village Resort, the story behind these resorts are that the Brava Centauri system has landed on a moon in a distant galaxy that contains water and vegetation. The Centauri stations land on the moons and develop a habitable zone of the moon for human living.
As you walk through the "moon" -
dubbed MX32 - you notice the dense foliage surrounding you, and the pool area straight ahead. This is definitely a new horizon for you and for me. The rooms of Brava and Alpha Centauri are similar in that they have a sleek, futuristic design to them. Many of the rooms have contemporary furniture and color pallets to them, in addition to having state of the art technology as well. The themes translate to a modern design, as if you are on a space station in a distant world.
The main pool of the Centauri system is located in the center of the action - one of the largest pools on Disney Property, named Blue Horizons, this pool is for sure to be a family favorite for kids and adults. A great place to relax and enjoy life in another galaxy!
--
Mesa Verde
The terrain and scenery is vastly different compared to the other locations in the Dream Village. The transition from rich vegetation to a desert of reclamation evolves as you continue to trek from the FuturePort.
As you continue on, painted on the buildings themselves, are landscapes of the mountainous desert, enveloping the guests in the environment. The biome of the desert surrounds you as you enter your buildings, which in the resort "story", are part of an experimental living quarter in the vast earth desert, pushing the boundaries of ecological living. As you trek through the newfound vegetation of the Mesa Verde desert, you pass hovercrafts and lined greenery in the heart of the sandy desert landscape.
The rooms themselves are themed to the surroundings. Rich brown textures, along with oranges and reds, create the desert atmosphere within the rooms. Mesa Verde's beautiful designs shine through into the rooms. The pool area is themed to a "hot spring" in the desert, (minus a sulfur smell thank goodness), but is surrounded by plants and vegetation you'd most likely find in a desert.
The terrain and scenery is vastly different compared to the other locations in the Dream Village. The transition from rich vegetation to a desert of reclamation evolves as you continue to trek from the FuturePort.
As you continue on, painted on the buildings themselves, are landscapes of the mountainous desert, enveloping the guests in the environment. The biome of the desert surrounds you as you enter your buildings, which in the resort "story", are part of an experimental living quarter in the vast earth desert, pushing the boundaries of ecological living. As you trek through the newfound vegetation of the Mesa Verde desert, you pass hovercrafts and lined greenery in the heart of the sandy desert landscape.
The rooms themselves are themed to the surroundings. Rich brown textures, along with oranges and reds, create the desert atmosphere within the rooms. Mesa Verde's beautiful designs shine through into the rooms. The pool area is themed to a "hot spring" in the desert, (minus a sulfur smell thank goodness), but is surrounded by plants and vegetation you'd most likely find in a desert.
--
Sea Castle Base
Shifting to the original building complex from the yester-years project that never was, we turn west towards Sea Castle Base - an "underwater" oceanic paradise. Blue and sea green color pallets line the buildings evoking the sense that you are on the ocean floor, with sand, seaweed, and other aquatic plants lining the exterior. As you meander up towards your "castles" - the outer balconies of your rooms are themed like reinforced ocean liners at the bottom of the sea that have been converted into an underwater habitable environment.
The rooms themselves are nautically themed, along with a contemporary flair. The color pallets of blue and sea green eminent throughout the decor, and the modern infused styling of the the carpets, beds, sofas, and bathrooms are seen as well. The lighting in the the room is reminiscent of coral plants at the bottom of the sea, and each room is equipped with dimmers in them as well, to create a relaxing atmosphere in your rooms.
The quiet pool area is also accessible to all in the center of the Sea Castle Base complex, offering a quaint place of calm and quiet on your WDW vacation.
Room Types and Rates
Throughout the resort, there are 864 standard rooms and 1,120 family suites among the three landscapes.
Standard rooms sleep up to 4 guests, with an average rate of $180 per night, and a max of $280 around peak holiday season
Family suites sleep up to 6 guests, with an average rate of $400 per night, and a max of $570 around peak holiday season. Family Suites are located in the Brava/Alpha Centauri wings, as well as Mesa Verde. The suites have a kitchenette, a master bedroom and 3 separate sleeping areas, and 2 bathrooms.
Resort Dining
At the Dream Village Resort - there will be a variety of food options to choose - from room service to dining hall delights.
The main food court in the FuturePort area of the resort is called the Millennium Cafe.The food court decor is themed to modern architecture and design, with silhouettes and murals on the walls of progress throughout the world, in both agriculture and crop production.
Millennium Cafe Information
Disney Dining Plan? - Yes
Type of Food - American
Serves - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hours - 7am - 11pm
Here is a sample dinner menu below:
Sandwiches
Pulled Pork - $8.99
Chicken - $7.99
Italian - $6.99
Meatball - $8.99
Angus Beef - $9.99
Seafood - $9.99
Salads
Chicken Caprese - $7.99
Chicken Caesar - $8.99
Blue Cheese - $7.50
Avocado and Ranch - $8.99
Spicy Chicken Curry - $8.99
Shrimp Scampi - $10.99
Pizza
Individual, Small, or Large
$9.99, $12.99, $15.99
Choice of Toppings:
Cheese, Pepperoni, Vegetable, Garlic, Onion, Broccoli, Spinach, Pineapple, Olive, Sausage, Meatball
*Gluten-Free Options Available.
Burgers
(served with side of salad or fries)
Horizon Burger - $7.99
Mmm....
Cheddar Burger - $6.99
Jalopeno Burger - $8.99
The Mesa - $7.99
Surf and Turf - $10.99
Veggie - $8.99
Side Dishes
Saturn Rings - (Paging Mr. Morrow) (aka Onion Rings) - $4.99
Coleslaw - $3.99
Squash - $2.99
Spinach - $1.99
Zucchini - $1.99
Cauliflower - $2.99
Mozzarella and Tomato - $4.99
Desserts
Ice Cream Sundae - $6.99
Ice Cream Cup S ($2.99) M ($3.99) L ($4.99)
Flavors - Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Mint, Lemon, Cookies and Creme, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip, Mit Chocolate Chip, Cotton Candy, and more!
Chocolate Moose Cake - $5.99
*Any allergies please report to the Millennium Cafe guest services
Lunar Libations (Pool Bar)
Adjacent to the main pool in the Brava Centauri wing of the resort is the Lunar Libations pool bar which serves a variety of alcoholic drinks along with poolside snacks and lunch items.
Open from 10am - 7 pm
Resort Amenities and Services
Tomorrow's Destiny (Gift Shop)
Within the FuturPort will be the main gift shop of Disney's Dream Village Resort, with specific resort memorabilia that harken to the progress of tomorrow, through various forms of merchandise including:
Mens and womens clothing, kids clothing, pins, glasses, posters, banners, magnets, and more! Also, as a hidden gem, there will be special Epcot classic pins available in the gift shop throughout the year, only sold at Tomorrow's Destiny.
In-Room Celebrations
While The Robot Butler won't come to your door, the door to door service and special celebrations for the family suites in Dream Village will be one of the finest features of the resort as a whole. When you call for your reservations, you can ask for certain celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, and so forth. The Dream Village In-room celebrations will have a reputation on property for being the most festive of all the celebrations, offering a memorable experience for friends and family.
Child-Care Services - SkyZone
SkyZone will be a state of the art child-care center that duals as both an Arcade and interactive child play area attached to the FuturePort. Themed to a space station docked to FuturePort, this child care area will be the most elaborate and fun area of the entire resort
Complete with 3D arcade games, virtual reality environments, building block centers, as well as the imfamous neon laser tag room themed to outer space - this will be an amazing place for kids to enjoy a night while their parents go out. Designed on a much more grand scale than most child care centers, SkyZone is Dream Village's "KidZone" essentially - while not pandering to the "go-to" kid-friendly Disney animation, this area is distinctly Disney without relying on an IP to push it forward. Kids will have a blast creating their own stories and interacting with others throughout their stay.
Additional Services
-Complimentary In-Room Wi-Fi
-Laundry and Cleaning Services
-ATMs/Currency Exchange
- WDW Resort TV Stations (in 2012 format
)
Resort Recreation
Jogging Trail - around the Hourglass Lake (1.38 mile loop)
Surrey Bike Rentals - available at the Brava Centauri transportation hub.
Segue Ride - available at the Brava Centauri transportation hub (Reservations required)
Resort Playground - Sea Base Omega
On the Sea Castle Base side of the resort, this play area will be aquatically themed to dolphins and other oceanic creatures, blending into the ocean environment. This kid friendly area is equipped with slides, swings, jungle gyms, and more.
Resort Entertainment
Movies Under the Stars - nightly Disney movies played on a large screen with marshmellow campfires in the Mesa Verde wing.
Astronomy - in the Brava Centauri wings, you can gaze through telescopes that point up to the stars and show you the far away galaxies.
One telescope designed particularly for this location, shows the perspective of the Milky Way Galaxy from the moon you are on (MX-32), displaying the beauty of the stars.
Resort Transportation
Buses to the four parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs are located outside the front entrance of FuturePort. Shuttles run every 15-20 minutes to your destinations.
Conclusion
The elements of "time" and mirroring a theme of "past living" (Pop Century) with the theme of "future living" (Dream Village) was an integral part in the selection of this resort.
Rather than enable more IPs that already populate the parks enough, building off of Pop Century and creating a resort across the Hourglass Lake based on the future seemed like the best choice. It takes influence from some of Disney's most classic themes and beloved attractions, and builds off of those narratives for a new generation to enjoy. It offers an opportunity for the guests as well, to create their own memories and their own narratives to their surroundings, rather than have them labelled already for them upon arrival. Disney's Dream Village will be something unique for the Walt Disney World Resort, and a refreshing blend of the idealistic thinking enabled by Walt Disney himself, as well as the quintessential "Disney" resort feel that makes staying on property so special.
Thank you for reading!
all you needed was Moseby as your RA.
