PHOTOS - Disney reveals new lobby design and Trader Sam's lounge for the Polynesian

[1023]

I don't know if that example fits, they removed a large feature from the lobby, maybe removing the large Mary Blair mural for a lesser mural would be a better example. The area is the same but the grand centerpiece is no longer grand.

@1023 I'm not happy that they removed the fountain, I stayed there twice and loved the whole resort. I made sure to take some video of the fountain on my last visit because I knew it was going away. I don't mind the bungalows and am waiting to see the final product of the lobby before I decide if it's good or bad. It won't be the same that's for sure. The new sign gives me slight hope that the water feature can be nice, the stone looks similar. I do think more space in the lobby can be a plus, we'll see.

@tikiman is an insider about the resort and has said that there will be improvements and to wait to see the finished product.

I agree the new sign was a nice improvement (I've stated that a few times) and would have gone well with an unchanged lobby. I am afraid that the limited artist renditions and the construction photo updates leave me with less hope about the final product inside. Trader Sam's should be nice but I have to agree with several here that the lobby will fill up with clutter quickly. The reason many (in this thread) have also come to that conclusion, is that current leadership looks at all square footage as a mall. Malls pricing structures look at earnings per square foot. Hence, anything not generating capital is an expense or a missed opportunity. The old lobby feature was a loss leader financially (perhaps generating a few dollars per day in Koi Food). The new lobby feature is unobtrusive and allows for plenty of space to market goods and services.

I am girding for the onslaught of, "Disney is a business and they have to make money" folks who always pop out of the woodwork when anyone suggests maintaining something that doesn't generate profit. I find that argument disingenuous, specious, and entirely irrelevant when discussing theme parks and their associated business units. If profit was the ultimate motive, why bother themeing any areas at all. The space used to have a water feature at all would generate more revenue as a shop. But I digress and tangent, so apologies for that.

I am all for re-working something. I know that things must be kept fresh. There was a better way to do that in the GCH than what has been done. I can give an example of every Disney resort property around the world where a change in a major feature would destroy the resort's value. That is, in the prevailing opinion of this thread, what has been done.

As I have said before, I hope I am wrong and that this a vast improvement over the predecessor. I hope I am wrong.

*1023*

 

[ford91exploder]

I will bet ANYBODY a dinner and drinks that a DVC kiosk will now be in this now open and accessible area...any takers?

I'll take that bet!

 

[ParksAndPixels]

With all this negative response in removing the water feature because it was a key part of the Poly in our minds, maybe they should leave the BAH?




Hahahaha!!! Yeah right!!!

 

[flynnibus]

Lots and lots of complaining. Lots.

While we can all acknowledge the loss of the fountain is a shame, realize too that WDI probably appreciates the same features that we all do, but there are legit reasons to remove them sometimes. I highly doubt they look for things to remove that are cherished by fans. Pages ago I related this to the removal of the waterfalls in the Disneyland Hotel - they were pretty extensive and fantastic to walk down into the caves. (see them here http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/01/02/memories-waterfalls-of-the-disneyland-hotel/) but fast forward and as cool as they were, the renovation final product is a million times cooler than what is around.

.

You seriously are saying a lawn is a improvement over the old waterfalls?

The improvements like the upgraded pool and traders and weren't where the fountains were

 

[kkocka]

You seriously are saying a lawn is a improvement over the old waterfalls?

I speak to the entire refurb. For one, there's a direct path to Frontier Tower. There's still a (smaller) water feature w/erupting geyser which is cool. There's so much detail traveling between towers that you don't think about such as the change of tree and shrub styles to match. Not to mention the walkways of the waterfalls were always completely wet and watery with several temp signs pointing that out - safety potentially becoming an issue. They're now able to host events on the lawns, which they've done, which is a nice set up at times. Obviously the pool/Tangaroa Terrace wasn't at the site but again it all part of what turned out to be a fantastic reno as a whole.

 

[LL2WDW]

Trader Sam's should be nice but I have to agree with several here that the lobby will fill up with clutter quickly. The reason many (in this thread) have also come to that conclusion, is that current leadership looks at all square footage as a mall. Malls pricing structures look at earnings per square foot. Hence, anything not generating capital is an expense or a missed opportunity. The old lobby feature was a loss leader financially (perhaps generating a few dollars per day in Koi Food). The new lobby feature is unobtrusive and allows for plenty of space to market goods and services.


*1023*

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that hasn't happened at the Grand, The Wilderness Lodge, nor the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and they've had huge open lobbies for their entire existence. Sure, stores and what not off to the sides of the lobby, but not actually "cluttering" the lobby.

The new lobby will obviously open the sight lines to existing stores, but I don't see them shoving a bunch of carts in there just because.

 

[ford91exploder]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that hasn't happened at the Grand, The Wilderness Lodge, nor the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and they've had huge open lobbies for their entire existence. Sure, stores and what not off to the sides of the lobby, but not actually "cluttering" the lobby.

The new lobby will obviously open the sight lines to existing stores, but I don't see them shoving a bunch of carts in there just because.

I suggest you look at the Contemporary for an example of what probably will occur at the Poly, merch carts cluttering the grand concourse.

 

[Cesar R M]

With all this negative response in removing the water feature because it was a key part of the Poly in our minds, maybe they should leave the BAH?




Hahahaha!!! Yeah right!!!

move the bah where the fountain was..

 

[ford91exploder]

move the bah where the fountain was..

You are an evil man - I like you

 

[ParksAndPixels]

Thank God it would not fit! They might be up for "trying something new"

 

[Little Green Men]

I suggest you look at the Contemporary for an example of what probably will occur at the Poly, merch carts cluttering the grand concourse.

That's not exactly the lobby, it's more akin to the second floor of the GCH. Everything in the Contemporary was switched around. The table service was turned into counter service, counter service/ arcade turned into sit down, one store turned into arcade, thus displacing the store and they decided to add one to the middle. They only have one DVC desk off to the side by the escalators. Idk if @tikiman has said if there will be clutter in the lobby.

 

[monothingie]

Some shots from behind the curtain from tonight. Did notice a lot of air monitoring sensors in lobby area (not under construction) I should have gotten a picture, but there are dozens of them attached to the drop ceiling around the front desk. They also appear to be "permanent" and not something that would be around only during construction. Also noticed installation of (4) beam smoke detectors over the atrium, these should not be confused with type of LED lighting devices.

 

[dupac]

Just want to confirm. I'm sitting inside a Hampton Inn as I'm typing this, and it looks NOTHING like the new Poly lobby.

That being said, I do not like the hanging balls. My first reaction when I saw the pick was "Ew, why?" Personally, in all my tiki ignorance, I would not think they were on-theme if someone didn't enlighten me. However I'm cautious to make a judgment on the water feature yet. Doesn't look bad to me so far.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Just want to confirm. I'm sitting inside a Hampton Inn as I'm typing this, and it looks NOTHING like the new Poly lobby.

That being said, I do not like the hanging balls. My first reaction when I saw the pick was "Ew, why?" Personally, in all my tiki ignorance, I would not think they were on-theme if someone didn't enlighten me. However I'm cautious to make a judgment on the water feature yet. Doesn't look bad to me so far.

The water feature isn't bad per say, but what was there before it was so grandiose, in comparison, it's comparing apples to oranges. There is no comparison.

The new feature is a nice for a small fountain, but the amazing scale of the old fountain was much more impressive.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

That being said, I do not like the hanging balls..

Just wait til it gets cold... They'll be less noticeable.

 

[dupac]

The water feature isn't bad per say, but what was there before it was so grandiose, in comparison, it's comparing apples to oranges. There is no comparison.

The new feature is a nice for a small fountain, but the amazing scale of the old fountain was much more impressive.

I completely understand that. I loved the original fountain. However, I'm doing my best to judge this in its own right. That's how I'm personally approaching this refurb.

 

[ford91exploder]

I completely understand that. I loved the original fountain. However, I'm doing my best to judge this in its own right. That's how I'm personally approaching this refurb.

Judged on it's own merits the Poly is now inferior in detail to the average Embassy Suites or Westin both of which traditionally have grand lobbies with water features which are often multistory in size. Considering rack rate at a Embassy or Westin rarely exceeds $300/Night I rate the new Poly as a #FAIL and I personally will never stay there again.

 

[Little Green Men]

Judged on it's own merits the Poly is now inferior in detail to the average Embassy Suites or Westin both of which traditionally have grand lobbies with water features which are often multistory in size. Considering rack rate at a Embassy or Westin rarely exceeds $300/Night I rate the new Poly as a #FAIL and I personally will never stay there again.

I get what you're saying, but The Contemporary and Grand Floridian don't have water features in their lobbies either.

 

[JLipnick]

I get what you're saying, but The Contemporary and Grand Floridian don't have water features in their lobbies either.

the villas at the grand floridian has a water feature in the lobby. it is small but then again, it is only the lobby for the villas. I actually think the new lobby in the GCH will be nice. it doesn't take a large water feature to make a difference. for me, the sound of flowing water makes me feel both relaxed and with the need to use the rest rooms (which I assume and hope they are updating as well). i also am hoping for updated elevators but i haven't seen a response to my question about that earlier (TikiMan - hint...hint...)

 

[tikiman]

the villas at the grand floridian has a water feature in the lobby. it is small but then again, it is only the lobby for the villas. I actually think the new lobby in the GCH will be nice. it doesn't take a large water feature to make a difference. for me, the sound of flowing water makes me feel both relaxed and with the need to use the rest rooms (which I assume and hope they are updating as well). i also am hoping for updated elevators but i haven't seen a response to my question about that earlier (TikiMan - hint...hint...)

I heard long ago that the stairs and elevators were going to change but I don't know if that is still in the plan or budget. They had grand plans for many things but some got scaled back. I think putting in a larger elevator is a very difficult thing.