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

Rescue Ranger

Rescue Ranger

Well-Known Member
Interesting pictures. Not looking tooooo bad. I mean, I'm liking what I am seeing for what THIS is. Of course not as lush, but I can see this looking nice when completed. We will soon hopefully see. At least the outdoor resort entrance still is lush and watery!

When exactly is the lobby's completion expected? It looks like they could zip through this and complete it within a month if they really wanted too.
 
JLipnick

JLipnick

Well-Known Member
tikiman said:
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.
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Thanks. I at least hope they refresh the inside of the current elevator. it really smelled of mold.
 
Slowjack

Slowjack

Well-Known Member
For me, at least, the problem is not that I had built up a deep and abiding affection for the fountain specifically. Suppose, last year, I'd met an imagineer who also thought the original Poly was wonderful, and who had been given the task of redesigning the lobby and other areas of the GCH, and who intended to carry over all the Tiki spirit of the original into the redesign. If the imagineer then told me that, for whatever reason, the original big fountain had to go, I'd be a little sad, but I wouldn't assume the redesign would be a failure.

What I'm seeing and hearing, though, suggests the redesign includes a desire to remove or soften the distinctive elements that made the resort unique. It's not that the fountain is going away, it's that it feels like the people who are taking it away don't see it as a loss, but rather as a cheesy element that needed to go, like old tacky wallpaper. In other words, it's not as though Disney is saying, "Did you love the old Polynesian? Don't worry, we're bringing it back better than ever!" Instead I feel like the message is, "Hey, did the thought of having the best monorail access make you consider spending $1,000 a night to stay in the Polynesian, but you didn't because you think pictures of the lobby made you think of the Brady Bunch? Guess what, we're watering down the theme, so you can stay here without embarrassment!"
 
MarkTwain

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
Slowjack said:
For me, at least, the problem is not that I had built up a deep and abiding affection for the fountain specifically. Suppose, last year, I'd met an imagineer who also thought the original Poly was wonderful, and who had been given the task of redesigning the lobby and other areas of the GCH, and who intended to carry over all the Tiki spirit of the original into the redesign. If the imagineer then told me that, for whatever reason, the original big fountain had to go, I'd be a little sad, but I wouldn't assume the redesign would be a failure.

What I'm seeing and hearing, though, suggests the redesign includes a desire to remove or soften the distinctive elements that made the resort unique. It's not that the fountain is going away, it's that it feels like the people who are taking it away don't see it as a loss, but rather as a cheesy element that needed to go, like old tacky wallpaper. In other words, it's not as though Disney is saying, "Did you love the old Polynesian? Don't worry, we're bringing it back better than ever!" Instead I feel like the message is, "Hey, did the thought of having the best monorail access make you consider spending $1,000 a night to stay in the Polynesian, but you didn't because you think pictures of the lobby made you think of the Brady Bunch? Guess what, we're watering down the theme, so you can stay here without embarrassment!"
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Hmmm, possibly. It would certainly fit the trend they've been going with for the hotel rooms, of removing "themey" elements in favor of a more contemporary look. (See the Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian room refurbs).

That said, it seems like people who are too uppercrust for tiki culture and large waterfalls in hotel lobbies would have little business to do with WDW anyway.

I still suspect operations or maintenance costs as the number one reason for the waterfall removal, but who knows really.
 
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roj2323

roj2323

Well-Known Member
Sage of Time said:
They took the easy and cheap route. Shame on them.
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I would argue that this was not cheap or easy. The old fountain was enormous and it probably took 3 or 4 semis to remove the volume of concrete and other debris. Not to mention this debris was likely removed one wheel barrel at a time to reduce the noise. None of this ,especially the labor, is cheap.

I understand everyone's disappointment with the postage stamp sized water feature, myself included, but the simple fact is Disney could have chosen to not put one back in at all. This project was started for a number of reasons but the most common reason given was the old water feature was leaking and causing havoc on the structure. Additionally opening up the atrium / lobby gave disney the opportunity to improve traffic flow and open the area up visually. Now I personally wish the water feature was at least 15 feet across instead of the 6-8ft we are getting but there's not much anyone can do about that.
 
ford91exploder

ford91exploder

Resident Curmudgeon
roj2323 said:
I would argue that this was not cheap or easy. The old fountain was enormous and it probably took 3 or 4 semis to remove the volume of concrete and other debris. Not to mention this debris was likely removed one wheel barrel at a time to reduce the noise. None of this ,especially the labor, is cheap.

I understand everyone's disappointment with the postage stamp sized water feature, myself included, but the simple fact is Disney could have chosen to not put one back in at all. This project was started for a number of reasons but the most common reason given was the old water feature was leaking and causing havoc on the structure. Additionally opening up the atrium / lobby gave disney the opportunity to improve traffic flow and open the area up visually. Now I personally wish the water feature was at least 15 feet across instead of the 6-8ft we are getting but there's not much anyone can do about that.
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Do it right or NOT AT ALL, Considering there are MULTIPLE hotels within ten miles of the De-Furbed Poly with multi-story water features (with rates 1/3 of the Poly) the only conclusion that comes to mind is Disney was being CHEAP. Too CHEAP to invest in a new water feature, and too CHEAP to maintain a NEW water feature.

It's not local codes or mysterious organisms it's Disney once again destroying a icon which generations of resort goers loved so the bottom line looks a little fatter.
 
ford91exploder

ford91exploder

Resident Curmudgeon
MarkTwain said:
Hmmm, possibly. It would certainly fit the trend they've been going with for the hotel rooms, of removing "themey" elements in favor of a more contemporary look. (See the Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian room refurbs).

That said, it seems like people who are too uppercrust for tiki culture and large waterfalls in hotel lobbies would have little business to do with WDW anyway.

I still suspect operations or maintenance costs as the number one reason for the waterfall removal, but who knows really.
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Considering Embassy Suites and Gaylord Palms both have HUGE water features - I think reduction in OPEX is the only reason which makes me ill, We have supposedly a crown jewel resort and it's operating discipline is that of a Motel 6 where costs need to be maintained or the business model does not work.
 
roj2323

roj2323

Well-Known Member
ford91exploder said:
Do it right or NOT AT ALL, Considering there are MULTIPLE hotels within ten miles of the De-Furbed Poly with multi-story water features (with rates 1/3 of the Poly) the only conclusion that comes to mind is Disney was being CHEAP. Too CHEAP to invest in a new water feature, and too CHEAP to maintain a NEW water feature.

It's not local codes or mysterious organisms it's Disney once again destroying a icon which generations of resort goers loved so the bottom line looks a little fatter.
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Do you have anything positive to say about this project?
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
MarkTwain said:
Hmmm, possibly. It would certainly fit the trend they've been going with for the hotel rooms, of removing "themey" elements in favor of a more contemporary look. (See the Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridian room refurbs).

That said, it seems like people who are too uppercrust for tiki culture and large waterfalls in hotel lobbies would have little business to do with WDW anyway.

I still suspect operations or maintenance costs as the number one reason for the waterfall removal, but who knows really.
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In this day and age of sensitivity to everything, I'd guess that a lot of the decision to remove the big, foliage laden fountain had as much to do with mold and mildew as it did cost. I don't have any inside information, but, it isn't a stretch to imagine many people complaining about respiratory problems while staying at the Poly and all of it due to relatively confined indoor fountain and the Florida weather.

If it had started to develop maintenance problems as well, then that would be the exact catalyst needed to make the decision to remove it and replace it with another, smaller, open and better ventilated fountain.
 
EPCOTCenterLover

EPCOTCenterLover

Well-Known Member
Too bad the tiki in the center won't occasionally speak, move his, eyes, etc. It could be a fun feature if it happened every 7 minutes os so with different lines. But right now, I see nothing special about the changes.
 

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