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PHOTOS - Disney reveals new lobby design and Trader Sam's lounge for the Polynesian
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
note2001
Well-Known Member
This is the same feeling I have for Fort Wilderness. So many great elements have been washed away and they don't even pay homage to them anymore (train, tram, the traveling fruit vendor cart, peaceful streets without flocks of golf carts, a full service deli, petting zoo... and even River Country. The list goes on and on.)
With more guests than ever before Disney feels it's better to pave over the memories and make more room to stand, and park golf carts. Gone are the years where Disney created magical events for the sake of them being there. Now, if there's anything magical, you can bet there's a premium being charged to experience it.
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networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
How cynical! I remember the bad old days at the Poly before the landscaping had a chance to fill in during the 70's. How dare they do something to change what you remembered at a certain point in time.
Imagine someone who stayed at the Poly before 1978 when there were quite a fewer longhouses and you could walk up and eat any time you wanted! That would be me for one. With the addition of more longhouses and now DVC there needed to be more space in the atrium just for the scooters and double wide strollers.
If you want to see what it looks like, you can locate "The Tim Tracker" vlog on youtube. He did a walkthrough last night of the new space.
Imagine someone who stayed at the Poly before 1978 when there were quite a fewer longhouses and you could walk up and eat any time you wanted! That would be me for one. With the addition of more longhouses and now DVC there needed to be more space in the atrium just for the scooters and double wide strollers.
If you want to see what it looks like, you can locate "The Tim Tracker" vlog on youtube. He did a walkthrough last night of the new space.
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
OK I see what happened now, LL2WDW was referring to that poster in the link above.
Communicore
Well-Known Member
I was at Poly this weekend and the lobby looks antiseptic, and pathetic. The seats are sort of strange, too. The lobby reminded me of New Fantasyland, it seems cheap.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
Well ok as long as we are playing that game I guess you could say, what if it were a Motel 6 and then Disney built this...and we would all say wow....Point is, it is diminished. If I had never known the old lobby, yes of course most of us would not have anything to say...but we do. This lobby looks nice. but it is no rave...it is no immersive experience... it is a nice looking hotel lobby...meh
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
If only it actually looked that good.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Make that from April to October, For crying out loud it hits 80 degrees some days in DECEMBER.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Yes read the article on this, Still does not excuse the decision to destroy an iconic feature and replace with a birdbath while other hotels with far lower rates have much larger features than the original in the same market,
This abomination was all bound up in Disney wanting more RETAIL space, To H--- with the guest experience.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
but for Guest Experience you now have a pile of rubble with bromeliads...
maybe when the tiki is put ontop it will look better... but at this point it really looks random and cheap.
they could have put the old Enchanted Tiki Room fountain there....that was at least a lot taller and would have looked more polynesian...
maybe when the tiki is put ontop it will look better... but at this point it really looks random and cheap.
they could have put the old Enchanted Tiki Room fountain there....that was at least a lot taller and would have looked more polynesian...
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
New Fantasyland looks cheap?
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
It definitely feels more open and airy, especially from the second floor looking down. The new front desk is nice also.
But that's where my good feelings end. Now the lobby looks rather plain and boring (though looking up at the new lights is nice). The benches are weird looking. Most of the upholstery on the furniture looks somewhat disjointed - only some of it is reminiscent of Polynesian colors/patterns. It just seems to lack the coordination that was previously there. I do like the furniture itself and floor lamps though.
Finally, the planters surrounding the columns and the one in the middle don't't seem very well thought out and harsh - edgy and squared. IMO, it would've looked much better to have "natural" lava formations, perhaps with mini water features (waterfalls, hello!?) that drain around the perimeter of the features, sort of "infinity pool style." This would add much nicer, more lush vegetation and a relaxing sound to the lobby. Disney could have ditched the central feature yet still maintained the original intent.
It looks clean, updated - modern. No doubt. But it's lacking that "magic." And not just because I'm pining for the old days.
But that's where my good feelings end. Now the lobby looks rather plain and boring (though looking up at the new lights is nice). The benches are weird looking. Most of the upholstery on the furniture looks somewhat disjointed - only some of it is reminiscent of Polynesian colors/patterns. It just seems to lack the coordination that was previously there. I do like the furniture itself and floor lamps though.
Finally, the planters surrounding the columns and the one in the middle don't't seem very well thought out and harsh - edgy and squared. IMO, it would've looked much better to have "natural" lava formations, perhaps with mini water features (waterfalls, hello!?) that drain around the perimeter of the features, sort of "infinity pool style." This would add much nicer, more lush vegetation and a relaxing sound to the lobby. Disney could have ditched the central feature yet still maintained the original intent.
It looks clean, updated - modern. No doubt. But it's lacking that "magic." And not just because I'm pining for the old days.
Scuttle
Well-Known Member
Maybe referring to the Mine Train cuts? Or I hope so, because the overall look of the FLE looks pretty good.
worldfanatic
Well-Known Member
They could have "plussed" it a bit more, but I like that the new lobby's more open. The fountain was nice to look at, but it took up way too much space, forcing guests squeeze into the small areas surrounding it.
I love Disney lobbies, and spend a ton of time reading the paper and people watching in them.
The Poly's lobby never seemed like a nice place to relax before, this one does.
And if I'm craving extra theming, Trader Sam's will be steps away.
I love Disney lobbies, and spend a ton of time reading the paper and people watching in them.
The Poly's lobby never seemed like a nice place to relax before, this one does.
And if I'm craving extra theming, Trader Sam's will be steps away.
NearTheEars
Well-Known Member
I cannot comment on the previous lobby as I had never seen it. Its just not in our budget to ever spend more than $150 a night on a room. But going in blind to the past, it looks open, and spacious and bright. I don't see cheap. If this were a new hotel i don't think many would be calling this generic.
I will say though, going from a huge fountain that took up much of the space (as described) to that small pile of rocks may have been too big of a change, and I certainly understand how many are underwhelmed in that specific aspect.
I will say though, going from a huge fountain that took up much of the space (as described) to that small pile of rocks may have been too big of a change, and I certainly understand how many are underwhelmed in that specific aspect.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
It doesn't matter the reason, doesn't matter the 'personal/nostalgia' connection to the fountain, just comparing the two, it's an obvious downgrade from a massive lobby fountain to what others said, a pile of rubble. It screams cheap. The rest of the lobby looks fine. I don't hate it, and people shouldn't be jumped on for liking what they like, but you also have to admit that it was a massive downgrade (in terms of the fountain).
The rock feature seriously looks like a big pile of petrified horse manure....with flowers around it
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Father Robinson
Well-Known Member
What do you think he was thinking/feeling about two seconds before this moment?
