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

[note2001]

I mean this question with all sincerity, so please, I ask you, please no sarcasm, but they do read these and other boards occasionally,do you think all this bashing has caused them to think even for a moment that maybe this was a bad move? Do you think it's enjoyable to them to know that 98% of people have such strong opposition to this outcome? How'd you like to be the manager of the Poly reading these threads...

No one ever likes to know that their project is being viewed as a failure. Some folk will take the information and learn from it, while others will defend the decisions, get angry at and/or pretend they didn't hear negative criticism.

When our projects "go bad", which on occasion they will do due to miscommunications somewhere along the line, we take the info, fix the issues and learn from it. It will be interesting to see the approach Disney takes.

 

[Cesar R M]

P.S. I failed to post this photo on lobby opening day, Friday, Dec 19. The water feature was operating that day in the lobby.

View attachment 77220

You mean the thing stopped working? or they shut it down?

I personally don't think the actual fountain looks anything like this depiction. Aside from the Tiki missing, which we are assuming is still on it's way, where's the flat top, the cascade of water, the rounded base?

The initial concept was a hard pill to take, but then it looks to me as though they attempted to make the rock look more volcanic and instead ended up with something which, in my opinion, just looks bad.

they look like coals

 

[Cesar R M]

I hope the Tiki person is added within the coming weeks. He is the staple of this new lobby!

Maybe that Tiki guy that was removed for a DVC desk is going there????

Does this means that the DVC desk will get a BIGGER TIKI ? (since Disney is now all for DVC and zero for hotels)

 

[flynnibus]

yeah still he said that it would have had to be completely rebuilt as per the guy who designed it. So Disney decided to just take it out instead of rebuilding it from scratch. People think they tore it out just for they hell of it.

Feel free to point out the posts where people are claiming Disney did it on a whim or for the hell of it. No, they took it out and failed to be as inspired or ambitious in it's replacement, and people are calling that behavior out.. not simply thinking Disney is schizophrenic.

 

[flynnibus]

How'd you like to be the manager of the Poly reading these threads...

Probably just as helpless as before when he probably has a 'needs' list longer than his arm that never gets full attention.

 

[GoofGoof]

Aside from the red couches it actually doesn't look too bad. The "water feature" is kinda pathetic, but I like the additional space and openness. It looks less dated, but I will miss the water feature. Nostalgia trumps modern updates for me in this case.

On the weather debate, when the humidity is that high the temp doesn't need to get close to 100 for it to feel uncomfortable. The reality is the record highs for WDW are below 100 for every month but June, July and August. While it's rare that temps hit 100, when it's above 90 with 90% humidity it feels like it's over 100.

 

[flynnibus]

If this were the center of a cross-roads in the property... I would agree with the need to open things up and make the space more functional as a intersection and meeting point. But besides moving past some luggage... has anyone felt like the lobby was a crowded train platform? Or a jumbled crosswalk intersection?

I see lots of seating areas... for waiting for the bus and shuttles? Else why am I constantly in the new lobby?

 

[Gabe1]

Still underwhelmed. The nicest thing I can say is there are plenty of seating choices. What is up with that water feature? I just stared at the photo thinking they paid someone to design that?

I feel the same way about the interior design choices of the furniture. From the photo's it looks very hodgepodge, no central color or theme to pull it all together. Can't image how all those little throw pillows will hold up or the tan seat covers will look in a short while. One little spill on tan, oy. Yep, underwhelmed.

 

[flynnibus]

Still underwhelmed. The nicest thing I can say is there are plenty of seating choices. What is up with that water feature? I just stared at the photo thinking they paid someone to design that?

My only guess is it's still incomplete. A rush to get the lobby open for the real christmas week... with the stuff they can change easily deferred till after the New Years when they take the xmas deco down.

It wouldn't be the first time Disney has gone to this delayed rollout. Also notice Disney hasn't made a splash about it in their own PR... so probably not really ready for any grand reveal.

 

[Gabe1]

My only guess is it's still incomplete. A rush to get the lobby open for the real christmas week... with the stuff they can change easily deferred till after the New Years when they take the xmas deco down.

It wouldn't be the first time Disney has gone to this delayed rollout. Also notice Disney hasn't made a splash about it in their own PR... so probably not really ready for any grand reveal.

OK, I'll hope that is the case. Honestly looking at the furnishings it screams IKEA. Can they toss that rock feature in the lake with the wave machine too if I am daydreaming?

 

[Little Green Men]

I've heard it all now... people defending Orlando as not hot/humid.

That's not what I was saying at all. I said it wasn't 100 degrees year round, that doesn't mean it's not hot/ humid.

 

[flynnibus]

That's not what I was saying at all. I said it wasn't 100 degrees year round, that doesn't mean it's not hot/ humid.

You're nitpicking over a number you should know is not relevant to the point. It doesn't matter if it's 90 or 100... FL is hot and humid and to the point of sticky hot due to its redonkulous humidity -- that's all that matters to the point he was making. The guy is using exaggeration a bit to make the point and you're contesting it as if it makes a bit of difference...All it does is make you look the fool because you're trying to fight irrelevant exaggeration that doesn't change a thing.

 

[GoofGoof]

If this were the center of a cross-roads in the property... I would agree with the need to open things up and make the space more functional as a intersection and meeting point. But besides moving past some luggage... has anyone felt like the lobby was a crowded train platform? Or a jumbled crosswalk intersection?

I see lots of seating areas... for waiting for the bus and shuttles? Else why am I constantly in the new lobby?

Even with the water feature in the old loby there was always a seating area. I remember sitting there just relaxing and cooling off a few times (usually not when I was staying there). I like getting a cup of Kona coffee and finding a spot to chill out before starting my day.

I never felt like the loby was over crowded. Based on the pictures posted it does seem like the new loby has a more open feel. The seating in the old loby was primarily on the outside with the roof to the second floor overhead. The seating in the new loby seems more open because it's more part of the open atrium without a ceiling directly above. It's not necessarily a good or bad thing, just different. Losing the water feature is just a bad thing.

 

[flynnibus]

I never felt like the loby was over crowded. Based on the pictures posted it does seem like the new loby has a more open feel. The seating in the old loby was primarily on the outside with the roof to the second floor overhead. The seating in the new loby seems more open because it's more part of the open atrium without a ceiling directly above. It's not necessarily a good or bad thing, just different. Losing the water feature is just a bad thing.

My point being is... all the extra space and seating was added for what purpose? Is it filler, or was it actually felt like it was needed? To those saying that change was needed... the old thing had to be rebuilt.. etc. Ok, so we say "lets reboot this sucker.." and what objectives do they set out to have in the new space based on their needs? If you are taking things in a positive direction.. you should be addressing needs. Instead it feels like we just cleared things out and needed an artistic theme to fill the space in.

 

[Little Green Men]

You're nitpicking over a number you should know is not relevant to the point. It doesn't matter if it's 90 or 100... FL is hot and humid and to the point of sticky hot due to its redonkulous humidity -- that's all that matters to the point he was making. The guy is using exaggeration a bit to make the point and you're contesting it as if it makes a bit of difference...All it does is make you look the fool because you're trying to fight irrelevant exaggeration that doesn't change a thing.

I realize that. Yes I always carry a drink with me when I go in August due to the humidity. I've gone in Jan, March, April, May, August, and November and August has always been the worst. April and May not so much. I get that it's an exaggeration, and this "argument" was a passing comment that has gotten out of hand. I believe a water feature outside will be nice to look at. Comfortable? Not always, but it's shaded which helps.

 

[GoofGoof]

That's not what I was saying at all. I said it wasn't 100 degrees year round, that doesn't mean it's not hot/ humid.

It rarely hits 100 degrees at WDW. That's true. It is hot and humid year round. The heat index is what really matters. With 90% humidity any temperature over 85 degrees has a heat index over 100. Even after the daily afternoon thunderstorm when humidity might drop to 60% if the temperature is 90+ the heat index is still over 100. A temperature of 100 degrees with 90% humidity is IMHO not fit for human life. Stay indoors. This is coming from someone from the Northeast who melts in the Florida heat

 

[Little Green Men]

It rarely hits 100 degrees at WDW. That's true. It is hot and humid year round. The heat index is what really matters. With 90% humidity any temperature over 85 degrees has a heat index over 100. Even after the daily afternoon thunderstorm when humidity might drop to 60% if the temperature is 90+ the heat index is still over 100. A temperature of 100 degrees with 90% humidity is IMHO not fit for human life. Stay indoors. This is coming from someone from the Northeast who melts in the Florida heat

I'm from New England, so I like the heat but I can't stand August. I would love to live in Florida but maybe only in the winter months.

 

[Lee]

eople think they tore it out just for they hell of it.

No, they tore it out for a reason. They didn't build it back just for the hell of it.

 

[GoofGoof]

My point being is... all the extra space and seating was added for what purpose? Is it filler, or was it actually felt like it was needed? To those saying that change was needed... the old thing had to be rebuilt.. etc. Ok, so we say "lets reboot this sucker.." and what objectives do they set out to have in the new space based on their needs? If you are taking things in a positive direction.. you should be addressing needs. Instead it feels like we just cleared things out and needed an artistic theme to fill the space in.

I thought the purpose was to get rid of the water feature. I've heard everything from mold to structural issues to cost cutting given as a reason. Maybe some combo of all 3. The lobby was dated and long past due for a refurb. They didn't need to remove the water feature and replace it with the mini-me version. They could have gutted the thing and rebuilt it to the same size and scale. I doubt the choice to remove it was to meet a demand for more seating. It was a design decision most likely influenced by operating cost.

 

[Lee]

do you think all this bashing has caused them to think even for a moment that maybe this was a bad move?

Few, if any, decisions are universally loved within the company (Maelstrom, Adv. Club, etc.), and the Poly lobby is no exception.
However, they will never admit to getting it wrong. Never.