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PHOTOS - Disney reveals new lobby design and Trader Sam's lounge for the Polynesian
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
They didn't "help" in building it, they designed the resort.
sublimesting
Well-Known Member
Just sent this off to Disney:
I just wanted to voice my opinion on the newly released plans for the Polynesian Resort - specifically the lobby's plan. The addition of the Trader Sam's seems to be a huge hit with the fan community, so congratulations on that! But the decision to remove the water feature is being universally derided and hated on every Disney fan website there is. I don't think I've seen a decision so universally despised. What you are doing is removing the soul and essence of what the Polynesian is. You are taking away it's ambience, its charm and its tranquility. In return the lobby has been described as generic, heartless and looking like a mall or a standard Hilton lobby. In other words you've taken the Disney out of a Disney classic.
The sad thing is we're seeing this too much lately all through the parks....and in life in general. People don't necessarily want change for change's sake, and it's not always a good or welcome thing. Perhaps you think the fountain takes up too much room? Perhaps it costs a bit more to keep it nice and running smoothly? Maybe you just wanted something more modern? Well, in this instance I think I can speak for everyone in that: We don't want "the room", or efficient stream-lined modernism, we want that kitschy 60's Hawaiian feel! If an Embassey Suites can upkeep their massive water features all over the world for room rates going at $120/night certainly Disney can afford to with room rates going for much much much higher than that.
Please, look through the internet yourself and read what your paying customers are saying and reconsider this one aspect. You're making a big mistake with this one.
Thanks you for your consideration.
I just wanted to voice my opinion on the newly released plans for the Polynesian Resort - specifically the lobby's plan. The addition of the Trader Sam's seems to be a huge hit with the fan community, so congratulations on that! But the decision to remove the water feature is being universally derided and hated on every Disney fan website there is. I don't think I've seen a decision so universally despised. What you are doing is removing the soul and essence of what the Polynesian is. You are taking away it's ambience, its charm and its tranquility. In return the lobby has been described as generic, heartless and looking like a mall or a standard Hilton lobby. In other words you've taken the Disney out of a Disney classic.
The sad thing is we're seeing this too much lately all through the parks....and in life in general. People don't necessarily want change for change's sake, and it's not always a good or welcome thing. Perhaps you think the fountain takes up too much room? Perhaps it costs a bit more to keep it nice and running smoothly? Maybe you just wanted something more modern? Well, in this instance I think I can speak for everyone in that: We don't want "the room", or efficient stream-lined modernism, we want that kitschy 60's Hawaiian feel! If an Embassey Suites can upkeep their massive water features all over the world for room rates going at $120/night certainly Disney can afford to with room rates going for much much much higher than that.
Please, look through the internet yourself and read what your paying customers are saying and reconsider this one aspect. You're making a big mistake with this one.
Thanks you for your consideration.
kkocka
Active Member
Well I understand the family friendly aspect (good luck with that, Florida!), but I don't think a child can sit at a bar where alcohol is served. If there's a bartender behind the counter, the child can't sit there. The reason being that somebody can slip a drink to the minor quite easily, or the minor can drink from another's alcohol easily.
I mean, minors are allowed inside Sam's, just not at the bar. I don't think I've ever seen a minor legally sitting at a bar. Think of the bar stool height too!
tikiman
Well-Known Member
They can have a section where non-alcoholic drinks are served that kids can sit there.
pixargal
Well-Known Member
I fell in love with the Poly about 12 years ago when we stayed for the first time. The first time I saw the waterfall in the lobby was like a cartoon jaw-drop moment. I was hooked. Since we bought into DVC we hadn't stayed at the Poly, so we were excited when they announced the addition of DVC at our favorite resort. But, I will not be adding on. No, no, no. They have changed everything I love about it. The beach area is now cluttered with the ugly bungalows, the intimacy of the resort will be gone, and now the water feature is being taken away. I am so sad.
kkocka
Active Member
EnchantedTikiResponse
Member
If it ain't broke- break it! seems to be new norm. I read these boards daily but have not posted in a long time now. This one seems to be a new low if you are to believe the "artists" renderings. How low can we go I wonder? It really does look like a bad joke. Not just the lack of good ideas in the revamp but the ugh!? cringing execution. The idea of Disneylands Trader Sam's being a carryover is a no-brainer. It is apparent that these designers or managers have marginal creative talent if any. Perhaps the Tiki Gods will be left to straighten things out again as they did with Iago. Calling upon Pele... Calling Pele
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Agree, I was there only once for the spirit of Aloha show, and the big fountain gave a lot of feeling to the lobby.
I'm still surprised why they didn't at least tried to add a smaller fountain in one of the corners with a similar setting.
aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
Great letter, can I ask did you email it in or mail mail? I was thinking of sending one also but was thinking a traditional typed letter would make more of an impact.
nolatron
Well-Known Member
This makes me sad.
The DW and I got married at Sunset Point at the Poly. The Poly had a special place in our heart from that day... But it always did before then too. That's why we got married there. We both spent time at that waterfall (separately) before the ceremony and then afterwards together as newlyweds.
It sucks to see that BOTH of those locations dear to us will be gone forever soon.
The DW and I got married at Sunset Point at the Poly. The Poly had a special place in our heart from that day... But it always did before then too. That's why we got married there. We both spent time at that waterfall (separately) before the ceremony and then afterwards together as newlyweds.
It sucks to see that BOTH of those locations dear to us will be gone forever soon.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Agree with you, exactly what I was imagining as well.
a small waterfall coming from top, falling in a small pond with lots of small bridges.. but it looks a very generic resort now.
tikiman
Well-Known Member
Ah, well that explains it better.
Then again I'm just guessing...haha
HenryMystic
Well-Known Member
You're breaking my heart man.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
RIP
Shame on you Disney, shame on you...
Shame on you Disney, shame on you...
Father Robinson
Well-Known Member
Bravo! I hope they read this!!!!! Listen up Disney, the people you're doing this for are speaking to you!!!!
Polydweller
Well-Known Member
Without even mentioning the problems they've had with the waterfall, one of the biggest complaints about the Poly has been about its 'dated' lobby and how it needed to be modernized. And now that they give a rendering of a more modern, open design people dislike it.
As Tikiman can tell you, and as I know from visits starting in the 1970's, the Poly lobby and entrance have changed several times over the years. This is just another change but boy people hate change. Me, in this case I like the change to something more open and glad they are doing something about the water feature that had had so many problems and already been cut back.
As Tikiman can tell you, and as I know from visits starting in the 1970's, the Poly lobby and entrance have changed several times over the years. This is just another change but boy people hate change. Me, in this case I like the change to something more open and glad they are doing something about the water feature that had had so many problems and already been cut back.
Polydweller
Well-Known Member
Well, I wish you luck but doubt that it will work. The last conversation I had with the Poly manager in Oct basically made a couple of things clear. First, the local management hasn't as much control of this change process as one might think. The DVC group is driving a lot of it to 'improve' it and given that the DVC division is making heaps of money they win mist arguments.
Two, as nice a man as he is, the manager's heart is really with GF. I think Tikiman is onto something that the Poly needs it's own dedicated manager whose primary and only passion is the Poly. But until the DVC is done I doubt that any change will be made and the transformation of the Poly will continue. And not all of that transformation is good.
sublimesting
Well-Known Member
Yeah but if I want "open" I'll take a few steps further and go on outside. Our local mall is nice and open and boring. People like water. Water water everywhere...it's just in our nature.
michmousefan
Well-Known Member
Another thing the concept art didn't show was the adjacent 400 square feet for stroller parking so parents can cram their kids up to the bar and watch the animatronic snake/tentacle/whatever deliver them their red pop.
I would love to have a primarily adult bar like TJ's at the DLH, but fear it's going to be a bland offering with the same menu that Tambu now offers. I'd also be much happier if it was *not* physically connected to the lobby, but fear that all that's going to happen is a lobby bar "nook" right off the main drag.