News Refurbishment coming soon to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort - Moana details to be included

[dreday3]

Exactly what are you disagreeing with because you seem to be agreeing.

You are right that the artwork at the Riviera is not theming and that is part of the problem. A themed hotel, while typically considered less immersive than a park-based offering, is still a themed experience. It is telling a story and placing you in that story. It would be like Mickey Mouse being in Moana because it is a Disney movie and so it might as well have some Disney characters in it. It doesn't matter if it is clearly the best animation that has ever been done of Mickey Mouse, it would still be odd, detracting and have nothing to do with the story being told. The quality of the art at Riviera is not the issue, it is that is has nothing to do with the story and further muddies and already muddied concept. Why do the images around the Polynesian have to be of Polynesia? The peoples of Polynesia use images of other places and art styles to decorate their homes. Why not have some beautiful French Impressionism or South American folk art? If you prefer Disney decorations to a themed experience that is fine but they are different things.

You were just downplaying the prominence of the Moana elements in the rooms. Yes, the graphic looks like a Polynesian tattoo and it very clearly is Maui's tattoo with his tattoo self right there on the largest open space of the wall gesturing towards Moana. That entire wall designed around Maui and Moana.


How?

I have to be honest, I'm completely confused. I thought people were complaining there wasn't enough Disney in the hotels or opposite, that not everything needs a "Disney" theme. And I said Riviera has Disney art without being over the top in theme, so best of both worlds for those who want some Disney touches but don't want over the top Disney theming - or I thought that's what I was saying. Then you said a lot of words, I answered what I thought you were saying, and now you've said more and I'm just going to watch tv.

To me the feature wall doesn't slap me in the face with Moana. I could bring my Dad there and he'd have no idea because he wouldn't know that was Maui from the movie within the tattoo (wall). He would just think "hey, this looks like a Polynesian tattoo. Fits the theme of Polynesian Village." So, sorry, I don't think the Moana elements are that in your face. (prominent)

Apples and oranges - the Star Wars Hotel is an intergalactic cruiser, part of the entire role-playing story. Of course they are not going to have pictures from the movies because the intergalactic cruiser couldn't be themed after a movie when there is no movie, only the real life you are living while staying there.
Now if it was just a hotel themed after Star Wars, then perhaps they could have memorabilia from the movies as art. Like Hard Rock has what memorabilia they have. But it's not a Star Wars themed hotel, it's an intergalactic cruiser.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I have to be honest, I'm completely confused. I thought people were complaining there wasn't enough Disney in the hotels or opposite, that not everything needs a "Disney" theme. And I said Riviera has Disney art without being over the top in theme, so best of both worlds for those who want some Disney touches but don't want over the top Disney theming - or I thought that's what I was saying. Then you said a lot of words, I answered what I thought you were saying, and now you've said more and I'm just going to watch tv.

Different people mean different things when they talk about things being “Disney. To some “Disney” means the characters and more characters means more “Disney”. To others it means quality and storytelling. The Haunted Mansion is therefore both not very “Disney” and quintessential “Disney”.

To me the feature wall doesn't slap me in the face with Moana. I could bring my Dad there and he'd have no idea because he wouldn't know that was Maui from the movie within the tattoo (wall). He would just think "hey, this looks like a Polynesian tattoo. Fits the theme of Polynesian Village." So, sorry, I don't think the Moana elements are that in your face. (prominent)

By this logic Jack Sparrow is not prominent in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride because if you didn’t know about the movies and character then you wouldn’t know he is a movie character. It’s just pirates looking for someone.

Apples and oranges - the Star Wars Hotel is an intergalactic cruiser, part of the entire role-playing story. Of course they are not going to have pictures from the movies because the intergalactic cruiser couldn't be themed after a movie when there is no movie, only the real life you are living while staying there.

While the role playing aspect is unique, this is the root conceit of all themed experience. That is why the employees are called Cast Members. It’s not just a cute phrase, it is a description of their role in a story being told just like the cast of a play or movie.

 

[dreday3]

Different people mean different things when they talk about things being “Disney. To some “Disney” means the characters and more characters means more “Disney”. To others it means quality and storytelling. The Haunted Mansion is therefore both not very “Disney” and quintessential “Disney”.

By this logic Jack Sparrow is not prominent in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride because if you didn’t know about the movies and character then you wouldn’t know he is a movie character. It’s just pirates looking for someone.

While the role playing aspect is unique, this is the root conceit of all themed experience. That is why the employees are called Cast Members. It’s not just a cute phrase, it is a description of their role in a story being told just like the cast of a play or movie.

Okay, you win. I really don't want to think about this anymore. I just like the darn rooms. That's it. If that makes me a bad Disney fan ( ), so be it. I'm strong, I'll survive.

 

[UNCgolf]

I have to be honest, I'm completely confused. I thought people were complaining there wasn't enough Disney in the hotels or opposite, that not everything needs a "Disney" theme. And I said Riviera has Disney art without being over the top in theme, so best of both worlds for those who want some Disney touches but don't want over the top Disney theming - or I thought that's what I was saying. Then you said a lot of words, I answered what I thought you were saying, and now you've said more and I'm just going to watch tv.

To me the feature wall doesn't slap me in the face with Moana. I could bring my Dad there and he'd have no idea because he wouldn't know that was Maui from the movie within the tattoo (wall). He would just think "hey, this looks like a Polynesian tattoo. Fits the theme of Polynesian Village." So, sorry, I don't think the Moana elements are that in your face. (prominent)

Apples and oranges - the Star Wars Hotel is an intergalactic cruiser, part of the entire role-playing story. Of course they are not going to have pictures from the movies because the intergalactic cruiser couldn't be themed after a movie when there is no movie, only the real life you are living while staying there.
Now if it was just a hotel themed after Star Wars, then perhaps they could have memorabilia from the movies as art. Like Hard Rock has what memorabilia they have. But it's not a Star Wars themed hotel, it's an intergalactic cruiser.

Hotels like the Boardwalk Inn were built to be themed just like the Star Wars hotel is. Not to quite the same level (in that you're not supposed to be playing a character like you are at Star Wars), but character art, memorabilia from Disney animated films, etc. shouldn't work there for the exact same reason you said it wouldn't work at the Star Wars hotel. It breaks the hotel's theme. As someone mentioned above, Eisner made sure the Grand Floridian was built with intricate theming because he believed that was the Disney difference and what Disney guests expected. Current management disagrees, of course.

The Riviera, on the other hand, basically isn't themed at all.

The Polynesian is a bit different because it was never really themed to any authentic time/place, so it's not quite as big of a deal there (at least to me; others might disagree). I think the tattoo wall makes the room look a lot worse, but it's not because it's tied to Moana. It just overwhelms the room and detracts from the ambience.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

This is also just a personal preference of mine, but I don't like hotel rooms without carpets. Obviously this is not just a Poly thing, but outside of some Orlando hotels I've not seen that elsewhere except Hotel Cheyenne at DLP.

 

[dreday3]

This is also just a personal preference of mine, but I don't like hotel rooms without carpets. Obviously this is not just a Poly thing, but outside of some Orlando hotels I've not seen that elsewhere except Hotel Cheyenne at DLP.

They are everywhere. A lot of new or newly refurbished hotels have "hardwood" floors now.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This is also just a personal preference of mine, but I don't like hotel rooms without carpets. Obviously this is not just a Poly thing, but outside of some Orlando hotels I've not seen that elsewhere except Hotel Cheyenne at DLP.

I find this very surprising. It’s very much the current trend for not just hospitality but in most design categories. Carpets are more expensive to maintain and because of this widely considered to just be dirty.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Okay, you win. I really don't want to think about this anymore. I just like the darn rooms. That's it. If that makes me a bad Disney fan ( ), so be it. I'm strong, I'll survive.

I didn’t say anyone is a bad Disney fan.

 

[SorcererMC]

I don't believe it's accurate to call the wall Maui's tattoo. It appears to be tapa of Moana's story.
It is the reciprocal version of Moana becoming represented in Maui's tattoos.

It's quite reasonable to deduce that the wall is intended to be bark cloth given 1) it's the same distinct rust color; and 2) the gendered division in Polynesian culture (and others): tattoos were part of rites for men, while bark cloth making was part of women's work to commemorate special events like weddings. It is a signifier of wealth and status. The special event in this case is Moana's journey, which is also replicated with the hardwood floors and headboards, like her canoe, with the blue of the ocean. Its cultural relevance is why it's so prominent.

 

[Thelazer]

I'm just going to say, I actually think the re-do isn't ALL that bad here.
Compared to, the horror show that Epcot is right now, that is.

 

[LittleBuford]

Hotels like the Boardwalk Inn were built to be themed just like the Star Wars hotel is. Not to quite the same level (in that you're not supposed to be playing a character like you are at Star Wars), but character art, memorabilia from Disney animated films, etc. shouldn't work there for the exact same reason you said it wouldn't work at the Star Wars hotel. It breaks the hotel's theme.

Note that paintings of the Disney castles feature prominently among the artwork of the Boardwalk Inn's lobby:

 

[LittleBuford]

And characters were present in the old bedspreads of the Grand Floridian (the first of the photos below was shared a few pages back):

 

[UNCgolf]

Note that paintings of the Disney castles feature prominently among the artwork of the Boardwalk Inn's lobby:

That's the kind of thing that's absolutely fine. They're hiding little Disney touches in things that make sense in the hotel's theme. Minor touches like that are no issue.

I don't think anyone responding to this is too stupid to understand the difference between the types of things under discussion -- none of those things detract from the Boardwalk theme. I don't think the Moana touches detract from the Polynesian theme either, to be clear, it's just the specific design doesn't look very good.

 

[dreday3]

That's the kind of thing that's absolutely fine. They're not paintings of a Disney park. Minor touches like that are no issue.

I don't think anyone responding to this is too stupid to understand the difference between the types of things under discussion.

So what is the difference between that (castle art at Boardwalk, themed bedspread at GF) and the artwork around the Riviera then? By what you previously said - Disney art (characters, castle, whatever) remove you from the "theme" of the hotel - be it Victorian, Boardwalk, a Riviera that expands from France to Italy... I think the problem some have with art at Riviera is it doesn't belong because it breaks the "Riviera theme" Disney was going for?

You think the art at Riviera is too "obviously" Disney?

Or who cares, let's stop talking about it?

 

[UNCgolf]

So what is the difference between that (castle art at Boardwalk, themed bedspread at GF) and the artwork around the Riviera then? By what you previously said - Disney art (characters, castle, whatever) remove you from the "theme" of the hotel - be it Victorian, Boardwalk, a Riviera that expands from France to Italy... I think the problem some have with art at Riviera is it doesn't belong because it breaks the "Riviera theme" Disney was going for?

You think the art at Riviera is too "obviously" Disney?

Or who cares, let's stop talking about it?

I never complained about the art at the Riviera.

It doesn't really matter there because the Riviera isn't a themed hotel. It's just a standard American hotel.

 

[dreday3]

I never complained about the art at the Riviera.

It doesn't really matter there because the Riviera isn't a themed hotel. It's just a standard American hotel.

Understood.
It's hard to tell who's critiquing what part of my comments because my whole post is quoted, but some people are referring to different topics.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

One thing I think we can all agree on, is that one of the big reasons to stay on-property (aside from the easy access, staying in the bubble, etc.) is to FEEL like you're staying at Disney. The more they modernize and remove what made the resorts so unique and uniquely Disney... The more they become like every other hotel. And when you level that playing field, it becomes harder and harder to justify the insane premium that Disney charges for their rooms.

I don't fault Disney here or dislike the new Poly rooms... They desperately needed a makeover and modernization, but I do feel that each resort makeover is chipping away at that Disney immersion and uniqueness. The resorts are becoming too homogenized - modern, with rather staid (even bland) theming. It also breaks from the traditional tiering of resorts, from the more generic (though perhaps more garish) Value resorts to the more fully themed Deluxe, which has always been part of the equation in picking a resort in the first place.

 

[aliceismad]

I find this very surprising. It’s very much the current trend for not just hospitality but in most design categories. Carpets are more expensive to maintain and because of this widely considered to just be dirty.

Agreed. In hotels, many chains are going to luxury-vinyl surfaces or similar because they are easier to maintain and clean and also they don't harbor bed bugs. Bed bugs were a gamechanger for a while in hotel room design.

 

[UNCgolf]

Understood.
It's hard to tell who's critiquing what part of my comments because my whole post is quoted, but some people are referring to different topics.

I don't really mind small character touches at any of the resorts, as long as they're done in a way that still matches the overall resort theme. I think there's a fine line to walk there, though.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don't think the Moana touches detract from the Polynesian theme either

I agree, but many of the posts here seem to be saying that the Moana references are overdone or out of keeping with Disney’s traditional approach.