Walt Disney World to build 2,000-room Hotel: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

[Master Gracey 5]

Never stayed at POP, but I hope to make it to all Disney resorts in my lifetime. Add one more to that list!

As much as I appreciate the idea for the theme of Pop Half-a-Century, since its new and different, when I stayed there in '08 it just didn't do much for me. I'm hoping that they do re-theme the other half of pop to the animation suites as well just to give the resort some unity. Unless they plan on pulling down the bridge and adding a whole lot of trees, they almost have to.

Another clue to me that they'll be re-themeing is that they only have 4 movies included in the new buildings. Four movies certainly don't represent Disney's animation.

I agree with the need to re-theme POP for unity's sake. It would be too disjointed to have Lion King rooms across the lake from 1970s pop culture. I think you'll see a rehab/retheme come the end of construction that draws on other animated classics.

What does everyone think of the name?

The name could work fine, but isn't as simple and catchy as some of the other resorts (i.e. "Boardwalk", "Polynesian", or "Grand Floridian"). Of course, now I'm just looking for faults without reason.

 

[wdwmagic]

A little bit more info.

The 1,120 family suites will be located in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings, and the 864 themed rooms will be in The Little Mermaid wings.

 

[Monorail Lime]

What does everyone think of the name?

ANIMATION will look cool on the bus marquees.

 

[Master Yoda]

What does everyone think of the name?

I am good with it although it would seem like the writing is on the wall for the Pop century theme to go bye-bye and I am not super pumped about that posibility. I have always liked the walk down memory lane that I would take in the Pop Century lobby when I would walk past the shadow boxes full of pop culture nostalgia.

 

[Figment632]

Great news! :sohappy:

 

[IWant2GoNow]

What does everyone think of the name?

I think it's a great name. I'm just hoping that within the theme of the resort they incorporate some of the processes of animation. Such as maybe some pictures of sketches or animation cells on the walls. Something that actually shows the steps to making a movie like these. Otherwise they probably could have just named it Disney/Pixar Movie Resort. "Art of Animation" sounds like something that should explain how these animations were constructed. But maybe it's just me. :shrug:

 

[DVCOwner]

I think this is a great move by Disney. I think that the value resort got people to stay on property that normally would have stay at off site hotels. This increase in suits and rooms will do the same.

 

[PhilharMagician]

This is great news. Finally cleaning up that eyesore. I hope they also do something with RC since their current mood is to clean things up.

What does everyone think of the name?

I would drop the art out of the name and just make it Disney's Animation Resort

 

[JWG]

I agree, I would imagine the next Refurb. of Pop Century will be the change over of its theming to match. Another Pixar film (Toys?) and another Disney classic (maybe even just a Prince/Princess area to that genre).

 

[adamcav]

I love this. With my family growing bigger lately and traveling with friends - we can't afford to stay in a DVC Villa year after year just to be comfortable. Now we might be able to switch it up and maybe do every other. On year we can splurge and the next we can save a little while still having the opportunity to visit each year.

And then of course I'm thrilled that they are doing something with the abandoned property.

Great news.

 

[ryanduggers]

This is a great idea and will be very popular.

My only question now involves Flamingo Crossings...

Doesn't this blow away a good bit of the whole concept for this area?

Flamingo Crossings now seems a bit redundant to me now.

I never was a big fan of the crossings in the first place. It always sounded just like a shopping center with some cheap hotels found everywhere else in America.

my 2 cents.

 

[DrummerAlly]

I agree, I would imagine the next Refurb. of Pop Century will be the change over of its theming to match. Another Pixar film (Toys?) and another Disney classic (maybe even just a Prince/Princess area to that genre).

My guess is that we'd see Jungle Book and Lady and the Tramp and then maybe some other classics like Peter Pan, Aladdin & Beauty and the Beast that aren't already represented at ASMovies. If this is what Disney is planning on doing they certainly don't want us to know it. If you read the announcement in the Disney Parks blog they repeatedly say that it will be located across from PC and make it seem as though PC is staying.

 

[wdwmagic]

This is a great idea and will be very popular.

My only question now involves Flamingo Crossings...

Doesn't this blow away a good bit of the whole concept for this area?

Flamingo Crossings now seems a bit redundant to me now.

I never was a big fan of the crossings in the first place. It always sounded just like a shopping center with some cheap hotels found everywhere else in America.

my 2 cents.

Flamingo Crossing is for non-Disney hotels. This newly announced resort is onsite.

 

[wdwmagic]

I agree, I would imagine the next Refurb. of Pop Century will be the change over of its theming to match. Another Pixar film (Toys?) and another Disney classic (maybe even just a Prince/Princess area to that genre).

I really don't see why they would go to the expense of doing that. This new resort is totally separate from Pop Century.

 

[bgraham34]

This is very good news. I am glad to see the unfinished project will now be done. I bet there thinking is with the new Fantasyland expansion more people will be making there first trips and they want to have enough value space to accommodate that.

 

[wdweric2.0]

I really don't see why they would go to the expense of doing that. This new resort is totally separate from Pop Century.

Because now the name doesnt make sense :wave: bur i see your point, why change it when people are used to it.

My only concern is Bus Service. I hope they don't share with POP, the wait times would be very long!

 

[DrummerAlly]

I really don't see why they would go to the expense of doing that. This new resort is totally separate from Pop Century.

It's so close to PC that they would have to add in a ton of trees and tear down the bridge to keep the two themes separate (which I agree would be cheaper than re-themeing). My big issue is that Pop Century doesn't represent a century. At least before there was the possibility that it could represent a century at some later time. I think the lack of popularity of the theme of PC, along with the mis-leading name and its proximity to the new resort is a good enough reason to spend the money to re-theme PC and make one unified resort.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I agree, I think this is great. The family suites do add a nice affordable option for a larger family. And yes finally not another DVC property!!!! Have a great day all! Marie

 

[wdwmagic]

It's so close to PC that they would have to add in a ton of trees and tear down the bridge to keep the two themes separate (which I agree would be cheaper than re-themeing). My big issue is that Pop Century doesn't represent a century. At least before there was the possibility that it could represent a century at some later time. I think the lack of popularity of the theme of PC, along with the mis-leading name and its proximity to the new resort is a good enough reason to spend the money to re-theme PC and make one unified resort.

Well its a Pop Half Century

Its been open for 7 years without the other decades, and Disney have not had a problem with that, nor have the guests. The icons in place at Pop are very popular, and I just don't see Disney getting anything out of a retheme. It isn't worth the expense and upsetting all those guests who enjoy the current theme of Pop.

I could turn out to be wrong, but I would be willing to take a sportsmans bet that Pop will not be changed.

Hiding the new resort wont be difficult, and if needed, removing a bridge is nothing (for Disney). They could also just leave that in place, in much the same way as the two Port Orleans Resorts are connected. The theme of the two is close enough that they can co-exist.

 

[jmuboy]

How can WDW afford this resort if they are too "poor" to be able to "afford" to fix the Yeti?