My wife and I went to WDW almost every year from 1985 to 2019. This video is so nostalgic since we stayed at The GF, Contemporary, and Polynesian many times. The last year we went we began to notice the big changes that were occurring and it was disappointing to my wife who was a rabid Disney Fan. Then came Covid and my wife contracting Parkinson's and passing away in early 2022.This video shows all the things she really enjoyed are all gone now. In many respects I am glad my wife in not around to see these big changes since I know it would break her heart.
I am very sorry for your loss, looks like you were soul mates and enjoying Disney World so much together, you must have wonderful memories. Take care and thanks for sharing
Glad to hear you have great memories of your time with your late wife. I have some great ones with my family as well. Haven’t been back to Disney since 2017 when the kids got older. It’s definitely different these days. Lots of perks you had from staying at a resort are gone. I don’t think I could accept the new normal. At least we have the memories!Take care!
I’m an ex cast member from the front desk of the Grand Californian. I still get nostalgic and misty-eyed in that lobby for its craftsmanship and whimsy… even with all the bad guest behavior I saw post-panini. That building has a soul, even if Disney leadership no longer does.
The only issue is that I wish it had more California history incorporated into it like the Native American and African art displays throughout the other lodges
Post-panini. That’s perfect lol. Took my daughter to Disney once. Will never go again and she’s on board with that. These videos make me nostalgic not just for what made Disney desirable but for the peak of humanity in general. I didn’t know I was living through it :( I didn’t know it would only get worse. Lotr matrix and titanic in theaters made me wonder in amazement what was next. The internet going mainstream and technology advancement made us seem unstoppable. I miss the future being something positive rather than something to dread.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I hear you, and it’s very subtle, but the theme of the hotel ironically isn’t really about California. It’s about the Arts and Crafts movement and the resulting lodges-some of which happened to be in California’s woodlands. Rather than Peter Dominick broadly mimicking the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, he enlisted a team of artisans to recreate the authentic collaboration at the soul of the movement. The result is a series of art installations that might seem arbitrary, but are the artist’s interpretation of the theme. Some examples are the Sun Moon and Arbor gates, the bird carvings by the elevator banks on each floor (all of which have names, just ask a concierge cast member!), and the bear sculptures along the front desk. California gets to be the star of the show symbolically, with some artists using poppies or bears or oranges in their motifs. But the immersion comes from the history of this era of craftsmanship rather than the art that specifically came from our state. The next time you’re on this coast, I definitely recommend taking the Art of the Craft tour at the hotel. There’s enough art on display that no two tours are alike, as each guide will usually point out their favorite pieces along with the key ones written into the script.
It’s a product of today’s mentality anywhere. Maximum profit for the least amount of expenditure. At this point those in charge are so far removed from building the company all they can do is try to maximize profits. They don’t even consider how it all came to be and how to maintain it.
And definitely the release of that even worse customer care system that they make you go through a torture session just to say you're rejected have a good day.
I stayed at Riverside while the re-theming had just begun- it was one of my favorite memories of any vacation. For reference, my only other experience before this on property was a suite at the animal kingdom lodge (magnificent experience as well). The architecture was part of what held the theming together, as did the experiences present on resort grounds. The rooms themselves were clean, but well themed and lacked the current sense of “disney ad” that seems to have plagued nearly all their current hotels.There were lovely walking pathways everywhere, even to the French Quarter area of the resort. The best part for me was the boat to disney springs. I couldn’t care less about the destination; the ride itself was just a pleasant; relaxing experience. I was very glad we stayed at riverside after seeing the French Quarter’s pool (has King Trident and serpents oddly placed in what is supposed to be a marco gras themed) as opposed to the “fishing hole” themed pool at Riverside. The main building/dining hall/restaurant was gorgeous, especially at night. The food was pretty good (from what I remember) and the theming continued inside. Additionally, the bridges by this area further tied in the experience as a whole. Overall, I found this experience more immersive than just about anything they’ve added in recent years.
The Eisner era is really the pinnacle for Disney resorts. He believed in an idea called entertainment architecture and this philosophy really shows in the Michael Graves designed Swan and Dolphin, which are truly remarkably designed resorts. It’s a shame Disney leadership today just slaps uninteresting minimalist designs onto the newer resorts and calls it a day. Also, interesting fact about Robert A.M. Stern, he helped design the nearby town of Celebration.
For me, the "Disney Difference" was also the "Disney Discovery" - the thrill of exploring a park or resort and finding subtle little features that complement the setting's theme. Finding things like that always was a joy, both for discovering something secret, and for knowing that the makers had put such caring thought into placing them to be found, like treasure chests waiting to be unlocked.
This is an excellent video. I was aware of the decline of Disney in their movies and theme parks, but it’s not surprising that they have also failed in managing the resort hotels. This is what happens when you replace management that understood the vision and importance of creativity with businessmen only interested in profits. I’m not sure Disney can regain the trust of the consumer.
I could not agree more with the idea that the Eisner era resorts were far superior in every way. That was golden age of disney and I’m so glad I got to experience it! I’m kind of heart broken about the cardboard scales back zero creativity required boxes of today. It doesn’t stop disney from charging truly laughably outrageous prices for their ordinary boring sleep boxes. I’d rather stay club level at Portofino Bay at universal. Which I never ever thought I would say. Thanks for this thoughtful incredible content!
The 70's Polynesian Resort is my absolute favorite. Sitting by the fountains, the lobby that was so full of plants you felt like you could get lost in it! The natural materials of the furniture combined with the plants and water really did make you feel transported to a fantasy version of Polynesia. Even the bold color choices mimicked that intense variety of flora found on the islands. I feel like Disney has just turned everything down lately. Creativity is now beholden more than ever to the bottom line. I don't care how much the Polynesian's lobby fountain cost to run, I just care about how it made me feel. Walt didn't care about the cost of the gold leaf, he knew it looked right so he used it. Don't we all remember the first time we stepped into the Grand Floridian? The spectacle of it! All the wood, the height of the ceilings, the way the light pours throughout the seating area making you feel transported to somewhere out of time and place- somewhere magical. The modern W-style resorts are fine, but they're not magical and that's what I want from Disney. I want them to care like they used to. Ah, but I am old now, so maybe it's just time rolling on :)
I think part of the reason they got rid of the fountain was also for health reason. Water features like that can easily harbor Legionnaires disease. There’s a reason you don’t see them in most hotels these days. Which is a darn shame, because I do remember being awed by the indoor waterfall as a kid.
I've only ever been in the Polynesian with its current lobby set up, and even though I knew it used to be more lush, I didn't realize how significant the changes were. I like how it looks now, but it obviously doesn't compare to what it used to be
@@fantasylover87 Actually. the main reason why Fountains and Water features are disappearing is because pranksters keep bubblebathing them. Unlike the old days, were you needed about 3-4 bottles of dishwashing soap to bubblebath a 10,000 gallon fountain. Today, there are bubblebathing formulas out there that so powerful, that I've seen a single bath bomb no bigger then a golf ball take on a 10K gallon fountain with ease. Most people don't talk about it much, but bubblebath attacks are a big issue for fountain owners.
The money they’re saving on not having to maintain the fountain could be used to fix the leaky lobby roof. I had dinner in one of the Polynesian’s restaurants last year and during a huge downpour, I could see several recycling bins used to collect the leaking rainwater. I’ve never seen that happen in a Disney hotel before and I’ve been going there for years. It shows the lack of care and it’s so disheartening.
As someone who grew up going to disney when it was amazing and is seeing it all get destroyed, I love that youre not a sellout and don't sugarcoat it. I really wonder what is going to happen to this company in the next 10 years or so. How long can they keep this up? How sad that all they can do is shit all over people's memories and a place that really used to be special.
There was a time before cable and the internet when Disney would only release the greatest movies once every 7 years because a new generation had become a new audience. I think the same will happen with the resorts. We old Disney fans are nostalgic. But, what is happening there is the norm for the newest generations. They don't know the old parks so they have nothing to compare what is going on to. It is the new acceptable norm for those younger than us.
Disney has always made and must make changes to the parks to stay relevant. I agree that some are terrible like the Carsland / Frontierland mess, but there are also a lot of good things that Disney still does.
@@dannielz6 I'm not sure what good decisions Disney has made in the past few years? It's not supposed to be relevant, its supposed to stand the test of time. Pirates is 57 years old, haunted mansion 55 and still they are some of the most loved and popular rides at disney. They aren't making attractions like that anymore.
What I love about your videos is that you are not a hater. You have a passion and a desire. Something that is lacking in current disney leadership. The earring imagineer said they have to justify what the money making aspect is first then present the aesthetic. I think what worked great in the past was Walt was a visionary and Roy was a realist as far as money was concerned. But they worked together to make something happen. My opinion is today it is only about making money. I understand, but that model is making people turn away.
Eisner to Disney was Jobs to Apple. They had a vision, and they understood the finer details. letting the engineers and designs work together. Understanding a good product will result in people wanting it, and will pay for that experience. People don’t see the fine details on their own, but on the whole those fine details create an experience.
@@PoseidonEntertainment hit the nail right on the head. I keep thinking of the line from Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm) in Jurassic Park “I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it!” This sounds like Disney management more and more by the day.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I never saw Igor as all that bright. Less so now. After years and years of yearly loving The Happiest Place on Earth, everything started to change for me around 2007… when I started to experience the implementation of Igor’s assault on Disney.
@@cherylb6755 I vivid remember my dad and us going around the 2009ish time. And he kept saying something felt off about Disney world. He said it feels less polished then he remembered, but maybe he just getting older. But looking back, I think he felt the changes; and didn’t like what was happening to it.
While Eisner was all about convincing guests to stay in the park by offering them unique experiences leagues above what they could get at a random Orlando Holiday Inn with a free shuttle to the Magic Kingdom, I think that modern leadership just started taking it for granted at some point that most guests would stay on property and so they don't feel the need to try as hard anymore.
Don't you hate how it will feed you the same diet of videos? I have to use three separate phones to pull up You Tube to give me variety. Long story, it's just cheaper to run three phones. But each phone gives me a different experience.
Your points about recent Disney resorts resembling Las Vegas faux opulence are spot on. Tragically, I think the Disney resorts are suffering from the same problems we saw with Epcot Center. For every person who genuinely appreciates the unique architecture, theming and contrast to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, there are 100 people saying, "Where's Mickey? I paid thousands of dollars for my kids to see Disney characters!". Thus, we now have a dumbed-down EPCOT and "deluxe" resorts with IP shellac. I recently booked an early December trip at Animal Kingdom Lodge. That resort is still refreshingly unique although it too was a bit cheapened during the last renovation. I'm not sure why Animal Kingdom Lodge has been spared the blasphemy we see at other deluxe resorts. No doubt Disney executives are foaming at the mouth to slap Lion King kitsch throughout the buildings and pool areas.
@@PoseidonEntertainment The room carpets were removed and replaced with laminate flooring. The colorful tile in the bathrooms was replaced with, again, plain, generic tile. The previous, detailed night stands were replaced with, you guessed it, plain, generic night stands. Same with the chairs.
My family's favorite resort has always been Wilderness Lodge. From the lobby aroma to the rustic ambiance, it's been our place to put up our feet and relax. In November 2023, my husband and I said our wedding vows right by the bubbling spring in that very lobby. Thank you for highlighting the magic of what real thematic resort stays used to be like in Disney World.
Iger and D'Amaro stated multiple times in the past months that they are "IP" driven. Ridiculous! Walt never thought that way If Iger and D'Amaro want to go down in history as the destroyers of Walt's attractions, then go get another job at another company (like Universal which is hiring away folks from WDW Orlando) and is up I-4 by about 5 to 10 miles.
The Saratoga horses are like the entire history of the problem in microcosm. In a small corner of the lobby there used to be a series of profile illustrations of Disney's animated horses. It was a subtle and clever way to tie in the Disney IP to the resort. It was just as if they were celebrity horses who had raced at the resort. It was also unique because at the time a Disney hadn't started including many characters at all in the resorts, so having (mostly) obscure horse characters wouldn't even break the theme for more casual Disney fans. It was just a fun thng to notice as you walked by. Now they are just massive faux paintings that just scream "REMEMBER THE DISNEY HORSES!?" The horses bring it full circle from tasteful to overblown.
Someone else mentioned that too and I think you described the difference perfectly. Characters used to be a fun little nod and easter egg, but it now sends the message that leadership thinks you're an idiot who needs characters shoved in your face 24/7
Wilderness lodge is the GOAT resort. Stayed there a few weeks ago for my wife’s and my wedding anniversary. Took the bus to wilderness campground every day. It was so much fun yet so chill. Animal kingdom lodge used to be our favorite but now it’s changed!
Not to get too off topic but did something change at animal kingdom lodge you like less or just mean wilderness lodge was even better then your previous favorite akl?
Much of the problem is the emphasis on the DVC as a cash cow. Disney used to build engrossingly themed resorts that park visitors would WANT to stay in. But now the strategy is to slap up generic condo buildings with vague or highly diluted theming that DVC members HAVE to stay in. And then Disney sees no financial point in refurbishing the older resorts attentively, so IP overlays are used as a cheap, quick fix.
i still fondly remember when my parents took me to wilderness lodge for a week when i was a kid, it was so gorgeous and i was so happy when it was the first you brought up - so glad its still just as beautiful as it was a decade ago
My first Disney experience was in 1978. My parents booked rooms at the Poly. If Disney ever hopes to truly compete with Universal, they need to find a way to recreate that experience. Ironically, "The Disney Shopping Village" was one of the smallest things you could do at the resort. Now, Its spirit dominates every aspect of all Disney experiences. (The original Haunted Mansion store above the Keelboats was amazing, however.)
Eh. Universal's hotel offerings aren't on the level of what Disney was doing in the '80s and '90s, and everything they've revealed for the upcoming Epic Universe hotels fits into the same "big white box" school of design of all of Disney's recent towers. Lowes' Royal Pacific is probably the nicest they've attempted but unlike, say, Disney's Polynesian or even Port Orleans, the interior decor and theming seems unwilling to fully commit to conveying the idea of a specific time and place like the good Disney resorts do. Moreover, all of Universal's hotels are quite overpriced because they rely on Express Pass as an essential perk that people are willing to pay for, much like early entry at Disney.
You do make a good point here! I think what Univesal is going for in terms of hotel theming in comparison to disney lacks story (except for Royal Pacific) because their focus leans more on the attractions telling the story rather than the hotels because of the distance they have with the park itself. Plus, most guests will just be so tired of standing and walking that they'll wind down and rest. Now that they rebranded themselves as "Universal Destinations and Experiences," rather than become a homage or experience of the theme they want to portray like like Boardwalk and Yacht Club would, the hotels there are more so about the essence of the location you are in (Portofino= The actual Town in Italy), Sapphire Falls (a take on Caribbean islands), Cabana Bay (The spirit of the 1950s-1960s, streamlined to feel like so as a good amount of people born and raised in that era would make up for the experience with their own experiences), and so on. I wish Universal would do that sort of difference Disney has done in the 80s-90s. I liked the Universal Parks more because they felt different from Disney, mainly from their attractions (AKA I was also into it because of Jurassic Park River Adventure). Also, you are partly right on the hotels being overpriced. They not only lure guests in with "free express passes," they also bank on the convenience on being actually in the park and not needing to drive or take a shuttle to Universal, let's say. You could walk or take a water taxi to the park or Citywalk. They should start paying attention to detail, considering their legacy of making timeless movies, from horror to comedy to action and adventure. I still have high hopes for Epic Universe, but I agree with your take here.
My first experience with Disney was in 1978 as well. I was 12 years old. And I was that kid in the commercial looking down Main Street seeing that castle with my mouth hanging open. I didn’t stay at a Disney hotel we stayed off property, but just like you said they need to bring the magic back. Not only at the hotels but the parks as well.
@@TheInflicted You can knock the Universal hotels for theming or "magic" or whatever but compared to our stay at the Yacht club, the beds at the Hard Rock were nicer, the room was bigger, the food was certainly good enough, and I didn't feel like I was inside a giant Kafkaesque machine that was intended to bleed me of all my money, morning, day, and night. Yeah, I felt myself thinking about how Disney would never allow the garden at the Hard Rock to look that sloppy in spots, and some parts of the hotel clearly had been abused and needed a refresh, but I slept better, I ate better, and I was less stressed out.
My first time to Disney was around that same time. It was magical largely because I was a child. As an adult, I've been to Disney many times and to me there were some very good trips in the early 2000s. That was a time where you could still get good restaurant reservations and get on rides without extensive planning ahead. I think they just had a better capacity to crowd ratio. Back then, we could just jump on whatever park bus showed up at our resort bus stop first and once in the parks, get fast passes and make meal reservations there or in a nearby resort. Now, I feel like I'm planning everything months in advance and no way to be spontaneous if you want to have sit down meals and get on the rides that the family wants to do. It just sucks all the magic right out of it.
@@Goat_Girl_Gwen I understand but with all the fake positivity out there, there needs a place to criticize Disney & Universal IN DETAIL. I used to think the same but over time I have come to agree on a lot of points and learnt to read between the lines when unsatisfied. Even with the negative views, he often points out the positive, maybe that's why you feel conflicted without stopping watching.
Your Las Vegas comparison is spot on. Long comment, but bear with me: I fell asleep in Dad's lap near midnight on the porch of the Hospitality House around Christmas 1975, lulled by the Baroque Hoedown of the passing Main Street Electrical Parade. Worn out from a day of absolute wonder. A week in an east-side Contemporary Tower room in late '82 gave us views of the soon-to-open Spaceship Earth. I couldn't believe a hotel room could cost $120 (about $400 today), but it sure was worth it. The hotel itself, with its pools, water sprites, dining, video arcade, and watching the monorails from the 11th floor until 1am were almost as fun as the parks. We could buy stuff just by showing our resort ID and charge it to the room. It was easy to get anywhere, and it was all by launches, ferry, & monorail. We took the preview tour to the EPCOT Center monorail station, and I still have the souvenir book with concept illustrations of the pavillions. I think the only buses needed were for Lake Buena Vista. But they were the futuristic GMC buses that debuted in 1979 and even looked a bit like the monorails. It was all first-class, relaxing, and no stress. Age 17 and summer of 1987 found me as a MK cast member, when I was able to explore *everything* - spend unlimited time in the parks, see everything backstage, and learn how it all worked. The re-theme of If You Had Wings into DreamFlight was a huge shock that year, as Eastern Airlines dropped sponsorship and Delta picked it up. I think it was the first replacement attraction, in what would become an absolute flood of demolition and downgrades that were coming. There were other visits all through the 70s and 80s, but I think my last was around 1990, when the Grand Floridian was still new. The parks and hotels were still pretty much perfect, on theme, and in good condition. Fast forward to 2010, when I tagged along on a trip with my sister and her family. The trip was a nightmare to plan, with food plans, ID cards, and massive expenses. A cabin at Fort Wilderness was OK, but there was a lot of time spent on buses. Plain, noisy buses with cartoon wraps that ruined their aesthetics. Tomorrowland after dusk seemed dark and scary, dangerous, even. Cast members with lax grooming standards. Attractions with non-operable show elements. Continuous expansion, with no care or maintenance of existing attractions. Thoughtful & educational attractions replaced with the very worst, pandering IP overhauls. I've never visited Las Vegas, but the 2010 visit to WDW made me think why I never have and do not want to. Vegas has Disneyfied to a degree, and WDW has become as crass as Vegas. I began to work for Whole Foods Market in the mid-90s, when the entire South region consisted of 3 stores in NC and one in VA. Terrific company at the time. The CEO was limited to 32x salary of the lowest-paid employee, part-timers had benefits, each store had an in-house artist and creative freedom. Then Wal-Mart entered the grocery business. Gradually I saw Wal-Mart emulate Whole Foods, and as Whole Foods greatly expanded, the company became more like Wal-Mart. Benefits removed and eroded, weird non-sensical rules and policies implemented, benefits reduced/removed, and the company culture just diluted under massive expansion. I had long been seasonal by the time Amazon bought Whole Foods, and when it came time to work a shift to reset the seasonal status, things had changed so much that I didn't even bother. Disney/Vegas. You are on to something. I'm not sure it can ever be corrected.
i've come to the realization that with (probably) rare exception, any company with shareholders is garbage. there is no promise they won't break and and no accountability for the faceless parasitic ghouls that are actually in charge. i worked in vegas for two years before our casino got sold to landrys. we weren't struggling, it was the most successful place downtown but immediately they made up annoying rules and cut our vacation time in half. less than a year after we were picketing and approved strike because luckily i was culinary union but all because some rich d;ckhead wanted to be a tough business tw*t
Thanks for your perspective. It’s hard to see something great whether it is a job or resort or experience change for the worse. I’m going through it myself. Take care and stay well my friend.
What a great video. 2/3rds of the way through the video, you hit on the difference between Disney Imagineering yesterday & today. Intense attention to detail & thematic depth. That is what used to make Diseny special. Today, all they care about is slapping existing Disney IP on something. As you pointed out, you can really see that difference in the changes/updates made in the Boardwalk resort. Sadly, until there is a complete change of leadership, that attention to detail & themeatic depth is not returning any time soon.
I wish more people would leave negative feedback for these changes, but I think that relationships with themed entertainment can be so complex that people don't know how to articulate why it feels wrong. That's partially why I like to produce videos like this, breaking down exactly why the detail matters.
as somebody whose friend is in charge of making the new furniture go fuck yourself they're not fucking cheap and they handcrafted by human beings in America
I'm so glad you addressed the clown at The Boardwalk Hotel - I went on vacation there as a kid and absolutely LOVED that slide. While I was there, they asked if I wanted to be the first kid to go down the slide that day. They gave me a clown wig and nose and I went down the slide in it, then got a certificate signed by Mickey. They called it the "Keester Coaster Kid". It is a core memory of my childhood 😂
Solid observations. We got to check off a bucket list item and stay at the Contemporary several years ago - pre-IP-update. It was nice. Glad we did it. Will likely never do it again. The thing is - it felt like a nice hotel... anywhere in the world. That's an experience we can get anywhere in the world. If I'm spending that kind of money on a resort, then I want to feel like I've been swept away somewhere special. Lush. Wilderness and Animal Kingdom lodges match that vibe. What I'm seeing Disney build now... as the essay points out... is a hotel. Not an experience.
Thats sort of why IP theming is bad, i mean just throwing carton characters on everything, it breaks the notion you have set foot into another part of the world and are instead in some over-commercialized tourist trap.
I agree that the Contemporary can feel a bit generic, but I think if it embraced a "cosmopolitan 1970s" theme, that would be an interesting way to stand out. I think its structure is still remarkable, but the interior needs to be cleaned up.
I agree completely. Contemporary still has a unique feel to it - it's no hotel box. There's still a bit of a retro future aesthetic that should be embraced. I guess that's why someone thought Incredibles was the movie tie-in that fit. But that's not embracing the location - it's an overlay. I would note that to anyone who has this on their bucket list since they were a kid who never thought they'd get the opportunity - do it.
@@PoseidonEntertainment lots of people around the world love retro style and would enjoy that very much. It's rare to find 70s spaces that have been maintained along the lines of their original vision.
You are exactly right about how Eisner had a strategic vision for the Disney resorts, so it is upsetting to see the "de-theming" of the Disney resorts; the Contemporary and Riviera hotels are the best examples of this. Wonderful, in-depth analysis as usual!
The Grand California Hotel remains my favourite Disney hotel - it just transports you so wonderfully to a different time and place. I wish Disney still made resorts like that...
Disneys been failing and falling from grace rapidly these past 5 years. Bob iger is the worst CEO in existence. The magic is gone and it’s all about $$$
Oh man, this video evokes so much sentimental emotions! Stayed at Coronado Springs in 2007, Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2008, honeymooned at Disney World in 2009/2010 for new year and stayed at the All Star Music resort, but snuck into the pool and jacuzzi at the wilderness 😊 Good memories! Took our family back in 2017 and actually stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and it was the most magical vacation we’ve ever had. ❤ Probably my favorite resort of all time. It’s so sad to see Disney joining the “sad beige” bandwagon. So many of the resorts have been castrated; they better not change the Wildweness😢
I’m glad this video hits some of my problems with Disney hotels today. They are too concerned about the budget and profit margins. Thats the real driver of Riviera and DVC Polynesian. Its cheaper to build standard looking buildings and theme them after the fact when they should be incorporating the theme INTO the structure itself. And I completely agree about the characters being shoehorned into places they don’t belong. It feels like another budget saving strategy to just decorate the room with characters then to actually theme the room properly. I could go on.
That’s all these guys are worried about, profits. But unfortunately they just seem to keep making mistakes that cost the company money and make things worse.
OMG. You use my term. Resort hopping. That is our favorite thing to do. Since we live in West Palm Beach, two hours away, we will spend all Saturday going from resort to resort. Using different types of transportation. Parking for free at Disney Springs. Ending our evening walking around Disney Springs. Just an absolute wonderful day so much fun. Completely free. We never even think about going to the parks themselves. Although it is always tempting to go to Epcot around the world,. Ha ha ha resort hopping. The most fun weekend possibly have. Almost free. Except for your food and drinks.and great exercise.
I literally could not recognize the Boardwalk Hotel as the one from my childhood memories until you brought up that clown water slide. Way more memorable than what they have there now.
August 13, 1971 was my start date at diz. Food Division at the Contemporary. Dizney knew nothing about running hotel's. A very interesting time for me. Two of my best friends to this day come from Contemporary. Until New Years day 1972, when construction finished, my boss had 2 rooms allotted. He and his wife stayed in one, me in another. 16 to 18 hour days were normal. One 19 hour day. Such a grand place. It's sad to see whats become of it.
It's wild to think about how much effort went into theming Disney's early iconic projects. Watching "Behind the Attraction", I was shocked how much research went into some of them... Imagineers actually going out into the field and immersing themselves in the culture and the land they were going to try to do justice to. Now instead of creating something original they just flip through the IP catalog and find something vaguely (or not at all!) related to the area, and slap it on there.
The only Disney resort I’ve stay at (so far) is the Grand Californian. It is such a beautifully designed hotel. I love everything about it. I wish Disney would go back to putting in the effort with their hotels, it makes such a difference.
Thanks for making this. Themeing is so important and facinating. I found myself zoning out several times because your video got my creativity going. You have become one of my favorite themepark youtubers. right up with Defunctland and Yesterworld.
I think that's another important element of the Eisner resorts too. They were creatively inspiring and made you consider what other themes Disney might tackle.
I had the chance to stay at Boardwalk Villas as a teenager (I believe they are now taken over by DVC). It was amazing to be able to stroll into Epcot’s tour of countries every night, regardless of what park we’d been to, eat in a different country, and listen to live music (Britain had a Beatles tribute band, Italy had classical musicians, Mexico had mariachi bands). My dad was a very frugal person but he was always very generous on vacation. It was an incredible memory from my childhood, seeing WDW for the first time. As a mom of young kids we got to stay in Art of Animation (Cars Land) and it was quite nice, except I do remember doing a LOT of walking and bus riding (this was before Skyliner), and then as a mom with teen agers we stayed in Caribbean Beach with the new Skyliner. It was tremendous. We’d come back from a day at the parks and swim in one of the smaller pools near our room (not the main pool) and had it basically to ourselves. One of the things I really appreciate about your channel is how many wonderful memories it triggers. Your analysis is always interesting and I share your nostalgia for old Epcot. It was a magical place to visit as a young person. On this most recent trip I dragged my teen agers to every classic animatronic show possible (American Adventure, Carousel of Progress, Hall of President) I could squeeze in. I am worried they will go away.
Our week long trip to Disney 2 years ago, we rented an air b&b Two bedroom two bath townhouse for 1500 dollars for the whole week. It was 10 minutes away from the parks, freshly renovated and really nice. Staying on property would have cost us double in the cheapest possible hotel. Being on a budget it was a no brainer. Hell the townhouse was even Disney themed.
I stayed at the Polynesian hotel in 2005. It had a massive fountain with tons of interior foliage. Its a shame how they removed that and scaled down the fountain. It looks so bare today.
I have said the EXACT same thing about the Contemporary!!! It was always my dream Disney deluxe resort but after seeing the most recent renovation, I realized that I had missed my opportunity. Disney wants us to keep shelling out more money, while they continually cheapen the experience. No thanks.
Exactly. I always wanted to stay at the Contemporary with my girlfriend should I return to Disney World one day as I always thought it looked pretty as a kid but after seeing the tacky refurbishments, let's just say it's not exactly on my bucket list for a long time
@@PeruvianPotato The experience at Contemporary is fun, close to MK and relatively quick to Epcot. Can't beat it. It's the only place you can walk 5 minutes through the gates of MK.
Oddly enough, Iger in his book talks about how Eisner screwed up the company and was thus ran out, leading to the rise of Bob. Now we yearn for the Eisner years given how poorly Iger has run the company. Fascinating
@@UnimpressiveGEisner's team helped translate his ideas into plausibility and when they left, were fired, or passed away; he lost that team and couldn't succeed like he did before.
For all his faults and he did have some, to me Eisner wanted to be a modern day Walt or at the very least his own spin on it. You can see it in the various promotional material he did with the characters that he seemed genuinely in love with Disney. Nowadays you got people like Iger, chapek, and others who treat the Brand as just that. A Brand. Something you can slap onto things and it will print money regardless of the quality of that thing.
@@flaco171ac Unfortunately I wonder if it would be allowed by the board who just wants short term gains and profits for investors. It’s all about the money unfortunately these days. No one wants to invest long term in people or ideas that don’t pay immediate dividends. The original parks were made by artists. Now decisions are made by bean counters.
When I was a kid, my grandma and grandpa took me and my younger cousin to Animal Kingdom Lodge to eat at Boma. (This was the only time I ever got to go into a Disney hotel as my grandma has always opted to rent a house for a week instead with our big family. It’s a shame.) Anyway, I was transfixed by the resort. Not only was the food delicious, but Copper Creek going outside the building and seeming to go on forever (I never got to see where it led, so I was making assumptions) was amazing. Afterwards, we of course checked out the animals which was a treat and the cast member there was nice. It is easily my favorite Disney resort with Contemporary being second. As for the character chaos, I agree with you for most of them. Incredibles is the most random Disney IP to bring into Contemporary which makes it worse, the Mad Hatter water structure contrasts with the formal appearance of Grand Floridian, and the paintings of Disney rides in various hotels, like the Boardwalk where they don’t belong, clashes. Honestly, I think pretty much all of the IP placement in the hotels maybe excuse Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins Returns is terrible.
Bravo, one of your finest videos yet, articulately pinpointing what many of us who have known the resorts since the '80s-'90s have long sensed. In due course, I look forward to hearing your take on the latest D23 announcements, including what IMO can only be described as the final thematic destruction of MK Frontierland. Thanks again.
One aspect of the Disney experience which has been lost in the past few decades is that Walt Disney saw American History itself as an IP in and of itself, something which is very much reflected in much of the early design of the parks. This is not something unique to Disney, as there were many non-Disney parks and attractions in the 1950s and 60s which celebrated American history and exceptionalism, it's just that Disney went above and beyond. As a big part of Disney's history, it's sad to see this aspect of Walt Disney's vision being cast aside in favor of more exclusively branded Disney IP.
In an era where nationalism is associated with fascism, I do like how Disney has traditionally honored American history is a non-partisan way. I think that the American Adventure could use some re-working, but otherwise, it is an interesting theme.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think you need to look at things from a different perspective, Disney himself was extremely political. Small World is a message of peace and hope sung by the world's children during the cold war, the US had just lost a president because he wanted peace and his own government wasn't standing for it, then like today peace is a radical construct.
A minor counterpoint, Walt Disney had lots of films and tv shows that were based in American history and adventure stories back in the 50s and 60s and a lot of the theming and attractions in the parks were nods to them. Pirates of the Caribbean for Treasure Island. The Liberty Tree from Johnny Tremaine. Disney’s Swamp Fox, Davy Crockett, Tom Sawyer productions all were the foundation for Frontierland. The departed 20,000 leagues attraction from the films and even the Swiss Family Tree House were Disney IP. It’s not much different than taking characters and environments from fairy tales. I don’t want to go much further down this rabbit hole, but I’d be remiss to not point out how much the post WW2 boom and the Cold War played into the culture then with highlighting the history and mythology of US history and US capitalism. To finally wrap it up: Yes, the iconography isn’t as easy to stamp everywhere as animated characters and new products such as home entertainment didn’t exist back then. Yes, marketing has gotten more niche and the methods for receiving it are more pernicious, but the building blocks were being used by Uncle Walt.
The Caribbean Beach was our go-to when I was a kid. Stayed there 3-4 times in the 80's and 90's. It is a shame that the food court is gone, that was fantastic. I remember the Grand Floridian when it was new and it was spectacular. All of the 90's ABC shows had a 'we're going to Disney World for shenanigans' episode after Disney bought them. They all stayed at the Grand Floridian. The Polynesian was a favorite, as it was easier to get on the monorail vs the TTC. In the mid-80's it had a full luau for adults. It is a shame that so much of this is gone and not replaced with something on par.
We spent 2 weeks at the Contemporary in March of 1977 and to this day, those memories bring a smile to my face. I wish I could find more video and/or images of the hotel back at that time but as they say, "You can't go back". :)
The lobby of the riviera hotel looks so similar to the double tree across from Universal Orlando. My first memories of Disney World were my sister and I taking a boat from the Wilderness campground to the Contemporary and then hopping on the monorail to just go visit all the hotels. Our parents had a pop up camper they got for cheap so the Campground was all we could afford. We didn’t have park tickets but we didn’t need them. The hotels themselves held so many secrets, details, arcades, food, just overall things to do. Wilderness Lodge, to me, is Disney hotels at their best. The hidden mickeys, the geyser, the totem poles, the 7 layer magic brownies, the smells. So damn much packed into a perfectly themed experience. You nailed it, the new hotels are just shallow Las Vegas style opulence.
It's instructive to compare the exterior waterfront area of the Riveria to the comparable area at Universal's Portofino Bay. I'm not saying Portofino Bay is up to the '80s/'90s Disney standard, but it's depressing how Disney isn't even trying anymore.
@@MeMyselfAndUs903I’ve yet to go to Vegas but I’m not surprised. The current Disney hotels feel as if they are copy/pasted. I understand people saying that the little details aren’t that important but I truly feel that when all those details mesh with the theming of the hotel itself there’s a tangible feeling you get when experiencing it. “Works of art” is a perfect way to label these hotels. More than a place to crash at the end of the day. There’s a sense of wonder, exploration, and calmness found in these hotels if only you take the time to give yourself to the experience. I’m waxing poetic about hotels, which admittedly is cringe af, but the memories I have of hotel hopping as a kid have been validated by my short revisits to the hotels when I’m around the property. Yes, the Polynesian lost the fountain. Yes, slowly things are creeping in and around these hotels that encroach on the theming and scream capitalism/greed. But they still emanate the same feeling I had when I walked in the first, second, fifth, tenth time. Unique labors of love. Just another thing current Disney execs don’t care about and are letting fade in the rear view mirror.
As someone who has lost interest in Disney long ago this was a pretty cool look into a side of the company I hadn't really explored. This video has given me a newfound respect for the attention to detail that Disney used to have and unfortunately has also reinforced my distaste for current Disney and their lack of care to those finer details in all their dealings.
D23 needs to present real original proposals for the parks panel. And no, gutting existing attractions with interior replacements or only making half-ass IP based lands/attractions do not count. But sadly the days of pursuing original, timeless world-breaking ideas with healthy investments are long gone, which ended with Joe Rohde retiring.
I always look forward to your videos. Especially the one's that expose Disney's greed. Whether pointing it out is intentional or not I enjoy people who aren't scared to point out the not so niceties of the most magical place on earth.
Wilderness Lodge was incredible. My GFs terminally ill grandmother stayed there for a few weeks. They upgraded her to the Presidential Sweet on the house. Great experience.
I went to Hollywood Studios for the first time earlier this year, right at the top of January. My neighbor and his girlfriend are both airline pilots based out of Orlando, and they found out about my plan to go to HS. They told me that if I picked them up from the airport the night before my tickets, they would pay for us to stay at a hotel for the night to get into the park early. We stayed at the All-Star Movie Resort, one of their lower-end hotels. But you know what? I LOVED it. The massive Toy Story statues, the huge 101 Dalmatians, the endless spots for photos and all the trivia everywhere… It was genuinely a really fun night before the trip to the park. Now granted, I’ve never stayed on Disney Property before that, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I for sure see your comparison to Vegas. Hell, in the movie “Casino,” Ace says that with the destruction of the Tangirs, the fictional stand in for the Stardust Hotel and Casino, the “old way” had been lost in Vegas. It became “like Disneyland.” Sad to see the decay of architecture with soul and its sacrifice on the altar of modernity and minimalism has affected Disney so badly.
I'm really speaking of the current era of Vegas past its 90s phase. That's not to say that the 90s phase wasn't incredibly superficial, but it wasn't "generic opulence" like what is currently finding its way to the Strip.
I was lucky enough to stay in all of the hotels before their themed IP remodels. I agree that Disney doesn’t understand what people will actually pay for and that the IP’s for the most part actually diminish, the rooms value. I loved staying at the contemporary resort but wouldn’t stay there again because the hotel rooms look so cheap. For reference, look at the way the TWA hotel at JFK was redesigned. it embraced its mid century design and it’s an impressive and gorgeous space.
For me, Disney begun It’s “theming mess”when they decided to buy all these brands, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, etc… Classic Disney is ONLY and simple Disney!
Cost is a huge reason why I view Disney World as a once in a lifetime experience. I went as a kid and was happy with no urge to go back as an adult. What my Disney fan friends spend at a Disney World trip rival my family’s international travel budget. Luckily my wife isn’t a huge Disney fan. I still like Disneyland + California Adventure since it’s smaller and does not define an entire vacation.
“You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain” … he was responsible for so much innovation in his early years but mucked it up at the end and that is what people remember 😕
@@allst4rm3 He paid himself too much profits. I been going to Disney off and on 44 years and feel like their pricing takes advantage of everyone. My suggestions reduce pricing 30% on everything and give high quality food choices.
Iv always said this. It never made sense to me how the closest CEO we’ve had to Walt Disney himself was looked at as the worst EXPECIALLY during the Igor era.
Agree... I was working at the parks during the Eisner years and everyone at the time all said Eisner was the worst. They sure did take that for granted, because the parks peaked under Eisner. It's hilarious to read these comments praising Eisner when he was looked at so poorly at the time.
@@cup_and_cone My issue is his compensation package/pay and how hard it is for people to pay for food/hotels and Chinese made souvenirs . Paying for entrance should be at a price that pays for maintenance, salaries, operations and improvement to park. But Disney drains your wallet at everything. The Fantasy now that my kids have grown is over. I doubt I would pay for my grandchildren to attend or even a movie, I am too dissatisfied Disney got into so many extra businesses and politics .
I stayed at the Polynesian Resort some 35 years ago, and it was amazing. The themeing made the extra cost well worth it. Staying in the resort was part of the whole Disney experience. That was the whole point of staying at a "Disney" resort----it was not just another hotel. But today, the Disney bigshots have forgotten that. All they build today are just big hotels with lots of rooms and nothing else. You could be staying at any hotel anywhere.
I completely agree with this entire video. I still go to Disney World, probably always will, short flight, warm weather etc. It used to feel like a magical place, attention to detail, impeccable service. I used to go sometimes 2/3x a year now it’s once a year for a few days. It’s still convenient with the transportation and safety elements, but it’s not the experience it was once.
I drew the line at the draining the The Rivers of America and the removal of the steam boat plus the incongruity of placing a cars land in Frontierland! I have appalled at the lack of charm in the hotels and the craftsmanship in their new ships. They are also squeezing in so many vacation hotels on their existing resorts that they look overcrowded and ugly!!! I don’t know what is wrong with them aside from greed. I wish Michael Eisner or someone like him would take over. The parks are dirty, and way overpriced, at this time they are coasting on the Disney brand. I have broken up with Disney after years of going multiple times a year for multiple days. I am switching to Universal and have bid Disney adieu!!! If they are making these changes to compete with Universal they are going down the wrong path, they are very different and there is really no comparison!!! Walt Disney must be rolling over in his grave😢
@@marilynfernandez3279😂 I guess Universal where people over 220 pounds can't fit on rides they have no disability accommodation aren't allowing people to use a season pass or a membership for the first two years at big universe is around, was deemed one of the least inclusive companies to work for in the United States andbasically kowtow to the Nazi governor of Florida. But yeah universal is great
I want to see a video of you breaking down your thoughts for the D23 announcements. I don't even know what California Adventure and Hollywood Studios are at this point. It seems like those types of Disney parks are just going down the Disney Adventure route. Overall really interesting video keep it up!
I’ve stayed at most of the resorts you reviewed in this video and have had this sub conscious feeling about what I’ve been seeing in the refurbishments. This video really hit the nail on the head with what I’m feeling. My feelings that the Poly tower was ugly, the riviera was un-exciting and the incredibles in the CR kind of made it feel cheap you’ve explained out perfectly. Great video. I enjoyed it and I’m kind of sad at same time. I WILL stay at animal kingdom lodge now. A resort I had written off due to the distance. Strangely I have eaten at Boma and spent time in lobby waiting. And I loved it. So I will go back as a guest in part because of this video and more open eyes.
What's the downgrade? Great location Really good food Fun character breakfast Fabulous views from Topolinos The 1-bed villas are the best we've stayed in vs Beach Club or Saratoga The main pool is a bit small, I do wish it was larger. My kids loved it though, thought the water slide was great. I'm not shilling for Disney, I think the corporation is awful. However, we had a fabulous vacation at Riviera. I don't understand why people rag on it all the time.
A couple other examples of Disney stripping down the great detail at their resorts: Sterilizing the food court at Port Orleans French Quarter, which had amazing large scale Mardi Gras themed elements hanging from the walls and ceilings. Stripping away all the African theming in the halls at Animal Kingdom Lodge... such as the drum lights and the heavily detailed molding.
I didn't realize that French Quarter had its theming scaled back. It's been a while since I've been, but I guess that only reinforces the point. I didn't realize that AKL had changed much either
Regarding Art of Animation “I would like to see something for the first half of the century.” Oooh … like an Art Deco hotel showcasing early film and animation? I like that idea.
I love the architecture of the Old Faithful Inn so the Wilderness Lodge is by far my favorite Disney resort. It perfectly captures the charm of “Parkitecture” and the west that I really enjoy. It’s unfortunate that current Disney doesn’t seem to appreciate these kind of resorts for what they are.
5:28 My family and I stayed in the Atlanta Hyatt hotel in 1975; on our way to Disney. Still remember the glass elevators; thought that was SO cool at 8 yrs old.
I absolutely cannot believe there wasn’t more pushback on the Riviera when it opened. This is like something that needs a DCA style redo, since it has absolutely no character.
On one of our Orlando vacations pre-Covid, we stayed in Wilderness Cabins and spent a whole day visiting Disney Resorts. Many of them are stunning in many ways, especially the theming and architecture.
Excellent, excellent video. I didn't fully appreciate how many of the great resorts were built in such a short period of time. The contrast between Wilderness Lodge and Riviera is stunning. Really sad how far they've fallen. Wonderful video that I really enjoyed watching. Thanks!
My Dad adored the Polynesian specifically because he loved being stationed in Honolulu in the Navy. He always said it was the closest he would ever get to bringing his family to Hawaii. The Wilderness lodge has a fireplace that is absolutely breathtaking. We went during Christmas. So finding ourselves eating hot chocolate and cookies, relaxing in front of the fire, in rocking chairs, finding all the animal engravings was the ultimate vacation experience. A fun fact: back when people actually lived in their RVs in Wilderness Resort... at Christmas the residents did a Christmas golf cart parade. Completely guest led, you had to know someone to be invited. They would decorate their golf carts in Christmas decor, play music on their cart and it was a parade through the resort rv park. One of the coolest experiences i ever had at Disney World. We learned about it because I struck up a conversation with the woman seated next to me on the plane. She told me about it and wrote down the info with her official invite.
I work at a Disney hotel on property, but it's not owned or operated by Disney. I think it's one of the best places to stay. It's small, so you're at the bus within a few mins from your room, it's walking distance to Disney Springs, there's hourly, trackable-by your-phone shuttles so no standing around wondering when the bus arrives, plus 2 free drinks at check in (yes, alcoholic) and my favorite part...free solid coffee in the lobby every morning. Plus the lightning lane and early entry benefit. Find me 1 Disney resort with all this for way cheaper.
The resorts are a pretty strong launching point for a discussion of how some people tend to talk about what it means for something to "be" or "feel" Disney. I see a number of people in various online discussion spaces say things like "if you're going to Disney, you expect to see Disney characters", and fair enough to a certain degree on that, but I think stuff like resorts themed around times, places, nations, etc. and done *in the Disney style of design* is what really counts as "what is Disney". When those themes are muted in favor of blander spaces and familiar characters are slapped on to get people to do the DiCaprio "hey, I know that one!" point meme, a lot of "what is Disney" is lost.
I really don't get people like that, but I guess they've been here from the very beginning. I'm reminded of stories of early Disneyland Fantasyland dark rides where people complained that they didn't see Snow White, even though the point of the ride was very obviously to put you in her perspective. What do people get out of a fleeting glimpse of the character?
My wife and I went to WDW almost every year from 1985 to 2019. This video is so nostalgic since we stayed at The GF, Contemporary, and Polynesian many times. The last year we went we began to notice the big changes that were occurring and it was disappointing to my wife who was a rabid Disney Fan. Then came Covid and my wife contracting Parkinson's and passing away in early 2022.This video shows all the things she really enjoyed are all gone now. In many respects I am glad my wife in not around to see these big changes since I know it would break her heart.
beautiful comment - i'm sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing
I am very sorry for your loss, looks like you were soul mates and enjoying Disney World so much together, you must have wonderful memories. Take care and thanks for sharing
So sorry for your loss - sending so much love your way!
Glad to hear you have great memories of your time with your late wife. I have some great ones with my family as well. Haven’t been back to Disney since 2017 when the kids got older. It’s definitely different these days. Lots of perks you had from staying at a resort are gone. I don’t think I could accept the new normal. At least we have the memories!Take care!
I’m an ex cast member from the front desk of the Grand Californian. I still get nostalgic and misty-eyed in that lobby for its craftsmanship and whimsy… even with all the bad guest behavior I saw post-panini.
That building has a soul, even if Disney leadership no longer does.
The only issue is that I wish it had more California history incorporated into it like the Native American and African art displays throughout the other lodges
Post-panini. That’s perfect lol. Took my daughter to Disney once. Will never go again and she’s on board with that. These videos make me nostalgic not just for what made Disney desirable but for the peak of humanity in general. I didn’t know I was living through it :( I didn’t know it would only get worse. Lotr matrix and titanic in theaters made me wonder in amazement what was next. The internet going mainstream and technology advancement made us seem unstoppable. I miss the future being something positive rather than something to dread.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I hear you, and it’s very subtle, but the theme of the hotel ironically isn’t really about California. It’s about the Arts and Crafts movement and the resulting lodges-some of which happened to be in California’s woodlands.
Rather than Peter Dominick broadly mimicking the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, he enlisted a team of artisans to recreate the authentic collaboration at the soul of the movement. The result is a series of art installations that might seem arbitrary, but are the artist’s interpretation of the theme. Some examples are the Sun Moon and Arbor gates, the bird carvings by the elevator banks on each floor (all of which have names, just ask a concierge cast member!), and the bear sculptures along the front desk.
California gets to be the star of the show symbolically, with some artists using poppies or bears or oranges in their motifs. But the immersion comes from the history of this era of craftsmanship rather than the art that specifically came from our state.
The next time you’re on this coast, I definitely recommend taking the Art of the Craft tour at the hotel. There’s enough art on display that no two tours are alike, as each guide will usually point out their favorite pieces along with the key ones written into the script.
post-panini? Educate me?
@@DanieljosolI'm not your boyfriend!
"There is definitely a lack of care from the company" accurately describes the state of the Walt Disney Company as a whole.
It’s a product of today’s mentality anywhere. Maximum profit for the least amount of expenditure. At this point those in charge are so far removed from building the company all they can do is try to maximize profits. They don’t even consider how it all came to be and how to maintain it.
In the tech world, it is called enshittification
The whole company has gotten lazy and it shows in the complete lack of effort in recent years. IE the EPCOT refurbishment.
And definitely the release of that even worse customer care system that they make you go through a torture session just to say you're rejected have a good day.
I gotta say, the Eisner era hotels were campy and fun. Port Orleans is definitely a hit
What about [REDACTED] Landings?
@@TheInflicted The GOAT
I would love a good campy ski lodge themed hotel on the skyliner path
I stayed at Port Orleans when I went as a kid and loved it!
I stayed at Riverside while the re-theming had just begun- it was one of my favorite memories of any vacation. For reference, my only other experience before this on property was a suite at the animal kingdom lodge (magnificent experience as well). The architecture was part of what held the theming together, as did the experiences present on resort grounds. The rooms themselves were clean, but well themed and lacked the current sense of “disney ad” that seems to have plagued nearly all their current hotels.There were lovely walking pathways everywhere, even to the French Quarter area of the resort. The best part for me was the boat to disney springs. I couldn’t care less about the destination; the ride itself was just a pleasant; relaxing experience. I was very glad we stayed at riverside after seeing the French Quarter’s pool (has King Trident and serpents oddly placed in what is supposed to be a marco gras themed) as opposed to the “fishing hole” themed pool at Riverside. The main building/dining hall/restaurant was gorgeous, especially at night. The food was pretty good (from what I remember) and the theming continued inside. Additionally, the bridges by this area further tied in the experience as a whole. Overall, I found this experience more immersive than just about anything they’ve added in recent years.
Old Disney giving nods to cultural history is so different than modern Disney thinking they are the only history worth celebrating.
@@biblesforbreakfast Well said!!
@@jackcampbell4465 Disney reminds me of The Walmart of Theme Parks...their brand has just become too commercialized. It's a turn off.
And the current people have nothing to do with the golden era but claim it as theirs none the less.
The Eisner era is really the pinnacle for Disney resorts. He believed in an idea called entertainment architecture and this philosophy really shows in the Michael Graves designed Swan and Dolphin, which are truly remarkably designed resorts. It’s a shame Disney leadership today just slaps uninteresting minimalist designs onto the newer resorts and calls it a day. Also, interesting fact about Robert A.M. Stern, he helped design the nearby town of Celebration.
For me, the "Disney Difference" was also the "Disney Discovery" - the thrill of exploring a park or resort and finding subtle little features that complement the setting's theme. Finding things like that always was a joy, both for discovering something secret, and for knowing that the makers had put such caring thought into placing them to be found, like treasure chests waiting to be unlocked.
This is an excellent video. I was aware of the decline of Disney in their movies and theme parks, but it’s not surprising that they have also failed in managing the resort hotels. This is what happens when you replace management that understood the vision and importance of creativity with businessmen only interested in profits. I’m not sure Disney can regain the trust of the consumer.
I could not agree more with the idea that the Eisner era resorts were far superior in every way. That was golden age of disney and I’m so glad I got to experience it! I’m kind of heart broken about the cardboard scales back zero creativity required boxes of today. It doesn’t stop disney from charging truly laughably outrageous prices for their ordinary boring sleep boxes. I’d rather stay club level at Portofino Bay at universal. Which I never ever thought I would say.
Thanks for this thoughtful incredible content!
The 70's Polynesian Resort is my absolute favorite. Sitting by the fountains, the lobby that was so full of plants you felt like you could get lost in it! The natural materials of the furniture combined with the plants and water really did make you feel transported to a fantasy version of Polynesia. Even the bold color choices mimicked that intense variety of flora found on the islands.
I feel like Disney has just turned everything down lately. Creativity is now beholden more than ever to the bottom line. I don't care how much the Polynesian's lobby fountain cost to run, I just care about how it made me feel. Walt didn't care about the cost of the gold leaf, he knew it looked right so he used it.
Don't we all remember the first time we stepped into the Grand Floridian? The spectacle of it! All the wood, the height of the ceilings, the way the light pours throughout the seating area making you feel transported to somewhere out of time and place- somewhere magical.
The modern W-style resorts are fine, but they're not magical and that's what I want from Disney. I want them to care like they used to.
Ah, but I am old now, so maybe it's just time rolling on :)
I think part of the reason they got rid of the fountain was also for health reason. Water features like that can easily harbor Legionnaires disease. There’s a reason you don’t see them in most hotels these days. Which is a darn shame, because I do remember being awed by the indoor waterfall as a kid.
I've only ever been in the Polynesian with its current lobby set up, and even though I knew it used to be more lush, I didn't realize how significant the changes were. I like how it looks now, but it obviously doesn't compare to what it used to be
@@fantasylover87 Actually. the main reason why Fountains and Water features are disappearing is because pranksters keep bubblebathing them. Unlike the old days, were you needed about 3-4 bottles of dishwashing soap to bubblebath a 10,000 gallon fountain. Today, there are bubblebathing formulas out there that so powerful, that I've seen a single bath bomb no bigger then a golf ball take on a 10K gallon fountain with ease. Most people don't talk about it much, but bubblebath attacks are a big issue for fountain owners.
The money they’re saving on not having to maintain the fountain could be used to fix the leaky lobby roof. I had dinner in one of the Polynesian’s restaurants last year and during a huge downpour, I could see several recycling bins used to collect the leaking rainwater. I’ve never seen that happen in a Disney hotel before and I’ve been going there for years. It shows the lack of care and it’s so disheartening.
I remember when cast members took pride in working there which was only a few years ago. What happened?
As someone who grew up going to disney when it was amazing and is seeing it all get destroyed, I love that youre not a sellout and don't sugarcoat it. I really wonder what is going to happen to this company in the next 10 years or so. How long can they keep this up? How sad that all they can do is shit all over people's memories and a place that really used to be special.
There was a time before cable and the internet when Disney would only release the greatest movies once every 7 years because a new generation had become a new audience. I think the same will happen with the resorts. We old Disney fans are nostalgic. But, what is happening there is the norm for the newest generations. They don't know the old parks so they have nothing to compare what is going on to. It is the new acceptable norm for those younger than us.
Disney has always made and must make changes to the parks to stay relevant. I agree that some are terrible like the Carsland / Frontierland mess, but there are also a lot of good things that Disney still does.
@@dannielz6 lol
I agree! I am physically sick about all the things they have just wrecked! They have truly killed the MAGIC!!!
@@dannielz6 I'm not sure what good decisions Disney has made in the past few years? It's not supposed to be relevant, its supposed to stand the test of time. Pirates is 57 years old, haunted mansion 55 and still they are some of the most loved and popular rides at disney. They aren't making attractions like that anymore.
What I love about your videos is that you are not a hater. You have a passion and a desire. Something that is lacking in current disney leadership. The earring imagineer said they have to justify what the money making aspect is first then present the aesthetic. I think what worked great in the past was Walt was a visionary and Roy was a realist as far as money was concerned. But they worked together to make something happen. My opinion is today it is only about making money. I understand, but that model is making people turn away.
Eisner to Disney was Jobs to Apple.
They had a vision, and they understood the finer details. letting the engineers and designs work together. Understanding a good product will result in people wanting it, and will pay for that experience.
People don’t see the fine details on their own, but on the whole those fine details create an experience.
Eisner was carrying forward Walt Disneys vision that the resorts should be their own entities rather than some hodgepodge of IP
Too bad that Iger idolized Jobs but doesn't understand the nuance of why he was successful lol
@@PoseidonEntertainment hit the nail right on the head.
I keep thinking of the line from Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm) in Jurassic Park
“I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it!”
This sounds like Disney management more and more by the day.
@@PoseidonEntertainment
I never saw Igor as all that bright. Less so now.
After years and years of yearly loving The Happiest Place on Earth, everything started to change for me around 2007… when I started to experience the implementation of Igor’s assault on Disney.
@@cherylb6755 I vivid remember my dad and us going around the 2009ish time. And he kept saying something felt off about Disney world.
He said it feels less polished then he remembered, but maybe he just getting older.
But looking back, I think he felt the changes; and didn’t like what was happening to it.
While Eisner was all about convincing guests to stay in the park by offering them unique experiences leagues above what they could get at a random Orlando Holiday Inn with a free shuttle to the Magic Kingdom, I think that modern leadership just started taking it for granted at some point that most guests would stay on property and so they don't feel the need to try as hard anymore.
That's definitely what happened and considering attendance numbers over the past two years, I think they're reached the point where it's biting them.
As someone who made multiple trips last decade, the resort perks are gone with higher prices. You’re getting less for your money.
I was so disappointed that I didn’t have any fun RUclips videos to watch tonight.
Then suddenly, this pops up. Hallelujah!
Watch Elden Ring and Warhammer 40K lore videos
What's fun about this video? It's basically a dictated Wikipedia page in video format
@@MrFunkadeIic Who?
@@MrFunkadeIicThat’s pretty savage lol. I enjoy the educational nature of Poseidon’s vids. Learning can be fun. 🤓
Don't you hate how it will feed you the same diet of videos? I have to use three separate phones to pull up You Tube to give me variety. Long story, it's just cheaper to run three phones. But each phone gives me a different experience.
Your points about recent Disney resorts resembling Las Vegas faux opulence are spot on. Tragically, I think the Disney resorts are suffering from the same problems we saw with Epcot Center. For every person who genuinely appreciates the unique architecture, theming and contrast to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, there are 100 people saying, "Where's Mickey? I paid thousands of dollars for my kids to see Disney characters!". Thus, we now have a dumbed-down EPCOT and "deluxe" resorts with IP shellac.
I recently booked an early December trip at Animal Kingdom Lodge. That resort is still refreshingly unique although it too was a bit cheapened during the last renovation. I'm not sure why Animal Kingdom Lodge has been spared the blasphemy we see at other deluxe resorts. No doubt Disney executives are foaming at the mouth to slap Lion King kitsch throughout the buildings and pool areas.
What changed in the last renovation? The refurbs are generally not documented well
@@PoseidonEntertainment The room carpets were removed and replaced with laminate flooring.
The colorful tile in the bathrooms was replaced with, again, plain, generic tile.
The previous, detailed night stands were replaced with, you guessed it, plain, generic night stands. Same with the chairs.
My family's favorite resort has always been Wilderness Lodge. From the lobby aroma to the rustic ambiance, it's been our place to put up our feet and relax. In November 2023, my husband and I said our wedding vows right by the bubbling spring in that very lobby. Thank you for highlighting the magic of what real thematic resort stays used to be like in Disney World.
RIP Disney, you provided me and my family many memories when you use to care.
It's insaaaane much those IP driven changes infantilize and patronize the guests
Iger and D'Amaro stated multiple times in the past months that they are "IP" driven. Ridiculous!
Walt never thought that way If Iger and D'Amaro want to go down in history as the destroyers of Walt's attractions, then go get another job at another company (like Universal which is hiring away folks from WDW Orlando) and is up I-4 by about 5 to 10 miles.
It’s all just corporate brands now.
Thanks Poseidon, this is EXACTLY what I was looking for to end my friday night. Greeetings from Brazil
The Saratoga horses are like the entire history of the problem in microcosm. In a small corner of the lobby there used to be a series of profile illustrations of Disney's animated horses. It was a subtle and clever way to tie in the Disney IP to the resort. It was just as if they were celebrity horses who had raced at the resort. It was also unique because at the time a Disney hadn't started including many characters at all in the resorts, so having (mostly) obscure horse characters wouldn't even break the theme for more casual Disney fans. It was just a fun thng to notice as you walked by. Now they are just massive faux paintings that just scream "REMEMBER THE DISNEY HORSES!?" The horses bring it full circle from tasteful to overblown.
Someone else mentioned that too and I think you described the difference perfectly. Characters used to be a fun little nod and easter egg, but it now sends the message that leadership thinks you're an idiot who needs characters shoved in your face 24/7
Wilderness lodge is the GOAT resort. Stayed there a few weeks ago for my wife’s and my wedding anniversary. Took the bus to wilderness campground every day. It was so much fun yet so chill. Animal kingdom lodge used to be our favorite but now it’s changed!
Yeah I agree, it really is the best that Disney offers imo
Just wish the Wilderness Lodge had monorail access.
We're checking in on Labor Day for a whole week and really looking forward to it.
I like the boat travel as part of the theming. Yeah, the bus travel is both inconvenient and out-of-theme.
Not to get too off topic but did something change at animal kingdom lodge you like less or just mean wilderness lodge was even better then your previous favorite akl?
Much of the problem is the emphasis on the DVC as a cash cow. Disney used to build engrossingly themed resorts that park visitors would WANT to stay in. But now the strategy is to slap up generic condo buildings with vague or highly diluted theming that DVC members HAVE to stay in. And then Disney sees no financial point in refurbishing the older resorts attentively, so IP overlays are used as a cheap, quick fix.
2 different business units (although DVC is a cash cow).
Yep, they ruined Polynesian by doing this
i still fondly remember when my parents took me to wilderness lodge for a week when i was a kid, it was so gorgeous and i was so happy when it was the first you brought up - so glad its still just as beautiful as it was a decade ago
My first Disney experience was in 1978. My parents booked rooms at the Poly. If Disney ever hopes to truly compete with Universal, they need to find a way to recreate that experience. Ironically, "The Disney Shopping Village" was one of the smallest things you could do at the resort. Now, Its spirit dominates every aspect of all Disney experiences. (The original Haunted Mansion store above the Keelboats was amazing, however.)
Eh. Universal's hotel offerings aren't on the level of what Disney was doing in the '80s and '90s, and everything they've revealed for the upcoming Epic Universe hotels fits into the same "big white box" school of design of all of Disney's recent towers. Lowes' Royal Pacific is probably the nicest they've attempted but unlike, say, Disney's Polynesian or even Port Orleans, the interior decor and theming seems unwilling to fully commit to conveying the idea of a specific time and place like the good Disney resorts do. Moreover, all of Universal's hotels are quite overpriced because they rely on Express Pass as an essential perk that people are willing to pay for, much like early entry at Disney.
You do make a good point here!
I think what Univesal is going for in terms of hotel theming in comparison to disney lacks story (except for Royal Pacific) because their focus leans more on the attractions telling the story rather than the hotels because of the distance they have with the park itself. Plus, most guests will just be so tired of standing and walking that they'll wind down and rest.
Now that they rebranded themselves as "Universal Destinations and Experiences," rather than become a homage or experience of the theme they want to portray like like Boardwalk and Yacht Club would, the hotels there are more so about the essence of the location you are in (Portofino= The actual Town in Italy), Sapphire Falls (a take on Caribbean islands), Cabana Bay (The spirit of the 1950s-1960s, streamlined to feel like so as a good amount of people born and raised in that era would make up for the experience with their own experiences), and so on.
I wish Universal would do that sort of difference Disney has done in the 80s-90s. I liked the Universal Parks more because they felt different from Disney, mainly from their attractions (AKA I was also into it because of Jurassic Park River Adventure).
Also, you are partly right on the hotels being overpriced. They not only lure guests in with "free express passes," they also bank on the convenience on being actually in the park and not needing to drive or take a shuttle to Universal, let's say. You could walk or take a water taxi to the park or Citywalk.
They should start paying attention to detail, considering their legacy of making timeless movies, from horror to comedy to action and adventure. I still have high hopes for Epic Universe, but I agree with your take here.
My first experience with Disney was in 1978 as well. I was 12 years old. And I was that kid in the commercial looking down Main Street seeing that castle with my mouth hanging open. I didn’t stay at a Disney hotel we stayed off property, but just like you said they need to bring the magic back. Not only at the hotels but the parks as well.
@@TheInflicted You can knock the Universal hotels for theming or "magic" or whatever but compared to our stay at the Yacht club, the beds at the Hard Rock were nicer, the room was bigger, the food was certainly good enough, and I didn't feel like I was inside a giant Kafkaesque machine that was intended to bleed me of all my money, morning, day, and night. Yeah, I felt myself thinking about how Disney would never allow the garden at the Hard Rock to look that sloppy in spots, and some parts of the hotel clearly had been abused and needed a refresh, but I slept better, I ate better, and I was less stressed out.
My first time to Disney was around that same time. It was magical largely because I was a child. As an adult, I've been to Disney many times and to me there were some very good trips in the early 2000s. That was a time where you could still get good restaurant reservations and get on rides without extensive planning ahead. I think they just had a better capacity to crowd ratio. Back then, we could just jump on whatever park bus showed up at our resort bus stop first and once in the parks, get fast passes and make meal reservations there or in a nearby resort. Now, I feel like I'm planning everything months in advance and no way to be spontaneous if you want to have sit down meals and get on the rides that the family wants to do. It just sucks all the magic right out of it.
This is the best theme park channel on RUclips, hands down.
Agreed
Eh, a bit too negative for my taste. That being said I can’t stop watching so what does that make me.
@Goat_Girl_Gwen it makes the occasional positive episodes feel all the more special 😂
@@Goat_Girl_Gwen I understand but with all the fake positivity out there, there needs a place to criticize Disney & Universal IN DETAIL. I used to think the same but over time I have come to agree on a lot of points and learnt to read between the lines when unsatisfied. Even with the negative views, he often points out the positive, maybe that's why you feel conflicted without stopping watching.
@Goat_Girl_Gwen I think you've mistaken honesty for negativity.
Your Las Vegas comparison is spot on. Long comment, but bear with me:
I fell asleep in Dad's lap near midnight on the porch of the Hospitality House around Christmas 1975, lulled by the Baroque Hoedown of the passing Main Street Electrical Parade. Worn out from a day of absolute wonder. A week in an east-side Contemporary Tower room in late '82 gave us views of the soon-to-open Spaceship Earth. I couldn't believe a hotel room could cost $120 (about $400 today), but it sure was worth it. The hotel itself, with its pools, water sprites, dining, video arcade, and watching the monorails from the 11th floor until 1am were almost as fun as the parks. We could buy stuff just by showing our resort ID and charge it to the room. It was easy to get anywhere, and it was all by launches, ferry, & monorail. We took the preview tour to the EPCOT Center monorail station, and I still have the souvenir book with concept illustrations of the pavillions. I think the only buses needed were for Lake Buena Vista. But they were the futuristic GMC buses that debuted in 1979 and even looked a bit like the monorails. It was all first-class, relaxing, and no stress.
Age 17 and summer of 1987 found me as a MK cast member, when I was able to explore *everything* - spend unlimited time in the parks, see everything backstage, and learn how it all worked. The re-theme of If You Had Wings into DreamFlight was a huge shock that year, as Eastern Airlines dropped sponsorship and Delta picked it up. I think it was the first replacement attraction, in what would become an absolute flood of demolition and downgrades that were coming.
There were other visits all through the 70s and 80s, but I think my last was around 1990, when the Grand Floridian was still new. The parks and hotels were still pretty much perfect, on theme, and in good condition. Fast forward to 2010, when I tagged along on a trip with my sister and her family. The trip was a nightmare to plan, with food plans, ID cards, and massive expenses. A cabin at Fort Wilderness was OK, but there was a lot of time spent on buses. Plain, noisy buses with cartoon wraps that ruined their aesthetics. Tomorrowland after dusk seemed dark and scary, dangerous, even. Cast members with lax grooming standards. Attractions with non-operable show elements. Continuous expansion, with no care or maintenance of existing attractions. Thoughtful & educational attractions replaced with the very worst, pandering IP overhauls.
I've never visited Las Vegas, but the 2010 visit to WDW made me think why I never have and do not want to. Vegas has Disneyfied to a degree, and WDW has become as crass as Vegas.
I began to work for Whole Foods Market in the mid-90s, when the entire South region consisted of 3 stores in NC and one in VA. Terrific company at the time. The CEO was limited to 32x salary of the lowest-paid employee, part-timers had benefits, each store had an in-house artist and creative freedom. Then Wal-Mart entered the grocery business. Gradually I saw Wal-Mart emulate Whole Foods, and as Whole Foods greatly expanded, the company became more like Wal-Mart. Benefits removed and eroded, weird non-sensical rules and policies implemented, benefits reduced/removed, and the company culture just diluted under massive expansion. I had long been seasonal by the time Amazon bought Whole Foods, and when it came time to work a shift to reset the seasonal status, things had changed so much that I didn't even bother.
Disney/Vegas. You are on to something. I'm not sure it can ever be corrected.
i've come to the realization that with (probably) rare exception, any company with shareholders is garbage. there is no promise they won't break and and no accountability for the faceless parasitic ghouls that are actually in charge. i worked in vegas for two years before our casino got sold to landrys. we weren't struggling, it was the most successful place downtown but immediately they made up annoying rules and cut our vacation time in half. less than a year after we were picketing and approved strike because luckily i was culinary union but all because some rich d;ckhead wanted to be a tough business tw*t
Thanks for your perspective. It’s hard to see something great whether it is a job or resort or experience change for the worse. I’m going through it myself. Take care and stay well my friend.
Summary?
So awesome you got to ride If You Had Wings. I so wish I could have ridden it live in the 70s. The theme is perfection
What a great video. 2/3rds of the way through the video, you hit on the difference between Disney Imagineering yesterday & today. Intense attention to detail & thematic depth. That is what used to make Diseny special. Today, all they care about is slapping existing Disney IP on something. As you pointed out, you can really see that difference in the changes/updates made in the Boardwalk resort. Sadly, until there is a complete change of leadership, that attention to detail & themeatic depth is not returning any time soon.
I wish more people would leave negative feedback for these changes, but I think that relationships with themed entertainment can be so complex that people don't know how to articulate why it feels wrong. That's partially why I like to produce videos like this, breaking down exactly why the detail matters.
We think adding intellectual property to the hotels cheapens them along with cheap furniture, rugs, ceilings, and wall coverings
as somebody whose friend is in charge of making the new furniture go fuck yourself they're not fucking cheap and they handcrafted by human beings in America
I'm so glad you addressed the clown at The Boardwalk Hotel - I went on vacation there as a kid and absolutely LOVED that slide. While I was there, they asked if I wanted to be the first kid to go down the slide that day. They gave me a clown wig and nose and I went down the slide in it, then got a certificate signed by Mickey. They called it the "Keester Coaster Kid". It is a core memory of my childhood 😂
Solid observations. We got to check off a bucket list item and stay at the Contemporary several years ago - pre-IP-update. It was nice. Glad we did it. Will likely never do it again. The thing is - it felt like a nice hotel... anywhere in the world. That's an experience we can get anywhere in the world.
If I'm spending that kind of money on a resort, then I want to feel like I've been swept away somewhere special. Lush. Wilderness and Animal Kingdom lodges match that vibe.
What I'm seeing Disney build now... as the essay points out... is a hotel. Not an experience.
Thats sort of why IP theming is bad, i mean just throwing carton characters on everything, it breaks the notion you have set foot into another part of the world and are instead in some over-commercialized tourist trap.
I think IP theming is related to financing.
I agree that the Contemporary can feel a bit generic, but I think if it embraced a "cosmopolitan 1970s" theme, that would be an interesting way to stand out. I think its structure is still remarkable, but the interior needs to be cleaned up.
I agree completely. Contemporary still has a unique feel to it - it's no hotel box. There's still a bit of a retro future aesthetic that should be embraced. I guess that's why someone thought Incredibles was the movie tie-in that fit. But that's not embracing the location - it's an overlay.
I would note that to anyone who has this on their bucket list since they were a kid who never thought they'd get the opportunity - do it.
@@PoseidonEntertainment lots of people around the world love retro style and would enjoy that very much. It's rare to find 70s spaces that have been maintained along the lines of their original vision.
You are exactly right about how Eisner had a strategic vision for the Disney resorts, so it is upsetting to see the "de-theming" of the Disney resorts; the Contemporary and Riviera hotels are the best examples of this.
Wonderful, in-depth analysis as usual!
The Grand California Hotel remains my favourite Disney hotel - it just transports you so wonderfully to a different time and place. I wish Disney still made resorts like that...
Disneys been failing and falling from grace rapidly these past 5 years. Bob iger is the worst CEO in existence. The magic is gone and it’s all about $$$
Oh man, this video evokes so much sentimental emotions! Stayed at Coronado Springs in 2007, Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2008, honeymooned at Disney World in 2009/2010 for new year and stayed at the All Star Music resort, but snuck into the pool and jacuzzi at the wilderness 😊 Good memories!
Took our family back in 2017 and actually stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and it was the most magical vacation we’ve ever had. ❤ Probably my favorite resort of all time.
It’s so sad to see Disney joining the “sad beige” bandwagon. So many of the resorts have been castrated; they better not change the Wildweness😢
I’m glad this video hits some of my problems with Disney hotels today. They are too concerned about the budget and profit margins. Thats the real driver of Riviera and DVC Polynesian. Its cheaper to build standard looking buildings and theme them after the fact when they should be incorporating the theme INTO the structure itself.
And I completely agree about the characters being shoehorned into places they don’t belong. It feels like another budget saving strategy to just decorate the room with characters then to actually theme the room properly.
I could go on.
That’s all these guys are worried about, profits. But unfortunately they just seem to keep making mistakes that cost the company money and make things worse.
OMG. You use my term. Resort hopping. That is our favorite thing to do. Since we live in West Palm Beach, two hours away, we will spend all Saturday going from resort to resort. Using different types of transportation. Parking for free at Disney Springs. Ending our evening walking around Disney Springs. Just an absolute wonderful day so much fun. Completely free. We never even think about going to the parks themselves. Although it is always tempting to go to Epcot around the world,. Ha ha ha resort hopping. The most fun weekend possibly have. Almost free. Except for your food and drinks.and great exercise.
I literally could not recognize the Boardwalk Hotel as the one from my childhood memories until you brought up that clown water slide. Way more memorable than what they have there now.
Raising prices and lowering standards surely works to raise stock price and uh...well...
That slow fade in of the music then you talking a couple seconds after. Never gets old 🤤🤤🤤🤤
Like a whole asmr but better.😊😂
August 13, 1971 was my start date at diz. Food Division at the Contemporary. Dizney knew nothing about running hotel's. A very interesting time for me. Two of my best friends to this day come from Contemporary. Until New Years day 1972, when construction finished, my boss had 2 rooms allotted. He and his wife stayed in one, me in another. 16 to 18 hour days were normal. One 19 hour day. Such a grand place. It's sad to see whats become of it.
It's wild to think about how much effort went into theming Disney's early iconic projects. Watching "Behind the Attraction", I was shocked how much research went into some of them... Imagineers actually going out into the field and immersing themselves in the culture and the land they were going to try to do justice to. Now instead of creating something original they just flip through the IP catalog and find something vaguely (or not at all!) related to the area, and slap it on there.
The only Disney resort I’ve stay at (so far) is the Grand Californian. It is such a beautifully designed hotel. I love everything about it. I wish Disney would go back to putting in the effort with their hotels, it makes such a difference.
Thanks for making this. Themeing is so important and facinating. I found myself zoning out several times because your video got my creativity going. You have become one of my favorite themepark youtubers. right up with Defunctland and Yesterworld.
I think that's another important element of the Eisner resorts too. They were creatively inspiring and made you consider what other themes Disney might tackle.
Ahhh right on time for d23
I had the chance to stay at Boardwalk Villas as a teenager (I believe they are now taken over by DVC). It was amazing to be able to stroll into Epcot’s tour of countries every night, regardless of what park we’d been to, eat in a different country, and listen to live music (Britain had a Beatles tribute band, Italy had classical musicians, Mexico had mariachi bands). My dad was a very frugal person but he was always very generous on vacation. It was an incredible memory from my childhood, seeing WDW for the first time.
As a mom of young kids we got to stay in Art of Animation (Cars Land) and it was quite nice, except I do remember doing a LOT of walking and bus riding (this was before Skyliner), and then as a mom with teen agers we stayed in Caribbean Beach with the new Skyliner. It was tremendous. We’d come back from a day at the parks and swim in one of the smaller pools near our room (not the main pool) and had it basically to ourselves.
One of the things I really appreciate about your channel is how many wonderful memories it triggers. Your analysis is always interesting and I share your nostalgia for old Epcot. It was a magical place to visit as a young person. On this most recent trip I dragged my teen agers to every classic animatronic show possible (American Adventure, Carousel of Progress, Hall of President) I could squeeze in. I am worried they will go away.
Our week long trip to Disney 2 years ago, we rented an air b&b Two bedroom two bath townhouse for 1500 dollars for the whole week. It was 10 minutes away from the parks, freshly renovated and really nice. Staying on property would have cost us double in the cheapest possible hotel. Being on a budget it was a no brainer. Hell the townhouse was even Disney themed.
I find it crazy that Disney world doesn't have a world class train, bus, and biking system. Those are things that Walt loved!
I stayed at the Polynesian hotel in 2005. It had a massive fountain with tons of interior foliage. Its a shame how they removed that and scaled down the fountain. It looks so bare today.
I have said the EXACT same thing about the Contemporary!!! It was always my dream Disney deluxe resort but after seeing the most recent renovation, I realized that I had missed my opportunity. Disney wants us to keep shelling out more money, while they continually cheapen the experience. No thanks.
Exactly. I always wanted to stay at the Contemporary with my girlfriend should I return to Disney World one day as I always thought it looked pretty as a kid but after seeing the tacky refurbishments, let's just say it's not exactly on my bucket list for a long time
@@PeruvianPotato The experience at Contemporary is fun, close to MK and relatively quick to Epcot. Can't beat it. It's the only place you can walk 5 minutes through the gates of MK.
Disney sorely needs a CEO much like Eisner, who had a grand vision and encouraged innovation.
Oddly enough, Iger in his book talks about how Eisner screwed up the company and was thus ran out, leading to the rise of Bob. Now we yearn for the Eisner years given how poorly Iger has run the company. Fascinating
@@UnimpressiveGEisner's team helped translate his ideas into plausibility and when they left, were fired, or passed away; he lost that team and couldn't succeed like he did before.
For all his faults and he did have some, to me Eisner wanted to be a modern day Walt or at the very least his own spin on it. You can see it in the various promotional material he did with the characters that he seemed genuinely in love with Disney.
Nowadays you got people like Iger, chapek, and others who treat the Brand as just that. A Brand. Something you can slap onto things and it will print money regardless of the quality of that thing.
@@flaco171ac Unfortunately I wonder if it would be allowed by the board who just wants short term gains and profits for investors. It’s all about the money unfortunately these days. No one wants to invest long term in people or ideas that don’t pay immediate dividends. The original parks were made by artists. Now decisions are made by bean counters.
Such a shame that all disney is now is IP acquisition and IP vomit, both without any understanding.
When I was a kid, my grandma and grandpa took me and my younger cousin to Animal Kingdom Lodge to eat at Boma. (This was the only time I ever got to go into a Disney hotel as my grandma has always opted to rent a house for a week instead with our big family. It’s a shame.) Anyway, I was transfixed by the resort. Not only was the food delicious, but Copper Creek going outside the building and seeming to go on forever (I never got to see where it led, so I was making assumptions) was amazing. Afterwards, we of course checked out the animals which was a treat and the cast member there was nice. It is easily my favorite Disney resort with Contemporary being second.
As for the character chaos, I agree with you for most of them. Incredibles is the most random Disney IP to bring into Contemporary which makes it worse, the Mad Hatter water structure contrasts with the formal appearance of Grand Floridian, and the paintings of Disney rides in various hotels, like the Boardwalk where they don’t belong, clashes. Honestly, I think pretty much all of the IP placement in the hotels maybe excuse Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins Returns is terrible.
I actually worked at the Port Orleans French Quarter recently on a College Internship Program. I really loved my time! The theme was very interesting!
Imagine having Dali as an inspiration and ending up with the Gran Destino.
"Inspired by Dali and Walt Disney"
Where?
I have an extremely trying day of work ahead of me today. Very grateful to have a Poseidon entertainment video to watch while i get ready
Stayed at the Polynesian since 1978. Loved the monorail going straight to the park. Completely unaffordable now
Bravo, one of your finest videos yet, articulately pinpointing what many of us who have known the resorts since the '80s-'90s have long sensed. In due course, I look forward to hearing your take on the latest D23 announcements, including what IMO can only be described as the final thematic destruction of MK Frontierland. Thanks again.
Only stayed in one of these once, the Wilderness Lodge, but what an amazing trip it was. Truly an incredible hotel imo.
One aspect of the Disney experience which has been lost in the past few decades is that Walt Disney saw American History itself as an IP in and of itself, something which is very much reflected in much of the early design of the parks. This is not something unique to Disney, as there were many non-Disney parks and attractions in the 1950s and 60s which celebrated American history and exceptionalism, it's just that Disney went above and beyond. As a big part of Disney's history, it's sad to see this aspect of Walt Disney's vision being cast aside in favor of more exclusively branded Disney IP.
In an era where nationalism is associated with fascism, I do like how Disney has traditionally honored American history is a non-partisan way. I think that the American Adventure could use some re-working, but otherwise, it is an interesting theme.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I think you need to look at things from a different perspective, Disney himself was extremely political. Small World is a message of peace and hope sung by the world's children during the cold war, the US had just lost a president because he wanted peace and his own government wasn't standing for it, then like today peace is a radical construct.
Great comment! 100% spot on
A minor counterpoint, Walt Disney had lots of films and tv shows that were based in American history and adventure stories back in the 50s and 60s and a lot of the theming and attractions in the parks were nods to them. Pirates of the Caribbean for Treasure Island. The Liberty Tree from Johnny Tremaine. Disney’s Swamp Fox, Davy Crockett, Tom Sawyer productions all were the foundation for Frontierland. The departed 20,000 leagues attraction from the films and even the Swiss Family Tree House were Disney IP. It’s not much different than taking characters and environments from fairy tales. I don’t want to go much further down this rabbit hole, but I’d be remiss to not point out how much the post WW2 boom and the Cold War played into the culture then with highlighting the history and mythology of US history and US capitalism.
To finally wrap it up: Yes, the iconography isn’t as easy to stamp everywhere as animated characters and new products such as home entertainment didn’t exist back then. Yes, marketing has gotten more niche and the methods for receiving it are more pernicious, but the building blocks were being used by Uncle Walt.
Been watching you since you started man love seeing you keep growing thanks for staying honest 🫡
The Caribbean Beach was our go-to when I was a kid. Stayed there 3-4 times in the 80's and 90's. It is a shame that the food court is gone, that was fantastic. I remember the Grand Floridian when it was new and it was spectacular. All of the 90's ABC shows had a 'we're going to Disney World for shenanigans' episode after Disney bought them. They all stayed at the Grand Floridian.
The Polynesian was a favorite, as it was easier to get on the monorail vs the TTC. In the mid-80's it had a full luau for adults. It is a shame that so much of this is gone and not replaced with something on par.
The prices are simply ridiculous. Even when having money to burn I wouldn't pay Disney resort prices. You can get so much more.
We spent 2 weeks at the Contemporary in March of 1977 and to this day, those memories bring a smile to my face. I wish I could find more video and/or images of the hotel back at that time but as they say, "You can't go back". :)
In 1972 I stayed a week for FREE my sister's medical convention..Paper CC and good for anything too.
The lobby of the riviera hotel looks so similar to the double tree across from Universal Orlando.
My first memories of Disney World were my sister and I taking a boat from the Wilderness campground to the Contemporary and then hopping on the monorail to just go visit all the hotels. Our parents had a pop up camper they got for cheap so the Campground was all we could afford. We didn’t have park tickets but we didn’t need them. The hotels themselves held so many secrets, details, arcades, food, just overall things to do.
Wilderness Lodge, to me, is Disney hotels at their best. The hidden mickeys, the geyser, the totem poles, the 7 layer magic brownies, the smells. So damn much packed into a perfectly themed experience.
You nailed it, the new hotels are just shallow Las Vegas style opulence.
It's instructive to compare the exterior waterfront area of the Riveria to the comparable area at Universal's Portofino Bay. I'm not saying Portofino Bay is up to the '80s/'90s Disney standard, but it's depressing how Disney isn't even trying anymore.
I wholeheartedly believe Las Vegas hotels are WAY better than what I’ve seen of the Disney World hotels. The hotels on the Strip, at least.
@@MeMyselfAndUs903 I think it depends on which strip hotel we're talking about. The Wynn? Definitely. Luxor? Nah.
@@MeMyselfAndUs903I’ve yet to go to Vegas but I’m not surprised. The current Disney hotels feel as if they are copy/pasted. I understand people saying that the little details aren’t that important but I truly feel that when all those details mesh with the theming of the hotel itself there’s a tangible feeling you get when experiencing it.
“Works of art” is a perfect way to label these hotels. More than a place to crash at the end of the day. There’s a sense of wonder, exploration, and calmness found in these hotels if only you take the time to give yourself to the experience.
I’m waxing poetic about hotels, which admittedly is cringe af, but the memories I have of hotel hopping as a kid have been validated by my short revisits to the hotels when I’m around the property. Yes, the Polynesian lost the fountain. Yes, slowly things are creeping in and around these hotels that encroach on the theming and scream capitalism/greed. But they still emanate the same feeling I had when I walked in the first, second, fifth, tenth time. Unique labors of love. Just another thing current Disney execs don’t care about and are letting fade in the rear view mirror.
As someone who has lost interest in Disney long ago this was a pretty cool look into a side of the company I hadn't really explored. This video has given me a newfound respect for the attention to detail that Disney used to have and unfortunately has also reinforced my distaste for current Disney and their lack of care to those finer details in all their dealings.
D23 needs to present real original proposals for the parks panel. And no, gutting existing attractions with interior replacements or only making half-ass IP based lands/attractions do not count.
But sadly the days of pursuing original, timeless world-breaking ideas with healthy investments are long gone, which ended with Joe Rohde retiring.
I always look forward to your videos. Especially the one's that expose Disney's greed. Whether pointing it out is intentional or not I enjoy people who aren't scared to point out the not so niceties of the most magical place on earth.
I always loved the designs of contemporary and space mountain! Very creative designs and totally agree with your incredibles comment. Soooooo true
Absolutely LOVED this video! I learned so much! Thanks for the content! 😊
Wilderness Lodge was incredible. My GFs terminally ill grandmother stayed there for a few weeks. They upgraded her to the Presidential Sweet on the house. Great experience.
I went to Hollywood Studios for the first time earlier this year, right at the top of January.
My neighbor and his girlfriend are both airline pilots based out of Orlando, and they found out about my plan to go to HS. They told me that if I picked them up from the airport the night before my tickets, they would pay for us to stay at a hotel for the night to get into the park early.
We stayed at the All-Star Movie Resort, one of their lower-end hotels. But you know what? I LOVED it. The massive Toy Story statues, the huge 101 Dalmatians, the endless spots for photos and all the trivia everywhere…
It was genuinely a really fun night before the trip to the park.
Now granted, I’ve never stayed on Disney Property before that, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I for sure see your comparison to Vegas.
Hell, in the movie “Casino,” Ace says that with the destruction of the Tangirs, the fictional stand in for the Stardust Hotel and Casino, the “old way” had been lost in Vegas. It became “like Disneyland.”
Sad to see the decay of architecture with soul and its sacrifice on the altar of modernity and minimalism has affected Disney so badly.
I'm really speaking of the current era of Vegas past its 90s phase. That's not to say that the 90s phase wasn't incredibly superficial, but it wasn't "generic opulence" like what is currently finding its way to the Strip.
I was lucky enough to stay in all of the hotels before their themed IP remodels. I agree that Disney doesn’t understand what people will actually pay for and that the IP’s for the most part actually diminish, the rooms value. I loved staying at the contemporary resort but wouldn’t stay there again because the hotel rooms look so cheap. For reference, look at the way the TWA hotel at JFK was redesigned. it embraced its mid century design and it’s an impressive and gorgeous space.
For me, Disney begun It’s “theming mess”when they decided to buy all these brands, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, etc… Classic Disney is ONLY and simple Disney!
And that’s the problem with these acquisitions that happened throughout the last decade. If everything is Disney, nothing will be.
Cost is a huge reason why I view Disney World as a once in a lifetime experience. I went as a kid and was happy with no urge to go back as an adult. What my Disney fan friends spend at a Disney World trip rival my family’s international travel budget. Luckily my wife isn’t a huge Disney fan.
I still like Disneyland + California Adventure since it’s smaller and does not define an entire vacation.
Who would have the thought Eisner would be peak Disney
“You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain” … he was responsible for so much innovation in his early years but mucked it up at the end and that is what people remember 😕
@@allst4rm3 He paid himself too much profits. I been going to Disney off and on 44 years and feel like their pricing takes advantage of everyone. My suggestions reduce pricing 30% on everything and give high quality food choices.
Iv always said this. It never made sense to me how the closest CEO we’ve had to Walt Disney himself was looked at as the worst EXPECIALLY during the Igor era.
Agree... I was working at the parks during the Eisner years and everyone at the time all said Eisner was the worst. They sure did take that for granted, because the parks peaked under Eisner. It's hilarious to read these comments praising Eisner when he was looked at so poorly at the time.
@@cup_and_cone My issue is his compensation package/pay and how hard it is for people to pay for food/hotels and Chinese made souvenirs . Paying for entrance should be at a price that pays for maintenance, salaries, operations and improvement to park. But Disney drains your wallet at everything. The Fantasy now that my kids have grown is over. I doubt I would pay for my grandchildren to attend or even a movie, I am too dissatisfied Disney got into so many extra businesses and politics .
I stayed at the Polynesian Resort some 35 years ago, and it was amazing. The themeing made the extra cost well worth it. Staying in the resort was part of the whole Disney experience. That was the whole point of staying at a "Disney" resort----it was not just another hotel.
But today, the Disney bigshots have forgotten that. All they build today are just big hotels with lots of rooms and nothing else. You could be staying at any hotel anywhere.
I completely agree with this entire video.
I still go to Disney World, probably always will, short flight, warm weather etc.
It used to feel like a magical place, attention to detail, impeccable service.
I used to go sometimes 2/3x a year now it’s once a year for a few days. It’s still convenient with the transportation and safety elements, but it’s not the experience it was once.
I drew the line at the draining the The Rivers of America and the removal of the steam boat plus the incongruity of placing a cars land in Frontierland!
I have appalled at the lack of charm in the hotels and the craftsmanship in their new ships. They are also squeezing in so many vacation hotels on their existing resorts that they look overcrowded and ugly!!!
I don’t know what is wrong with them aside from greed. I wish Michael Eisner or someone like him would take over.
The parks are dirty, and way overpriced, at this time they are coasting on the Disney brand. I have broken up with Disney after years of going multiple times a year for multiple days.
I am switching to Universal and have bid Disney adieu!!!
If they are making these changes to compete with Universal they are going down the wrong path, they are very different and there is really no comparison!!!
Walt Disney must be rolling over in his grave😢
@@marilynfernandez3279😂 I guess Universal where people over 220 pounds can't fit on rides they have no disability accommodation aren't allowing people to use a season pass or a membership for the first two years at big universe is around, was deemed one of the least inclusive companies to work for in the United States andbasically kowtow to the Nazi governor of Florida. But yeah universal is great
We stayed at Coronado Springs and the Floridian in 2002 and 2008 and liked them both. The spa at the Floridian was fantastic.
I want to see a video of you breaking down your thoughts for the D23 announcements. I don't even know what California Adventure and Hollywood Studios are at this point. It seems like those types of Disney parks are just going down the Disney Adventure route.
Overall really interesting video keep it up!
I’ve stayed at most of the resorts you reviewed in this video and have had this sub conscious feeling about what I’ve been seeing in the refurbishments.
This video really hit the nail on the head with what I’m feeling.
My feelings that the Poly tower was ugly, the riviera was un-exciting and the incredibles in the CR kind of made it feel cheap you’ve explained out perfectly.
Great video. I enjoyed it and I’m kind of sad at same time. I WILL stay at animal kingdom lodge now. A resort I had written off due to the distance. Strangely I have eaten at Boma and spent time in lobby waiting. And I loved it. So I will go back as a guest in part because of this video and more open eyes.
If you go, I also recommend Jiko and Sanaa (over at the DVC building). AKL has the best collection of restaurants on Disney property.
People who see hotels like Riviera and don't see the downgrade in quality, are either blind or just shilling.
What's the downgrade?
Great location
Really good food
Fun character breakfast
Fabulous views from Topolinos
The 1-bed villas are the best we've stayed in vs Beach Club or Saratoga
The main pool is a bit small, I do wish it was larger. My kids loved it though, thought the water slide was great.
I'm not shilling for Disney, I think the corporation is awful. However, we had a fabulous vacation at Riviera. I don't understand why people rag on it all the time.
I stayed at the Contemporary several times in the 70s. Very fond memories.
A couple other examples of Disney stripping down the great detail at their resorts:
Sterilizing the food court at Port Orleans French Quarter, which had amazing large scale Mardi Gras themed elements hanging from the walls and ceilings.
Stripping away all the African theming in the halls at Animal Kingdom Lodge... such as the drum lights and the heavily detailed molding.
I didn't realize that French Quarter had its theming scaled back. It's been a while since I've been, but I guess that only reinforces the point. I didn't realize that AKL had changed much either
When my parents took my sisters and I to Disney World in 1995, we stayed at the Beach Club and I loved it.
Great video as usual. Let's hope Disney is listening.
Regarding Art of Animation “I would like to see something for the first half of the century.”
Oooh … like an Art Deco hotel showcasing early film and animation? I like that idea.
Never even been to a park,why do I like these videos so much?
Because you get to enjoy Disney without all the cr@p that goes with it.
It's an interesting industry I suppose
I love the architecture of the Old Faithful Inn so the Wilderness Lodge is by far my favorite Disney resort. It perfectly captures the charm of “Parkitecture” and the west that I really enjoy. It’s unfortunate that current Disney doesn’t seem to appreciate these kind of resorts for what they are.
I also want to add that I remember seeing that a hot spring had the illusion of feeding into the hot tub which I thought was a really clever detail.
5:28 My family and I stayed in the Atlanta Hyatt hotel in 1975; on our way to Disney. Still remember the glass elevators; thought that was SO cool at 8 yrs old.
I've been there once as a young kid, but I definitely want to stay again if given the chance.
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando is similarly impressive and worth a visit as are any Hyatt atriums of that era.
Another case of "don't know what you have til it's gone". I wish more people realized how great we have it at certain points in history. 😊
I absolutely cannot believe there wasn’t more pushback on the Riviera when it opened. This is like something that needs a DCA style redo, since it has absolutely no character.
On one of our Orlando vacations pre-Covid, we stayed in Wilderness Cabins and spent a whole day visiting Disney Resorts. Many of them are stunning in many ways, especially the theming and architecture.
This man ain't scared to call disney out on their truest of bull
Excellent, excellent video. I didn't fully appreciate how many of the great resorts were built in such a short period of time. The contrast between Wilderness Lodge and Riviera is stunning. Really sad how far they've fallen.
Wonderful video that I really enjoyed watching. Thanks!
My Dad adored the Polynesian specifically because he loved being stationed in Honolulu in the Navy. He always said it was the closest he would ever get to bringing his family to Hawaii.
The Wilderness lodge has a fireplace that is absolutely breathtaking. We went during Christmas. So finding ourselves eating hot chocolate and cookies, relaxing in front of the fire, in rocking chairs, finding all the animal engravings was the ultimate vacation experience.
A fun fact: back when people actually lived in their RVs in Wilderness Resort... at Christmas the residents did a Christmas golf cart parade. Completely guest led, you had to know someone to be invited. They would decorate their golf carts in Christmas decor, play music on their cart and it was a parade through the resort rv park. One of the coolest experiences i ever had at Disney World. We learned about it because I struck up a conversation with the woman seated next to me on the plane. She told me about it and wrote down the info with her official invite.
There’s still a golf cart parade at Christmas.
This is excellent- better than most tv today.
Love him or hate him, Eisner did a decent job making or having a hand in helping create the resorts
I work at a Disney hotel on property, but it's not owned or operated by Disney. I think it's one of the best places to stay. It's small, so you're at the bus within a few mins from your room, it's walking distance to Disney Springs, there's hourly, trackable-by your-phone shuttles so no standing around wondering when the bus arrives, plus 2 free drinks at check in (yes, alcoholic) and my favorite part...free solid coffee in the lobby every morning. Plus the lightning lane and early entry benefit. Find me 1 Disney resort with all this for way cheaper.
The resorts are a pretty strong launching point for a discussion of how some people tend to talk about what it means for something to "be" or "feel" Disney. I see a number of people in various online discussion spaces say things like "if you're going to Disney, you expect to see Disney characters", and fair enough to a certain degree on that, but I think stuff like resorts themed around times, places, nations, etc. and done *in the Disney style of design* is what really counts as "what is Disney". When those themes are muted in favor of blander spaces and familiar characters are slapped on to get people to do the DiCaprio "hey, I know that one!" point meme, a lot of "what is Disney" is lost.
I really don't get people like that, but I guess they've been here from the very beginning. I'm reminded of stories of early Disneyland Fantasyland dark rides where people complained that they didn't see Snow White, even though the point of the ride was very obviously to put you in her perspective. What do people get out of a fleeting glimpse of the character?
I think there is a key difference here between what makes someone a Disney parks/resorts fan versus just being a person who goes to Disney.