Hi there. Just to start I love disney and everything about it. I have been to DLRP several time and have always stayed in a Disney hotel. I do this, as I want my Disney day to carry on even when I have left the park. Is it just me or does this not happen as much as I feel it should? For excample. When I turn on the t.v in a Disney hotel(which costs more than an recomended hotel) I excpect to find all the disney chanels in a language that my children and myself can understand. IT'S DISNEYLAND!!!! So why does Disney hide from me. Also in the Hotels, corridors and surrounding areas should there not be piped Disney tunes to again keep the Disny Magic alive. Its not that I don't like the Disney hotels, because I do. Its just I feel they need those few little extra touches that Disney, on a hole do so well or I might aswell stay in a recommended hotel which costs less.
Please Disney make me want to stay in your hotels.
But the music in the Disney hotels is chosen by the Imagineers based on the theme of the hotel. If you're staying at Hotel New York, it makes sense to have jazz music played in the lobby and the elevators. Only in the Disneyland Hotel you'll have a classic Disney soundtrack because of its theme.
And regarding Disney Channel, I believe it's available in 5 different languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian and German. Same goes for the "resort video" that plays in 6 languages.
Disney is starting to creep into the hotels though, Bambi in the Sequoia Lodge, Cars theme in the Santa Fe.
I know, you are right. Though couldn't the new york music be from Oliver and company which is set in new york, for excample. I have stayed in Santa fe and Sequoia Lodge and I don't remember hearing any music at all, if there is sorry but could you turn it up.
Also I could be wrong but I didn't think that disney junior was available in english. I remember this because my two young children were gutted that they could see there favorate shows, but not understand them.
Yes, on a positive note I think the Cars and Bambi touches are fantastic. Maybe thats why I strive for more.
Quote from: "Kristof"But the music in the Disney hotels is chosen by the Imagineers based on the theme of the hotel. If you're staying at Hotel New York, it makes sense to have jazz music played in the lobby and the elevators.
Perhaps they can record some classic Disney soundtracks in a jazz theme (depending on the hotels theme obviously) and incorporate it in the exsisting music loop? That way you will maintain the exsisting loop and atmosphere but add a slight Disney touch to it.
QuoteAnd regarding Disney Channel, I believe it's available in 5 different languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian and German.
And what about the Dutch/Flemish Disney Channel? That's weird... :|
Quote from: "Bryn"I know, you are right. Though couldn't the new york music be from Oliver and company which is set in new york, for excample. I have stayed in Santa fe and Sequoia Lodge and I don't remember hearing any music at all, if there is sorry but could you turn it up.
Also I could be wrong but I didn't think that disney junior was available in english. I remember this because my two young children were gutted that they could see there favorate shows, but not understand them.
Yes, on a positive note I think the Cars and Bambi touches are fantastic. Maybe thats why I strive for more.
I can't remember any music at the Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge. You would be surprised how controversial Disney touches in the Disney hotels have been with some members of the forum in the past.
Quote from: "ed-uk"Quote from: "Bryn"I know, you are right. Though couldn't the new york music be from Oliver and company which is set in new york, for excample. I have stayed in Santa fe and Sequoia Lodge and I don't remember hearing any music at all, if there is sorry but could you turn it up.
I can't remember any music at the Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge.
I assume Sequoia Lodge will have a similar music loop to the Wilderness Lodge loop? It contains beautiful soundtracks (including Dances with Wolves etc.)
QuoteYou would be surprised how controversial Disney touches in the Disney hotels have been with some members of the forum in the past.
It depends on the execution I guess. I applaud the Bambi touches at Seqouia Lodge which are tastefully done, but I am still not sure about Santa Fe's Cars overlay... the bedspreads and the billboard at the entrance in particular put me off. But I understand the need for some Disney touches in the Hotels, because let's be honest, the rooms and corridors of some of the hotels (Newport Bay Club comes to mind) are quite generic.
For me, Disneyland is not just the Disney movies. It's also (maybe especially?) the work of Imagineers who created great and well themed fictious environments. I think there should always be a balance between Disney movie related stuff and non Disney movie offers. I don't like the recent development with just focussing everything on toons, so I'm quite happy if there are places where it isn't obvious that everything is "Disney". Don't get me wrong, I love Disney and all that is related to it, but Disneyland should be more than just a Park to pay tribute to movies. I think if Disneyland was like that, there would not be the same fascination for fans from all over the World. And just look at great web pages like ravenswoodmanor.com, Eurosouvenirland etc., I think they would not exist if everything would just be based on Disney movies. Thus, I don't need Disney sounds everywhere, as Disneyland is a combination of Disney movies and not particulary Disney related sections.
I see your point about not over doing it with Disney everywhere, as I am yet to be convinced about Mickey and the gang apearing at the wild west show, but it would be nice to have some kind of ambient music at the Disney hotels to give you the sensation of still being entertained. If I remember correctly there was a lack of this at Santa Fe and Sequia Lodge.
As for Disney junior not being availabe in English on Disneyland televisions, I am still bemused.
DLP is all Disney, but the themeing of the hotels and parks isn't all based upon the movies and cartoon characters. It's a tough one for me because it's a Disney Resort, and I can't separate Walt Disney the cartoonist and film producer from Walt Disney the theme park builder. So if they introduce Disney characters and themeing from the movies into the hotels I can understand it. I've never thought about the music in the hotels, I guess the soundtrack from Bambi would fit at the Sequoia Lodge now, and in the Santa Fe the soundtrack from Cars would be ok. The Hotel Santa Fe was, is ment to transport us to a Pueblo indian village on route 66 and welcome travellers on their way to the Rio Grande, I'm not sure it works in the middle of a harsh French winter. The Cars overlay could be an improvement.
I agree that the Disney hotels need abit more of a "Disney" feel too them. Sometimes I feel like I might aswell be staying anywhere, I want to feel like Im in a (pardon the pun) "Disney land." :?
I thought the Newport bay was very drab but in the recent refurb it looks really nice, using characters around the walls and on the beds its what every hotel needs, in my opinion.
I think using Bambi for the Sequoia lodge is quite strange since its quite an old film, however it does suit the current themeing of the Sequoia lodge. As for the music, I would love to be able to walk around the hotel listening to Disney music. I get that you need music to suit the theme, but maybe play different music at different areas of the hotel? Just my opinion... :D
Quote from: "Patrick89"For me, Disneyland is not just the Disney movies. It's also (maybe especially?) the work of Imagineers who created great and well themed fictious environments. I think there should always be a balance between Disney movie related stuff and non Disney movie offers. I don't like the recent development with just focussing everything on toons, so I'm quite happy if there are places where it isn't obvious that everything is "Disney". Don't get me wrong, I love Disney and all that is related to it, but Disneyland should be more than just a Park to pay tribute to movies. I think if Disneyland was like that, there would not be the same fascination for fans from all over the World. And just look at great web pages like ravenswoodmanor.com, Eurosouvenirland etc., I think they would not exist if everything would just be based on Disney movies. Thus, I don't need Disney sounds everywhere, as Disneyland is a combination of Disney movies and not particulary Disney related sections.
I agree on your view for 120%.
The classic Disney movies are epic and a great part of the Disney legacy, but not the only ones.
Walt was not just a cartoonist, but someone with a much greater vision and fantasy.
Take for example the whole Mainstreet look and feel? No toons needed there, but it is just Disney magic all over.
Or the Jules Verne style of Discoveryland? Imho so much more Disney then the Buzz attraction....
(Don't take me wrong, i love Buzz and the attraction, but not at the currect location and surrounding...)
So for me the hotels are just a great place of escaping my daily life. It does give me classical look and feel for the era or area where you are staying. The only thing needed imho is some upgrading in rooms and proper maintenance, but please not too much "toonafication" on the current hotels. The whole Paris style of Hotels are magical.
But i do understand the idea for maybe most "mainstream" Disney fans (and that's ok, don't get me wrong :)) that the relation to Disney is just the cartoons....but it just ain't, there is so much more to Walt :D
Maybe in the future a more dedicated "Art of Animation Hotel" is an option? Or something like the All-Star resorts in Orlando?
Well said!
I've read your post and I don't know if I can call myself a "mainstream" Disney fan or not, I agree with you that there was more to Walt Disney than just cartoons, although the roots of the WDC are in film and animation. You mentioned Main Street, I love the atmosphere there and OK there is no need for toons. But when I walk in the park the first think I see is the castle, which as we all know is themed upon Sleeping Beauty, a Disney cartoon classic film, it's the centre piece of the park. So when people return to the beautiful hotel New York are they really pretending that they are in New York because it's more adult theme and less toony?
Quote from: "ed-uk"I've read your post and I don't know if I can call myself a "mainstream" Disney fan or not, I agree with you that there was more to Walt Disney than just cartoons, although the roots of the WDC are in film and animation. You mentioned Main Street, I love the atmosphere there and OK there is no need for toons. But when I walk in the park the first think I see is the castle, which as we all know is themed upon Sleeping Beauty, a Disney cartoon classic film, it's the centre piece of the park. So when people return to the beautiful hotel New York are they really pretending that they are in New York because it's more adult theme and less toony?
I agree with that and also the fact that "we" want to be enchanted into the world of Disney.
What i wanted to express is that there are more fantasy worlds within Disney then only the"Toons".
But good point, the Castle is indeed e classical example of Disney tale coming to life.
But what about Frontierland? That's mostly a magical Disney place on it's own?
ps. i dont't want to put labels on people, but "mainstream" was the first thing that popped in my mind for trying to
explain my point without really categorize people ;)
I don't understand how people including adults can happily spend all day walking around the Magic Kingdom theme park, which is full of Disney story telling and enchantment as you say, then return to their hotel and say now I'm going to pretend I'm in Cape Cod, USA and no Mickey Mouse in the Wallpaper of my room thank you, that's too much Disney.
Quote from: "ed-uk"I don't understand how people including adults can happily spend all day walking around the Magic Kingdom theme park, which is full of Disney story telling and enchantment as you say, then return to their hotel and say now I'm going to pretend I'm in Cape Cod, USA and no Mickey Mouse in the Wallpaper of my room thank you, that's too much Disney.
That's not how i experience it as "pretending", maybe that's where you differ with others.
Or vice versa ;-)
We are "just" enjoying the stay in one of our preferred hotels and we just like those theming a lot.
And off course there is enough choice in which you like (Forrest, Water, City, Romance, Western and Mexican)
But let's not get to deep into a discussion, we differ in likes and i wouldn' t prefer more toons in the hotels.
And when done, it should be subtle done. (Like the Bambi wallpaper...)
Quote from: "Soap"Quote from: "ed-uk"I don't understand how people including adults can happily spend all day walking around the Magic Kingdom theme park, which is full of Disney story telling and enchantment as you say, then return to their hotel and say now I'm going to pretend I'm in Cape Cod, USA and no Mickey Mouse in the Wallpaper of my room thank you, that's too much Disney.
That's not how i experience it as "pretending", maybe that's where you differ with others.
Or vice versa ;-)
We are "just" enjoying the stay in one of our preferred hotels and we just like those theming a lot.
And off course there is enough choice in which you like (Forrest, Water, City, Romance, Western and Mexican)
But let's not get to deep into a discussion, we differ in likes and i wouldn' t prefer more toons in the hotels.
And when done, it should be subtle done. (Like the Bambi wallpaper...)
Well we won't get too deep in discussion then, but the next time you stay at a DLP hotel, I'm sure you won't be too surprised to see a long queue of people waiting to have their picture taken with a Disney toon character at the meet n greet area in the hotel lobby. And Disney merchandise to buy in the shop.
I find it really difficult to justify the inflated prices of Disney hotels when you can stay at somewhere like the Dream Castle for so much cheaper. It is just as themed as a Disney hotel at prices less than a value hotel. Even after buying Dream APs( which give you the same early morning hours as a Disney) it is still much cheaper(we tend to stay for 6 nights). I want something more to convince me to pay for a Disney hotel - I want MAGIC!. Even after seeing refurbished rooms at places like the Sequoia, I am still thinking that they look cheap and drab. A few subtle pictures/bedspreads/etc just isn't enough to justify the overpriced rooms and cattle market breakfasts.
I don't mean it has to be character based, I just want a good quality room, a modern clean bathroom (get rid of the shower curtains), a well organised breakfast and some Magic.
I know people say that 'you're at Disney you don't spend time in the hotel room', but actually with two small children and short winter opening hours, we do spend a lot of time in the room.
We stayed at the new Legoland Hotel this year and it was head and shoulder's above anything that Disney have on offer. It was completely themed with the bathroom situated between the adult bed and the children's bunk bed so that the adults didn't have to sit in the dark when the little ones went to bed.
Even the public toilets were themed well. The breakfast was well stocked, didn't feel crowded and you just turned up when you were ready.
Google 'Legoland Hotel, Windsor' and you'll see what I mean.
I love Disney - Characters and the non-character themes but the hotels all need completely re thought about.
Makes a trip to WDW even more inviting!
I've never stayed at the Legoland hotel, I've seen pictures of the rooms and they do look very childish to me, pirate rooms, adventure rooms etc, in fact much of the park is designed for very young children. Disney theme parks appeal to a much wider age group and adults stay at DLP without children. The Disney hotels are themed to areas in America as you know, the Sequoia Lodge set in an American National Park, Newport Bay Club themed as a yaght-Club in Cape Cod. They do have a more adult themeing, and maybe some people worry that the introduction of Disney characters on the wall could make the rooms a little childish. But I love what they're doing at the hotels at the moment and I thought the new rooms in the Sequoia Lodge looked beautiful when we stayed there last month, and very comfortable. Also the big Disney hotels have about a thousand rooms each, so they probably handle many more people at breakfast than other hotels.
About the Sequoia Lodge, I Stayed there last month and there was music playing! But one question: Do they use music like Morning Mood in the morning, like they do different types of music depending on the time of day? And for the music playing in the corridors they probably didn't because it would disturb Hotel Guests in there room.