tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post328759864176142686..comments2024-02-08T07:33:49.907-08:00Comments on Re-Imagineering: Walt Disney's Wonderful World of WatergateMr Bankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-55159364749806528982007-07-01T13:52:00.000-07:002007-07-01T13:52:00.000-07:00It's an excellent choice in an excellent location....It's an excellent choice in an excellent location. Its curves compliment the edges of the Contemporary while mimicking the austere overall feeling of the Contemporary. (Admit it--cool and futuristic as it was when it was built, warm 'n' fuzzy it ain't.) <BR/>It appears the lines of sight from within MK will be about the same as they are now: only visible from Tomorrowland, as the Imagineers had intended. <BR/>Guests will get another quality resort and DVC members will finally get something close to MK.<BR/><BR/>Look, not everything that's happened since Walt left sucks, even though that seems to be the general drift around here. I am delighted Eisner finally got the boot and that Iger and Pixar are here to stay...but were it not for Eisner's overall expansion when he first came on board we'd all be talking about everything Disney in the past tense, period. <BR/>It is not now, nor was it ever Walt's intention to make it a tiny secret place for a select few.<BR/>So get over yourselves. This is an excellent addition to WDW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-62400573875934897122007-05-30T22:12:00.000-07:002007-05-30T22:12:00.000-07:00I have read alot about Tony Baxter and I know Joe ...I have read alot about Tony Baxter and I know Joe Rohde created Animal Kingdom. But Joe Lanzisero's name is new to me. Would someone please name some of the projects he's been involved in?<BR/><BR/>Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-17552573275862625452007-05-30T16:09:00.000-07:002007-05-30T16:09:00.000-07:00This Contemporary Resort mayhem reminds me of the ...This Contemporary Resort mayhem reminds me of the many rumors being shot around that WDW will be replacing the current monorail trains with the new Mark VIIs within the next few years. Frankly, I do not see any sense in the park doing both. The whole Contemporary addition ruins the hotel's overall image and yes, I do agree that it would block some views of the scenery. If WDW indeed ends up running amuck the monorails, that alone would be too costly and full of nonsense. Besides, the Mark VIIs would look totally awful at WDW (b/c of the color scheme) and would further tarnish the park's image. Where do they get such ridiculous ideas from these days?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-69755059556334378212007-05-25T07:10:00.000-07:002007-05-25T07:10:00.000-07:00The monorails though the A frame always made me th...The monorails though the A frame always made me think of the pyramids and the X-wings at the end of Star Wars Ep IV. IF they are going to expand the Contemporary Resort I wish they would build on the High Tech transport though the building theme somehow. Reminds you of the old hidden city in the Buck Rodgers serials too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-34404583841250130352007-05-24T12:12:00.000-07:002007-05-24T12:12:00.000-07:00Hi All,I am new to posting to this board, but a lo...Hi All,<BR/>I am new to posting to this board, but a long time reader/lurker and even longer time fan of Imagineering and things Disney.<BR/><BR/>My thought on the new DVC property at the Contemporary is not so much the architecture of the building, it is really not that bad in my opinion, but the size of the structure and the number of additional rooms it brings to this resort.<BR/><BR/>Each hotel has a certain capacity as far as transportation is concerned. So many bus stops. So many buses, boats or monorails. Not to forget parking spaces too! <BR/><BR/>With the Contemporary being on the monorail and there are other hotels along the line that feed MK and the Epcot line. My question to all of you is how will this massive addition affect Disney Transport, in particular monorail service, to and from this resort?<BR/><BR/>My initial thoughts are that the monorail may become unuseable. Here is an example, the morning loading of Epcot. Trains feeding Epcot line via the TTC, first stop at the Poly and the GF before the Contemporary. There is also additional traffic from Guests visiting the Contemporary for breakfast then heading to MK. Despite being so close to MK, who really walks to MK from the Contemporary (me...but not always).<BR/><BR/>Curious to read others answers to this question.<BR/><BR/>JustinUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193538646811720856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-88301368331611941632007-05-23T11:54:00.000-07:002007-05-23T11:54:00.000-07:00Well, not sure if this is what's being built, but ...Well, not sure if this is what's being built, but the ground is definitely being dug up and infrastructure put in place for something at that location. I just got a look at it last week (while going parasailing in Bay Lake ;-) ).<BR/><BR/>But yes, the convention center that stole the home of the old topiary characters in front of the hotel is atrocious in every way, but most especially in that it totally doesn't match any other architecture around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-8541614400212439072007-05-23T06:21:00.000-07:002007-05-23T06:21:00.000-07:00As just a distant observer (and fan) of most thing...As just a distant observer (and fan) of most things related to the Disney parks, I'm obviously not as "in the know" as most of you. Have there been any official announcements? When might the public get a glimpse of these changes and the much hoped for progress that they might bring?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-45977213977091139542007-05-19T13:58:00.000-07:002007-05-19T13:58:00.000-07:00Yes yes! I'm kind of out of the loop up here but f...Yes yes! I'm kind of out of the loop up here but from what I've heard so far the news is great! A new direction and new leadership! <BR/><BR/>I’ll comment without revealing names…<BR/>The first has been there for years and years and he's always struck me as a "we can do anything, don't stand in our way" kind of old-fashioned Disney guy, who knows exactly what WDI product and quality is all about. I think this is a really good thing!<BR/>Don't know much about how the creative side will pan out, but I do think the other is definitely a guy who 'gets it' and that's SO important. <BR/><BR/>Don't faint or anything you all, but from my perspective there is finally something really good happening at WDI! Congratulations to both of them! Yay!pariartspaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14327281259443510085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-13449016039702965452007-05-19T12:59:00.000-07:002007-05-19T12:59:00.000-07:00Hello ? hello ? anybody out there?I believe they'r...<I>Hello ? hello ? anybody out there?</I><BR/><BR/>I believe they're currently keeping to themselves, so as not to incur the rath of the pink slip gods.<BR/><BR/>Several folks I've spoken with over the past two days have made similar observations, about the crickets chirping. And I must admit, the silence is stunning.<BR/><BR/>That being said...<BR/><BR/>It's gonna be one heckuva summer for both WDI and DL!<BR/><BR/>"Git-r-done!"judihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15415067631504911897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-90111967830548290862007-05-17T20:24:00.000-07:002007-05-17T20:24:00.000-07:00Whats the deal here ? WDI had a MAJOR overhaul on...Whats the deal here ? WDI had a MAJOR overhaul on Tuesday. New management, new leadership, new direstion. Not a word here, not a comment. I thought you guy's were all about "Re-Imagineering". It happened right under your nose and no one makes a comment.<BR/><BR/>Hello ? hello ? anybody out there ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1318103589665935102007-05-17T18:38:00.000-07:002007-05-17T18:38:00.000-07:00That patch of land where they cleared the north ga...That patch of land where they cleared the north garden wing is looking very circular in shape.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-17633032887223123442007-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:002007-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:00"I never called my work an 'art' It's part of show..."I never called my work an 'art' It's part of show business, the business of building entertainment."<BR/><BR/>"You reach a point where you don't work for money. "<BR/><BR/>Two quotes from Walt that seem to indicate that he worked for money at some point, and that he understood the need for Disney to be a business, no matter how much we would like to romanticize it to make it look like the money was all incidental.<BR/><BR/>That said, money was also clearly not Walt's driving influence. He cared deeply for quality, and would risk going broke to do something right, rather than put out a product he considered to be sub-standard. (And standard for Walt was pretty exceptional) <BR/><BR/>But let's not frame the Disney of old as making money incidentally.<BR/><BR/>Also, the corporate realities of the difference between a privately owned company and one with shareholders cannot be ignored. As soon as you are responsible to someone other than yourself, there is pressure to play it safe, which, unfortunately, interferes with taking risks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-54093614184096537182007-05-16T14:00:00.000-07:002007-05-16T14:00:00.000-07:00Being a Disney Design pursist and following the de...Being a Disney Design pursist and following the design school of John Hench and Bill Martin, I'd say that the new design doesn't look as bad as I was imagining--infact, had the WDW Tomorrowland not been 20's/30's retrofied..those two strcutures would have really made a nice background to the look of Tomorrowland.....almsot like a full city!-Mike (DC88SPACELINER)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-11884214919141971292007-05-15T18:49:00.000-07:002007-05-15T18:49:00.000-07:00Wow no care given to the conformation to the lines...Wow no care given to the conformation to the lines of the contemporary resort or any of the other buildings in that area...<BR/><BR/><BR/>Though if the building were to be placed in another area near a monorail track curve I can see how that design would fit, but as anonymous said "it looks like a parking garage." and plopped right next to the contemporary I can see the resemblence between the two designs...Geoffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309262307456071620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-52334644393896997472007-05-15T08:35:00.000-07:002007-05-15T08:35:00.000-07:00It is ridiculously niave to think that Disney was ...It is ridiculously niave to think that Disney was EVER in the business of making "magic". They were and are in business to make money. One may argue that Walt himself had loftier golas but certainly at the time the opriginal Contemporary was erected Disney was a corporation motivated (as all corporations are) to make money. The difference is that they used to make money by looking at the big picture and understanding that giving up short term profits leads to larger long term and sustainable profits. As fans we had the side benefit that this approach gave us superior experiences... but Disney then and now is a business... period.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-47946607991365897472007-05-14T21:07:00.000-07:002007-05-14T21:07:00.000-07:00"Disney used to be in the business of creating mag..."Disney used to be in the business of creating magic to make money."<BR/><BR/>Sigh... no, it didn't. The old "business is business and that's okay" attitude should never apply here. <BR/><BR/>Disney used to be in the "business" of making magic. Period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-66124145163592042292007-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:002007-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:00to be fair, i believe the image is poor orchestrat...to be fair, i believe the image is poor orchestrated. the time of day that the photograph of the contemporary was taken leaves it in shadows that the new building doesn't seem susceptible to in photoshop. i don't like it, but i think when it comes to fruition it won't be as bad as this picture makes it out to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1196563626079351952007-05-14T16:52:00.000-07:002007-05-14T16:52:00.000-07:00The probablity of the South Garden Wing being demo...The probablity of the South Garden Wing being demolished to be replaced by a similar tower is close to nill. The footprint of the SGW is so close to the canal that connects Bay Lake with Seven Seas Lagoon is such that the ground would never be able to support a structure that large. If I recall correctly, even with just the SGW there, the ground stays pretty much damp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-49560913305017029632007-05-14T10:32:00.000-07:002007-05-14T10:32:00.000-07:00I have my own crazy plan for DVC at Contemporary. ...I have my own crazy plan for DVC at Contemporary. I think it's a great idea, but to build a Miami Beach type condo is just the wrong way. Here's my design:<BR/><BR/>http://www.dubnetwork.com/images/mycrazyplan.jpg<BR/><BR/>Instead of building a huge new building they should just add buildings that are similar to the current Garden Wings. This time around the buildings will have an extra floor or two and they will be bigger to accomodate DVC room sizes. On the NE of the Tower there will be a DVC hub with check in, concierge, and additional rooms. My thinking is having Grand Villas with an MK view here. I should also point out that this hub will be an atrium 4 floors high with a connection to the main tower. Also added on the north of the complex is a new DVC pool. They can have fun with it and give it a cool spacey modern theme, something to compete with Stromalong Bay. I think staying true to the original concept of the resort would be a nice touch. Both visually and spiritually. :)Joe Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03540474571281522921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-62691828265590663822007-05-14T06:55:00.000-07:002007-05-14T06:55:00.000-07:00I think even the futuristic cityscape idea would b...I think even the futuristic cityscape idea would be great...if thgis building really looked like a futuristic building. I live in South Florida, and this looks like every condo building built in the last 10 years...It is not spectacular, not special, and not a landmark piece of architecture.<BR/>That said, I DO always hope that when Disney builds something new, that is is successful and people love it....This just does not look special enough...<BR/>Maybe is the developers of the project DID go to WDI for some ideas, we might end up with something that is jaw-dropping and unique...the kind of quality that Disney was always known for.Bocabearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116316516554141944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-57305290013005765402007-05-13T19:13:00.000-07:002007-05-13T19:13:00.000-07:00Well, I guess I am in the minority here, but I lik...Well, I guess I am in the minority here, but I like it! From Tomorrowland thru the new futuristic DVC and on to the Comtemporary, you have the start of a little futuristic city. Perhaps the Contemporary South will also be demolished for another futuristic hotel in the future. Is anyone familiar with a development going in in Las Vegas called Project City Center? Do a google search for it and look at the picture. It is a series of about 6 hotels... all different yet all linked by their futuristic appearance and they are ALL on the same site. Something like what Disney has going here. Also, in a letter sent in by someone else who suggested a DVD be built in the area between the TTC and the Contemporary, a little research on his part would show him that Disney has indeed tried techniques to build the Venetian Resort in that area, but it is too swampy to support a building. Disney sunk pylons into the earth there and they kinda "sunk in" to the earth--no structural support with today's technology. I get so tired of the constant lambasting of anything Disney does these days. What if, JUST WHAT IF, they build it and it really looks nice and meets with public approval and is successful--would that be so shocking?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-11993749294134028002007-05-13T13:41:00.000-07:002007-05-13T13:41:00.000-07:00I also think if they're going to build a second bu...I also think if they're going to build a second building that it should look more like the first.Moochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280471827894649477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-83144066096899994952007-05-13T09:36:00.000-07:002007-05-13T09:36:00.000-07:00I wouldn't compare this to the swan and dolphin, w...I wouldn't compare this to the swan and dolphin, where it completely destroys the background of the France pavilion. This will still look well behind tomorrowland. Sure, it takes away from the original building, but it makes it seem more futuristic by making the resot feel like a city. Maybe this is only a phase one. If they build a similar building where the other garden wing is, then the round towers would offset each other and make a frame: highlighting the original building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-66608097154648076802007-05-12T17:46:00.000-07:002007-05-12T17:46:00.000-07:00Wouldn't it have been cool if the original "30-sto...Wouldn't it have been cool if the original "30-story Cosmopolitan Hotel and Convention Center" conceptualized as the architectural centerpiece of Walt's old vision of EPCOT had been scaled down, given a little treatment to match the exterior of the currrent A-frame Contemporary Resort, and built instead?<BR/><BR/>http://www.waltopia.com/images/hotel.gif<BR/><BR/>Rather than... lol... the Watergate?! Right on, I hadn't seen the connection but yeah, the rendering looks like it's straight out of a DC scandal!SirNimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06061114296641400159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-72157652581875737272007-05-12T17:39:00.000-07:002007-05-12T17:39:00.000-07:00Like the Contemporary Resort I believe the current...Like the Contemporary Resort I believe the current management at Di$ney have had their brains built at an offsite factory. When the brains are finished they are shipped to the executives body and slid in like drawers in a dresser.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com