Disney World has been around for over 50 years, and from time to time, rides close to get some extra TLC, but it is not only rides and attractions that need to be refurbished; Disney World hotels also need to be cared for and maintained.
In recent years, many resorts have had major room refurbishments and upgrades. Resorts like the Contemporary and Polynesian Village Resort have been around since the start, and their room refurbishments now include modern-day Disney characters in movies like The Incredibles and Moana. The All-Star, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside, and French Quarter, as well as so many other resorts across Disney World, have been updated in recent years.
Some people really like these new Disney touches and the modern, clean look these refurbished rooms have. Others do not really care for them. We reached out to some Disney experts, you, our amazing readers, to see if a refurbished Disney World hotel room plays a part in booking your vacation.
One reader said that they really do not care if the room is refurbished or not, as they spend 10-13 hours a day in the parks anyway. They just use the room to shower and sleep. Another reader agreed and said that nothing really makes or breaks their decision; they “don’t care about room design/decor as long as it is decent enough to sleep in.”
Other readers really liked the updates and said, “I stayed at the Poly in October, and I loved the new rooms; I also stayed at Pop Century and was a bit sad because they were working on the Food Court, so not everything was open. I also stayed at All-Star Movies and Music, and they were great. I stayed at The Wilderness Lodge, and it was phenomenal!”
Another reader agreed and said, “I like the new rooms. I think they are very modern.” The modern look seems to be the shift that Disney is going for, as some people have compared the new rooms to look like the basic hotel rooms that you would find at a Hilton or Marriot.
For example, we recently stayed at the Island Tower, which is the newest Disney World hotel, and we will say that the pictures do not do this hotel justice. So, while we understand that the shift toward the modern look may seem “basic,” like the reader said above, once you see these rooms in person, they are very nice.
Currently, Bay Lake Tower, the Disney Vacation Club Resort connected to the Contemporary Resort, is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment that is set to be complete by next September. Like we said, so many hotels at Disney World are getting the care and upgrades that they deserve!
We are always on the lookout and keeping track of all the closures, construction, and new openings across Disney World, so make sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
5 Hotel Upgrades Disney World Experts Say Are 100% Worth It, No Matter the Cost
Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to get the free Cheat Sheet for Disney's Monorail resorts: Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary! Click here to get started!
Style is not as important as loss of functionality which has occurred. Saratoga Springs and Boardwalk villas now have no table and chairs. This made our time in the room (e.g. eating, using a laptop) unenjoyable.
The remodeling of the Contemporary Resort rooms transformed what was an elegant, timeless luxury resort into a cheap Incredibles-themed theme park experience. It is no longer worth staying for us. We stay at Pop instead while very much missing what was worth spending more for.
Boring and bland. Where is the theming
I miss the colorful bedspreads, comforters, or even the splash of color at the foot of the bed provided by a narrow draping of fabric. The hospital-white bedding is so antiseptic! (I know sanitary issues are a factor here….but even a small fabric drape would be helpful.)
Very disappointed with the recent refurbishments. Disney is loosing and forgetting the hotel theming. And the Incredible theming at Contemporary is a bit too much