New Hotel Towers

Image: happyskrappy, Flickr (license)

It’s good that Disney will be increasing capacity in its most important park, because the company has several new resort tower expansions incoming that will bring hundreds of additional guests to the property every day.

At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort will come online and change not only the sightlines around the Caribbean Beach, but also the vibe — bringing with it deluxe-style resort amenities. Once a sleepy hotel, the Caribbean Beach will host the new DVC tower as well as the Disney Skyliner, bringing a jolt of energy to the property.

Over at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, another new tower is opening soon — this time, providing more amenities and lodging options for that resort’s core conventioner demographic. Plus, with a new layout, new bars and amenities, and a new vibe, the entire resort will be a bit friendlier even to non-conventioner guests.

And last, but not least, the Swan and Dolphin — long spoken of in one breath — will be adding a new resort to the family. On some of the extra property nearby, Marriott is planning on building The Cove, which will accompany the Swan and Dolphin and provide another option for guests hoping to stay in the Crescent Lake area. The Swan and Dolphin are already somewhat underrated, so adding a new third resort will make the area even more must-see — while dumping a few hundred extra people nearby. That’s definitely a big change, and it seems like there's more to come.

Disney’s Walk Around the World removal

Image: jeffchristiansen, Flickr (license)

At the dawn of the Disney Decade, the company realized that one of the best ways it could ensure its continued success was by placing itself at the center of family life. Between merchandise, films, music, and the parks, Disney moved to make its products not just a way of spending time, but a way of creating memories for parents and children for generations. 

Incredibly, they crafted the idea of Disney’s Walk Around the World — a program where guests could purchase a paving slab engraved with their name and the year, and have it installed on the walkway outside the Magic Kingdom. The program was so popular, they extended the pavers to be featured at the Transportation and Ticket Center, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. For decades, guests walked into the Magic Kingdom over the names of guests who took the journey before them — many of whom returned year after year to regard their stone.

Now, Disney has announced it will begin removing those stones from the walkway around the Seven Seas Lagoon as it reconfigures its pathways. For many, this change won’t be particularly noticeable. For some, it will be the end of a family tradition dating back almost 30 years. 

Walt Disney World isn’t a museum, and often, it must change to continue bringing us the thrills and joy we’ve come to expect from the company. But, sometimes, that can mean something we’ve grown to love and expect can go missing — even if it’s a physical piece of concrete. Yes, Star Wars will change a lot at Walt Disney World, but for some people, nothing can top seeing their family’s tradition disappear. Hopefully, what comes next will be just as long-lasting — and just as memorable.