What Makes a Disney Resort Different? Walt’s 5 Guest Experience Standards
What should make a Disney Resort different from an ordinary hotel? In Episode 6 of The Walt Test, we go back to Walt Disney’s own words, documented actions, Walt-era plans and early Disney resort materials to discover five Guest Experience Standards specific to staying at a Disney resort. From the original Disneyland Hotel and the arrival of the Disneyland Monorail, to Walt Disney World’s Contemporary and Polynesian resorts, Walt’s Florida Project and the never-built Mineral King mountain resort, the evidence shows that Walt was thinking about much more than simply giving guests a place to sleep. In this documentary, we discover five additional Walt Guest Experience Standards: 1. A Disney Resort Must Be a Disney Experience 2. The Entire Resort Must Create One Believable Place 3. The Resort Must Make the Vacation Easier 4. The Resort Must Restore Guests for What Comes Next 5. The Resort Must Sustain the Guest’s Vacation Experience These five standards do not replace the seven Walt Guest Experience Standards established earlier in The Walt Test. Together, all twelve give us a consistent way to examine the complete experience of staying at a Disney resort. And that's exactly what we'll do next. In the Season 1 finale, we'll apply all twelve standards to Disney’s Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World — from arrival and the room to transportation, dining, recreation, relaxation, service and departure. Nancy & Dan Travel explores Disney destinations, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World and the ports and destinations that are part of our travels. Archival footage / historical sources Archival footage: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Governor Haydon Burns Walt Disney Press Conference, November 15, 1965, CA181. Public domain. Additional historical photographs and materials are identified and credited within the documentary. Chapters 00:00 What Makes a Disney Resort Different? 00:59 Finding Walt’s Resort Standards 04:50 Standard 1 — A Disney Resort Must Be a Disney Experience 08:38 Standard 2 — A Disney Resort Must Create One Believable Place 11:22 Standard 3 — A Disney Resort Must Make the Vacation Easier 14:46 Standard 4 — A Disney Resort Must Restore Guests for What Comes Next 16:55 Standard 5 — A Disney Resort Must Sustain the Vacation Experience 19:43 Walt’s 5 Disney Resort Guest Experience Standards 20:41 Next: The Walt Test at Disney’s Beach Club #WaltDisney #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneyResorts #TheWaltTest #DisneyHistory We share thoughtful, real-world Disney experiences — parks, resorts, and cruises — enjoyed at your own pace. New videos weekly. @NanDanTravel