The Disney of my childhood was a feast for the eyes—bold, vibrant, and unapologetically whimsical. Resorts and attractions embraced a larger-than-life, cartoonish décor that, while sometimes excessive, felt exactly right for a Disney experience. Even in areas that weren’t overtly animated, like Main Street, U.S.A., the level of detail and ornate craftsmanship created an atmosphere that felt immersive and transportive.
But over the past five to ten years, Disney has gradually stripped away the color, character, and charm that once defined its parks and resorts. In its place, we’re left with a wave of bland, “modern” design choices that reflect current interior trends rather than timeless storytelling. The sleek, neutral aesthetics may be fashionable in the early 2020s, but trends fade fast, and what feels contemporary now will soon feel dated. Meanwhile, the distinct, stylized themes that Disney was built upon—the extravagant, the playful, the richly detailed—never truly go out of style because they were never about being “on trend” in the first place. They were about creating worlds you could step into.
The problem with “modernizing” Disney spaces is that it undermines their very purpose. If I want a sleek, minimalist resort, there are countless non-Disney hotels where I can stay in comfort. But when I book a room at a Disney resort, I want to feel transported. I want bold theming, immersive storytelling, and décor that screams Disney magic, not just “elevated design.” A resort like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort shouldn’t have a lightly themed Polynesian-inspired room—I should feel like I’ve stepped into the heart of the South Pacific. A store like World of Disney should overflow with color and character, not be toned down to a muted showroom with mere “nods” to Disney magic.
Disney’s value resorts were once bursting with color and playful theming, making every room feel uniquely Disney. Since 2017, they’ve been toned down to plain white walls and minimal décor. While the updates may look more polished, was it really necessary to drain all the vibrancy and character in the process? Surely, there was a way to refresh the rooms without stripping away the fun and energy that made them special. The top photo in this article is a look at how the rooms used to be, showcasing their original theming, while below is the updated version for comparison.
Tomorrowland is another casualty of this design philosophy. Once a land of glowing neon and bright colors that felt fun and vibrant, it has now been reduced to a sea of white walls and stripped-down aesthetics. It may look sleeker, but sleek isn’t the goal—immersion is. I don’t want a Tomorrowland that simply looks “nice”; I want one that feels like a bustling, neon-lit vision of the future that never was. The best theming isn’t about subtlety—it’s about spectacle, storytelling, and a world so complete that you lose yourself in it.
Perhaps the most disappointing recent example of this aesthetic shift is the refurbishment of the Main Street Emporium. The update failed to maintain the illusion of a turn-of-the-century general store and instead feels more like a modern convenience store with some vintage-inspired trimmings. Main Street, U.S.A., isn’t just supposed to be a “themed” area—it should completely transport you to another time and place. This new approach to design, where spaces are merely sprinkled with thematic touches instead of being fully immersive, is a troubling departure from what made Disney’s parks and resorts so special in the first place.
Disney’s magic was never meant to be subtle—it was meant to be bold, theatrical, and fully realized. As the parks and resorts continue down this path of stripping away color, detail, and depth in favor of sterile modernity, they risk losing what made them so enchanting to begin with.
