Another Rumor Circulating - POFQ Closing

[All Aboard]

Read on another site that Port Orleans - French Quarter will be closing after next week. It is an unsubstantiated rumor, but I did some test research:

I just went onto WDW's online booking system and tried to get POFQ for several 3 day periods throughout November. 3-6, 8-11, 15-18, 21-24. In each case it would not give it to me, but indicated availability at all 3 of the other moderates.

Given that I just booked All Star Movies for $49 a night for late-November, I seriously doubt FQ is booked solid for the month of November.

Seems like something is up, not sure what, but something is up. Anybody feel like calling CRO?

[Lewisc]

It has been reported that Disney has been running 20% capacity, it sure makes sense to close a resort until bookings improve.

[lovdisney]

:( I have reservations for this hotel in December. My kids will be very disappointed because they will not be able to swim in the pool there. How do I find out that this is not just a rumor? Thanks, Christine

[d-r]

There are many times when port orleans, with its 1000 rooms, is booked up, while dixie landings, coronado springs, and carribean beach, with their 2000 rooms, are not.

[All Aboard]

d-r, no doubt that happens.

However, I just checked about a dozen other date ranges spanning December, January and February. Guess what? Same result. No rooms but availablility at all 3 other moderates for each and every date range.

Seriously, do you think the POFQ is booked solid from now 'til March?

[TXDeb]

I have been very critical of some of the cut-backs that Disney is making in the parks and with EE, but I don't have as much problem with this decision if it proves to be true. Sounds like the parks are getting some decent crowds on some days due to locals, so the parks may not be getting hit as hard as we think. However, if resort bookings are down, the resorts are where most of the financial hit is going. In that case, it would make sense to close down some of the smaller resorts or certain buildings in the larger ones, to cut costs.

I would much rather have a few less resort choices and have more going on in the parks, if there could be that trade-off. I understand that people would be disappointed at not being able to stay at their favorite resort, if it was one chosen to be closed or cut-back, but Disney has many wonderful resorts, so I know that at least in my case, I could find an alternative that I could still be happy with. I always have a tough time deciding where to stay on-site anyway because I have so many favorite resorts.

Of course, if it is booked up, that is very interesting indeed, considering all the other decisions that have been made based on the premise of actual and potential low attendance. Guess, we'll just have to wait and see.

[All Aboard]

Further Update

John Yaglenski (of Intercot) has received word that this is indeed true. Several Travel Agents that he works with have told him that they received communication from Disney this morning.

TxDeb, I agree. I have no problem with WDW closing resorts if bookings are that far down. I guess the individual level of frustration depends on what you do while you are there. The loss of EE, nights at Future World and Spectro impact me a great deal. Others don't care.

[YoHo]

Interstingly, I could book a vacation there starting Oct 30th through Nov 2, but I couldn't book from November2 to November 5 or any time after that.

Hmmm.


Incidently, Disneyworld.com now has a big Display for the $59.99 rate on the front page which they did not have last time I checked, The automated program still books at the rack rate though.

[All Aboard]

Yep, Yoho, Nov 3 is the date.

[JC Butterfly]

I just called my TA to find out if he heard this news, he had not. He assumed that we would just be relocated to PO-Riverside.

What do all of you think? I was looking forward to FQ because it was a small resort. I'm going with a land & sea package. Would I have any recourse to get a better rate on a upgraded room at another resort?

Thanks,
Brenda

[aprincessmom]

Orlando area hotels are running at 29% capacity this month versus 88% capacity for same time last year. It is not surprising that WDW would consider closing a smaller resort. I would think the cost of running a resort at only one-quarter capacity would be more expensive than running a half-filled amusement park.

[d-r]

Originally posted by gcurling
d-r, no doubt that happens.

However, I just checked about a dozen other date ranges spanning December, January and February. Guess what? Same result. No rooms but availablility at all 3 other moderates for each and every date range.

Seriously, do you think the POFQ is booked solid from now 'til March?

Well, I guess this rumor could be true. It seems like it would save money to close down POFQ - there would be money saved on the food court too. I wonder if this had anything to do with the reason for merging dixie landings and port orleans in the first place.

To tell you the truth though, I didn't really believe this rumor. I thought maybe it had something to do with how expedia lists port orleans - french quarter and riverside. I wondered if they were going to update that or something and so the port orleans listing was put on hold or something.

So I just called CRO. I tried two sets of dates that came to my mind - 1/17-1/21 and 5/6-5/12. Sure enough, pofq was booked for the jan. dates, and for any combination of the may dates through cro.

Huh. If this is true I am going to be blown away. wow.

DR

[d-r]

So I'm in my office just now and I get a call from my wife, who is calling to tell me that Port Orleans is closing. Really? I ask, where'd you hear that? "From the dis resort board" she tells me. :)

DR

[YoHo]

Considering gcurling opened that thread too.....

I supose you should put as much stock into it as you want to, but The travel agents are telling people now, so it is unfortunalty confirmed.

[Leia's Mom]

What else can happen? Maybe I'm jinxing myself, but I'm booked at POFQ from Nov 30-Dec 9. <sigh> Hours are cut. Early entry eliminated. Spectro probably gone. COP closed. I certainly hope they respect my AP rate somewhere else. . . I never thought I would consider cancelling, but I am . . . This is sad. . .

[All Aboard]

Considering gcurling opened that thread too..... I supose you should put as much stock into it as you want to
Hey! Howsabout a little vote of confidence my good bud, ok?

[YoHo]

Hey, I have all the confidence in the world in ya, I just found it funny that he was in essence using a post you wrote that was seen by his wife as confirmation of a different post you wrote seen by him. :)

[lovdisney]

:( My travel agent called today. Yes they have closed Port Orleans and are now moving us to a different hotel. We are part of the 7 day land/sea package. I hope I get a good place to stay now. This is for the month of December. Christine

[YoHo]

Let us know what they give you.

[DeeP]

I just called CRO regarding our Dec reservations at POFQ and of course the CM denied that they were closing. He even went so far as to call POFQ front desk and was told they were not closing. I hate to be skeptical but I don't believe what the CM was telling me! He kept saying that a lot of untrue rumors are flying around the internet but when I pointed out that EE days and E ticket nights were canceled he said nothing and when I said about restaurants closing he said "Not that many restaurants have closed, a lot of them are going through rehab", come on rehab during Christmas week! I don't think so. I am now worried if they are going to have the Candlelight Processional, Mickey's Christmas party and all the other Christmas things at Epcot, etc. This was the whole reason we booked to go during this time. I guess I will have to wait to see what happens and where they will rebook us. The CM did say we would get a phone call if POFQ closed but I am even skeptical about that. I guess I better just keep reading the DIS!

[lovdisney]

We were offered to stay at the caribbean or Dolphin or Swan. We selected the Dolphine or Swan. We stayed at the Caribbean last time and I thought the rooms needed a little upgrading. Very disappointed. The kids loved the pool area. What do you think we should do? I heard that the food is very expensive at the Dolphin and Swan. Not that we will eat there, but we will get the mugs etc? Christine.

[YoHo]

Better check on the Resorts board about the mug. I think the Dolphin/Swan is an upgrade although I'm surprised they are allowed to book that as it isn't really a Disney resort.
Maybe its just because its the cruise line.

[ozmo19]

Just a correction, Orlando hotels are not running at 29% occupancy. Even the Sentinel just reported that Orlando hotels are at 58.2% down from last year at this time of 88%.

[d-r]

Originally posted by YoHo
Hey, I have all the confidence in the world in ya, I just found it funny that he was in essence using a post you wrote that was seen by his wife as confirmation of a different post you wrote seen by him. :)

Well I'm glad <italic>somebody</italic> found it funny - I sure did ;)

DR

[DC7800]

Originally posted by lovdisney
We were offered to stay at the caribbean or Dolphin or Swan. We selected the Dolphine or Swan. We stayed at the Caribbean last time and I thought the rooms needed a little upgrading. Very disappointed. The kids loved the pool area.

Now I'm confused. Why would Disney transfer guests to the Swan/Dolphin while WDW has so many rooms at its own resorts sitting empty? With FQ closed, I would have thought an upgrade to deluxe (or Coronado/Carribbean) would have been the possible choices.

[lovdisney]

I am guessing that the Swan/Dolphin are empty because lack of Conferences going on. I would rather stay at another resort. I know that they use the Swan/Dolphin for cruise's which is what we are doing. The 7 day land/sea. I want to stay at another resort instead of the Carribean which was offered to us. I don't consider that really an upgrade. We stayed there last night and needs some work. But the kids loved the pool area. I would love to stay at the Disney Beach Club. If it is considered an upgrade, you would think that we would be able to choose the hotel in that cat.
Might trying complaining tomorrow. Christine.

[JC Butterfly]

LovDisney-

I am also doing the land/sea cruise. When I called my travel agent this morning, he didn't know about the details yet. I am definitely not interested in Carribbean Beach, Swan or Dolphin! Was Port Orleans Riverside a choice for you? When we originally booked the cruise we could take PO-FQ, PO-R, or CB for the same price. With all the changes, I would much prefer to stay at monorail resort. Were you offered a good deal on this?

Brenda

[TXDeb]

Just wanted to say that I am so sorry for those of you who had planned on POFQ and are now faced with making alternate arrangements. If it helps, I understand that the Caribbean Beach Resort has just recently gone through a rehab, inside and out, so if you do end up having to stay there it should at least be looking much nicer.

[stressedmom]

We were not given a choice on our 7 day land/sea package - we were told we are going to the Swan/Dolphin and would not know which one until our documents arrived, which really aggravates me becuase I have a previous night booked of POFQ also which they will NOT comp to the Swan/Dolphin - they will only move us to another moderate, so we will have to stay one night someplace else and then get up pack and move to a new resort.

[Lewisc]

ozmo19
At this point the occupancy levels that you read may be suspect. Hotels don't count rooms that aren't available for rent when they compute the percentage. Disney (and I assume other hotels) are closing floors, buildings and now an entire resort (POFQ). The occupancy is going up not just because bookings are increasing but because capacity is being reduced.

[lovdisney]

Has anyone stayed at Carribean lately? We enjoyed the pool area and the snack bar. However, the first night there, we couldn't find our hotel room. All we knew was that it as a blue roof and the number ended in a 5. It must have been jet lag or something? :) We were really tired and walked to all these rooms that ened in 5 to find ours. Some of you are wondering why didn't we go to the front desk? Far away and it was late. Just something both my husband and I spaced out on was to confirm our room number before heading to the park. If the Hotel has been updated then I think we will stay there. Much more Disney don't you think than the swan/dolphin? Christine