WDW Resort Occupancy Rate -- are they up?

[dcedwards]

I was just curious if anyone knows if the occupancy rates at the WDW onsite resorts are up, as of late? For such a long time we heard that all the numbers were way down. Now, I'm curious if they have rebounded and if so, how much. Just curious if anyone knows. Figure everyone on this board is so-o-o-o smart that someone would have info on this.

[PamOKW]

Disney held their annual meeting Tuesday and I believe they said they are seeing an increase in bookings and also an increase in advance bookings. (For awhile people were mostly coming at the last minute -- booking mid-week for a weekend trip). It will take awhile to get back to normal but things are improving.

[CHIEF TONGA]

was told I got last lagoon view at the polly for 4/20 4/30

[B3LM]

Well, they're definitely up during Easter week and the week after. I called to inquire about a value resort during that time period and everything was completely sold out. I did call back another time and was able to get a room at AsMu. CM said that someone must have cancelled just before I called because she had just checked it a short time before and it was sold out. I didn't end up keeping the ressie because we decided to stay off-site instead.

Beth

[Christi 2002]

I don't know if they are officially up, but we have ressies at Contemporary and I called to check on a new code and the gal there told me Contemporary was sold out for that week 6/9- 6/15.
Christi

[Ityldu]

Don't forget, another reason for the high sell-out rates are the fact that some resorts are still closed or will be closing. I believe POR/Riverside (I can never remember the new name) and DI. Plus, now SOG will be shutting down for renovations for a few months. That falls during the time we'll be there at the end of June.

[n2mm]

I was there in late October/early November and late January and stayed at the All Stars. Was told that this resort has been running at full capacity during each stay.

[cboudre1]

I read that the SOG reservations are being moved to the Contemporary.

[eeyore0062]

Here is the latest... PO-R is now completely reopened!!!
PO-FQ is slated to reopen the end of September.
DI is closed to convert it to a DVC resort.
SOG is closed for 18 months for upgrades and expansion, and those guests will be accomodated in the North Wing of the Contemporary---so the Contemporary will be more difficult to get.
Pop Century is not slated to open until next year, if then... depends on the economy and booking practices.

Hope this helps!

[dferr]

We were in the barber shop on Main St in MK on 2-10.(WDW) There were employees talking to the barber saying they don't understand the press reports they were told occupancy was up 28% from last year .
Donna

[SPanek]

I just spoke with a WDTC rep (trying to get a good rate from my e-mail code). I asked him if they were busy - one phone call after another - and he said that it's been busier this year than last.

[grumpyny]

You also have to remember that Disney is now selling blocks of rooms to Expedia, Travelocity, and other internet travel services. So CRO may show that a resort is sold out, but it is not really sold out. This is very frustrating because Expedia shows availability, but you cannot use the discount codes. It is also annoying to DVC members who pay dues to Disney, but cannot use their points to rent rooms because the rooms have been sold to Expedia, etc.

[Snow Brite]

they use computer interfaces to control their availability with those sites. Expedia and Travelocity are in the business of directing traffic to hotels and airlines in return for a commission (just like a travel agent). They do not outright purchase blocks of hotel rooms that they may or may not resell.

Jennifer

[lorilori]

Also, there could be people that would normally stay offsite now booking onsite due to all the codes available for the general public. Our April trip was originally booked offsite but I was able to change to a moderate for $94 a night so we switched. Perhaps it won't mean an increase in park attendance, just in onsite guests.

[Fiona R from UK]

The week before President's Week seemed far more crowded to us this year, than actual President's Week last year. A CM at CS said there was not a free room on Disney Property, and that was the week BEFORE Presidents' Week.

The reasoning was:

a) Southern States get 3 days off school for Mardi Gras and escape to WDW for the week,
b) people visit WDW before Daytona starts
c) discounts? (my logic for this one, that is why we could go again this year)

From the UK we thought the 2 weeks before Presidents would be less crowded, never thought about Daytona or Mardi Gras!!

[Luvdisney]

I tried to book a room at the AS resorts for the week of 3/23/ to 3/29 and it's completely sold out. I then asked about any of the mods. These to were sold out. So I said how about a deluxe, No luck. Every room at Disney during this time is booked. :eek:

[AndiCT]

I just read an article last week that disney reported that since 9/11 resort bookings have been down almost 30%. The occupancy rates at each hotel were also given and they were pretty dismal (some were around 60% occupancy) That may be changing now.

[Geoff_M]

The truth is Spring Break and Easter will always be packed at WDW come Hades or high water. Outside of that, the general impression is that things are slowly, but steadily, returning to normal traffic patterns. As others have pointed out, WDW's contraction of room space may be giving a slightly rosier picture than is the true state of the Mouse.

But with people finally coming out of their 9/11 cocoons and the economic barometers moving in the plus direction, I think it's safe to say the days of WDW being a ghost town are over.

[eddiewells]

From the previous posts, I can safely assume the occupancy is up right now, but I saw on the news a couple days ago that WDW's occupancy has been down 24% in the last 12 months. Not sure if this is 100% true, it was a local news channel.

[VickiVM]

Just like in retail sales figures, the percentages reported are only relevant to the comparison...the negative trend may be reflecting this year's occupancy against last year's occupancy of TOTAL ROOMS AVAILABLE. A more accurate comparison would be occupancy this year vs. the EXACT SAME rooms available last year. If you remove the rooms that are not currently available (POR and POFQ) from last year's comparison, then perhaps occupancy is flat or even higher.

[PamNC]

I am an ex-cast member - I worked at Walt Disney World Advertising right in Celebration. I keep up with some of my friends and they have all told me that resort bookings and park attendance are up. I didn't ask any details but I was glad to hear this.

PamNC

[Bete]

I've been inquiring about Christmas week 2002 and there doesn't seem to be any sold-out resorts at all for the moment. This is prime time and as long as it's more then 9 months out there doesn't seem to be a big problem. I'm booking 17 days and I was able to get ressies in any class resort at the moment for that time period which is a little before Christmas week and through Jan. 1, 2003.

AP disscount rates are not available yet passed September; so, that could be another reason it's not too booked yet for Christmas time.

If you book in prime time like President's week or spring break or Easter it's bound to be crowded especially if you don't do it far in advance.

I still think it's hard to judge if Disney has rebounded or not. Also, I think it's a tool Disney is using to get leaner and meaner.

[LarryK]

""Also, I think it's a tool Disney is using to get leaner and meaner.""

I could'nt agree more Bete. It's no different than companies using a bad economy as an excuse to cut payroll (read:deadwood) from their expenses. I believe that Disney is using this time to trim down while the public is understanding of the problems in the Travel industry. We will have to wait a year or so to see how the picture looks when everything is (hopefully) back to normal.

BTW: A lean, mean Disney is still the happiest place on earth!