is this a sign of the times?

[karentan]

just before free dining came out, a lot of us (including me) were panicking about not being able to get our chosen resort with free dining.
previous years indicated that POP would very likely be sold out within days for free dining, as its normally the one that sells out quickest.
i've just checked out disneyworld.com and they're still showing availability for POP and ASMo for my dates, both preferred and standard.

is this a sign that even such a great offer isnt packing people in as much as disney would have hoped?

[Kim1964]

I think it is a sign of the times. When I booked the 4/3 deal, it had already been running for weeks and I thought for sure I'd have to choose a resort other than Pop. I was totally surprised when I put in my dates and it was still available. For the first time ever, I'm also seeing Free Dining commercials on TV here, and I've never seen those before now.

[Jacklynn]

I think that so many people are visiting right now due to other promotions, that maybe people who would have stayed in the fall are there now? Just a guess.

[Luv2Roam]

I agree. I think all the other promotions are just making it so guests do not have to visit at a specific time for a great deal. They can go when that suits them better using a different great deal.
I think great travel deals overall (for anywhere) are the sign of the times.

[ShellyLynn3630]

Yes, I agree, and it does make me hopeful that if we do not get to go in September for free dining, we will get to go in December for free dining.

[RMulieri]

Yes, I agree, and it does make me hopeful that if we do not get to go in September for free dining, we will get to go in December for free dining.

If they offer it;) Last year only a handful got the pincodes, and then the Disney Visa deal was out. It all depends on how bad they are hurting, and with the crowds lately, they aren't hurting all that bad.

[paulh]

If they offer it;) Last year only a handful got the pincodes, and then the Disney Visa deal was out. It all depends on how bad they are hurting, and with the crowds lately, they aren't hurting all that bad.

me thinks there hurting as there already offering free ddp for next aug 2010 to the uk market .ok we get charged more as it is ,usaly they offer it to us around aug for the folowing year
Paulh

[n2mm]

Yes, I agree, and it does make me hopeful that if we do not get to go in September for free dining, we will get to go in December for free dining.

My daughter got a free dining pincode for December last year. (she didn't use it. She actually sent it to me and asked what it was.)

[Colleen27]

I think 4/3 convinced a lot of people to travel at other times, particularly those who were on the fence about pulling kids out of school for Disney... If the choice is between free dining and missing school or rack rate on summer break, many people will choose to pull the kids out of school. When the choice is either missing school for free dining or going during summer vacation with the 4/3, you'll have more people scheduling around their kids school schedules.

I was really surprised to see 4/3 and now free dining commercials on TV. DH watches a lot of ESPN and they're running those ads pretty often. I don't remember ever seeing that in previous years.

[pigletto]

I wish we could see the actual attendance levels. I have a feeling that all these discounts have alot to do with people having financial difficulties due to the economy, or being extra careful in case of job loss e.t.c.
In my town (small town Canada) two travel agencies have signs out front advertising free dining. I've seen several commercials on t.v. for it as well. They seem to be pushing it harder than ever before.
And like the OP I have been plugging all sorts of dates and resort combos into the Disney site and all of them come up with availability every time.

[MelanieC]

I'm sure Disney is not as busy as before, but these deals are definately helping. When we were there last month - it was super crowded. I didn't notice a recession at all.

[BabyRN]

There has to be a reason they laid off 1000 or so people though...

[RMulieri]

There has to be a reason they laid off 1000 or so people though...

recession and not enough PROFIT. But Disney is seriously packed. MK had phase 4 closures all week, as did Dhs. people are reporting back saying it is extremely crowded. yes it is a holiday weekend. But even people that went over presidents week said it was busier than usual. The deals are bringing the crowds.It is kind of like my nursing job. We have an excess of pts , beds are always full and more people waiting for them.yet not enough nurses and we are on a hiring freeze to get more.So they bring in the people and hope to make do with what they have to generate a profit.

[ShellyLynn3630]

Ok, I am the perfect example of why Disney is not making a big enough profit for themselves. Last year on our trip I know I spent around $500 for me and my family on souverniers. This year, even if we go, looks like a real maybe, I have a budget of only $200. And if we don't go, Disney will get 0 from us.

[arielmomma]

I must admit that I am hoping that the crowds are good and low when we go in September! It is the only positive thing about a recession.

[MEK]

I am wondering if they simply released more rooms for the free dining package upfront, instead of releasing them in increments. By doing this they increase the efficiency of their reservation system. It definately cuts down on the number of calls with requests for resort changes.

They definately broadened the free dining dates so that there is a segway from the 4/3 deal to free dining. This is probably of an indicator of their constant attempt to "recruit", so to speak, more customers.

[NJRA]

I must admit that I am hoping that the crowds are good and low when we go in September! It is the only positive thing about a recession.

I'm with you on that one. We are going mid sept. and are praying that everyone else took advantage of the 4/3 deal, and we will have VERY low crowds:goodvibes

[DisneyWisher]

I'm with you on that one. We are going mid sept. and are praying that everyone else took advantage of the 4/3 deal, and we will have VERY low crowds:goodvibes

If people are like me they always go during free dining. Especially since not everyone can take a full week off. The best week to go is the tuesday after Labor Day. At that point everyone is back to school. But I hope everyone is luckier than me. I lost my job Feb 6. Still haven't found one that pays worth a damn. But I was lucky that I won a trip to Scottsdale, AZ in Sept. so thats where DD16 and I will be. My DD25 asked my DD16 to babysit over the summer and she will pay her $200 a week. DD16 bless her heart said now I can take you to Disney. I told her to save it for AZ since we have never been and she can as part of Hyatt's teen program go on a horseback tour through the desert. I told her Disney is less than 200 miles and we can go anytime.

[janloz]

Our friend's father works at the Contemporary in their meeting planning area and he told her that the CR was only at 27% occupancy two weeks ago and that WDW had just laid off 450 people. Scary stuff.

[Bete]

Our friend's father works at the Contemporary in their meeting planning area and he told her that the CR was only at 27% occupancy two weeks ago and that WDW had just laid off 450 people. Scary stuff.


Just because a few weeks are busy at Disney, doesn't make it busy all the time even with the deals. Also, all the resorts are hurting near Orlando; so, more people could be staying off-site, but they still come to the parks. Park crowds are probably less of an indicator during these times for comparing it to Disney resort levels.

Amusement parks are one of the first that will go during harder times. There are so many cheaper alternatives. I have a feeling the locals have cut back, too.

Crowds in the parks can come from locals who go home and they don't stay at the Disney resorts or they find something cheaper out of Disney proper.

[My2Angels]

Well, we are staying off-site because of Disney resort prices. They may fill the parks, but what about the resorts? I just couldn't afford it again, after we just went last year. Our only choice for a family of 5 is a moderate/deluxe on Disney property, and their prices are just too high. I called and worked it from every angle with several different CM's to try and make it work. We had 4/3 deal to choose from and the Kids stay-play-eat free pin code! We are staying off-site with a $57/night deal from Hotwire for our room and kids eat free at our resort. So, we are going to add to the park numbers, but Disney will not make nearly as much money from us this year.

[praline3001]

With the sign of the times, Disney is not even sure what crowds will be like in the fall.

There are several factors and honestly Sept is way too early to gauge anything.

People are booking their trips closer to the time of the trip... Disney and other orlando area tourist areas have seen this trend all year.

Its driving Disney Batty as all previous plans have to be thrown out the window LOL

I know you mentioned still being able to get the free dining rooms in Sept.

I am going mid July and even after the 4/3 deal was out for a few MONTHS, I can still book any resort in any room catagory I would like ~ including RPC in GF which is never available 90 days beforehand.

What does this tell me?! That Disney will be dead in the peak summer season I am there? :lmao:
I WISH!!!
I know its going to be crowded... I am HOPING it will be less crowded than previous July's but that is hoping :cloud9:

I am looking at it the complete opposite as you guys ~ the FD deal is saving people more money than the 4/3 deal with the exceptions of a few of the Deluxe resort rooms.
I figure my time will be less crowded in July as everyone is going to save more with FD in the fall ~ :confused3

The crowd level really is anyone's guess. If you wait until 2 weeks before you leave and check the resorts at that time... you might be able to get a somewhat idea of how crowded the resorts will be.

[3prettyprincesses]

With the sign of the times, Disney is not even sure what crowds will be like in the fall.

There are several factors and honestly Sept is way too early to gauge anything.

People are booking their trips closer to the time of the trip... Disney and other orlando area tourist areas have seen this trend all year.

Its driving Disney Batty as all previous plans have to be thrown out the window LOL

I know you mentioned still being able to get the free dining rooms in Sept.

I am going mid July and even after the 4/3 deal was out for a few MONTHS, I can still book any resort in any room catagory I would like ~ including RPC in GF which is never available 90 days beforehand.

What does this tell me?! That Disney will be dead in the peak summer season I am there? :lmao:
I WISH!!!
I know its going to be crowded... I am HOPING it will be less crowded than previous July's but that is hoping :cloud9:

I am looking at it the complete opposite as you guys ~ the FD deal is saving people more money than the 4/3 deal with the exceptions of a few of the Deluxe resort rooms.
I figure my time will be less crowded in July as everyone is going to save more with FD in the fall ~ :confused3

The crowd level really is anyone's guess. If you wait until 2 weeks before you leave and check the resorts at that time... you might be able to get a somewhat idea of how crowded the resorts will be.

I agree, we booked our February trip 6 days before we left!:scared1: DH said, hey let's just go and since he was in between computer contracts we went!:woohoo: When I booked the GF, there wasn't any problem with getting a room. My guess would be that yes, Disney is drumming up a lot of business with the 4/3 deal but they must still be hurting since they extended the 4/3 and then came out with free dining. Now, we're going back the end of October and I'm wondering if any deal will be out....:confused3

[praline3001]

Don't get me wrong ~ I am hoping as much at the next person my week will be dead and I will be the only one in the park :rotfl2:

[3prettyprincesses]

Don't get me wrong ~ I am hoping as much at the next person my week will be dead and I will be the only one in the park :rotfl2:

I know!! I'm torn because if they do NOT offer a deal, more than likely the end of October will be slow. Then we don't save any $. The flip side is if they DO offer a deal then people will come from all over, that'd be just my luck! :lmao: It'll probably be some crazy Halloween special where you can go for free the entire week before Halloween! :lmao: Wouldn't that just frost your cookies?!?!?!?:lmao:

[Crazy4Disney06]

I have "heard" that Disney has laid off employees, not sure how true this is but it did come from someone who works for Disney.:confused3

[praline3001]

I have "heard" that Disney has laid off employees, not sure how true this is but it did come from someone who works for Disney.:confused3

They did but not front line cm's. Many of the behind the scenes cm's got the axe.

[WDWKOOK]

From last weeks' Mouseplanet Park Update:

Layoffs continue on both coasts, 1150 laid off, 1900 total jobs cut:

Following the layoffs that took place the week of March 23, job cuts at domestic Disney resorts did not stop, though they did slow back down. The layoffs had been taking place slowly since mid-February, ever since Disney's announcement that they would be reorganizing all of the backstage operations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World to streamline the structure and the decision-making process.

The layoffs accelerated dramatically at the end of March ahead of the end of the company's second fiscal quarter on March 28. More employees were laid off last Monday, though, and there were reports of continued cuts through last week. Disney said that the cuts were to executive, management, professional and administrative roles, primarily in backstage areas. It appears that no union positions were involved.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty provided the following statement to MousePlanet: "As of today, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has eliminated approximately 1,900 positions at its domestic sites. These decisions were not made lightly, but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities. We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand."

Disney was able to lay off more than 500 employees in Florida without triggering the 60-day notification to the state of Florida and to the targeted employees because many of the divisions of the company are actually operating as separate entities, so the cuts from each individual company did not top the 500-layoff mark.

The 1,900 positions eliminated include 1,150 layoffs, the elimination of 700 vacant items and 50 executive buyouts. Of those, 1,400 positions were located in Florida: 900 layoffs/buyouts and 500 eliminated vacancies. Disneyland saw 200 layoffs/buyouts and 100 vacancies eliminated. 100 layoffs/buyouts and 100 eliminated vacancies were in Burbank executive offices and Imagineering offices in Glendale. The Florida layoffs included not just Walt Disney World but Disney Vacation Club, Disney Cruise Line and the Central Reservations Office phone center in Tampa. The cuts represent approximately 2.25 percent of the Disney workforce in the state.

Those laid off received 60 days of paid administrative leave, including medical benefits, plus a severance package based on their length of service. Job placement services were also included.

[momplus3plus4]

Yes, I agree, and it does make me hopeful that if we do not get to go in September for free dining, we will get to go in December for free dining.

"Merry Christmas to us, Merry Christmas to us....":cloud9: