Anyone else concerned about impact of CBR closure on your resort?

[dcedwards]

I'm just curious...now that we know CBR is closed and guests are being moved to other resorts...is anyone else concerned about the impact this will have on the resort where you are staying? (We will be at POFQ.)

We typically go the week after Thanksgiving because the crowds are traditionally pretty low. That means the resort is much less crowded (food court, pool, hot tub, front desk check in, etc.) along with the buses not being packed...

But, with the closure of the CBR and the other moderates as well as many of the deluxes being full...I'm concerned that staffing might stay at the same traditional level and not be increased to handle the increased numbers at the other resorts. Anyone else have this thought?

I'm hoping Disney will anticipate this and handle it accordingly but it still concerns me. Your thoughts? Any CMs out there have insight into this? Or maybe I'm concerned about nothing...just curious what fellow DISers are thinking.

 

[Joyfulsnuff]

I have to admit that it worries me a little bit. We are staying at riverside and that being another moderate I'm thinking a lot of people will move there. Its usually fairly quiet when we are there in September but that may not be the case this time. I just keep telling myself, who cares I'm going to WDW!

 

[CTPacky]

I wouldn't be too concerned about staffing. The CM's at CBR will be moving around too. Of course they will be assigned to the resorts we are being moved to!

 

[CaipiraBob]

<p><i>I'm just curious...now that we know CBR is closed and guests are being moved to other resorts...is anyone else concerned about the impact this will have on the resort where you are staying? </i></p>
<p>My hope is that if you're in one of the resorts that guests received a reasonable upgrade to, that you'll be surrounded by people already in a terrific mood and full of the "Disney Magic".</p>
<P>I think if I were in that sitaution and got a great rate for an upgrade, well, it'd put me in a good mood. Some people were upset by the upgrades others got but I knew what I was willing to pay and have no problem with others getting a good deal. I think the overall impact is that you'll have a ton of happy people around you, at least that's the mindset I'm going to have.</p>
<P>There was was thread by some guy, "BobfromMars" or something like that who was making a big deal of how upset he was having paid rack rate for the Poly and then finding out that moderate resort guests were being upgraded to his level for far less than he paid. Allow me to summarize his comments:</p>
<P><img src="http://web.mit.edu/jonb/www/animate/grinch.gif"></p>
<P><i>"Them moderate folks! They're takin' over the world! They're everywhere! Now they're at the Poly. Somethin's gotta be done!..".</i></p>
<P>Ok, that's my version , but it's not too far off from what he was saying. I got the biggest kick out of the admin's comments before the closed and yanked the thread: "I thought there might be some redeeming value to this post, but...No. It's gone!"</P>
<P>At any rate, Disney did well by these people and I was happy to see so many "happy endings" to the CBR dilemma. My hope is that Disney will reallocate staff accordingly to handle any issues related to resort capacity. You're going to have a wonderful time, so don't concern yourself over it too much!</p>

 

[mivvers]

Great post CapiraBob!

We were looking forward to our second stay at CBR this December, this time with my parents, who have never been. Now, we are all even MORE excited (who thought it could be possible?) about staying at the WL instead. I know it will be a magical time...with (hopefully) not a Grinch in sight!

CBR/Wonder Jan/02
WL/Wonder Dec/02

 

[leslieh]

DD works at Port Orleans and has been told that many of the full-time/permanent staff will be moved to this hotel and others similar when CBR closes on Sept. 8. The pt/college kids may get their hours cut. But you should have plenty of staff for your stay. I dont think the college kids would mind at all with hours cut

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Tried to help my friend book a trip for 2 the week after Halloween and was told by Disney that all the Deluxe resorts were full. The only thing available was Concierge level rooms. I could not believe it.

The CM said it was because of the CBR & SOG being closed and having to shuffle people around. If you think about it?? CBR holds alot of people compared to the deluxe resorts with less rooms. CM suggested that if my friends could that they hold off and book there trip for the first of December instead. She stated things were wide open at that time.



We just booked a night at WL on the DC rate before our cruise Feb1. Woo hoo!!

Good luck all!

 

[Disneydenise]

I am hoping that I will get a nice upgrade to a concierge room at the Poly since I am paying a code rate that is still twice as much as the CBR upgrade. I really don't mind that they got a better deal I just want to get an upgrade. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[dcedwards]

I, too, am very glad that Disney took notes after last year's fiasco with the closing of the POFQ. CaipiraBob stated it very well.

We were treated ... well let's just say ... not as we would have expected from Disney... last year when the FQ closed. I even went as far as to email Disney and congratulate them on "learning" from last year's closure and trying to "make it right" with the upgrade offers for those affected by the CBR closure. I am sure everyone's trip will be wonderful especially with the upgrades!

My only concern is that they plan according to the numbers and not according to "past trends" in occupancy rates at the properties. And, I'm sure they will (crossing my fingers). But, that thought still lingers in the back of my mind after the cutbacks of last year ... and seeing the long lines at check-ins, slow housekeeping services, etc. And, especially so after hearing of Disney's declining revenues.

And, as horrible as the thought is...it is comforting to know that I'm not the only one out there with that nagging thought. So, thanks fellow DISers! Now I know I'm not alone. Let's hope that Disney does its job and trains these individuals being reassigned so they can put their best food forward....during our stays.

 

[Carrieberry]

I am thrilled about the offers others got to upgrade to the deluxe resorts. I know how it feels to be on a budget, and when you are a family of 4 it can get pricey because of the tickets. The only way we are going to be able to afford the BCV is because we're renting DVC points, and the only way we are able to afford AKL was because of the great code rates- and since we are going without the kids this trip, our costs will already be lower, allowing us to splurge a little. I think it's great that now some of the people that thought they would never be able to afford a deluxe will have the opportunity, and I agree- after what happened last year, it's nice to see Disney learning a little bit! It;s alos nice to see the above post that mentioed the first week of Dec being "wide open" at the resorts since thats when we will be there! "Cheers to low crowds!" (Carrie clinks her glass of water against her monitor and crosses her fingers!)

 

[jdwright13]

As someone who has been upgraded, I have that concern myself. The reason I pick the CBR, was due to it's size, and it would seem less crowed. That's the whole reason I go in the offseason, to avoid the crowds. While I am thrilled with the AKL for dirt cheap, it will be slightly disappointing if eating becomes a headache due to Boma, Jiko, and Mara being packed because of a full resort.

While thrilled with the upgrade, one of the things I hope for most is to avoid the crowds. It is a fair price to pay to the steal of a deal I'm getting at the AKL though.

 

[mzmickey]

My DH and I are staying at PO-R for 4 nights the second week of December.

I plan on watching the boards closely to see what effect the CBR closure has on the resort and then plan from there. Just might upgrade if it looks like the resort will be booked full and the peacefullness that I was looking forward to might not exist.

 

[ls1222]

I have been checking the disney website (room reservations) for our vacation dates, because I too am worried about POR being full and having long waits for the busses and food. I have found that at least for our dates 09/27-10/06, the AKL, WL are booked but there is still room at the mods. I am wondering if most people took advantage of the great upgrades, so maybe the mods won't be as full.

 

[skiwee1]

Disneydenise, I'm hoping the opposite for me! LOL! I booked using a code and am hoping for staying in Rarotonga at the Poly. It is close to the GCH so my mom doesn't have to walk too far. I believe the concierge rooms are near the lagoon and that would be too far for her to walk. Well, she can walk but since her knees are bad I want to save all her energy for the parks. Hopefully you will get your upgrade and I will get my building. As far as the resort being full due to the CBR people, that kind of has me worried too. I go during low season for a reason. Resorts are not at capacity and the pools are not full and restaurants not booked up. Now I'm wondering how bad the pools at the Poly are going to be since many of the CBRers are taking the Poly as their choice. Can't blame them! I'd do the same thing. I did make my PSs for Kona Cafe and a Ohanas just in case it was full. Good luck!

 

[dcedwards]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone has heard anything new...

 

[Mayflower1635]

I've been obsessing with info on PO Riverside because we're staying there Dec 12-17, and I ran across info on this site:

http://www.solarius.com/dvp/wdw/index.html

that says Riverside is being closed due to the Shades of Green remodling.

Is this true? If so, why did they take my reservation?

 

[eeyore0062]

I've been obsessing with info on PO Riverside because we're staying there Dec 12-17, and I ran across info on this site:

http://www.solarius.com/dvp/wdw/index.html

...that says Riverside is being closed due to the Shades of Green remodling.

No, part of PO-R closed last year due to low attendance and bookings. SoG guests are being accomodated by the North wing of the Contemporary, and any overflow is being given overflow rates at the moderates. Don't worry, your trip should be safe. Unfortunately many of the unofficial websites with closing info have not been updated recently!


In fact, I just went to the above posted site, and couldn't find anything about PO-R being closed. What I did find was this:

The Shades of Green closed on 1st April 2002, while the resort is refurbished, and extended with an additional 300 rooms, two new restaurants, banqueting facilities, and a new multi-level car parking facility.Expected to re-open in September 2003, resort guests are currently being accomodated at the Contemporary Resort's North Garden Wing at standard Shades of Green prices.

From some of the things I was reading, it appears that no major changes or updates have been made to the above linked site since the end of last year. Your best source for information is to go to the official site.

 

[Mayflower1635]

Thanks so much for your reassurance! I was alarmed when I saw this info at that site: http://www.solarius.com/dvp/wdw/porleans_riverside.htm:

"Port Orleans is currently not taking any reservations, and guests with reservations are being moved out of Port Orleans into other Disney resorts.

Although not officially announced, the likely reason being that rennovation work underway at the Shades of Green has meant having to close the resort - and under the terms of the Military lease on SoG Disney have to provide alternative accommodation if the SoG is not available for any reason."

This announcement was dated 27 July 2002

 

[pollyanna]

Here's my theory...

Tourism is still down due to folks not flying(due to 9/11) and the great losses in the stock market. So moving guests around to various resorts is just getting those resorts to the capacity they would have been a couple years back.

My last 2 trips to WDW was at peak crowd times(X_Mass) so having a full resort will not effect my trip, I'm used to it.

 

[eeyore0062]

Mayflower, I don't know where those people got that information, except there was a rumor earlier this year that they would take part of PO for SoG, then they decided that instead they would use the North Wing of the Contemporary, that way they weren't asking those at SoG to take a step down from deluxe to moderate accomodations.

Anyway, I went to the official website, which stated nothing about closing any part of PO-R, and accepted reservations for December... so yes... WDW is accepting reservations for the fall and winter.

I also went to other highly reputable sites, this one included and nothing was stated there, either. Usually if you can't find it here or on Deb's site, it has no basis in fact. Don't sweat it.

I just feel sorry for those poor people in CRO getting all of the phone calls that are probably being generated by that website. BTW, I had never even heard of the website before you posted it here...lol!