Disney may "End deep hotel discounts in Aug"

[lclark0621]

"Disney Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs Staggs indicated the company still plans to end deep hotel discounts at Walt Disney World in August, as planned, but did not rule out future park promotions to drive attendance.

"We'll have to read the marketplace as we get there and take a look and make those decisions as we go," Staggs said."

 

[raider97]

"Disney Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs Staggs indicated the company still plans to end deep hotel discounts at Walt Disney World in August, as planned, but did not rule out future park promotions to drive attendance.

"We'll have to read the marketplace as we get there and take a look and make those decisions as we go," Staggs said."

I find this kinda funny in light of all the different pin codes that were sent out recently and their 2Q posted earnings. Guess we will just have to wait and see if they actually do it.

Stephanie

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

It all depends on how their bookings go. Pretty much that statement says "maybe we will and maybe we won't"!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I think it is just a scare tactic to get people to book now with the current offers that are out there...

 

[MinnieGi]

I kind of read that very vaguely, as in Disney can discount when they need too as they normally do! I find it funny too as so many people including myself just received pin codes for the fall months - I hardly ever get pin codes!

 

[raider97]

I kind of read that very vaguely, as in Disney can discount when they need too as they normally do! I find it funny too as so many people including myself just received pin codes for the fall months - I hardly ever get pin codes!

I know. They still seem to be mailing out a ton of pin codes.

Stephanie

 

[Bete]

Right now, would be the worse time not to fill the resorts and parks. Without more deals, I think Disney will be hard pressed for the 4th quarter. I expect restricted dates (blackout periods), but no discounts; I can't see it. Everyone doesn't use a discount (lack of knowledge); so, Disney still makes out.

There have been discounts in previous years; so, with a worse economy, how can they stop it? I find it ridiculous to even suggest this won't happen.

I will understand if the promos are not as good; because, the 4/3 was special to this year. It may take longer to get a code released or you may have to be a Visa cardholder, but the discounts will come.

I was lucky and I got a pin code for December which I took advantage of, but I'm still looking for a better deal myself. I was able to get free QS dining at a value resort and I still want more of a discount. I'm not greedy, but I was able to get regular basic free dining plus (with TS) last year for the same period.

 

[fla4fun]

It sounded more to me that they were going to try to get more money for the rooms, but maybe discount or offer promotions on tickets and dining. That would fall in with what they do for the free dining offer (room at rack rate - free food), an offer they have made for several years now. They have to walk a fine line between possibly having the rooms empty, and renting them out at a deep discount, keeping in mind their operating costs, advertising budgets, etc. In watching the local news, it seems Disney was hit harder in the last quarter than Universal or Sea World - and I'm sure that's something they want to fix as soon as possible.

 

[ancestry]

It will be interesting to see what they actually do. Those deep hotel discounts are what got many people to book trips this year.

Had they not offered the 4/3 deal we wouldn't have decided to go to Disney. I would love to go back next year and take the entire family (6 of us instead of just the 4 of us going this year) but I won't book without a steep hotel discount or some other type of huge discount. This year we "splurged" on a luxury (for us) vacation since the youngest two have never been to Disney.

If all six of us go we will probably stay in a cabin so free dining isn't the best thing for us. If they want us to book next year they are going to have to do something along the lines of the 4/3 promotion again.

 

[islandchick779]

It sounded more to me that they were going to try to get more money for the rooms, but maybe discount or offer promotions on tickets and dining. That would fall in with what they do for the free dining offer (room at rack rate - free food), an offer they have made for several years now. They have to walk a fine line between possibly having the rooms empty, and renting them out at a deep discount, keeping in mind their operating costs, advertising budgets, etc. In watching the local news, it seems Disney was hit harder in the last quarter than Universal or Sea World - and I'm sure that's something they want to fix as soon as possible.

Well Universal and Sea World also offer much better ticket rates than Disney, and in this economy, I can completely understand preferring to pay $100 (or just under) for Universal park hopper that allows you to visit the park for a week! A Disney 7 day park hopper is $278 + tax, so if you have just 2 adults going for a week, that's a savings over over $350 just on tickets!

However, I know I'd rather have 7 days of Disney with all there is to do and see than spend 7 days going back and forth between the Universal parks. Not that I'd really get bored, but we easily do both parks in one day during the off season.

Also, Sea World doesn't have their own hotels, so they are only basing their profits on the theme park sales. I can see why they wouldn't be hit as hard as Disney.

 

[agnes!]

I think it is just a scare tactic to get people to book now with the current offers that are out there...

Bingo! I think we have a winner .

agnes!

 

[luckytobeme88]

Don't forget that the past years, especially during the peak summer season, there was not much discounts anywhere! I am just thankful that you can basically pick most of the week that you want to go to WDW and not pay full high season price as yesteryear.

 

[MarkinNM]

"Disney Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs Staggs indicated the company still plans to end deep hotel discounts at Walt Disney World in August, as planned, but did not rule out future park promotions to drive attendance.

"We'll have to read the marketplace as we get there and take a look and make those decisions as we go," Staggs said."

AKA I want to get fired!!!!!


End the discounts, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!

 

[jjohnson]

of course because this is the one year were skipping Disney