Disney Reins in Hotel Discounts

[com_op_2000]

Disney continues to rein in hotel discounts

Disney appears to be making some progress in its long-running efforts to pull back on the discounts it relied on during the recession.

The company reported last week that advance room reservations at its domestic resorts for its fiscal third quarter are running 2.5 percent behind last year's levels. But while the company may be booking less summer business at this point than it did a year ago, it's getting higher prices for the rooms it's reserving. Room rates for those reservations are up by double-digit percentages from last year's rates, the company said during the second-quarter earnings call.

Iger said the company was going to keep prices where they are now to send a signal that the discounts Disney employed to draw crowds during the economic slump are a thing of the past.

"We worked really hard to wean the consumer of the discount, and it worked in the second quarter, where we had slightly improved — if you factor out Easter — attendance and occupancy rates and better pricing, which was really important," Iger said. "The goal remains the same for the third quarter."

 

[Bete]

without free dining. I can wait for a deal and if the deal isn't there I'll go someplace else.

I did Pigeon Forge, TN already this year and I'm planning on a June trip to Colonial Williamsburg. I can return to Pigeon Forge and do Dollywood's Christmas in December.

Disney may not miss me, but I'm not missing them, either.

By the way, a quarter or two of bookings that are better w/o discounts may not last. Also, free dining has been offered recently, anyway. Those offers may be harder to come by and they may not be offered as early as before, but they still exist.

Finally, I have no trouble giving Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens my money instead of Disney.

Disney is soured on the discounts; because, they thought if you saved one way you would spend another way like with souvenirs. This didn't happen; so, it's more of the true reason Disney is getting stingy with their discounts. There have been discounts forever. I've been at this for over 25 years and I've alway went with a discount except for one time and that was for the 2000 Millennium celebration year.

 

[CruellaDuVille]

I'd be happy if free dining went away. I don't eat that much food in a day so it has never been appealing to me and I have had many a meal in an upscale restaurant ruined by families who did not know how to (or have a desire to) control their children in an upscale dining environment.