Disturbing CRO call yesterday...

[Sammie]

Afraid the agent is correct, I have a friend that works for the DRC, the new name for CRO and he says bookings are at an all time high, year round.

There will be slower times but no "slow" times.

 

[nbodyhome]

Afraid the agent is correct, I have a friend that works for the DRC, the new name for CRO and he says bookings are at an all time high, year round.

There will be slower times but no "slow" times.

DRC isn't too new, that has been around since I worked there (2001). It is true, that currently bookings are very high (I think around 90% on average, from what someone who would know told me). I have actually seen figures in the mid 80% range also, but suffice to say - the last couple of years have been very good for Disney.

However, if September was THAT good normally, Disney wouldn't have offered free dining. Now they have a new offer, in addition to AP/Fl Resident discounts. I consider September a slow time period, possibly the slowest now (January seems busier than it once was). Overall, it's been steady through most of the year. The highs don't seem as high, the lows not as low - though September is still a very good time to come if you don't want too many lines.

 

[Sammie]

DRC isn't too new, that has been around since I worked there (2001). It is true, that currently bookings are very high (I think around 90% on average, from what someone who would know told me). I have actually seen figures in the mid 80% range also, but suffice to say - the last couple of years have been very good for Disney.

However, if September was THAT good normally, Disney wouldn't have offered free dining. Now they have a new offer, in addition to AP/Fl Resident discounts. I consider September a slow time period, possibly the slowest now (January seems busier than it once was). Overall, it's been steady through most of the year. The highs don't seem as high, the lows not as low - though September is still a very good time to come if you don't want too many lines.

True it has been the DRC for a couple of years, but getting the name to be used here, is new.

 

[nbodyhome]

True it has been the DRC for a couple of years, but getting the name to be used here, is new.

I keep using it, it never catches on! (not sure if it ever will, after 6 or 7 years!)

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I think the real issue with this poster is that she wanted to switch resorts and keep her free dining. The only way you could do that was if the FREE DINING allocation of rooms at OKW or SSR had not been filled....those are probably long gone, but there are still rooms available on cash and point reservations at both resorts for the last week of Sept (just not with free dining). I think there just wasn't anything left in the inventory allocated for free dining.

Don't forget about all the POPers that were given free upgrades to OKW & SSR studios & 1brs too.

I agree, it's probably that the free ddp rooms have been gobbled up.

 

[JennyDrake]

I've been told several times by CMs and I DO believe that the slow seasons as we once knew them no longer exist. It doesn't mean there aren't slow-ER times, but the used to be 4 or so times each year when The World was almost dead--just ain't happening. One reason is year round schools, another which I did notknow is that many business travellers are now staying on WDW prperty and the Disney price and service exceed conference hotels in teh area. My lawyer girlfriend echoed this. She was recently in Orlando for a meeting. Staying at CBR AND renting a car, she still saved $600 in one week!
I have found taht I must book rooms much, much earlier than previous years. I used to wait until AP rates came out. I did so in April of this year and I had two room choices for allll of WDW==both were deluxes--and I have a value budget.

 

[JennyDrake]

I've been told several times by CMs and I DO believe that the slow seasons as we once knew them no longer exist. It doesn't mean there aren't slow-ER times, but the used to be 4 or so times each year when The World was almost dead--just ain't happening. One reason is year round schools, another which I did not know is that many business travelers are now staying on WDW property and the Disney price and service exceed conference hotels in the area. My lawyer girlfriend echoed this. She was recently in Orlando for a meeting. Staying at CBR AND renting a car, she still saved $600 in one week!
I have found that I must book rooms much, much earlier than previous years. I used to wait until AP rates came out. I did so in April of this year and I had two room choices for allll of WDW==both were deluxes--and I have a value budget.

 

[Irishhockey]

It will be very difficult to switch resorts with Free Dinning. You're in essence, transfering within a very select few of rooms assigned to the promotion. When the 45day mark hits, try calling back... you may have better luck!

Don't forget all the promotions running for this time frame too:

Bounceback
UK free dinning (theres a few other UK promotions as well)
40% code
Free Dinning
AP Discounts
room-only discounts
pin-code post cards

On top of all that, I'm able to still book a room through the website, in fact, any desired room I want, including values. Don't you find that odd? I mean 7+ promotions... and rooms, several of them... still available? Looks like Disney is "desperate" for room occupency... and I don't mind helping them out

 

[nbodyhome]

I've been told several times by CMs and I DO believe that the slow seasons as we once knew them no longer exist. It doesn't mean there aren't slow-ER times, but the used to be 4 or so times each year when The World was almost dead--just ain't happening.

As someone who does go to the parks regularly (all year round), there are still slow times. Not as slow as after 9/11, but there are dips in the year where the lines are short (I expect September to be that way again). The last year and a half or so has been more steady. Lows aren't quite as low, but the highs don't seem as high to me either. It's cyclical - next year could be different.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I'm believing that it's not going to be as bad as the month before. We are going 9/16-27, and I haven't seen anyone being offered an upgrade for that time frame, which means they haven't reached capacity yet.

It still can't be as bad as holidays!

 

[nbodyhome]

I'm believing that it's not going to be as bad as the month before. We are going 9/16-27, and I haven't seen anyone being offered an upgrade for that time frame, which means they haven't reached capacity yet.

It still can't be as bad as holidays!

September shouldn't be busy, and I don't personally expect much of August to be packed either. The resorts are not at capacity (even if resorts are at capacity, that doesn't mean the parks are). October is a huge convention month - so the resorts are very busy, the parks are moderately so. I do think Disney is trying to get more families to try DVC resorts (OKW and SS) which aren't booked as much.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Sept. is our favorite time of the year to go. This will be our 4th Sept. in a row and the crowd levels were great and expect the same this year. Last year we were there from Sept. 9-19, and most rides had a very short wait (expect Soarin', as noted previously) With the lower crowd levels, and using FastPasses wisely, you should be able to do all you want, and more. It's definitely less crowded than holidays, and prime-time summer!

I also haven't heard of any upgrade offers either for our trip this year (Sept. 6-16th)