Fate of the Moderate Resorts?

[barreloflaughs]

Folks,

I found the following on another discussion group. While most of this has been discussed here, I don't recall seeing the Coronado Springs rumor. The source mentions that all of these actions were in planning pre-September 11. Interesting....

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PO French Quarter - Will become Shades of Green II

PO Riverside - will be acquired by DCL and will be used by guests sailing on their Cruise ships only.

Coronado Springs - Will be sold to Marriot.

This would leave Caribbean Beach as the only Disney owned Moderate resort.
********************************************

barrel of laughs

 

[JeffJewell]

The source mentions that all of these actions were in planning pre-September 11.

...this jives with what I've heard.

Jeff

 

[YoHo]

What I've heard and What has been posted is that french quarter will be Temporarily turned into Shades of Green While SoG undergoes construction. Personally, I wouldn't have a major problem with this resort staying shhades of Green.

PO Riverside is Closing Jan 1 for an unknown period of time.

Coronado Springs, aside from certain buildings closing, no word.

I've said it before, I think that the moderates are the least financially sound resorts Disney offers. The margins are bad. If the Scenario outlined by barreloflaughs is true, then I would hope that Carribean is turned into a Deluxe and be done with the moderates entirely.

 

[All Aboard]

YoHo, how do you turn CBR into a deluxe? With 320 sf rooms, no balconies and exterior entries that seems impossible. Also, I'm not so sure that the margins are all that bad at the moderates. There really isn't much in the way of services above that at the Values. All the capital costs are (of course) sunk at this point. I'm not sure you could outline a scenario where they close completely that makes sense. Assuming occupancies return to normal, WDW needs that niche of $125 rooms to cater to a very large segment of the market. They don't suffer for guests. In normal operating times, the moderates fill up fast.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't understand this. Frankly, the deluxes are too expensive for me most of the time and I don't like the Allstars. There I've said it. So what does that leave? I can't believe that I'm the only person who feels like this.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

I can't believe that I'm the only person who feels like this.

Hmmm. Maybe you haven't caught my posts on the subject. Or JJ's.

Say, did I ever mention the caste system that these resorts encourage?

 

[Lesley]

PG, you're not the only one! Heck, I spent 4 nights tent camping at FW while 5 1/2 months pregnant to avoid the All-Stars (and so we could spend the rest of our "budget trip" at CS). But that's also part of the reason we joined DVC. I really would love to stay at a deluxe every time (and now I will) but with cash rates around $300 per night and up? EEEEEKKKK!

Not sure how CBR could go deluxe, but I believe the rooms are the same size as WL.....biggest of the moderates. With certain upgrades to the resort...maybe.....start by returning the mini-bars to the rooms, offer real room service, turn the restaurant into something really special, and create a pool that makes SAB look like just another place to swim (let's see....how about one that connects all the "quiet pools", theme each one to a different variation of Carribean/pirates...caves, sand...Wow...and the pool at CBR is already my ds's favorite) Maybe....but I doubt it. I also doubt the rumor about CS...but who knows?

I do know my dh and I have always wanted to try PO/DxL and didn't get around to it.....and I know we've each said at least once "It's not like they are gonna be closed any time soon" Truly, anything's possible.

 

[MickeyMoose15]

Sounds a little but also a little stupid. Where did this come from?

 

[Planogirl]

Landbaron, I was really referring to the mass of guests that aren't as devoted as we are and don't post on Disney boards when I was mulling over the possible demise of the moderates. I apologize for the way it sounded, you and the others here have definitely made your feelings clear!

I was thinking about casual travelers looking into a trip to WDW and finding only deluxes and the Allstars. They might be appalled by the prices of the deluxes particularly if they don't know how to find discounts. Then they might check out the Allstars and feel disappointed by the lack of restaurants and other amenities. From the outside, the Allstars don't appear to have the amenities of a basic Holiday Inn so why would a casual traveler be interested in staying there without a cut rate price?

Lesley, your post made me smile. Did you really camp? Wow!

I don't believe that any of this can really happen any more than I believe that Disney would close one of their more popular resorts!

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> I've said it before, think that the moderates are the least financially sound resorts ...

I would have thought that people on average spend little time about the resort, so those who book a moderate are paying a lot more dollars for about the same amenities [read: Disney's profit margin is higher at a moderate and people are paying for the cosmetics]. There may be more decorations at a moderate resort but a room is a room. Bus service at the All Stars is as good as any resort.

 

[YoHo]

Here's my thinking, The Deluxe resorts are designed for people who value the full Disney Resort Vacation. The people who might spend nearly as much time at the Resorts as they do at the parks. The Values are Designed for people who think that WDW is only the Parks. What are the Moderates Designed for? The middle? But they do neither well. They don't have the amenities or the locations, yet they have the resturants and themeing to demand too high a price for the room. Drop the price of the Deluxes by $50 bucks a night and the moderates would be gone.

 

[Planogirl]

I can see that if the prices for the deluxes drop that that would persuade more people to stay in them. I also think that Disney building all of the things we want is just as likely. I disagree that the deluxes are just for those travelers who want the full Disney experience. A traveller must also be able to AFFORD these resorts. If a person doesn't have the money, it's irrelevant what they want.

I also don't agree that the moderates don't have enough amenities. The moderates are what a budget hotel should be IMO while the Allstars are just too stripped down and not very well themed. I personally want a real restaurant available because we do use them. I also like having a pool slide and a club and boats and more space and so on. I spent an enormous amount of time in Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson hotels while growing up and I expect at least amenities comparable to these chains.

I also think that the moderates are nicely themed. I just can't get into the theming of the Allstars as cute as the icons are. Dixie Landings (still MY name!) is just a lovely place and I enjoyed strolling the grounds each evening when we stayed there. I truly spent a lot of time enjoying this resort. CBR is very attractive and I can see why so many people like CSR. The Allstars are just not like that IMO.

This is just my opinion though and maybe MOST people don't see it this way.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree with what you posted about values vs deluxe. At WDW and DL, DH and I were at the parks from opening to closing. And all we need the room for is shower and rest. So yes, a deluxe would be nice. But then I would feel like I have to stay there all day to get my $ worth.
I am wondering how the on-site hotels are doing at DL.
The nearby hotels surrounding DL/DCA are a bargain, when comparing to DL hotels. Everything is within walking distance, the hotels are nice with plenty of free perks, that Disney charges for. And we even stayed right across the street at a nice hotel for $54 a night. DL hotels were offering $200 a night at that time, and acting they were doing guests a favor.
I can buy a lot of Disney magic on my own for $145 savings a night.
I was surprised that Disney charged so much for their rooms when they are surrounded by nice hotels.

 

[Lesley]

Yes, we really did camp! And let me tell you, a 2" thick Thermarest mattress is not what you want to sleep on after a day in the parks.....especially when you've got those hip joints getting all loose in preparation for birth. My hips were sore for the rest of the trip.

I would camp there again....but if I were doing the parks I'd be sure to bring a cot or a really good thick air mattress! Never in my life did a bed feel so good as when we got to CS!

And just for the "what in the heck was she thinking?" file....well....I thought it would be an adventure! I'm a country girl who never really camped before that year (why camp when the house is right there?...lol) And I also wasn't expecting to get pregnant at the time the plans were made. And when I did discover I was pregnant I didn't think I'd be so big and uncomfortable at 5 1/2 months. But, hey, my feet didn't even swell!

Sorry, totally ot....

 

[TribbleTrouble]

Sigh--how sad--I alwasy thought the moderates were the resorts with the most personality.

 

[YoHo]

I don't have any info since The Grand California opened, But Pervious to that, the Disneyland hotels booked pretty solid. The Disneyland Hotels are Deluxe offerings with all of the services of a WDW Deluxe. They are much older and thus aren't themed the way WDW Deluxes are, but They Offer deluxe services and that's why they make money.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I love the moderate resorts. I can't stand the idea of staying at All-Stars. If by some chance every moderate closed there is no way I'd choose to stay on site (except for the fact I'm now DVC). I can't stand the acres of concrete at Allstars and the price difference between the deeeluxe hotels & a decent offsite hotel would give me a rental car & spending money.

 

[daannzzz]

I like the moderate resorts as well. Actually I like all the resorts except for the Villas at the Institute and the Contemporary. And until recently I thought the moderates were the best value for the $$$ spent. They have since raised the prices a bit to high for that distinction but I enjoy them still. The Disneland hotels are nice as well though they were prices lower than the Deluxes at WDW until the Grand Californian. I have stayed at all three at Disneyland and found only the Paradise Pier Hotel to be priced a bit to high.

 

[peedeejones]

I am shocked and appalled by these rumors! This is the first time I have heard about this.
I am Disney World Resort freak and I can not handle all the news of the changes going on
there now. I LOVE the moderates. I have stayed at all except Coronado Springs and I was looking forward to a few nights there this year. I hope that rumor is not true. I love the Deluxe resorts but I can not always afford to spend our entire vacation at a Deluxe. Have any of these rumors actually been confirmed?
Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[catwho]

As a AS budget and a Deluxe taste person, I would love to see the Moderates turned into a "larger family" budget resort. I have 3 kids and so can't stay at the AS. I wouldn't mind paying $15-$25 more a night for a Moderate, but not almost double what I am currently paying at AS ($49 a night).

<sigh>


56 days