Frech Quarter to reopen 3/21/04

Dznefreek

It's Epic, well kind of . . . . . .
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Nov 13, 2000
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From the Sentinel:

Disney set to open refurbished French Quarter hotel in March

Walt Disney World plans to reopen the 1,008-room French Quarter section of its rambling Port Orleans Resort early in the crucial spring break travel season.

The New Orleans-themed French Quarter will reopen March 21. Disney began taking reservations on Friday.

The moderately priced French Quarter, with standard rates in the range of $133 to $209 a night, depending on the season, is one of Disney's most popular hotels, spokeswoman Rena Langley said.

It's "extremely popular with our returning guests," she said.

Disney closed the French Quarter in early May as part of a two-year renovation of Port Orleans, which includes the 2,048-room Riverside section.

Riverside has remained open but is being renovated in phases, Langley said.

Improvements to both sections include the installation of new carpeting, furniture and bathroom fixtures, she said.

The French Quarter opened in 1991. Riverside, originally a separate hotel called Dixie Landings, followed in 1992. The adjacent hotels were merged four years ago.

Disney's decision to close the French Quarter entirely rather than renovate the rooms in phases coincided with a decline in travel to the Orlando area.

Disney doesn't disclose attendance figures, but the trade magazine Amusement Business estimates that the number of visitors to the Magic Kingdom, Disney's most popular park, slipped 4 percent in 2001 and 5 percent in 2002. The magazine estimates that the park's attendance was flat in 2003.

Company officials say they expect a slow, steady improvement in business as the economy continues to recover. Langley said the property is reopening as planned, in time for spring break, historically one of Central Florida's busiest seasons.

Langley said the company plans to hire about 200 people to staff the French Quarter.
 
How exciting! I know where I'm staying in October! :)
 
First, that's great news that it's finally reopening! I worked at French Quarter last Fall (02) and I've missed not being able to visit.
One thing though, about the hiring of 200 people to staff the hotel....What about the people who already work there? My former fellow CMs were all deployed throughout WDW, much like how the Caribbean Beach CMs were deployed during their refurbishment. I worked with many of the CB CMs during their deployment and most of them hated it- many CMs develop a very strong loyalty to their home resort, park, restaurant, etc. Although some will probably stay at their new locations, I'm pretty positive that a large percentage will want to return to FQ. So, what's with all the new people?
 
Not sure about the hiring thing - hopefully they will bring back some of the original CM's before hiring all new, but you never know. I've heard that the first phase of the Riverside refurbishement will be the mansions, so I'm guessing they will be closing soon after French Quarter opens. We like staying in those, but it is nice to hear they are taking the time to rennovate them for future use.
 

Already changed the reservations for the French Quarter.

The whole family is estatic about the reopening.

Can't wait till it's vacation time.

:jester:

:Pinkbounc

::MickeyMo

::MinnieMo
 








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