from BBC News website....

[meryll83]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7714753.stm

 

[natalielongstaff]

i have to say that had we not booked to go back next year then we probably would go somewhere cheaper

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Yes, the cost is getting out of hand, going next year and happy to be doing so but not sure about the following year, we can afford to but just would rather save the money to be honest.

 

[oceanscape]

The exchange rate is going to put a lot of people off. That, coupled with rising prices generally, means a big effect on holiday costs.

 

[cliveywolves]

Yep you only gotta look at the offers on the US site in the last few days for next year !!! Bookings must be well down over there also

 

[wideeyes]

I am okay with paying of my trips, and I can manage fine on little spending money so will be okay for next year, it is costing more though so I will be only getting Disney tickets next year ,no shopping and cut down on food and taxi rides. I don't mind cutting back tbh, we did it in september fine and spent $700 in two weeks.

 

[ford family]

Strange, because I am struggling to find four consecutive nights during our January Florida trip at any DVC resort in a one or two bedroom. Everywhere is full. I have booked two nights at the BWV and have waitlisted for the nights either side.

ford family

 

[kevin harrison]

A Little more detail..

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The global economic downturn hit Walt Disney Co's quarterly results harder and faster than Wall Street expected, with the company on Thursday reporting a sharp decline in hotel bookings and softness in advertising revenue at its networks.

Disney's shares slid 9 percent in extended trade but recovered a bit after executives announced plans to discount stays at Walt Disney World to stimulate bookings in the first half of 2009.

"Consumer confidence is the lowest we've seen in over three decades, and even the best product out there is feeling the effect," Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger told analysts on a conference call.

Disney's dour view came hours after U.S. retail chains posted their worst October sales results in more than 30 years as consumers cut spending sharply in the face of a financial crisis that has derailed the U.S. economy.

On the call, Iger said senior executives were looking at ways to cut costs companywide. "Significant savings will be delivered," he said.

The news came as the No. 2 U.S. entertainment company reported a 13 percent decline in quarterly net income due in part to a bad debt charge. Revenue, however, topped Wall Street analysts' estimates.

"We kind of expected a rapid deceleration, but this is even worse than even we or investors were expecting ... in its severity and in how fast this is affecting them," Pali Capital analyst Rich Greenfield said of the theme parks results.

Disney reported net earnings of $760 million, or 40 cents per share, down from net earnings of $877 million, or 44 cents per share in last year's fourth quarter.

Excluding items, Disney posted earnings of 43 per share. On that basis, analysts had been expecting earnings of 49 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue rose 6 percent to $9.45 billion from $8.93 billion a year earlier. Analysts, on average, expected revenue of $9.33 billion for the quarter,

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

I have to say I'm not suprised that said I'm sure with the amount of special deals on of late and more to come I bet,people will still book,or some will.
We booked for next year,but I doubt we will be going back for a couple of years,cost and other things in life come first nowadays.So next years trip will be a special one off affair. *she says now*

 

[Twilight Terror]

Strange, because I am struggling to find four consecutive nights during our January Florida trip at any DVC resort in a one or two bedroom. Everywhere is full. I have booked two nights at the BWV and have waitlisted for the nights either side.

But surely those of us in the DVC aren't going to be AS effected as someone paying for a full package or DIY holiday? Yes, we have annual dues/monthly repayments, but it's spread out and some already have it paid off completely. What I'm trying to get at is that those in DVC have a slight advantage in this economic crisis because a holiday isn't going to cost 'extra money' that you have to start looking for, if you get what I mean? So they will still come and take up your room!

 

[wideeyes]

I agree, I don't think DVC stays can be used to judge how busy or well Disney is as they are not paying cash for hotel rooms. If Disney are reducing the price and have special offers on hotel rooms then cash bookings must be down.

 

[ford family]

But surely those of us in the DVC aren't going to be AS effected as someone paying for a full package or DIY holiday? Yes, we have annual dues/monthly repayments, but it's spread out and some already have it paid off completely. What I'm trying to get at is that those in DVC have a slight advantage in this economic crisis because a holiday isn't going to cost 'extra money' that you have to start looking for, if you get what I mean? So they will still come and take up your room!

I agree with that but I am still surprised that all of the WDW resorts are fully booked in January.

ford family

 

[kevin harrison]

I got an offer from Disney yesterday - 42% off a stay at Saratoga or Key West Resorts.

I could get a studio at one of these for the four of us for just under £1800 - this includes three 14 day passes, 14 night stay and free DDP, 1 Table, 1 Snack and 1 Counter. Not bad, but I think offers will come along even better soon..

Reagrding DVC - Many people have paid already for many years to come, how much of this money has Disney earmarked or sent already. That's money that isn't coming back.

I may be wrong, but could Disney not just increase the points needed per night for each stay?

 

[kevin harrison]

I agree with that but I am still surprised that all of the WDW resorts are fully booked in January.

ford family

Holidays may have been booked before the xxxx hit the fan later this year.

 

[wideeyes]

I may be wrong, but could Disney not just increase the points needed per night for each stay?

No, they can't do that.

 

[Claire L]

I may be wrong, but could Disney not just increase the points needed per night for each stay?

No they cannot increase the points needed as when the DVC was set up it was for x amount of points, there is something legal surrounding this but I cannot explain it easily as it is all to do with real estate purchase etc. There could always be a reallocation of points ie one season pays less but another more, or there could be a split in types of view ie less desirable pays less than the more desirable.

Claire

 

[Twilight Terror]

I may be wrong, but could Disney not just increase the points needed per night for each stay?

Not with DVC. The points charts are set in stone from the moment the resort opens until it is demolished. Disney cannot change the points for any resort. As each new resort is built, the points increase, but those resorts that already have points charts will never change.

I agree with that but I am still surprised that all of the WDW resorts are fully booked in January.

January is usually a quiet time - just look at the drop in airfare prices from two-weeks before. But like kevin said, very possible these were all booked before the credit crunch. Had we not taken DVC, we would have booked the minute we got back for our last trip (or even before we went!)

Besides, have you seen the offer on the news section of the boards? Buy 4 nights, get 3 free... that might be the reasoning behind some of the lack of availability!