I heard some resort closing info today...

[NMW]

I disagree.

Making an announcement would overload their call centers. Everyone would call in a panic at once to find out about their reservation and that would be a nightmare.

As I remember after 9/11, the first official word we had here at the DIS was from guests who started to get telephone calls that their lodging was being changed as they shut down POFQ.


I would hate to see it but I think they might consider shuttering a Delux. We have noticed (on the castmember site) that the values and moderates do not always have the availability that DVC and the Deluxe's have. Perhaps people are trying to save a Disney holiday by stepping down the hotel expense by dropping into a Moderate vs a Delux.....just my opinion, however.

I don't think they would close a deluxe resort, ever. They simply make too much money per night. Pop and Allstars are dirt cheap (for a nights stay). You are talking about rooms that go for $400++ a night vs. rooms that cost what, $100 a night? Disney booking 1 MK view room at the POLY at close to $600 a night...they'd have to book 6 rooms at POP to make that much.

Plus, bad economy or not the people that can still afford to stay in deluxes, will still book them. We booked the POLY 6 mos out for May 09 and could not get MK view, it was all booked. So "someone" is booking these rooms.

 

[CanadianGuy]

We booked the POLY 6 mos out for May 09 and could not get MK view, it was all booked. So "someone" is booking these rooms.

Or... some buildings and their full complement of rooms have already been removed from inventory and therefore are not available for booking. This has been done before and could be an easy explanation for your experience.

Those MK view rooms are at a premium any time of year, just like Savannah view rooms at AKL, or whatever.

Reducing the available inventory and shuttering individual buildings is definitely happening *right now* at Disney. It's one way to keep a resort that is running at less than optimal booking status... profitable.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Or... some buildings and their full complement of rooms have already been removed from inventory and therefore are not available for booking. This has been done before and could be an easy explanation for your experience.

Those MK view rooms are at a premium any time of year, just like Savannah view rooms at AKL, or whatever.

Reducing the available inventory and shuttering individual buildings is definitely happening *right now* at Disney. It's one way to keep a resort that is running at less than optimal booking status... profitable.

You are RIGHT!

I remember one side of AKL was closed for the longest time. I guess that's why they could give away part of the hotel to DVC. If the cash guests had kept it full, I doubt they would have done that.

We stayed at the Grand Cali in DL in September on the Briza Courtyard (love it by the way). Anyway, for most of our stay the wing across from our room was dark - no one home.

 

[lucytootsie]

Okay I will not panic here. I am however staying at POP 2/28-3/7. I would prefer a mod I really did not like the looks of the all stars. This is our 1st trip so I need a little help. If I am unable to grab a mod which allstar would you guys suggest. This slow time/bad economy is starting to make this a difficult trip between trying to plan on spectro and fantasmic only showing a couple of times. HELP!!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Deluxe hotels will be shuttered when demand for them decreases below profitability levels.

Talking to a friend the other day and was told that the Universal Hotels were operating with as low as 15% occupancy this fall!!! This is stunning and while WDW probably hasn't hit those lows yet, just wait until Jan.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[TSMAMI]

this is sad news.

 

[mickeystoontown]

A friend of mine, who's sister works @ Disney, told me they might be closing a mod and a value resort until attendance picks up. Yikes!

Disclaimer!(Take it for what it's worth, but she was also the one who told me about the 4/3 deal and P&PP cancellations before the DIS.)

Are you able to provide any update from your friend's sister?

 

[cmash95]

may is a huge time of year for asian travels. surprisingly it's one of the hardest months to book. as far as closers go, disney wont shutter an entire deluxe hotel but they will do refurb. there is actually more demand for those rooms than the moderates or value. the cbr just got refurbed so I doubt they would shutter that one. they could close half of Port orleans, maybe even riverside to "refurb" the resort like they did with cbr in 2002. if they shuttered a value i would figure it would be pop century because they house all the bands and cheerleaders and such at all stars. and the cheerleading competitions are what keep the studios full in feb.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

I am still not convinced Disney will be shutting down an entire resort... Like someone said, maybe a block here and there, and then refurb the rooms while they are not available... But, an entire resort?? I am not so sure things are that drastic yet...

 

[lisadr]

Deluxe hotels will be shuttered when demand for them decreases below profitability levels.

Talking to a friend the other day and was told that the Universal Hotels were operating with as low as 15% occupancy this fall!!! This is stunning and while WDW probably hasn't hit those lows yet, just wait until Jan.

Are you talking about this past fall or the upcoming 2009? If you're talking about 2008-I think Disney crushed them with Free Dining. The fact that they extended it into Oct. & Nov. probably hurt the other resorts/hotels quite a bit.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I am talking 2008 and yes free dining has some impact but still 15%? Also, the fact that WDW has ramped up the free dining indicates they were having occupancy concerns even further back than this recent discussion.

 

[aurora23]

I really hope these rumors are not true. My fiancee and I are booked at POP in September for our Honeymoon. It was not our first choice but I just graduated from my Masters program and my fiancee lost his job so it was allwe could afford right now. I can't imagine staying in another value resort. Please let this not be true.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

I am talking 2008 and yes free dining has some impact but still 15%? Also, the fact that WDW has ramped up the free dining indicates they were having occupancy concerns even further back than this recent discussion.

What are the occupancy percentages of Universal Resort area hotels usually??

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

What are the occupancy percentages of Universal Resort area hotels usually??

This I do not know, hopefully someone out there does, but they are Loews Hotels so I'm sure 15% isn't commonplace or acceptable although I'm also sure their general occupancy rates are well below the numbers WDW hotels have grown accustomed to.

But I DO know they really put the hammer down as far as layoffs of the poeple who can least afford it, valets, bell service, housekeeping, etc. SO it doesn't sound like thy're very optimistic either.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

This I do not know, hopefully someone out there does, but they are Loews Hotels so I'm sure 15% isn't commonplace or acceptable although I'm also sure their general occupancy rates are well below the numbers WDW hotels have grown accustomed to.

But I DO know they really put the hammer down as far as layoffs of the poeple who can least afford it, valets, bell service, housekeeping, etc. SO it doesn't sound like thy're very optimistic either.

15% is very low and unacceptable... I am sure their hotels are on the same level occupancy wise as Disney's...

 

[englishrose47]

All of this is just RUMOR remember that !! I remember all the Rumors about the new dining plan for 2008 ,most of the rumors were wrong!! I'm going in May and Sept and while Pop is my value of choice, my September trip will prolly be at AllStars as that'swhere the friends we are going with want to stay !!So if Pop closes and I am moved to AllStars I will have a preview !!and if AlStars is closed I'll get my POP!! Wherever I am as long as its Disney I'llbe Happy!!

 

[RescueRanger]

I really hope these rumors are not true. My fiancee and I are booked at POP in September for our Honeymoon. It was not our first choice but I just graduated from my Masters program and my fiancee lost his job so it was allwe could afford right now. I can't imagine staying in another value resort. Please let this not be true.

First of all, congratulations on your upcoming marriage. As far as POP closing, don't worry. If they do close it, they will usually offer you some great upgrades. We were booked when POFQ was closed. We were only paying $89 a night discounted rate. They first offered to move us to another moderate. I said that I didn't want another moderate. They ended up offering us POLY for only $35 a night more. So, this could end up working in your favor. We have ressies for POR in March. I hope if they close a resort its POR, I wouldn't mind a nice upgrade.

 

[EEyorelover22]

We were also booked at POFQ when they closed and they offered us CBR and I said no. We were paying $74 per night and we were moved to AKL Sav. View for $94 per night. We have never gone back from AKL/V. I'm glad I didn't take the Grand

 

[disneybridetobe]

Well, I have April booked, and I just can't bring myself to cancel our December trip. Both are for Pop. If they close it, I won't be heartbroken, but I'll do whatever I can to not get stuck at an All Stars... we went to AS SP last year, and well, never doing that again!