Is Disney World Really Closing Resorts?

[TroyE]

I sure hope that POFQ is open in Feb as that is when our trip is planned. haha

 

[5280dad]

This is completely incorrect. POFQ closed shortly after 9/11-the ENTIRE resort closed. POR closed buildings at a time but kept the resort open. I'm sure if you google the topic you can find info on it. But trust me, it was closed for a pretty long time.

You are almost correct about french quarter.

We initially started closing buildings one at a time to consolidate guests into the buildings closer to the check in area, and then ultimately the entire resort was closed. I was a guest show manager at french quarter when 9/11 occured. Believe me, it was not a pleasant time. there were a lot of displaced cast members who had worked at that resort for YEARS, and they found themselves deployed all over the place just to get their 8 hrs a day.

Riverside did indeed absorb most of the displaced reservations.

My wife worked at the Disney Institute and was 're-assigned' (like myself) to another resort when the Institute closed. This was totally a result of the economy at that time.

 

[tndvc]

I am at Disney now, and everything is packed. The most people I have seen the week before Christmas. Downtown Disney was completely extremely busy this evening, parking lots full, etc. I guess there may be a slow down, but you sure wouldn't know it this week, although Christmas ornaments are 50% off.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I am at Disney now, and everything is packed. The most people I have seen the week before Christmas. Downtown Disney was completely extremely busy this evening, parking lots full, etc. I guess there may be a slow down, but you sure wouldn't know it this week, although Christmas ornaments are 50% off.

No offense but I just got back today(Mon the 22) and compared to years gone by this past weekend (pre christmas) crowds were very, very weak. Even though this week and next aren't the issue, lol, the proof will be in the pudding after the new year when some resorts will be booked at 20%, if they're lucky.

Look for those closures by Feb.

 

[luvdisney24]

No offense but I just got back today(Mon the 22) and compared to years gone by this past weekend (pre christmas) crowds were very, very weak. Even though this week and next aren't the issue, lol, the proof will be in the pudding after the new year when some resorts will be booked at 20%, if they're lucky.

Look for those closures by Feb.

I have to agree with you tndvc. I got back on the 18th and the parks were VERY CROWDED while I was there 12/14 to 12/18.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I have to agree with you tndvc. I got back on the 18th and the parks were VERY CROWDED while I was there 12/14 to 12/18.

What does "cowded" mean? That lines were long? Do you take into affect that there are fewer CM's and attractions aren't running at full capacity? i.e this weekend ToT was a WALK ON friday night with only two of the three stations operating. Explain that. RnR and Toy Story had long lines, but TGMR was a WALK ON ... The weekend before Christmas! This has NEVER been the case before.

The Osbourne Spectacle of Lights (only operating two hours per night) was NOT even crowded.

Of course DTD will be crowded, it always is. MK too. But check out the lines at restaurants (we could've walked in to Flying Fish, The Bluezoo and the Brew Pub on Saturday night) busy???

See what you want but the pixie dust will be ratcheting down big time January.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

No offense but I just got back today(Mon the 22) and compared to years gone by this past weekend (pre christmas) crowds were very, very weak. Even though this week and next aren't the issue, lol, the proof will be in the pudding after the new year when some resorts will be booked at 20%, if they're lucky.

Look for those closures by Feb.

That's interesting. There have been so many threads from people who have gone recently talking about how the crowds are much worse than in other years around this time. I guess it's just a matter of perspective.

 

[dalt01]

I am at Disney now, and everything is packed. The most people I have seen the week before Christmas. Downtown Disney was completely extremely busy this evening, parking lots full, etc. I guess there may be a slow down, but you sure wouldn't know it this week, although Christmas ornaments are 50% off.

No offense but I just got back today(Mon the 22) and compared to years gone by this past weekend (pre christmas) crowds were very, very weak. Even though this week and next aren't the issue, lol, the proof will be in the pudding after the new year when some resorts will be booked at 20%, if they're lucky.

Look for those closures by Feb.

I have to agree with you tndvc. I got back on the 18th and the parks were VERY CROWDED while I was there 12/14 to 12/18.

i have found over the years that one mans "packed" is another mans "empty". it happens in my own family, we will get back to our room and i will be thinking that everything was quite managable all day and one of our party will say "wow that was packed, i hope i never have to go through that again. without actually counting people there is no way to know whether it was packed or not at any given moment in time.

 

[luvdisney24]

What does "cowded" mean? That lines were long? Do you take into affect that there are fewer CM's and attractions aren't running at full capacity? i.e this weekend ToT was a WALK ON friday night with only two of the three stations operating. Explain that. RnR and Toy Story had long lines, but TGMR was a WALK ON ... The weekend before Christmas! This has NEVER been the case before.

The Osbourne Spectacle of Lights (only operating two hours per night) was NOT even crowded.

Of course DTD will be crowded, it always is. MK too. But check out the lines at restaurants (we could've walked in to Flying Fish, The Bluezoo and the Brew Pub on Saturday night) busy???

See what you want but the pixie dust will be ratcheting down big time January.

I'm not looking for an argument. I have been to Disney many times, both crowded and not crowded and I felt last week was very crowded. The Osbourne Lights was wall to wall people. MVMCP was beyond crowded. Animal Kingdom Park was tightly packed with long wait times. Epcot was even packed. Many rides had long wait times and all the parks. The only good day we had was Tuesday the 16th at the MK. The park was not so bad in the morning but by mid-day it was very crowded.

 

[luvdisney24]

i have found over the years that one mans "packed" is another mans "empty". it happens in my own family, we will get back to our room and i will be thinking that everything was quite managable all day and one of our party will say "wow that was packed, i hope i never have to go through that again. without actually counting people there is no way to know whether it was packed or not at any given moment in time.

My definition of packed is when it's so crowded that I hold on to my daughter's hand for dear life for fear of losing her in a sea of people.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Resorts Closing? > All Still Rumor.. Nothing confirmed at this point. If you have a reservation, don't worry. If you are affected, Disney will call you plenty in advance to make alternate plans.

Packed? > You can't go by the crowds you 'see'. Why?

Pirates.. has two loading stations. They can run the ride with just one loading station and cut the line in half. Clearly this will make the line longer ..

Frequent Shows for Hall of Presidents, Philharmagic, Beauty & the Beast or Little Mermaid (for example) can swallow hundreds of people at once. Place those shows farther apart.. and the crowds thicken considerably because they are NOT in those theatres.

The amount of people in the walkways can greatly be increased by simply not running certain attractions to full capacity and with full staffing. It is not indicative of resort occupancy .. not even close.

Keep in mind, not everyone stays on site.. for example, you can still book most Disney resorts for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and right thru New Years. This is simply unheard of ..

Some resorts which are typically 100% occupied this week.. are running at or BELOW 60% occupancy. Don't ask where I got those numbers cuz I won't tell you.. but it's true, I can assure you.

That sloppy, wet, whistling sound you are currently hearing .. is what's left of the economy .... hitting the fan.



Knox

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Resorts Closing? > All Still Rumor.. Nothing confirmed at this point. If you have a reservation, don't worry. If you are affected, Disney will call you plenty in advance to make alternate plans.

Packed? > You can't go by the crowds you 'see'. Why?

Pirates.. has two loading stations. They can run the ride with just one loading station and cut the line in half. Clearly this will make the line longer ..

Frequent Shows for Hall of Presidents, Philharmagic, Beauty & the Beast or Little Mermaid (for example) can swallow hundreds of people at once. Place those shows farther apart.. and the crowds thicken considerably because they are NOT in those theatres.

The amount of people in the walkways can greatly be increased by simply not running certain attractions to full capacity and with full staffing. It is not indicative of resort occupancy .. not even close.

Keep in mind, not everyone stays on site.. for example, you can still book most Disney resorts for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and right thru New Years. This is simply unheard of ..

Some resorts which are typically 100% occupied this week.. are running at or BELOW 60% occupancy. Don't ask where I got those numbers cuz I won't tell you.. but it's true, I can assure you.

That sloppy, wet, whistling sound you are currently hearing .. is what's left of the economy .... hitting the fan.



Knox

Thank you for being honest and talking about reality at WDW.

Anyone who thinks the current economy is not hitting Disney....HARD....is just fooling themselves.

Times will be tough and it's going to show...but it will eventually get better.

Thank you for speaking the truth!

 

[CanadianGuy]

It's hitting hard.

Some of the features 'cut back' from resorts and parks are the very expensive 'Actors Equity' union performers. From the singer/performer at the Poly to some of our favorite in park performers... if they are part of that union, they are considered "pricey staff" and therefore first on the chopping block.

It's sad... but ultimately Disney has a responsbility to ensure that it manages expenses during this economic downturn.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

This is my point as well. I'm not looking to argue either, but saying something is "crowded" needs some sort of perspective. As I and Canadian Guy have said Disney will make the place seem as crowded as possible with a 50% load.

We're Seasonal AP'ers and have been for 10-15 years. We ALWAYS go the last weekend before our Christmas blackout to get our holiday fix and I'm telling you the crowd size that we saw was WAY, WAY down from previous years despite it being VERY, VERY crowded at certain venues and at certain times.

Believe it or not but I guarantee you that January will begin one big slow spell at WDW and WDW's response won't be pretty.

 

[lenshanem]

OK, this is the first I have heard of this rumor. I need to book two additional nights to our DVC trip in late May. I was thinking about POFQ. Should I book CB instead??? Opinions? Thanks!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

OK, this is the first I have heard of this rumor. I need to book two additional nights to our DVC trip in late May. I was thinking about POFQ. Should I book CB instead??? Opinions? Thanks!

There is absolutely no reason to think the POFQ will be closed down in May. This is all just rumour and speculation. Go ahead and book there. Even if something happened, it's not like they'll just cancel your ressie. They will reassign you to another resort. Nothing to worry about.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

And you know this because? Or, as you mentioned earlier, this is nothing more than just a rumor and pure speculation on your part?

WOWOWOW, what a snotty reply.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

OK, this is the first I have heard of this rumor. I need to book two additional nights to our DVC trip in late May. I was thinking about POFQ. Should I book CB instead??? Opinions? Thanks!

There have been multiple threads about this. There is speculation of both Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach closing but essentially as of now it's still a rumor. If I were you, I'd just book it anyway. If they do close down POFQ or POR they'll probably just transfer you to CB anyway.

 

[CanadianGuy]

As I stated.. IF for ANY reason you booked resort is not available, Disney will call you and offer you options.

 

[doconeill]

As I stated.. IF for ANY reason you booked resort is not available, Disney will call you and offer you options.

Maybe I'll hear soon, "We're sorry, POR will be closed during your stay. All we have available is Poly Concierge..."

Of course, I'm only booked there for two nights in April...