is this a sign of the times?

[My2Angels]

Well, we are staying off-site because of Disney resort prices. They may fill the parks, but what about the resorts? I just couldn't afford it again, after we just went last year. Our only choice for a family of 5 is a moderate/deluxe on Disney property, and their prices are just too high. I called and worked it from every angle with several different CM's to try and make it work. We had 4/3 deal to choose from and the Kids stay-play-eat free pin code! We are staying off-site with a $57/night deal from Hotwire for our room and kids eat free at our resort. So, we are going to add to the park numbers, but Disney will not make nearly as much money from us this year.

 

[praline3001]

With the sign of the times, Disney is not even sure what crowds will be like in the fall.

There are several factors and honestly Sept is way too early to gauge anything.

People are booking their trips closer to the time of the trip... Disney and other orlando area tourist areas have seen this trend all year.

Its driving Disney Batty as all previous plans have to be thrown out the window LOL

I know you mentioned still being able to get the free dining rooms in Sept.

I am going mid July and even after the 4/3 deal was out for a few MONTHS, I can still book any resort in any room catagory I would like ~ including RPC in GF which is never available 90 days beforehand.

What does this tell me?! That Disney will be dead in the peak summer season I am there?
I WISH!!!
I know its going to be crowded... I am HOPING it will be less crowded than previous July's but that is hoping

I am looking at it the complete opposite as you guys ~ the FD deal is saving people more money than the 4/3 deal with the exceptions of a few of the Deluxe resort rooms.
I figure my time will be less crowded in July as everyone is going to save more with FD in the fall ~

The crowd level really is anyone's guess. If you wait until 2 weeks before you leave and check the resorts at that time... you might be able to get a somewhat idea of how crowded the resorts will be.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

With the sign of the times, Disney is not even sure what crowds will be like in the fall.

There are several factors and honestly Sept is way too early to gauge anything.

People are booking their trips closer to the time of the trip... Disney and other orlando area tourist areas have seen this trend all year.

Its driving Disney Batty as all previous plans have to be thrown out the window LOL

I know you mentioned still being able to get the free dining rooms in Sept.

I am going mid July and even after the 4/3 deal was out for a few MONTHS, I can still book any resort in any room catagory I would like ~ including RPC in GF which is never available 90 days beforehand.

What does this tell me?! That Disney will be dead in the peak summer season I am there?
I WISH!!!
I know its going to be crowded... I am HOPING it will be less crowded than previous July's but that is hoping

I am looking at it the complete opposite as you guys ~ the FD deal is saving people more money than the 4/3 deal with the exceptions of a few of the Deluxe resort rooms.
I figure my time will be less crowded in July as everyone is going to save more with FD in the fall ~

The crowd level really is anyone's guess. If you wait until 2 weeks before you leave and check the resorts at that time... you might be able to get a somewhat idea of how crowded the resorts will be.

I agree, we booked our February trip 6 days before we left! DH said, hey let's just go and since he was in between computer contracts we went! When I booked the GF, there wasn't any problem with getting a room. My guess would be that yes, Disney is drumming up a lot of business with the 4/3 deal but they must still be hurting since they extended the 4/3 and then came out with free dining. Now, we're going back the end of October and I'm wondering if any deal will be out....

 

[praline3001]

Don't get me wrong ~ I am hoping as much at the next person my week will be dead and I will be the only one in the park

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Don't get me wrong ~ I am hoping as much at the next person my week will be dead and I will be the only one in the park

I know!! I'm torn because if they do NOT offer a deal, more than likely the end of October will be slow. Then we don't save any $. The flip side is if they DO offer a deal then people will come from all over, that'd be just my luck! It'll probably be some crazy Halloween special where you can go for free the entire week before Halloween! Wouldn't that just frost your cookies?!?!?!?

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I have "heard" that Disney has laid off employees, not sure how true this is but it did come from someone who works for Disney.

 

[praline3001]

I have "heard" that Disney has laid off employees, not sure how true this is but it did come from someone who works for Disney.

They did but not front line cm's. Many of the behind the scenes cm's got the axe.

 

[WDWKOOK]

From last weeks' Mouseplanet Park Update:

Layoffs continue on both coasts, 1150 laid off, 1900 total jobs cut:

Following the layoffs that took place the week of March 23, job cuts at domestic Disney resorts did not stop, though they did slow back down. The layoffs had been taking place slowly since mid-February, ever since Disney's announcement that they would be reorganizing all of the backstage operations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World to streamline the structure and the decision-making process.

The layoffs accelerated dramatically at the end of March ahead of the end of the company's second fiscal quarter on March 28. More employees were laid off last Monday, though, and there were reports of continued cuts through last week. Disney said that the cuts were to executive, management, professional and administrative roles, primarily in backstage areas. It appears that no union positions were involved.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty provided the following statement to MousePlanet: "As of today, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has eliminated approximately 1,900 positions at its domestic sites. These decisions were not made lightly, but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today's economic realities. We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand."

Disney was able to lay off more than 500 employees in Florida without triggering the 60-day notification to the state of Florida and to the targeted employees because many of the divisions of the company are actually operating as separate entities, so the cuts from each individual company did not top the 500-layoff mark.

The 1,900 positions eliminated include 1,150 layoffs, the elimination of 700 vacant items and 50 executive buyouts. Of those, 1,400 positions were located in Florida: 900 layoffs/buyouts and 500 eliminated vacancies. Disneyland saw 200 layoffs/buyouts and 100 vacancies eliminated. 100 layoffs/buyouts and 100 eliminated vacancies were in Burbank executive offices and Imagineering offices in Glendale. The Florida layoffs included not just Walt Disney World but Disney Vacation Club, Disney Cruise Line and the Central Reservations Office phone center in Tampa. The cuts represent approximately 2.25 percent of the Disney workforce in the state.

Those laid off received 60 days of paid administrative leave, including medical benefits, plus a severance package based on their length of service. Job placement services were also included.

 

[momplus3plus4]

Yes, I agree, and it does make me hopeful that if we do not get to go in September for free dining, we will get to go in December for free dining.

"Merry Christmas to us, Merry Christmas to us...."