January Occupancy WAAAY Down

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I just heard a rumour that the projected occupancy for the month of January at WDW is only 35%. I'm not sure if I buy it but, since we're going in January, we wouldn't be too sad if it were true. So, I guess I'm wondering if anyone has some reliable information about this.

 

[miprender]

We went in Jan 2001 and there was no one there the whole week. We went from the 7-14 and we would just walk on the rides. We also went to Universal and no one there either. So if it is way down enjoy.

Have you heard any rumors about April? We are going during Easter.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I think it's probably much too early to know what they are projecting for April. However, Easter will be very busy - one of the busiest times of the year to visit WDW.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I believe it. I heard from a reliable source that the Universal hotels ran at as low as 15% during the fall...

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I know that it's not exactly good news for Disney but it would be very good news for the Smiths. I sure hope it is true. How selfish am I?

 

[Andrea]

We were there last january and it was not busy at all. The only really line we stood in was test track and that was like 10 mins the most. Almost everything we walked right on ...

 

[dexim54]

I know that it's not exactly good news for Disney but it would be very good news for the Smiths. I sure hope it is true. How selfish am I?

Not even actually good news for you. When slow the parks and resorts may be cutting back, causing a loss in service for you. Think of this, only twice a week fantasmic shows, cut backs already.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I just heard a rumour that the projected occupancy for the month of January at WDW is only 35%. I'm not sure if I buy it but, since we're going in January, we wouldn't be too sad if it were true. So, I guess I'm wondering if anyone has some reliable information about this.

I don't have hard numbers, but anecdotally from a friend who lives down there and works at HOB, I can believe it. He said October and November and most of December were dead...

Given Disney is offering buy 4 nights get 3 free on DDP, ROOM, and TIcket combos... I'd tend to believe this one.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Not even actually good news for you. When slow the parks and resorts may be cutting back, causing a loss in service for you. Think of this, only twice a week fantasmic shows, cut backs already.

I would take limited services any day of the week for lower crowds. Most of the cutbacks that people are complaining about really don't bother me at all.

 

[mitros]

I don't have hard numbers, but anecdotally from a friend who lives down there and works at HOB, I can believe it. He said October and November and most of December were dead...

Given Disney is offering buy 4 nights get 3 free on DDP, ROOM, and TIcket combos... I'd tend to believe this one.

Most of December was dead????
We were there from Dec. 6-12, and everything was mobbed! Restaurants rides, resorts. Never saw so many people. This has to be the busiest Christmas since 2001!
Fortunatley, we made dining reservations in April, because we could not get any reservations anywhere for meals once we got there.And the counter service eateries in Epcot {as an example} were beyond crowded. Took us forever to get a meal, and we did not even go during the lunch hours!
We go to WDW every December, {for the last 11 years} and have never seen the crowds that we saw this year.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Most of December was dead????
We were there from Dec. 6-12, and everything was mobbed! Restaurants rides, resorts. Never saw so many people. This has to be the busiest Christmas since 2001!
Fortunatley, we made dining reservations in April, because we could not get any reservations anywhere for meals once we got there.And the counter service eateries in Epcot {as an example} were beyond crowded. Took us forever to get a meal, and we did not even go during the lunch hours!
We go to WDW every December, {for the last 11 years} and have never seen the crowds that we saw this year.

Well.

We were there Dec. 12, 13 & 14th and it WAS NOT packed in the least. We walked on to Tot!!! The restaurants were not full and the rides were not even operating at full potential. In the 15 years or so that we've visited this exact same weekend, the crowds this year simply do not compare.

Plus I can tell you the crowds at "snowing nightly" in Celebration were way down and the weekend before Universal was nearly dead.

I have no doubts that they have had busy periods but on a whole I beleive it has been slow and January will see crowds so low you'll feel you're at a private party of your own, on occasion.

 

[mitros]

Well.

We were there Dec. 12, 13 & 14th and it WAS NOT packed in the least. We walked on to Tot!!! The restaurants were not full and the rides were not even operating at full potential. In the 15 years or so that we've visited this exact same weekend, the crowds this year simply do not compare.

Plus I can tell you the crowds at "snowing nightly" in Celebration were way down and the weekend before Universal was nearly dead.

I have no doubts that they have had busy periods but on a whole I beleive it has been slow and January will see crowds so low you'll feel you're at a private party of your own, on occasion.

Just reporting what we experienced that week. I am really curious to see what January will actually be like. Could not get a room reservation so far, and we are now on the wait list at DVC.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Just reporting what we experienced that week. I am really curious to see what January will actually be like. Could not get a room reservation so far, and we are now on the wait list at DVC.

You can't get a room? What do you mean? There are plenty of rooms available still for January in every category.

 

[mitros]

You can't get a room? What do you mean? There are plenty of rooms available still for January in every category.

Not at the DVC resorts....

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Not at the DVC resorts....

Oh, you're talking about DVC. My bad.

 

[mitros]

Oh, you're talking about DVC. My bad.

Sorry, I should have made that clear...

 

[momofbcs]

Well, I am leaving Tuesday and will get to the World on Thursday (stop off in Tampa first) and I had a terrible time getting ADRs several months ago and when I tried to change to the 4/3 discount, they said that there were certain numbers of rooms at certain hotels available with that. Im at POP, but could have switched to a Mod resort.

I am planning on bouncing back though.

 

[marsrunner]

Not at the DVC resorts....

Guess it depends when exactly you are going. I made this list last night and posted in a thread in the Theme Park board (though it has changed since, I noticed that the Polynesian now has a room type available on the 4/3 deal):

Animal Kingdom Lodge: Standard View
Beach Club Resort: Water or Pool View
BoardWalk Inn: Standard View, Water View, Standard Room - Club Level
Contemporary Resort: Nothing
Grand Floridian Resort And Spa: Nothing
Polynesian Resort: Nothing
Wilderness Lodge: Nothing
Yacht Club Resort: Garden View - Club Level, Lagoon View - Club Level
Caribbean Beach Resort: Standard View, Preferred Room, Water View
Coronado Springs Resort: Nothing
Port Orleans Resort Riverside: Standard View
Port Orleans Resort French Quarter: Standard View, Water View
All-Star Movies Resort: Preferred Room
All-Star Music Resort: Nothing
All-Star Sports Resort: Nothing
Pop Century Resort: Nothing
BoardWalk Villas: Standard View Studio, Standard View 1 Bedroom
Old Key West Resort: Studio, 1 Bedroom Villa, 2 Bedroom Villa
The Villas At Wilderness Lodge: Nothing
Beach Club Villas: Nothing
Saratoga Springs Resort And Spa: Studio, 1 Bedroom Villa, 2 Bedroom Villa
The Cabins At Ford Wilderness Resort: Wilderness Cabin

Now, without the deal, just rack rate, EVERYWHERE had availability except for the Grand Floridian, Coronado Springs, All-Star Music, The Villas At Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club Villas, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas which aren't available on the deal.

So with or without the 4/3 deal, BoardWalk Villas, Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort And Spa and Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas had availability.

 

[Tink rules]

Most of December was dead????
We were there from Dec. 6-12, and everything was mobbed! Restaurants rides, resorts. Never saw so many people. This has to be the busiest Christmas since 2001!
Fortunatley, we made dining reservations in April, because we could not get any reservations anywhere for meals once we got there.And the counter service eateries in Epcot {as an example} were beyond crowded. Took us forever to get a meal, and we did not even go during the lunch hours!
We go to WDW every December, {for the last 11 years} and have never seen the crowds that we saw this year.

That week was when they did Pop Warner football/cheerleading... they moved it out a week... that's where the extra people came from.

 

[knewton64]

Disney Marathon is being held Jan 10th & 11th so I expect crowds to be moderate (not light) during approx 01-09 thru 01-12-09 time frame.

"TouringPlans.com" has the crowd level during that whole week at about a 45 minute wait for rides......(listed under crowd calenar)...

But on a different note, it is common for the hospitality industry to have occupancy levels WELL below the 50% mark during late Dec / early January. So to sum up....IF your stay at WDW isn't during ANY UNUSUAL events happening at the parks /hotels (like cheerleading contests, MLK DAY or Marathon week), then sure .....expect a crowd average at a level 4 (30-45 min wait for rides).
If you go during an unusual event (see above), then yes...I agree with TP.com & state also that the crowd levels will be about a 5 or a 6 average (45 minute approx wait time for the more popular attractions).

Hope this helps. Also, the way I look at it, I don't like crowds either but...hey this is Disney. SO what helps me is to think a "Level 7 or 8" crowd and anything less than that is just .