January Occupancy WAAAY Down

[Peter Pirate 2]

While it may be common for many hotels to acvhieve less than 50% occupancy during these times, it is NOT common for WDW hotels to operate below 50% at anytime.

 

[mitros]

While it may be common for many hotels to acvhieve less than 50% occupancy during these times, it is NOT common for WDW hotels to operate below 50% at anytime.

Right! And I really doubt that it ever happens. They will give away nights, food, whatever, to keep the place mobbed....

 

[CanadianGuy]

Right! And I really doubt that it ever happens. They will give away nights, food, whatever, to keep the place mobbed....

Mitros:

I can assure you that several 'premiere' level resorts were below 60% occupancy this past week.

And in January.. it's not looking pretty for some resorts.

Knox

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Mitros:

I can assure you that several 'premiere' level resorts were below 60% occupancy this past week.

And in January.. it's not looking pretty for some resorts.

Knox

I agree and Disney will not stand for this. They are used to 80+% occupancy rates.

 

[mitros]

I agree and Disney will not stand for this. They are used to 80+% occupancy rates.

Exactly, and as I said, they will do whatever it takes to fill those rooms. Just wait and see.......

 

[acm563]

...and I might add that when I decided December 23rd to book a last minute visit to the world for Jan1-5th there were NO, I repeat NO vacancies available at ANY of the Value resorts for regular rooms, only suites were left.

 

[doconeill]

Not at the DVC resorts....

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.

Don't forget...DVC would be affected very differently than CRO (regular) resorts. DVC members have essentially pre-paid their lodging, and have to "use it or lose it" (within certain parameters). DVC will likely maintain a higher occupancy rate than non-DVC.

DVC will likely be hit with being unable to rent rooms via CRO, however, due to member trades or breakage. Those rooms are unavailable to members once they hit CRO inventory (again, within certain parameters), so you will likely see them available online when a DVC member says they can't get a room.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

...and I might add that when I decided December 23rd to book a last minute visit to the world for Jan1-5th there were NO, I repeat NO vacancies available at ANY of the Value resorts for regular rooms, only suites were left.

Means nothing as Jan 1st - 3rd are still the PEAK of the Holiday. Try Jan. 10th.

 

[Tink rules]

But you could have gotten the 4/3 deal for the 4th... I had a friend who INSISTED on going this week - even though he could have waited a week... and is now complaining about the crowds I told him about... even if it's not as much as it may be for holiday time.

They reported last week that they only got a 4% fill in for reservations for the 4/3 deal... and that's through June. I wish I could go next month - it won't necessarily be warm, but if I could enjoy the place without lines...

 

[BigGoofy44]

my wife and I arrived the day of the marathon and stayed through Friday. Sunday was pretty packed, but we didn't do anything. However, Monday through Thursday were very empty. Many of the lines were so fast we chose not to use the FastPass or got a FastPass and just rode the ride right then instead. The only drawback is this is when many of the rides are closed. We didn't get to go on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain. Yeah, I know Splash Mountain in 55 degree weather, but still.

Enjoy the parks.

 

[ntsammy5]

We went in Jan 2001 and there was no one there the whole week. .

We went mid December 2001 and I've never seen the parks so empty - go figure!

 

[cmash95]

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.

donlt know what parks you were at because my family was there that same weekend and the studios in the morning was ok but by noon it was wall to wall people. we were also at MK in the beginning of december and the crowds were alot bigger than normal. the american ecomony may be in the dumps but the park was full of middle eastern vacationers and asians and i was also surprised at the number of euopean visistors since the dollar is fairly strong against the pound. while I don't think it's totally recession proof, WDW can sustain itself with foreign visitors unlike disneyland that is very dependent on california attendance.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

donlt know what parks you were at because my family was there that same weekend and the studios in the morning was ok but by noon it was wall to wall people. we were also at MK in the beginning of december and the crowds were alot bigger than normal. the american ecomony may be in the dumps but the park was full of middle eastern vacationers and asians and i was also surprised at the number of euopean visistors since the dollar is fairly strong against the pound. while I don't think it's totally recession proof, WDW can sustain itself with foreign visitors unlike disneyland that is very dependent on california attendance.

Well I don't know what parks you were at either but it sounds like I made better choices than you did, LOL. And the point remains that even though you experienced large crowds during the same period, I did not, meaning there was some lull which has never been the case in years gone by.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

2009 is going to be a down year anway, so, January's bookingss being low does not shock me one bit. Actually, my understanding is, tourism as a whole will suffer greatly in 2009....

With that said, I wouldn't mind lower attendance in Disney in October LOL...

 

[michelleiada]

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

I didn't think that the 4/3 deal was for the dining plan too??? Is this true? Ok, so I am staying at the Beach Club Villas in May, rented points from an owner. We are doing the dining plan and will purchase park hopper tickets. Will we be able to get the 4/3 deal on the ddp and tickets? That would be AWESOME!

 

[Tink rules]

There are separate specials that were offered at different times. Expect more if things don't improve.

 

[sweetiee]

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

We went last year the end of January and it was pretty packed considering it was down time (the weekend AFTER MLK day).
WE are going again this Jan for an entire week-taking advantage of the buy 4 get 3 nights free. I wanted to ask about the 4/3 DDP. I didn't see that offered. I've told DH to opt out of DDP since we have a hard time using them all up. Plus DD4 is so picky about food on trips she barely eats. Are they offering the DDP for the same deal? It might be worth it then.I was just going to see how cheap we could make this trip and go DDPless!
Thanks!

 

[sweetiee]

Are there any special things going on the last week of January? Meaning are there any camps where there will be a ton of people? I sure hope not.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I didn't think that the 4/3 deal was for the dining plan too???

The 4/3 is a WDTC package and the specific 4/3 portion covers room and tickets -- not dining. Dining and other components are part of a MYW dining package. From your quote the pp had called it a "combo". What they meant was package.
There has always been travel discount specials. And there always will be, along with new marketing strategies and offerings.

 

[Guzzi]

But you could have gotten the 4/3 deal for the 4th... I had a friend who INSISTED on going this week - even though he could have waited a week... and is now complaining about the crowds I told him about... even if it's not as much as it may be for holiday time.

They reported last week that they only got a 4% fill in for reservations for the 4/3 deal... and that's through June. I wish I could go next month - it won't necessarily be warm, but if I could enjoy the place without lines...

I know nothing about the hospitality industry so bear with me, what dose 4% fill in mean?

thanks