January Occupancy WAAAY Down

[Tigger22]

We make our annual trip in March (last year early April), and it's always busy (we do avoid Easter week(s), though). I am very curious to see what this trip brings in terms of crowds. Since we know what we're in for this time of year, anything lighter would just make it nicer. We choose to go this time of the year because it helps get us (well, lets face it - ME ) thru the snowy & icy CT winter, and it is what it is. We could all debate this back and forth, but only time will tell if people will still travel in this economy.

Disney is obviously concerned enough to put these great deals out there that include spring break/peak time. The best and ONLY discount we ever got this time of year is the AAA (10%?) off the room - and I think that was only one year. We would still be going anyway, but we are very fortunate because it is only DH & I, with no kids, and I have always been careful with our finances (no CC debt, etc). So what we are able to do is not really any indication of what many, many families are going thru right now. But soon enough we'll find out.

Still, thanks to the bad economy, I can't even begin to describe the JOY I felt when I saw the 4/3 deal, with the $200 gift card for March! I started my happy dance before we even booked the trip!

 

[marsrunner]

I think it has to say something about how low the crowds can be that ten days out from our visit (1/20-1/27) they haven't sold out of the 4/3 rooms, nevermind the rack rate rooms. All but a handfull of onsite hotels have rooms available in most categories. I think probably the only thing this deal has done for Disney is mitigated the decline in bookings from the same period last year. I imagine the occupancy rate is lower than last year, but not as low as it would have been without the deal. I also thing there's alot of cannibalism going on...people upgrading to a higher category resort or staying onsite rather than offsite. I really don't think it will be busy except on holiday/holiday weekends.
Just my opinion of course.
Now that I've opened my big mouth, just watch...it'll be packed!

 

[yitbos96bb]

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.

Wasn't that Mousefest weekend?

 

[yitbos96bb]

Sorry, I'm still saying you will see NO change in the crowds at Disney, other than up, either this year or next. We will see more and more people going. The DVC is selling SO many ownerships, that any former slow months are being filled up by new DVC members. {January, September and December} December has already proven that, and it looks like January will do the same. We plan on a few day trips, and I will assure you that we WILL see record crowds. I will post as we visit.

You are mistaken... however, Disney is doing what it can to make the damage as small as possible.

The aggressive deals they are offering (7 for 4) is helping. According to the podcast, they were down 15% on their bookings for 2009, after the promotion was put into place, they are only down 6%.

So the economy has had an impact, but aggressive pricing discounts has helped to dull the brunt.

 

[Sorahana]

It was quiet. We're actually heading back now. Some waits got to 45 mins, but not many rides. I know TSMM got to 90 mins, but I was able to fastpass it at 11:30 in the morning for later on!

It got crowded the the marathon folks came in, so many of them at Pop =).

 

[LVSWL]

Everyone keep us filled in... Thanks!

 

[PatriciaH]

They have already posted info about the Food and Wine fest and it is WAY early for that... they're trying to get the regulars to book early...

Good. Maybe they will post the event offerings more than 3 weeks out this year

 

[mitros]

You are mistaken... however, Disney is doing what it can to make the damage as small as possible.

The aggressive deals they are offering (7 for 4) is helping. According to the podcast, they were down 15% on their bookings for 2009, after the promotion was put into place, they are only down 6%.

So the economy has had an impact, but aggressive pricing discounts has helped to dull the brunt.

The main point of all of my posts on this subject was mainly to state that it is not going to be a slow time at Disney anytime soon. Whether the crowds are due to the normal amount of business being done there or because of some sort of promotion. There are not going to be any slow periods at Disney because there is always some sort of promotion going on, or some group {little league,as an example, along with these marathons they have} being there.
I had originally complained about the belly-to-back crowds that always seem to be around, and a person can no longer enjoy a quiet, slow paced vacation at WDW, which we were actually able to do for many years back in the 90's.
Just look at the faces of the guests roaming around like zombies, their faces frozen in a "I can't believe the amount of people here" look. You don't see alot of people happy at the parks, and how can they be when they have to fight the hoards trying to get a dining reservation or getting on a ride or into a show. Sorry, that is NOT a vacation.

 

[Big Jase]

We are going for a week Feb 21-28 and that is Mardi Gras week in New Orleans. Does anyone know if we will be inundated with our fellow N.O. Residents that week or will we be able to enjoy ourselves without being belly to back?

 

[jfinke]

I think that there will be a lot of LA people there.

We were there last year for the weekend before Mardi Gras. I have never seen so many Saints and LSU jerseys in my life.

 

[halld6479]

Originally Posted by Tink rules View Post
They have already posted info about the Food and Wine fest and it is WAY early for that... they're trying to get the regulars to book early...

where is the info posted? the only thing I found so far was the dates for 09 I would love to know more.

 

[Tink rules]

They just announced the dates... which is the earliest that they've announced them.

& they said that holiday crowds were also down... not sure by what percentage, but they were offering sales on merchandise Xmas week and that is almost never done...

They're just doing what they can to bring money in which is expected in this economy...

 

[musclemouse]

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.

We were there from the 7-14 and it was moderate as far as crowds. I'm assuming moderate because I have only heard rumors comparing to summer crowds. MOST rides had a waiting time of 30 minutes or less. Then the more popular rides (damn Toy Story, Soarin, etc) were 80 mins or longer. The restaurants were full, always a waiting line, waiting for the buses at least 20 minutes each time, sometimes longer. I wouldn't suggest going to Downtown Disney in the evening on the weekends. It's horrid, just packed. Other than that it wasn't bad. The only irritating thing was Pop Warner . I no longer like the color yellow. lol (jk)

Regardless we will still plan our vacation for Dec 2010.

 

[Tink rules]

The reasons for your extra crowds was it was Pop Warner week...

 

[mitros]

Originally Posted by Tink rules View Post
They have already posted info about the Food and Wine fest and it is WAY early for that... they're trying to get the regulars to book early...

where is the info posted? the only thing I found so far was the dates for 09 I would love to know more.

..........we used to be regulars, USED to be!
We have been buying Florida residents seasonal passes for the last 10 years. This year we are seriously considering not bothering. The crowds are just making it less fun and more work. Who the heck needs that.................

 

[RFrank9504]

we went last January-and it was no more than 10 minsutes onto anything-and the longest was 20 mins waiting for hte next muppets 3d show-its slow in Jan., except MLK weekend. we're going in 2 weeks and we're hoping its just like last year!

 

[mitros]

we went last January-and it was no more than 10 minsutes onto anything-and the longest was 20 mins waiting for hte next muppets 3d show-its slow in Jan., except MLK weekend. we're going in 2 weeks and we're hoping its just like last year!

I wouldn't count on it. We are also going to see for ourselves week of the 25th.

 

[LVSWL]

we went last January-and it was no more than 10 minsutes onto anything-and the longest was 20 mins waiting for hte next muppets 3d show-its slow in Jan., except MLK weekend. we're going in 2 weeks and we're hoping its just like last year!

I'm hoping you are right!

 

[Tissa]

Just got back on Wednesday and it didn't seem dead to me. I know I couldn't add a day at CSR because it was booked solid. Wait times were were on average 20-30 minutes with of course TSM and Soarin at 60. Of course this was over marathon weekend too.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I always admit when I am wrong so here goes...My family (except me-had to work) went to MGM today and it was PACKED. Now I know this is a holiday weekend and all but my wife said that no one appeared too worried about the economy today.

So my prediction that Jan would be dead, dead, dead was wrong, wrong, wrong. Maybe it'll come later, maybe not until things get worse or maybe, hopefully the economy will hang on to the point that not everybody is affected.

Anyway, for today at least MGM was crowded.