June/July/August 2006 Code watch

[Jalva22]

I completely agree. I work in the petroleum industry and people are not only having to take from one area of their lives to pay for another ( higher cost of getting too and from places vs vacation money). They are begining to realized that the high home heating costs of last winter are not going to go away. 2 years ago the cost of # 2 heating oil was about 1.499 today it's well over 2.599. if it takes you 500 gallons to heat your home that's a 550.00 increase. personally I get a discount from my company and my bill still went up by more than 1000.00.
just my 2 cents

What you all are saying is completely correct. The rise in gas prices has affected my day-to-day budget tremendously as I'm sure it has with many people. But the fact remains that WDW is busier now than it has been since pre-9/11 days and bookings at least show the appearance of an extremely busy summer for the resort. Even our close-to-home vacation destination of Branson has bookings that are way up compared to the last several years. So, it seems to me that despite high gas prices (and other related costs), tourism in general is really booming this year. I'm sure it has affected many vacation budgets including my own, but WDW and other resorts aren't being hurt by it in the least..... YET. What do they care if some of us stay home when more people than they've seen in a long time are on their way to Orlando?

On the bright side, if the parks are doing well, more dollars will be allocated to them within the company. So, while the overall cost of a WDW vacation will certainly be higher, the overall experience will hopefully be better than ever! Low booking levels may bring discounts, but they also bring things like animatronics being turned off to save money on their wear and tear. Now, I'd still like (and need) the discounts, but there is a trade off.

All that being said, I hope you all get your codes! I'm certainly going to be watching this board come 2007 for discounts of my own!

 

[CarolA]

Disney announced yesterday that gas prices are not really affecting their business at all...
http://today.reuters.com/investing/...84356_RTRIDST_0_MEDIA-DISNEY-PARKS-URGENT.XML

So maybe they don't feel the need to offer us any special deals, if they're making money just fine without them.
Boy I hope that's not the case!

I don't think it's the gas prices, but THIS line from the reuters article that should make you nervous

"Disney also saw continued strength in its domestic parks business as combined room reservations on the books paced high single digits ahead of the prior year's third quarter, Staggs said."

Now, I don't know if they mean current quarter reservations or overall resevations, but considering that in last years annual report they reported occupancy is something like the high 80 percent rate, if htey are up from that... there's just not a lot of capacity left.

 

[Jesussavedme]

It makes me wonder how they will even want to offer the 'periodic room discounts' as stated in our Annual Passholder benefits.
That may be a disappearing benefit.

Part of me wants to give up on hoping for codes and the other part drags me out of bed rushing to the computer every morning.
Stop the madness!

 

[DaisyD]

Sorry, but I disagree with this. IMHO......
Quite the contrary...... I think there is a "domino effect" and everyone will be affected by it! It isn't just the additional cost of the trip itself... it is what most people will budget for and where they get that money.
For example.... I am paying an additional $15 / week for gas... and most of my travel is just back and forth to work (FYI.... no one to car pull with if you are wondering). That works out to $780 a year!! that is 7 nights at a value resort!!!! Or..... MYW tickets for a family of 4!!!
So that money has to come from somewhere... My employer sure isn't paying for it!!!
So there goes the budgetted amount for "fun" things.... vacation!
So ..... you see.... IMHO
The price of gas is ABSOLUTELY affecting everyone's vacations.

I disagree and so does most of the newspapers and news channels. People are not curtailing their travel due to the rise in gas. That is all that they are talking about. Just because there are a few that it is affecting it isn't nearly everyone as you put it. I know it isn't affecting me at all. I plan on driving all summer traveling.

 

[tdryl98]

Just wondering if anyone has called this afternoon?

 

[jwsteelman]

To answer the last post, I called at 4:00 and still nothing.

 

[tripplanner2]

I also called this afternoon to ask questions about booking a package. I did not directly ask for AP discounts but explained that I have been waiting and thinking of canceling July reservations to go in August during free dining promotion because it did not seem like AP codes would come out and he kinda agreed with me and helped me with elements of the package. Did not book anything just asked about change policy because do not yet have a flight. Not sure if it means anything or nothing at all. He was very friendly though.

 

[pixie dust 112]

I just called to see if any AP rates are out for July and the CM told me those rates won't come out until June 1st or 2nd.

 

[tripplanner2]

That correlates with what I said about them not coming out until June 5 when the dining promotion expires. Who knows. At this point I am ready to cancel my July trip and rebook for August during dining. We will make our decision on Sunday.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Who knows. At this point I am ready to cancel my July trip and rebook for August during dining. We will make our decision on Sunday.

TP2 > If you switch to august, we will have to have a "dis" meet

 

[Sammie]

I think you will see codes for July and August but they will be late coming. As I stated much earlier in this thread, I don't think June will have any.

 

[Tuffcookie]

You know, one thing we haven't tried yet,,,Anybody got a ouija board?????


TC

 

[auntie]

It makes me wonder how they will even want to offer the 'periodic room discounts' as stated in our Annual Passholder benefits.
That may be a disappearing benefit.

Part of me wants to give up on hoping for codes and the other part drags me out of bed rushing to the computer every morning.
Stop the madness!

From the looks of things I think the AP is going the way of the Magic Kingdom Club discounts..and the shareholder discounts of the 90's. They were great..you could save 30 to 40% on rooms. No more. I think the benefits will continue to dwindle.
As far as the gas...I think an operative word here has been "yet". It is very early in the summer travel season. I know we have friends who live in a tourist town upstate NY, and they have seen less travel..of course they are actually glad for it, as it brings less traffic and congestion to the area. However, they are also concerned on the overall effect on the local economy. I heard on the news this morning that there are several big chain hotels that are offering discounts with gas receipts..or something along those lines. The same as Six Flags offering discounted tickets with gas receipts. I think it really might be too soon to say if the gas prices will effect Disney travel..and given the reported increase in profits, it is unlikely. Especially since they are taking their sweet time releasing codes..they likely aren't hurting any. I do agree that while folks planning a Disney trip aren't going to cancel...they are probably taking from somewhere else to pay for the gas and still make the trip possible. It will change when it goes on for a LONG period..right now I think most people really think this is a temporary "summer" gas crisis..and this too shall pass. It's going to get real interesting when it doesn't pass. Oh well...good luck with the codes!

 

[tripplanner2]

TP2 > If you switch to august, we will have to have a "dis" meet

I would LOVE that. If we go August we will be staying at Coronado Springs unless everyone vetos and decides to go to POR where we stayed last year. I think it will be nice to try something new. I am actually starting to get excited to go in August. There are so many more things we can do as far as ADR's and the parks won't be as crowded. Where are you staying? I checked your signature but I didn't see your hotel listed.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Tripplanner2

We are planning on the Poly, check in 8/2. And planning to:
bite the bullet and keep it with my AAA rate. If no discounts will wind up taking the crunch out of our October trip. Which I also have the Poly, but will probably be at ASMo? Or maybe (hopefully) PORS, which we love.
Because in aug. the "nephew" is coming. So don't want to switch resorts, he is only 9yr. with adhd. So want to keep him settled, and closer to MK.

Alt. plan do have the dolphin with a special 129.00 / nite, and 1 room upgrade booked for beginning of august trip, but really don't want to disrupt nephew. But holding for now till we get closer > just in case. Wish I could get that deal for October.

So right now I am soooo confused trying to figure out what to do. The free dining starts aug. 13th and we could get it till the 20th but for 2 adults & 1 child, the Poly as the resort and how we eat, it is not really worth changing over to it. And on top of all this mess, trying to figure out dining, and plans for October when aug is still not settled.

 

[Purrrrfecta]

I disagree and so does most of the newspapers and news channels. People are not curtailing their travel due to the rise in gas. That is all that they are talking about. Just because there are a few that it is affecting it isn't nearly everyone as you put it. I know it isn't affecting me at all. I plan on driving all summer traveling.

No I am still traveling to Disney. I live for Disney, but I can assure you that I am spending $40 a week more for gas! That is a heck of a lot of money = $2080 extra per year to put it bluntly. For those who have a limited budget that is a big slap in the face. Remember what goes into gas has to come out someplace else, and some company will hurt from it - bottom line.
I just wonder how many more people are charging on their credit cards this year.

 

[mouseaddicts]

.... but I tend to agree with an earlier poster who mentioned a possible "general public" discount announced this Sunday. I mean, I know AP holders are a force to be reckoned with, but do we really generate enough calls to CRO to warrant an increase in Disney's payroll expense???

DH & I were discussing it earlier today & it makes more sense that some new promotion will be "rolled out" via a mass marketing campaign Sunday. I mean, think about the huge travel sections of your metro area papers ..... it seems to me that if you're starting a new media blitz, you'll start on Sunday!

OR

Another possible scenario ........ we haven't heard anything (yet) about Disney World's 35th Birthday on Oct. 1st. The 50th Anniversary Celebration should be wrapping up then, so it would be time to roll out another celebration ........ WDW's 35th ........ I also noted earlier today that the Free Dining promotion now goes from 8/13 - 9/30. Didn't they originally have that going through like 10/4??? If they've backed that up to Sept. 30th, that would allow for something new to begin on 10/1.

Now, I will say I don't like Option #2 as much as Option #1 since we'll be there in July .... BUT .... MY B-DAY is 10/6 (turning 35 just like WDW! ) so we're planning to go back for a long MNSSHP weekend & it would be super-cool to celebrate then.

All of that is just my little "conspiracy theory" & since we're "new kids on the block" it could all mean nothing .............. guess we'll find out Sunday!!!

 

[tripplanner2]

MKY-If we go August we will arrive on 8/15. Will you still be there? Maybe we can set something up to catch up in one of the parks.

 

["thegirls"]

The following info is from todays Orlando Sentinel...I lifted the part that may effect the lack of codes. You can decide if Disney is acting a little too confident in future reservations....they do not seem to adress any % of typical cancellations, so this article can not tell us if they have a good handle on where these reservation originate from and if they will all follow through. To me this is not good news for the codes to come out in the near future. I copied this in pieces from the DISboards home page:

[I]TV, parks lift Disney profit to 12% gain

Posted on May 10, 2006
Orlando Sentinel - The success of ABC-TV shows such as Desperate Housewives and the unexpected hit High School Musical on the Disney Channel helped hike Walt Disney Co. profit by 12 percent during the first three months of 2006.Disney's theme parks helped too -- despite troubled performances in Paris and Hong Kong -- according to the second-quarter financial report Disney filed Tuesday
The theme parks and resorts segment contributed $214 million in operating profit, up 17 percent.

The successes of those two divisions helped overcome a steep drop in profit by the company's movies division, and a smaller decline by Disney's consumer products business.

Disneyland led the way among theme parks, as its attendance soared by 15 percent during the quarter, bolstered by its 50th anniversary celebration, Disney Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs said.

Walt Disney World's gate was up 3 percent, partly due to the pre-grand opening crowds attracted to the new Expedition Everest roller coaster at Disney's Animal Kingdom, he said.

But because so many Animal Kingdom visitors were from Central Florida, they did not spend as much money, driving down Disney World's per-person profit, Staggs said. International visitors also fell off a bit, he said.

Other trends were more encouraging for Disney World. Because of the Magical Express baggage and shuttle service, more tourists are staying at company hotels, Staggs said. And they're taking longer vacations. Bookings for the next quarter are up too, he said.

Also, the Disney Vacation Club time-share business has seen what Staggs called "incredible growth" and has sold its 2,000th unit.

And Staggs said Disney expects no drop-off in attendance due to high gas prices.[/I]

 

[CarolA]

The truth is that Disney is probably not as impacted by "gas prices" I know this sounds strange, but I have read seveal reports that say what folks will do is cut back on "local attractions" to save, but still do the family vacation.

I think that's why places like Six Flags are feeling the gas price pinch more then Disney. People will give up thier "weekend" outing, but not the "big" trip.

As for acting too confidently... if bookings are up then I can't blame them for not discounting... If bookings are up from last year when they had a very high occupancy rate compared to the industry as a whole then as I said earlier that is not a good sign for "discounts" It is however, a good sign for the long term health of the parks...


(That said, I think there will be some discounts this summer maybe not as many or as much as folks want, but....)