Pop Century closing!

[bunnymkc]

Heard this from a Disney castmember. Pop and another value hotel are closing! Son & husband who paint for Disney laid off and told that 2 resorts are closing1 Anyone have any info on this..

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

There is already a thread here called "Disney's Animation Inn & Suites" that has to do with Pop Century closing and renamed. Not sure about a 2nd resort also closing.

BobK/Orlando

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

No Way They Close Pop And I Am Done No More Disney World For Me

 

[cap'njack.]

Let's hope not...that's where I'm looking at booking

 

[troynkasey]

They wouldn't close until 2010 due to existing reservations. I think it's highly unlikely. Plus...if they re-theme the resort...I think they close portions of the resort at a time and then reopen those portions to close and rennovate others... It's too popular to close down at this point.

 

[DC7800]

They wouldn't close until 2010 due to existing reservations

Existing reservations did not prevent Disney from closing resorts in the past, specifically Port Orleans (French Quarter). Those guests holding reservations for the resort during its closure were relocated to other Disney properties.

That in no way suggests that Pop Century will or will not actually be closing, now or at any time in the future, but it does mean that the existence of outstanding reservations will not preclude the resort being shut down, should Disney wish to do so.

As for the rumored re-theming, we don't need two versions of All-Star Movies.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I wonder if this was due to low bookings or if it was related to the rumored re-theming? I really wouldn't be surprised IF they did close Pop due to low bookings. It might make more sense than any of the All Stars.
I heard a rumor this morning from another source that said Grand Floridian might be closing. I stress MIGHT, as the source has been known to be unreliable and he did say that it was very much up in the air right now and not for certain.

 

[CanadianGuy]

A buddy of mine who works reservations said this regarding this rumor..

"For every guest who cancels, two or three downgrade.."

Doesn't seem like closing a value resort would be the smartest move. The moderate or deluxe resorts would be first in line I would think.

Following 2001 terror attacks, a moderate closed for 6 months and the construction on Pop Century was stalled.. but they didn't close any of the values to my knowledge.

They did shutter certain buildings within individual resort complexes to save $$$ on A/C and housekeeping. That's a very hidden way to take rooms out of the inventory and lower day to day costs up to a certain point.

At some point it does become a zero sum game. But i don't think that closing a value makes ANY sense in a down economy. It would make far more sense to more deeply discount rooms at categories with high rates of vacancy in an effort to get bodies in the parks and restaurants however.

We're seeing that now.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Closing a value actually can make a lot of sense. If you close a value for renovation and move the reservations elsewhere you give the consumers added benefit (at least thats what you tell them) while getting them to try out upgraded accomodations in a down economy. Going forward that means less value rooms in the system for those who just HAVE to stay in the world so they'll be paying more. In addition you might put out more coupons to permit value consumers access to moderates. When (or if) the economy bounces back said consumers might think twice before going back to the value.

Aside from that wouldn't shuttering values save on transportation and mousekeeping just a bit?

 

[Dznefreek]

Aside from that wouldn't shuttering values save on transportation and mousekeeping just a bit?

There is also payroll, utilities, maintenance, food costs, groundskeeping (reduced), insurance, just to name a few. . . . . .

 

[CanadianGuy]

Shuttering ANY resort saves on those things... All those same arguments could be made for shuttering POFQ/POR again

Currently Pop Century shares Housekeeping and maintenance (and some front desk staff) with Caribbean Beach. Seems they should close them both for maximum savings?

I just don't see this happening. I could be proven wrong.. time will be the indicator.

Knox

 

[racefanof88]

Closing a value actually can make a lot of sense. If you close a value for renovation and move the reservations elsewhere you give the consumers added benefit (at least thats what you tell them) while getting them to try out upgraded accomodations in a down economy. Going forward that means less value rooms in the system for those who just HAVE to stay in the world so they'll be paying more. In addition you might put out more coupons to permit value consumers access to moderates. When (or if) the economy bounces back said consumers might think twice before going back to the value.

Aside from that wouldn't shuttering values save on transportation and mousekeeping just a bit?

But, my response would be.........With the economy already bad and more and more people losing jobs and others cutting out extras, like vacations, you are really going to cut out a whole lot of people who can just afford to stay at Disney because of the value resorts. This will drive more people off property and makes the whole Universal thing seem more appealing. I mean with a 7 day park hopping ticket to Universal costing less than $100. It makes it look better and better .

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

But, my response would be.........With the economy already bad and more and more people losing jobs and others cutting out extras, like vacations, you are really going to cut out a whole lot of people who can just afford to stay at Disney because of the value resorts. This will drive more people off property and makes the whole Universal thing seem more appealing. I mean with a 7 day park hopping ticket to Universal costing less than $100. It makes it look better and better .

I'm definitely going to agree with you on this one. If not for the value resorts, the benefits of staying on property would not out-weigh the cost of staying at a moderate or deluxe. We would then stay off-site or not go at all.

Being from the west coast, we don't go as often as it essentially takes a day to get to WDW and another to get home. Because of that, we only go once a year but for two weeks. Staying at WDW at a mod or deluxe for two weeks would produce a huge bill and ours is already around $6,000 each time we go including everything basically.

If the overall cost was too much we'd either have to stay off-site, go for less time or not go at all. But most likely we'd go to DL which is MUCH cheaper where we NEVER stay at a Disney hotel. They are too expensive and have very little perks. That's money lost for Disney. Plus, we aren't as much of DL fanatics as we are with WDW so we'd spend a lot less time there and not go as often, now it's about every three years.

I hope they do not close temporarily close POP and choose one or two of the All-Stars- I detest those resorts. I hope they go after Port Orleans rather than CBR (CSR has the convention center so that one's staying open) because if they do close POP, I will want to stay at CBR.
Rumor or fact, this is kind of stressing me out for my Sept vacation.
I've learned here that I am good a rambling on, sorry all.

 

[Padrepride]

I could see them closing one value resort. But two? I could see them closing one of the All-Star resorts along with either one of the Port Orleans or maybe even a deluxe resort.

 

[seashoreCM]

Now who was it (or how many) was/were saying 10 or so years ago that the ugly monstrosity called Pop Century should never have been built let alone opened?

>>> ... and another value ...
>>> ... we don't need two versions ...
Pop can be rethemed as All Star Movies and All Star Movies rethemed as something else. But it is not necessary to redo them at the same time.

 

[racefanof88]

I know Disney will do what is in the best interest of Disney as it is a business, but that being said the consumer will also do what is in the best interest of themselves. We love Disney and most of the time we do stay off property as the price of a room(somewhere I am just gonna be sleeping) is MUCH cheaper and with more options for a family of 5. After doing some research these are the numbers I found

value rooms 8640 price range $82-$327
moderate rooms 7089 price range $140-$1290(this does not include the cabins nor the campgrounds)
deluxe rooms 6311 price range
AKL $240-$2920
BCR $335-$2490
BW $335-$2715
CR $280-$2885
GF $399-$2895
Poly $355-$2910
WL $240-$1405
YC $335-$2725
Villas $335-$2215

Of course these are per night charges. Now, I know there are Disers who can afford the high prices of the deluxe resorts, but I know I can't . My WHOLE vacation hardly costs as much as ONE night in some of the deluxe resorts.... And being a family of 5 we would have to pay the higher prices or get two rooms. I had two rooms at the ASMu, park hopper plus, and the DDP this past May and it was only about $3800.00 for all 5 of us for 6 days. We have a cabin booked for May '09. So, if Disney starts closing mods and values I know for a fact we will again start staying off site and seriously consider the cheaper option of an annual pass to Universal for about $280.

I would hate this as I love Disney , ask my friends and family . But, the economy will ultimately dictate how I spent my vacation dollars, IF I have any

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

value rooms 8640 price range $82-$327

I didn't pay nearly $82 a night two weeks ago when I went.
We paid $45.99 a night if memory serves me correctly.

COPIED from a non-affiliated WDW website... (and changed per rules)

Value resort, Standard view, (dates here...) $49 plus tax

Thats with the AP discount. Theres also a military discount, a FL resident discount, a "Florida Neighbors" Rates - AL, GA, SC and NC Resident Discount, and a few others. I rarely EVER pay rack rate for a value resort. Actually... the ONLY time I EVER pay rack rates is during the free DDP deal. Otherwise there's a code involved.

 

[deej696]

They did shutter certain buildings within individual resort complexes to save $$$ on A/C and housekeeping. That's a very hidden way to take rooms out of the inventory and lower day to day costs up to a certain point.

I was a manager at a luxury hotel in downtown Orlando during 9/11 and this was what we did. We shut down 4 or 5 floors of guest rooms completely, and consolidated everyone to the remaining floors. I would think the cost savings for Disney would be greater than ours was, given that entire buildings can be powered down. I think shutting down an entire resort would be a last option for Disney. There really isnt a way to do it quietly, and given Disney's need to "control the story," probably the last thing they want to say publicly is "Business is so bad we are shutting down one of our largest resorts."

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well.. given some of the occupancy numbers I heard today regarding Christmas week..

It's not looking pretty at all.

Knox

 

[racefanof88]

I didn't pay nearly $82 a night two weeks ago when I went.
We paid $45.99 a night if memory serves me correctly.

COPIED from a non-affiliated WDW website... (and changed per rules)

Thats with the AP discount. Theres also a military discount, a FL resident discount, a "Florida Neighbors" Rates - AL, GA, SC and NC Resident Discount, and a few others. I rarely EVER pay rack rate for a value resort. Actually... the ONLY time I EVER pay rack rates is during the free DDP deal. Otherwise there's a code involved.

My problem comes with the fact that I am not an AP holder, not in the military, don't live in FL and the FL Neighbor rate is not always offered and I am not lucky enough to get a PIN code . The FL Neighbor rate they offered this past fall is the first time I have seen it offered since I started returning in 1999. Most of the codes are offered at a time of year that my family can't travel .