What do you think all of these discounts will mean for attendance in 09?

[WiscMomof2]

We've got the 4/3 deal,40% codes, AP rates etc. etc.....Do you think this will make things that much more crowded this year or is Disney just hoping to bring things up to the status quo with everything that's happening with the economy? I tend to think they wouldn't offer all these discounts if attendance wasn't down but I'm reading posts about how packed it was during the holidays so wonder if it's really that bad?

 

[Colleen27]

They wouldn't be offering such drastic discounts if bookings weren't way down compared to other years.

Holiday reports probably aren't a good gauge of overall occupancy, because the most serious economic trouble really hit in Sept/Oct and most of the people traveling over the holidays likely already had their trips paids off and would lose significant non-refundable costs like airfare if they cancelled. Plus parents tend to try to move heaven and earth to keep Christmas celebrations untouched by economic troubles for their children. The real test of how much Disney will be effected by the economy will be bookings for the next several months, and right now all the predicitions I've read about FL tourism as a whole suggest that occupancy and attendance will be down fairly substantially (as much as 15% according to some sources).

 

[Colleen27]

Some of the news reports I've read on the subject:
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/01/05/daily20.html?surround=lfn
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/12/29/daily40.html?surround=lfn
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/12/22/daily7.html?surround=lfn

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Great Links.........Thanks!

 

[twinklebug]

Disney will fill their hotels well one way or another. When they fill them, however, it may be with folk who would otherwise be staying offsite. The little guys will be the ones hurting.

To make up for the discounts given however, anticipate changes in services - perhaps fewer housekeepers, fewer buses, automated check-in (already started for DVC), I can even perhaps see them adding charges for room daily cleaning.

 

[Steffiesunshine]

I got the 40% discount, but now I'm actually thinking of cancelling my reservations. It seems Disney is giving EVERYONE the 40% discount for those hard to fill dates, which means the crowds may end up being HUGE. I see other threads saying basically all you have to do is call and ask for it.

I may just change my reservation to a cheaper hotel for a week where the discount isn't offered. I'll spend the same money, but the smaller crowds may be worth it.