Analyst: Bookings soft at Disney World's moderate and deluxe resorts

[fillerup]

From Jason Garcia in Saturday's O'Sentinel, first two paragraphs:

Analyst: Bookings soft at Disney World's moderate and deluxe resorts

"Citing concerns about weakness at Walt Disney World's mid- and high-priced hotels, a Wall Street analyst on Friday lowered his earnings projections for the Walt Disney Co.'s theme-park division.

"Based on our tracking of hotel occupancy at Walt Disney World, we believe the value resorts are seeing slightly better trends than moderate/deluxe resorts" for the fall and early winter, UBS Investment Research analyst John Janedis wrote in a note to investors."

Full article:

Soft Bookings

 

[MickeyMind]

Staying on site lost its appeal to us a couple of years ago. Yes we could stay at one of the values for a decent price. But they are just not worth it to us. Find a similarly priced hotel near downtown disney, and atleast there you get free wifi and free breakfast...

We drive up so there is no need to have to be so dependent on the disney transportation system, which I must say, just seems to get worst and worst every year. We especially hated the fact that whenever we stayed at the values, the buses and food courts there were always extremely packed. Anytime we stayed at mk til closing the buses to the values always had the longest waits, and after a long day, of walking, we dont want to stand in a line for half an hour to wait for a bus, and then to have to stand on the bus the whole drive back. No, for our money, we will stay offsite and just drive.

The only on site hotels that really provide value for your money are the universal hotels. Atleast there, as a hotel guest, you get a free express pass for all the rides. Which we loooovvee!... The prices are usually on par with disney moderates as well.

 

[captainkidd]

Have ownership at Villas at Wilderness Lodge, but whenever possible stay at Boardwalk Villas - just like the old Atlantic City Boardwalk decor.

I was wrong. The older decor at BWV I didn't like. The new decor looks nice.

 

[hankhill]

We actually booked a value this year for the second time in a row at Pop. we enjoyed it last year and really had no difficulties even at the business time of the year (Dec 23 to 31). This year we booked and less than three weeks ago got a "Upgrade your room to a Deluxe for only $56 more per nite). So we took advantage and reduced the trip by one day (tix and room) took the upgrade and the difference was less than $200. I dont know how it worked out but it seems that the article that drove this forum is true. My theory is that people still want to go but are booking the Values. They are already full but the Deluxes are not. They need to open up space at the bottom so rather than let it go empty, give us the better resort for a little bit more and open up room at the Values to get others in. Works for me but I think the trending is right and their prices combined with the economy is forcing them to make concessions.

 

[SMS55]

I would consider myself solid middle class. With my money, I make a conscious choice not to overspend for a bed. Personally, I do not see $150+ per night worth it when I can get a value at $90. Over a week, that is a $400 savings.

Yes, I am cheap. My dad always said I could turn a Kingsford into a diamond from my back side.

I am with you. I am cheap too. My dad says the same to me, but I learned from him. As a kid we awlays went to Disney atleast once a year but we never staye on site. We always found a cheap clean room in Kissimmee. I'll stay at the value resorts when they have florida resident discounts. I also purchase the seasonal pass. The wife and I love Disney. It makes us feel like kids again. You can't put a price on that, but it is getting crazy. For us it's the value resorts because we don't spend much time in the room. We spend all our time in the parks. We come back, we shower and pass out. It's not worth it. When you add the cost of parking at the parks and gas to a Kissimmee hotel, then it's worth it, but if they go up I just might pass. I am not going to just give you my discretinary income. You have to earn it. Next year I am thinking about taking the wife for a few days for a small honeymoon. We never had one when we married because money was tight. The kids will be going out of town with their grandparents for a function, we are not going to attend, so it offers us some alone time. I might spring for a moderate, don't know yet. I am looking at some nicer restaurants and activities, but the prices are scary.

 

[SMS55]

When Disneyland Paris first opened up it had some serious attendance issues. Most people in Europe thought Disney's prices were outrageous. Few people went, and when they did, they wouldn't eat in the parks because the food prices were insane. They adjusted and attendance has gone up. That's probably what will happen here. Disney will price itself out of the middle class family's budget and when attendance drops they'll have to adjust their prices accordingly. It's just market economics. Right now people are still paying what they want, but slowly we are seeing how some of us are just not seeing the value in it right now. When enough of us do, they'll have to drop their prices to keep making money.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I can honestly say on our September trip the prices of things finally got me irked. It seemed for the longest time I was okay because it was "Disney". The prices are just insane now and don't justify themselves with the value or quality of what you get. We ended up canceling several table-service meals and don't really even feel the big yearn to get back to WDW as soon as we can. For me, as a girl who totally loves the sport of shopping and scoring great deals, WDW has lost it's luster and I know it's because when I'm there I'm looking around thinking "We paid what for this?!?!"