New rules for those who like to book room only before packages released - you can't anymore!

[larryz]

Bob Chapek really hates repeat customers.

There's 7 billion people in this world, and he won't be happy until he picks every one of their pockets provides each one an opportunity to visit.

 

[JoeCamel]

It appears that WDW is making a serious attempt to keep people from coming back.

Create a depressed asset to sell?

 

[mysto]

There's 7 billion people in this world, and he won't be happy until he picks every one of their pockets provides each one an opportunity to visit.

8 billion you dinosaur, get with the times man.

About 5 years ago, when it was 7.2 billion, our (not Disney) CEO gave a speech mentioning 5 billion. You are not alone in having trouble keeping up. 150 million births per year makes for a lot of kids needing first timer trips to Disney.

 

[larryz]

8 billion you dinosaur, get with the times man.

About 5 years ago, when it was 7.2 billion, our (not Disney) CEO gave a speech mentioning 5 billion. You are not alone in having trouble keeping up. 150 million births per year makes for a lot of kids needing first timer trips to Disney.

But wait, didn't the latest unpleasantness kill off a billion or so?

 

[JoeCamel]

8 billion you dinosaur, get with the times man.

About 5 years ago, when it was 7.2 billion, our (not Disney) CEO gave a speech mentioning 5 billion. You are not alone in having trouble keeping up. 150 million births per year makes for a lot of kids needing first timer trips to Disney.

I remember hitting 3B and the prediction was wholesale starvation if we hit 6B. Guess we adjusted

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

It appears that WDW is making a serious attempt to keep people from coming back.

No problem... we will not. DVC getting dumped, end of 2022. No tickets, no restaurants - that $1200/year will go to better use .

 

[Joel]

I remember hitting 3B and the prediction was wholesale starvation if we hit 6B. Guess we adjusted

Thankfully McDonald's was able to keep up.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

I remember hitting 3B and the prediction was wholesale starvation if we hit 6B. Guess we adjusted

Not to well.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It appears that WDW is making a serious attempt to keep people from coming back.

I’m trying to understand the reason for this change.

They don't like people booking room only, then changing to packages when those are released - too much call times? Do they lose money this way?
Are the rates cheaper when you book that far in advance because next year's rates aren't out yet?

At any rate - if they are going to do this then they should make an effort to release the next year's packages before June!

Larry told you…

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Were enough people booking room-only in advance of the “annual product release” to really warrant this change? Seems extremely odd…

I’ve never known folks to book rooms that far in advance to save money…. usually it is to book a room / suite that is harder to get due to limited availability / a popular time of the year.

We always book as far our as we know we are going, which is often further out than the packages are for. Just figure the prices won't get cheaper (and if they do we will rebook)

So I think to prevent people from booking at that cheaper price and just to better promote/push packages

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Still have about a year and a half to book, more starting next year.

Inefficient to rebook everything a second time if that was happening en masse, especially by phone, if all they had to do was sync up reservation windows with announcements.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm trying to understand the reason for this change.

They don't like people booking room only, then changing to packages when those are released - too much call times? Do they lose money this way?
Are the rates cheaper when you book that far in advance because next year's rates aren't out yet?

At any rate - if they are going to do this then they should make an effort to release the next year's packages before June!

Rack rates aren't set in stone anymore. They used to publish a whole year of rack rates all at once, now they're releasing them more gradually.

 

[nickys]

If you

Still have about a year and a half to book, more starting next year.

Inefficient to rebook everything a second time if that was happening en masse, especially by phone, if all they had to do was sync up reservation windows with announcements.

If you want to go in January 2024 you’ll need to wait until June 2023. That’s 6 months, not 18.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

If you

If you want to go in January 2024 you’ll need to wait until June 2023. That’s 6 months, not 18.

I don’t think that’s accurate. Spring 2023 should get you access through the end of 2024. Spring might be April.

If you already know you want to go in January, why wouldn’t 9 months be enough time?

We very often have gone the week of the Marathon in January, usually booked within 30-60 days with plenty of availability and reasonable rates.

Either way, I stand by my efficiency analysis. At this time, every business should be looking at ways to eliminate unnecessary customer service interactions, so they have the capacity to address the real ones without leaving people on hold for hours.

 

[nickys]

I don’t think that’s accurate. Spring 2023 should get you access through the end of 2024. Spring might be April.

If you already know you want to go in January, why wouldn’t 9 months be enough time?

We very often have gone the week of the Marathon in January, usually booked within 30-60 days with plenty of availability and reasonable rates.

Either way, I stand by my efficiency analysis. At this time, every business should be looking at ways to eliminate unnecessary customer service interactions, so they have the capacity to address the real ones without leaving people on hold for hours.

I thought US packages were usually released in June time.
January is marathon time, it can be crazy busy.
Any TA will tell you how crazy things are on the day that package bookings open. Now all room-only bookings will also open at the same time.
And for those travelling transatlantic, for example, you get the best flight deals when they go sale. Not to mention we’re conditioned to book well over a year ahead. That won’t be possible for winter.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I thought US packages were usually released in June time.
January is marathon time, it can be crazy busy.
Any TA will tell you how crazy things are on the day that package bookings open. Now all room-only bookings will also open at the same time.
And for those travelling transatlantic, for example, you get the best flight deals when they go sale. Not to mention we’re conditioned to book well over a year ahead. That won’t be possible for winter.

The vast majority of people do not book over a year ahead.

EDIT: Or did you mean international guests in particular?

 

[dreday3]

I don’t think that’s accurate. Spring 2023 should get you access through the end of 2024. Spring might be April.

If you already know you want to go in January, why wouldn’t 9 months be enough time?

We very often have gone the week of the Marathon in January, usually booked within 30-60 days with plenty of availability and reasonable rates.

Either way, I stand by my efficiency analysis. At this time, every business should be looking at ways to eliminate unnecessary customer service interactions, so they have the capacity to address the real ones without leaving people on hold for hours.

You (anyone) can't book past Dec 2023. And won't be able to book anything in 2024 until packages come out in June 2023. So if you are looking to go in Jan/Feb, that's about 6/7 months out.

 

[dreday3]

The vast majority of people do not book over a year ahead.

EDIT: Or did you mean international guests in particular?

I am my father's daughter and I book as soon as I know where we are going! At least for big trips to destinations we are staying over 8 nights. Small trips we do more on a whim.

I'm sure everyone will be able to get what they want even with new booking windows though.

It's just a change some of us will have to get used to.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Rack rates aren't set in stone anymore. They used to publish a whole year of rack rates all at once, now they're releasing them more gradually.

I don't know where you see things changing - at least one site lists ALL rack rates for the year when they are released, for weekdays, weekends, holidays, etc and the various seasons, for each resort, and every room type at a resort.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Also this creates a problem for those wanting to stay for the marathon weekend in January.

And this could also affect International bookings for the Winter months. It’s not uncommon here in the U.K. to book a year ahead. Flights can often be booked 10 months ahead so this is a big disincentive to staying onsite if you want to go in the first few months of the year.

And often come January, not only are they pushing packages for the current year, they’re encouraging people to pre-reserve for the following year.

I don't believe that you will see any change to international bookings, booked via a UK operator, they have always had different offers and rules.