Resort Closings???

[pax_65]

I remember back in Dec. 2001 when we first went to Disney, we had a booking at Port Orleans. Disney called us about 3 weeks before we left to say they where going to up grade us to AKL at no extra cost. Our rooms had the savannah view and everything for the price we booked PO for. Turns out they closed Port Orleans for awhile and needed a place to put us, they did the same for my parents too. So who knows, maybe they will end up doing something like that again.

This is what I was thinking... from a resort guest's perspective, you're probably going to come out ahead in some fashion. Disney isn't going to want to make what guests they have angry. If there isn't room at a comparable resort (or if a guest complains) I could see them giving you some kind of upgrade.

If attendance continues to struggle, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see them shut down Port Orleans French Quarter again. This is a small resort (which is why it was combined with Dixie Landings in the first place), and would guests really care that much if they had to move from FQ to Riverside?

Same goes with the value resorts. If they shut down one of the All-Stars, would you care that much if they moved you to another? For example, I would prefer Movies to Sports, but it's really not that big of a difference. It's certainly not something I would get upset about.

 

[Monsterfan99]

If they got rid of a vaule, it would have to be Pop. Not only could they cut those cost, but eliminate an entire bus route.

 

[scpergj]

If they got rid of a vaule, it would have to be Pop. Not only could they cut those cost, but eliminate an entire bus route.

Closing POP might be a bit too many rooms closed all at once - remember, POP has just about as many rooms as two All-Stars combined, so they would be removing a large percentage all at once. It would probably make more sense to close one All-Stars, then later if they need to close another resort, re-open the closed All-Stars and close the POP. It would give them a bit more flexibility, in my opinion anyway.

 

[huey578]

I've read of reports that POP will go through some rehab and reopen as Animators Inn

 

[Disneygirl91395]

If they close pop then that would give them a chance to finish the other part of the resort however pop is the biggest value resort so it would make more sence to close allstar sports or music due to the fact that they are smaller than movies. As for moderate i dont think cb would close or pors. they could close pofq or cs due to the fact there smaller and cs isnt really a family resort. Thats my best guess. :veryconfu

 

[marksniles]

I don't think that's what he meant. I think what he meant was if a value was close those people who can only afford a value resort would not be able to come to WDW.

How would closing one value or one moderate 'alienate' someone? Because you can't stay at your favorite 'theme' you are going to take your ball and go home? What if that theme didn't exist in the first place, these people wouldn't go to WDW?

That just doesn't make sense.

If bookings are so low that they would have enough empty rooms to warrant this, then yes, they would close resorts.

But make no mistake, there is no way there would be closed resorts and them telling people that want to book, 'sorry, no rooms'. It wouldn't impact your trip. You just wouldn't have the option of booking the closed resorts, like they were booked full or undergoing a refurb.

 

[lilclerk]

I don't think that's what he meant. I think what he meant was if a value was close those people who can only afford a value resort would not be able to come to WDW.

They could come by staying in one of the other three value resorts

 

[Jimmy Thick]

What whining.

Closing a resort, if needed, would be a simple business decision for Disney to sustain profitability. If they don't have that, there is no Disney World. Or they will have to send Mickey to Washington with a cup in his hand like the big 3 automakers.

 

[TinkerBelle8878]

I'm thinking of booking Sports for May 2009 and I'm booking it because its probably the quietest and least busy of the All Stars. I have no interest in staying at Pop. I'd probably not be thrilled if I was bumped to another Value or moderate (I really don't see much difference between the Mods and Value) but I'd be pretty ecstatic if I was moved to the Poly.

 

[disneydudette]

so it would make more sence to close allstar sports or music due to the fact that they are smaller than movies. As for moderate i dont think cb would close or pors. they could close pofq or cs due to the fact there smaller and cs isnt really a family resort. Thats my best guess. :veryconfu

Prior to the construction of the Family Suites at ASmu, all three All Star resorts were equal in rooms: 1920 per resort. The total (5760) matches what Pop Century should have if completed as originally planned (currently has 2880, exactly half of 5760)

If Disney was to infact close an entire value resort... I'd lean more towards ASmo due to the rooms still needing to be renovated (to what ASmu and ASsp currently have). My only "question" to that scenerio is how would they block off any of those resorts to other All Star guests?

I know from our experience with resort closures (POR closed a signigicant portion in Dec '01)... Disney offered to upgrade us to a GF, Poly, or CR for no additional charge. :king:

It made sense to us after the fact. "Bumping" us (and several other families from our talks on buses and what not) resulted in filling deluxes that would otherwise be left with low occupency as well. A full resort means disney can operate as normal as possible in terms of services and busing. Not to mention... do you really think we could hack it at a moderate after our stay at the Polynesian talk about a major upsell!

I'm not sure what Disney will do... but like others have mentioned... closing an entire resorts seems extremely drastic to me. As for "partial closings"... they personally scare us.

If you only operate a resort [knowingly] at %30 - %40 occupency... what does that mean for bus service, food services, etc? How much of that will they be forced to "cut back" on due to lack of crowds in food courts and restaurants or with less people waiting for buses? I can't see Disney running things "top notch" with such closures in place.

It's logical to think... less people means less food and busing needs... but how to you truly reflect that and still keep top notch customer service and satisfaction?

 

[Sun King]

Disney is not laying off, but they are cutting staff by terminating CM who have a number of items on their record card. They do or did have a hiring freeze on of the last month.

Not sure how many people know this but POP has building that are built but have never been finished. No paint on outside and the rooms are empty no carpet etc.

Last we heard bookings were up for 2009

 

[fosse76]

Actually, I think this may occur with the retheming of Pop Century to Disney Animation Inn. Though, I do not know if it will be two seperate resorts.

I don't think that re-theme is going to happen (and people continue to talk about it as fact, when it is just a rumor). It just doesn't make sense.

 

[fosse76]

Not sure how many people know this but POP has building that are built but have never been finished. No paint on outside and the rooms are empty no carpet etc.

Pretty much everyone here. And they don't need to close Pop in order to work on those buildings.

Last we heard bookings were up for 2009

No, they're not. They're up from base projections, but the numbers are actually down. I believe initial bookings were down 10%. But the new promotions increased the bookings, but they are still down 6%.

 

[hokielutz]

What whining.

Closing a resort, if needed, would be a simple business decision for Disney to sustain profitability. If they don't have that, there is no Disney World. Or they will have to send Mickey to Washington with a cup in his hand like the big 3 automakers.

The Mouse would never need to go to Washington.... the business model that Disney uses is profitable, unlike Detroit, whose costs to make a car far exceed what they actually sell it for. Fairly simple, really... when you throw politics and government regulation into a business model... then that is where things get dicey

 

[JWG]

The Mouse would never need to go to Washington.... the business model that Disney uses is profitable, unlike Detroit, whose costs to make a car far exceed what they actually sell it for. Fairly simple, really... when you throw politics and government regulation into a business model... then that is where things get dicey

What? Are you saying our government isn't a model of efficiency and good financial decision making?

I find it funny we keep asking the biggest abuser of spending more than you earn on the globe to bail out others. Whether bailouts are appropriate or not (not an invitation to debate or a reflection of my opinion), that is funny.

 

[Piebald]

I didn't bother reading most of these posts, but I find it funny that people are like "...when things get better" and then somehow assume things go back to normal in 09 or even 2010.

Um.... newsflash.... things are still expected to get worse. Way worse. The poo hit the fan just recently and people are already talking about a turnaround in the very, very near future.

That said, I don't find this doubtful at ALL. This situation is, if not will become, worse than 2001/2002 when Disney was really suffering.

 

[JWG]

I didn't bother reading most of these posts, but I find it funny that people are like "...when things get better" and then somehow assume things go back to normal in 09 or even 2010.

Um.... newsflash.... things are still expected to get worse. Way worse. The poo hit the fan just recently and people are already talking about a turnaround in the very, very near future.

That said, I don't find this doubtful at ALL. This situation is, if not will become, worse than 2001/2002 when Disney was really suffering.

This isn't that recent, December 2007 was the start of our current recession. It's just recently that we've agreed to acknowledge the issue. That being said, it's also hard to predict how much worse or for how long this may last. My guess is 2009 will be a telling year.

 

[MMFanCipher]

Someone who I respect where the economy is concerned believes that quarters 1 and 2 of 2009 will be negative or flat GDP. But the third and
fourth quarters of 2009 will show gains for an average GDP growth of, I
believe, 1.5 to 2% in 2009. I don't have the article in front of me so I'm
going by memory on the numbers.

So I have my rose colored glasses firmly on and am enjoying the view! :wave:

 

[PixieTinkerbell]

Can anyone say "thread drift" :lol:

 

[MMFanCipher]

TTTTHHHHRRREEEAAADDDDD DDDRRRIIIFFFTTTT!