Disney World Resorts Struggling

[Mexacajun]

We don't get up early, so it means nothing to us. We liked the late EMH, which are now only deluxe (we stay at Pop).

I really enjoy the evening extra hours as we stay DVC but I will admit that I miss the days of varying parks having EMH in both morning and night. Because truth be told, I would love some EMH in the evening at Hollywood studios. That park is too crowded all the time.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Having been the beneficiary of post 911 and the 2008 meltdown, it's pretty easy to see exactly what king of crowd levels trigger discounts.
Even seasonally, Disney started the festivals to attract extra visitors during typically slow travel dates.
The Mouse is the world's largest pickpocket by design.
The value received is contingent on prevailing economic factors.
While I miss value resorts @59, moderate @159 and delux @ 300ish, I also miss Mork and Mindy, Big Bang Theory and sub$1 gas and none are likely to return.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Even seasonally, Disney started the festivals to attract extra visitors during typically slow travel dates.

Agree. They are masters at filling in the 'slow times' to the point there aren't very many slow times anymore! The festivals are very popular. And the Disney running events fall completely in line with time frames that used to be low attendance. If it's slow, give the people a reason they might want to come! And when they have an event that's popular, the use it! Who knew Halloween parties could start in August?!

 

[Beer Me]

The main benefit that actually matters for staying on-site at WDW is early park entry as this enables you to rope drop ahead of all the crowds if you get there early enough. If you stay off-site it is impossible to actually rope drop at any of the parks.

I’ve stayed at Disney springs hotels the last two trips which get early entry. Although our stays haven’t been very park-centric and we like to walk to Disney springs.

To be honest if we were planning more days in the parks I would prefer to stay onsite but not at a rate that’s 50+% more than it was in 2019.

 

[Titanium]

The main problem why Disney Resorts have always seemed to be struggling is because after holidays such as Christmas Memorial Day 4th Of July and President's Day that is the start of the slow season and Walt Disney World resorts don't announce new deals until their busiest times which is Spring Break Easter and the Summertime. And when you look at the general picture Disney Resorts make a lot of money from Spring Break and Easter because Spring is the most popular season for Disney vacations because they know that this is where the money is. But not only during Spring Break and Easter do the resorts fill up they have other events such as cheerleading competitions dance competitions business seminars and other events. In the history of Walt Disney World the only resort to close was The Disney Inn that became the military oriented resort Shades Of Green. But if you look at Florida hotel prices during an event such as the Daytona 500 or golf tournaments held at Disney golf courses the prices for Florida hotels and Disney resorts go up sky high. But Disney resorts in my eyes are not really struggling they are trying to attract a more successful crowd and they advertise deals all the time to help them make more money

You can't judge WDW by the parking lots.

Some are always full, GF, Contemporary, Poly are always packed while those that are hotel more convention oriented will be sparsely populated. My former company had trade shows at Swan/Dolphin, convention travel impacts the resorts differently than leisure travel.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Agree. They are masters at filling in the 'slow times' to the point there aren't very many slow times anymore! The festivals are very popular. And the Disney running events fall completely in line with time frames that used to be low attendance. If it's slow, give the people a reason they might want to come! And when they have an event that's popular, the use it! Who knew Halloween parties could start in August?!

That's also why there are a ton of cheer competitions in Jan and Feb, traditionally "slow" times in the parks. I was there in mid February and there were SO many groups of cheerleaders. The Halloween parties beginning in August is pretty ridiculous IMO. I LOVE Halloween but wouldn't want to go to a party in August.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

The main benefit that actually matters for staying on-site at WDW is early park entry as this enables you to rope drop ahead of all the crowds if you get there early enough. If you stay off-site it is impossible to actually rope drop at any of the parks.

Sorry, but 30 minutes is not a perk.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Sorry, but 30 minutes is not a perk.

Based on the lines at the parks waiting for the 30-minutes early entry, many people feel it is a perk. For us, 30 minutes just isn't a big enough perk for us to try and rope drop.

 

[mom2rtk]

Based on the lines at the parks waiting for the 30-minutes early entry, many people feel it is a perk. For us, 30 minutes just isn't a big enough perk for us to try and rope drop.

For us all 30 minutes early did was muddy up rope drop. We used to be rope drop every day somewhere. It's to the point where you have to not just be there, but be at the front of that pack for it to even help. And for not much payoff.

And I don't assume those people there see it as a decent perk. Sure they are there. But it doesn't mean they are happy with it. Just the only way left to do certain attractions.

 

[Captain UP]

I think the 30 minutes is phenomenal. At Epcot, I waited ten minutes for Remy AND got on Frozen before the 30 minutes was up.

At AK, I rode Dinosaur twice and Everest 3 times in that period.

 

[Leigh L]

That's also why there are a ton of cheer competitions in Jan and Feb, traditionally "slow" times in the parks. I was there in mid February and there were SO many groups of cheerleaders. The Halloween parties beginning in August is pretty ridiculous IMO. I LOVE Halloween but wouldn't want to go to a party in August.

In theory, I agree about Halloween, but that was the only time we could go due to my teen's school and sports schedule. lol. I would do it again since it's so much fun. So for anyone else that always wanted to do these parties but couldn't due to timing, I can see why Disney would cash in on it and why people go.

Last year I went to the party with my adult DD in September and found it to be less crowded than the August one. (But then again, comparing pre-pandemic with post-pandemic.)

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I think the 30 minutes is phenomenal. At Epcot, I waited ten minutes for Remy AND got on Frozen before the 30 minutes was up.

At AK, I rode Dinosaur twice and Everest 3 times in that period.

I think cast members appreciate the consistency too rather having one day a week when they had to come in an hour early.

 

[Smugpugmug]

In theory, I agree about Halloween, but that was the only time we could go due to my teen's school and sports schedule. lol. I would do it again since it's so much fun. So for anyone else that always wanted to do these parties but couldn't due to timing, I can see why Disney would cash in on it and why people go.

Last year I went to the party with my adult DD in September and found it to be less crowded than the August one. (But then again, comparing pre-pandemic with post-pandemic.)

Oh yeah I totally understand that. Disneyland does their Halloween party in September and October only and it sold out in about 3 or so days, so adding more days in August for WDW makes sense so more people could go. I would be the most concerned about rain and thunder since I read a lot of reports of the August parties getting rained out last year (2022).

I've never done the Halloween party at WDW. I am doing Halloween Horror Nights this year though!

 

[Miffy]

That's why we cut days off our trip and moved from our usual Boardwalk to Pop. We had originally planned 8 nights at Boardwalk, then thought we could do 8 nights at POFQ, then decided on 6 nights at Pop.

We couldn't justify the price of Boardwalk, and the bus stop situation at FQ scared us away. So, Pop it is. Next trip we are skipping Disney and doing Universal. Express included and being able to walk to the parks is hard to beat. I tried to talk the rest of the party into it this time, but Guardians and Tron were calling them.

Could you explain what you mean by this? We've stayed at FQ several times recently and have had zero issue with the buses. Before noon, they don't share with POR, and coming back from the parks, FQ is the first stop.

Meanwhile, on topic for this thread, FQ is where we stay now. We used to stay at AKL all the time, but we've been priced out. The discounts for AKL have been weak and the rack rate is astronomical.

 

[Titanium]

Could you explain what you mean by this? We've stayed at FQ several times recently and have had zero issue with the buses. Before noon, they don't share with POR, and coming back from the parks, FQ is the first stop.

Meanwhile, on topic for this thread, FQ is where we stay now. We used to stay at AKL all the time, but we've been priced out. The discounts for AKL have been weak and the rack rate is astronomical.

We stayed at AKL right after reopening. $538 for Club Level which was a bargain. It's been in the $700-$800 when I've checked since then.

Now we stay at POR or the Fort and spend the $ more freely on food and fun things.

 

[BrianL]

Could you explain what you mean by this? We've stayed at FQ several times recently and have had zero issue with the buses. Before noon, they don't share with POR, and coming back from the parks, FQ is the first stop.

Meanwhile, on topic for this thread, FQ is where we stay now. We used to stay at AKL all the time, but we've been priced out. The discounts for AKL have been weak and the rack rate is astronomical.

I think it's jsut any of those resorts with the multiple internal stops can be problematic. Sometimes the bus is full already if you are at the third stop. Those resorts may have a nicer ambiance, but it's hard to beat the convenience of POP with one stop location, no sharing, and now the Skyliner.

 

[Marrila]

We stayed at AKL right after reopening. $538 for Club Level which was a bargain. It's been in the $700-$800 when I've checked since then.

Now we stay at POR or the Fort and spend the $ more freely on food and fun things.

There is wisdom in booking what fits the budget and then keep checking for discounts. Right now there are AKL CL rooms for $654 a night mid May 2023. (General public offer)

 

[Miffy]

I think it's jsut any of those resorts with the multiple internal stops can be problematic. Sometimes the bus is full already if you are at the third stop. Those resorts may have a nicer ambiance, but it's hard to beat the convenience of POP with one stop location, no sharing, and now the Skyliner.

Just so you'll know for the future, even when FQ shares, it's the first stop in both directions. So there's no full-already bus at the FQ stop. And it shares with POR only after a certain time in the morning--either 11 or noon, I forget which., and sometimes it doesn't. Recently, I haven't experienced any sharing with POR, although one evening coming back from MK, there was a POR bus at the stop and no FQ bus and the driver told us to hop on anyway. He dropped us at FQ first.

But, yes, the Skyliner is terrific! I'm wary of the Values, though, since my sole experience with them (ASMu) was a disaster since the room-to-room noise was so bad that I spent 5 near-sleepless nights. I vowed never to stay at a Value again after that. Is Pop better?

 

[Jrb1979]

Yes. The folk that are disgruntled at Disney like to portray a downturn in leisure travel as a failure on Disney's part and only impacting the Disney parks.

I disagree. The parks being busy and resorts not full are 2 seperate things. I think the parks are crazy busy but I think they are having issues filling the resorts, especially this summer. Hence the dining offer. From things I have heard the majority of Disney guests stay off site.

 

[Titanium]

I disagree. The parks being busy and resorts not full are 2 seperate things. I think the parks are crazy busy but I think they are having issues filling the resorts, especially this summer. Hence the dining offer. From things I have heard the majority of Disney guests stay off site.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I was thinking of Disney parks vs other parks, you are right about the resorts being a different situation than parks.