(Lots) of Room(s) at the Inn(s) ...

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Disney has a large marketing campaign here in Florida print for discounted rooms from 1/1-2/13 for residents. The same discounts are being offered to APers.

The rooms are $49 at values, $99 at mods and $149 at Saratoga Springs, with other deluxes available at various rates (I think WL is going for $199).

This is a usual time for discounting, although starting on New Year's Day is a bit early considering the World celebrates Christmas thru 1/6 or 1/7.

And those rates are awfully low, except for the mods ...

So do you guys think this is a reflection in the softness in bookings due to the GREAT economic conditions in the USA or do you think this is just typical?

I'm not real sure myself ... and my sources on booking levels has already gone on extended Turkey Week vacation.

Thoughts ...

 

Originally Posted By jkayjs

Of course I could be wrong but I think it's pretty typical. It's after the big Christmas spending/vacation time and before tax returns. It's not a regular family travel time for sure.

Sounds like they are aiming for the most likely targets. Locals that can drive there and AP's that tend to go often anyway. I bet we see something in my husbands airline newsletter as well.

Let us know what your source says Spirit.

 

Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey

We'll be at WDW from February 1-10 and booked our rooms at the phenomenal AP rates a few weeks ago. Neither of my nephews has an AP, so we couldn't get their room at the rate, but I'll be calling back tomorrow to take advantage of the new pricing for the general public.

Hopefully the park will be slow while we go, regardless of the new rates.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

I think that this is a reflection on consumer confidence. I'm sure that more than a few households are putting the $4-5K WDW vacation on the back burner these days.

I love the commercial where the thrifty mom finds out that its only about $1600 for their family of 4 to visit WDW for a week. Of course that price doesn't include airfare (say $800), other transportation (getting to airports), meals (varies, but won't be cheap) and other goodies. Once the dust settles that "budget" trip will probably cost between $3K-4K.

I suppose then that it makes sense to market to locals who are close enough to drive, and who can then stay fewer days to keep the total cost down.

 

Originally Posted By Brian Noble

Looks pretty typical to me. I normally go late February, and the early February deals are usually very very good.

 

Originally Posted By mousermerf

January is now the slowest month, by a wide margin - you're just seeing discounts that always pop up for January. After the NYE crowd goes home, you can have entire rides to yourself.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

As someone mentioned recently in another thread, Jan-Feb is probably the last of the slow seasons in WDW. They've been so successful in upping the number for the other slow times - perhaps it's just the time when they target this last little window. Good for the company, bad for those of us who used to love the off season and the short lines and the small crowds. Those may be a thing of the past . . .

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

September is still slower than January ... even with the free dining annually, and now starting the Halloween Parties and Food and Wine Fest that month.

January still has a pretty busy opening week from the holidays. And two special long weekends following with Marathon weekend and then MLK weekend.

 

Originally Posted By Sport Goofy

Domestic bookings have been soft all year now. Only international visits have been keeping things going strong.

Considering the especially abysmal housing market and foreclosure environment throughout Florida, I would suspect that locals might be pinched even more than domestic travelers in the rest of the country. So, a marketing campaign with low rates for financially strapped Floridians doesn't seem that out of whack based on the economic and booking data trends for the past year. We definitely know that the home equity ATM has run out for a lot of folks in Florida, so Disney would need to make up the difference somewhere.

 

Originally Posted By magnet

Hotels on I-Drive are practically letting you stay for free over the next few weeks. I've booked a nice room for $30/night for five nights coming up soon.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> So do you guys think this is a reflection in the softness in bookings due to the GREAT economic conditions in the USA or do you think this is just typical? <<

I think it is typical. It's the start of value season, and this happens every year now. Next the rate will be offered to Disney Visa card members, then it will open for everybody. For those that think the economy will dictate how people squander their money, let me ask you this. Does it not seem to you that people buy houses they can't afford. Does it seem people load themselves down with ridiculous credit card debt with high interest rates. Does it seem like so many people have a me first, instant gratification, tomorrow be damned type of attitude. Back when I was part of the rat race I had friends that had very good salaries. They also had credit card debts of over 70 thousand dollars. They still went on vacations, and purchased new cars, and other luxury items. Kind of crazy isn't it. I just don't see human nature changing anytime soon. Unless they reinstate debtors prison.

 

Originally Posted By Sport Goofy

<< They still went on vacations, and purchased new cars, and other luxury items. Kind of crazy isn't it. I just don't see human nature changing anytime soon. >>

When banks like Citi start having to admit $15B losses in bad loans (like they are doing now), you can bet lending standards will start to change and the easy credit spigot will start to be shut off for some folks.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

^^^ I certainly hope so.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Hotels on I-Drive are practically letting you stay for free over the next few weeks. I've booked a nice room for $30/night for five nights coming up soon.>>

Disney should be reminded of this before they decide to add the White Tr ... I mean Western Beltway project.

All of Central Fla is overbuilt, especially WDW and the I-Drive corridor. That's all fine and dandy when the economy is running on all cylinders, but when you have to throw out rooms for $30 a night, you're not making $$$.

Disney, much like WalMart because of its size, can make money off $49 rooms ... but still not much.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Does it seem like so many people have a me first, instant gratification, tomorrow be damned type of attitude.>>

Not in the USofA ... nope. un-ah ... minions, can you rub Daddy's toes?

Then use one of his 11 credit cards to buy some crap he doesn't need ... like one of them MP3 players all the cool kids think are groovy. ... oh and waste some more $$$ on one of those I-phones ... if my plasma screen tells me I need one, then I must. And what's with this Blu-Ray deal? It sounds like something I must have too.

Hmmm... and my Benz is now three years old and my SUV is a year old, so I think it's time to buy some new wheels ...

oh ... I forget, MPierce, were you saying something or just worshipping at my alter? I forgot.

 

Originally Posted By Skellington88

>>So do you guys think this is a reflection in the softness in bookings due to the GREAT economic conditions in the USA or do you think this is just typical?<<

Definatly because of the economy and the looming recession. Disney is just trying to prepare themselves.

 

Originally Posted By Sport Goofy

<< Disney is just trying to prepare themselves. >>

Discounting is usually not a preparatory tactic, but a reactionary one.

 

Originally Posted By kennect

Spirit, This household has no dollars to waste, even for a visit to Disney...Honestly, real life around here comes before WDW...And this is where Disney loses out on my dollars...Our house is fine in terms of financial status...Still though I keep a close check on where dollars are spent since each and everyone is important...We don't have money to waste but we can afford a vacation...Where is our money best spent? Is it at WDW that we love so much or some place else? I still see WDW as a good value if you approach it right but at the same time they need to show me that they truly want my money right now...I don't think they understand that they are missing out on some folks that would spend their money there...Hopefully some of that makes sense....I doubt it did...

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

Sounds like where I'm at.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

I actually feel Disney really 'can' be a value.

It just depends on how/when you do a trip.

I have a friend who has five rooms at Dixie Landings for Christmas week, they're about $250 a night. That to me is absurd.

But for $49 a night, I'll add a January visit.