Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Thanks Dan. I had heard good things about CG before, but now I'm really psyched. And since we have fireworks seating, it should be something to remember. Great that I get to do this for the first time on my honeymoon. I'm a romantic at heart.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I am sure you will hear more on this from Spirit and Danny.>> No need. You said it all and have great taste (in beef!)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^ we may be able to start a fan club based on that entre alone !
Originally Posted By danyoung Funny you'd say that. I was just thinking this morning that vbdad, Spirit & I all need to get together one of these days and enjoy a fine beef filet at the CG and actually communicate, y'know, person to person!
Originally Posted By Ohana90 I was just reading all the comments regarding the DDP and came to this conclusion. Its not for everyone. Some like it some will not. Dan, I read earlier that you didnt want a later dinner time due to the fact that you would miss Illuminations. If they had a time take it. Illuminations plays every night. Thats the beauty of it, if you cant see it one night see it another time. My opinion. Unless you dont have the park hopper then that would be a problem. Nuff said. hope everything works out for you.
Originally Posted By danyoung ^^^^ The problem with that is that if there's any event at WDW that I plan a trip around, it's IllumiNations. And it's not just the show itself. It's the fine dinner in a restaurant that I love, followed by drinks before in the Rose & Crown, the big show viewed from my favorite spot in front of the Canada pavilion, the long walk around the World Showcase Lagoon, having the park practically to myself once the big crowds disperse. It's an event that I only get to experience a few times a year, and it's very important to me. I simply can't just come back next week or next month - it's a bit hard to do from Texas. If the Coral Reef is only available later in the evening, then I won't go to the Coral Reef. Now, that's not the end of the world, by any means. But when the Coral Reef is booking solidly a full HALF A YEAR IN ADVANCE, then there's something wrong with the system, especially when it's never been anywhere close to this difficult in the past. And as to the park hopper thing, I tend to book up evenings on a WDW trip with fine dining and fireworks shows. I usually try to hit Epcot every other night. I still have two more chances to get a Coral Reef resrvation. But if all the folks doint the 180 Plus thing have already snatched up the prime times, then I don't have a chance. My only recourse is to plan next time to have my hotel booked and at least one night paid for, so I can take advantage of the 180 Plus. It's doable, and I'll adjust to it. But compared to the way it used to be, it's a major pain.
Originally Posted By Ohana90 I understand. Ita a traditional thing. That definately would explain the frustration. Well I hope you get your reservation. Good luck and have a few beers for me. Never been to the rose and crown but I will be in May 2008. I am also a Texan by the way. What part? I am in San Antonio. GO SPURSS!! (hope their is no cleveland fans in here LOL)
Originally Posted By danyoung Dalls (Cowboys RULE!!). And the Rose & Crown makes a mean vodka martini!
Originally Posted By ChiMike >> I apologize to ChiMike. I also appreciate that he did not respond. It was not worthy of a response and by not responding ChiMike demonstrated class that I did not.<< No worries RT, and I appreciate you following up. I started posting online in 1993. I have only been on moderated boards since 2001, less than 50% of the overall time. My point in saying this(which is intended to let you know that I liked you prior to and after the aforementioned post) is that while I try to avoid responding to them, I enjoy reading posts that do not mince words. >>I guess I just felt bad for Chi Mike ... I just sensed a different level of criticism on some of his comments the last few times also.<< >>Not that any/all of his points didn't have merit, just that they seemed to contain more emotion than usual - therefore I am sure rankled more than a few here.<< HA! Again, I appreciate it VBDAD, but my last posts over the week were honestly intended to be extremely pragmatic and void of any emotion. Well except the COP thread, >wink RT< What a crazy medium this really is, especially for someone who just boasted a 15 year history with it. >>ChiMike, I hope whenever the next trip is - it somehow improves, as I know how cranky I would be if I felt that badly about WDW. But certain things there- yes they tick me off too.<< Now, yes, I am very upset about WDW, but not in a hysterical way. I have been ringing the warning bell as loud as I possibly could since the late 90's with such things as Toad, EPCOT, Disneyland expansion, and the overall direction of WDP&R. So the hysteria wore off around 2002. A lot of things have improved with Disney, some have become noticeably worse. So, I am way past the point in hoping for a rebound on the very next trip. I will tell you that while I have not been able to spend time in the recent past sharing my opinion on the changes occurring in Burbank/Glendale, I am thrilled to death at what is occurring in many areas of the company. For example, I accompanied three different groups to Meet the Robinsons this spring; with all having a great experience. So as the cancerous egos continue to be eradicated from the company I keep enthusiastically humming "The Future has Arrived".
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ glad to hear it .......like you I have been criticzing portions of Disney and WDW for about 10 years now -- I just had never reached the point where I 'turned the corner' so to speak. A few years ago we went and it rained ALL day for 4 of the days we were there and most of the other 4 -- and coupling that with other issues there, I was crankier than usual. I am glad you knew I meant no criticism, more concern....as I know how much you too care for WDW and Disney - so I knew you meant all you said. p.s. 15 years on line- amazing -- I think it is only about 5 for me -- and there have been times I wanted to run for the exits ---
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Also I figure a certain extra amount of crankiness would come because your Sox are playing like my Cubs....
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<2) The hotels have bumped up their rack rates annually, and instead of competitively pricing them, continue to rely on discounts, promotions, and packages to fill vacancy>> They have increased their rack rates, but not excessively in my opinion. Using prices listed in the 1998 Birnbaum's compared to prices in the 2007 Birnbaum's I was able to calculate the average price increase over those 9 years. Value and Moderate resorts increased an average of 3.5% per year, while Deluxe resorts increased an average of 4.5% per year. Since during this same period wages increased approximately 3.5% a year, I don't think the price increases are excessive. Undoubtedly Disney used discounting and AP rates to bring the Deluxe resort increases more in line with the increases at the moderate and values, so I agree with that portion of your analysis.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That would be a great time...>> We NEED to ... it would be FUN!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<So, I am way past the point in hoping for a rebound on the very next trip. I will tell you that while I have not been able to spend time in the recent past sharing my opinion on the changes occurring in Burbank/Glendale, I am thrilled to death at what is occurring in many areas of the company. For example, I accompanied three different groups to Meet the Robinsons this spring; with all having a great experience. So as the cancerous egos continue to be eradicated from the company I keep enthusiastically humming "The Future has Arrived".>> Despite what some folks may think, I couldn't agree more. I am more optimistic now about Disney (and hell, Universal too) than at any point in OVER a decade. Slowly, but surely the cancers are being removed. My biggest point of contention now is no longer in Glendale ... but in parks and resorts ... Jay Rasulo's time needs to be ended ... and his puppet WalMart quality execs ... especially in Orlando and Paris need to go. But I think this decade is going to end on a much better level for Disney than how it started.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>They have increased their rack rates, but not excessively in my opinion. Using prices listed in the 1998 Birnbaum's compared to prices in the 2007 Birnbaum's I was able to calculate the average price increase over those 9 years. Value and Moderate resorts increased an average of 3.5% per year, while Deluxe resorts increased an average of 4.5% per year. Since during this same period wages increased approximately 3.5% a year, I don't think the price increases are excessive. Undoubtedly Disney used discounting and AP rates to bring the Deluxe resort increases more in line with the increases at the moderate and values, so I agree with that portion of your analysis.<< That's all true RT, but I was trying to emphasize a different point. That they have "bumped annually" the rack rates. Which is reasonable and along the lines of any business reviewing inflationary pressures and the increasing cost of operations. My point was that they have done this as they continue to position themselves into needing to discount, offer free dining, etc., and as they build more DVC rooms which also affects the overall resort room supply more than just adding one more room into inventory.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^ isn't this the same as all American industry right now though. We have 2 major auto makers who are hemorraging money and they increase their MSRP every year while increasing rebates and financing deals. The same goes for grocery stores that are increasing prices are breakneck speed, yet offer buy one - get one free offers, I could go on and on -- We have become a society that is somehow motivated by not paying full price for anything ( I know TDLFAN has gone her a number of times re: airline fares ) - because we 'need to get a deal" I really believe it started with all the auto rebates.....at least I believe that had the most effect -- I think the companies most of the time thing the average consumer is not smart enough to figure out they are paying the same thing if one pays $15,000 MSRP for a car or $18,000 - $3,000 rebate -- I swear this is true
Originally Posted By Labuda "I am in San Antonio. GO SPURS" Native San Antonian here. Austinite now. And woooooo - game 2 over and we won again! Yeeee-ha! Oh, and Dan - if you're not successful right now getting your ressies, try later on down the line as you get closer - maybe once a wqeek or so, call up and ccheck to see if there have been any cancellations. I'm pretty sure a cancellation is how I just snagged a 9:30 pm CG ressie less than 6 weeks out.
Originally Posted By danyoung That's what I'll have to do, Labuda. After a full week of calling at 6am every morning, I'm officially not able to get a dining spot at the Coral Reef in the 6pm to 7:30pm range that works for me. I snagged a booking at 7:40pm, which pretty much means that I'll still be dining when IllumiNations starts up. Very large bummer for me, but I'll keep trying.
Originally Posted By Ohana90 ""I am in San Antonio. GO SPURS" Native San Antonian here. Austinite now. And woooooo - game 2 over and we won again! Yeeee-ha!" Amen to that Labuda. :O) Dan, I know this is really far fetched but you can always also call the day before you go and see if their were any cancellations. Things do arise. Worth the shot. That is how I booked my daughter's breakfast at Cinderellas Castle. Lucky I was.
