Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Yep. Reading LP.com and just noticed Disney sent me an email with 35-40% AP hotel discounts on various days right through 12/24 (plenty of blackouts, though, like Spring Break and two summer months ... although I'll bet you anything those disappear later this year). Not jumping to book. Wonder how that dialing down of discounts is going ... (I think I hear an echo ...)
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I just wish that damn resident deal didn't end in May. >:-/ >>> There is a viscous cycle going on here. In this thread, you want discounting to continue, but in another, you bemoan the lowered maintenance standards. There is a correlation between the two.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Not really fair, is that SuperDry? Realizing that discounts are a bad business plan for WDW, as EE does, doesn't preclude him from wanting to take advantage of the discounts and further his budget. It wouldn't change anything if EE, all by his lonesome, boycotted discounts to save WDW. His extra expense might get a light bulb or two changed out. So if discounts are out there, then yeah, he'd like them for his dates as well. Also, if WDW is choosing to offer a lesser quality experience for less money (discounts), then I would argue that they are the start of this vicious cycle. They have a power that we individuals do not.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer What Christi said... However... I honestly don't think that the two are correlated at all. Disney is taking in so much revenue even WITH discounting that maint. shouldn't be a major concern or issue. The discounting is to draw even MORE people in, and probably to only reach their numbers, projections, and attendance figures. (Not to mention hotel and DVC occupancy rates)
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I got the same pin code yesterday...luckily for us it is at a time that we have already booked...saved a few bucks
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Not really fair, is that SuperDry? Realizing that discounts are a bad business plan for WDW, as EE does, doesn't preclude him from wanting to take advantage of the discounts and further his budget. >>> I think you mis-interpreted what I meant to say (probably because I wasn't clear enough). The correlation isn't between EE's wanting to take advantage of offered discounts and lowered standards, but between the discounts themselves and the lowered standards. <<< Also, if WDW is choosing to offer a lesser quality experience for less money (discounts), then I would argue that they are the start of this vicious cycle. They have a power that we individuals do not. >>> Well, they're not offering the discounts out of the goodness of their hearts, or for some evil intent. The discounts are there because they can't keep occupancy and/or attendance at the levels they want them to be without offering them. It's not any individual guest's fault, or even the "fault" of the guests collectively. The economic downturn of the last 2.5 years most certainly has had an effect on guest behavior at WDW, and WDW has to deal with the reality of the situation. Any individual guest would be foolish to not take advantage of whatever discounts are on offer if they otherwise fit into their plans. My point is that anyone that cares about show quality and reduced standards should be hoping for a day when the discounts go away (even if they are taking full advantage of them when offered).
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>My point is that anyone that cares about show quality and reduced standards should be hoping for a day when the discounts go away (even if they are taking full advantage of them when offered).<< Thanks for clarification. Understand much better what you were saying. Can I hope for the discounts AND the crowds to go away? lol
Originally Posted By SuperDry Let me add that there's also the notion about "too many" discounts leading to the situation where guests come to expect them. It's one thing to offer discounts of various types when things are rough temporarily (like in a post-9/11 situation, or during the '08/'09 recession), or seasonally when appropriate, but it's a slippery slope: if you discount too much, then the public perception can turn into a situation whereby the regular prices are considered just "list prices" that only a few suckers pay, and then most people just wait until the next discount. I think that's what Bob Iger was addressing when he mentioned the reduction of discounting during last quarter's conference call, as the analysts are rightly concerned over that happening at WDW.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The issue really is that WDW now discounts almost 365 days a year if you're smart enough to know/ask or not bound by dates and specific resort (i.e. I must stay in a lagoon view room at the Poly from 4/11 to 4/16). Disney for the most part NEVER offered generic 'everyone jump in' discounts in the 70s and 80s and 90s ... sometimes if you called you were lucky and got an upsell (I see you are booked at Coronado Springs for $89 a night ... for $20 more I can offer you the WL) or sometimes when they overbooked (in those days it happened) you might get moved up for free (going from a value to say an OKW studio for no extra charge). But starting last decade (scary to call the 00s that!) Disney began generic discounts and then nationally advertising them thru TV, print media and the web. People expect the discounting now and it is a vicious cycle. Disney needs to stand back and take a hit, which they are scared to death to do, on load levels and revenue to stop the Walmarting ... or it will be the WDW way forever. And let's not forget they keep adding inventory to the resort too ...
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< And let's not forget they keep adding inventory to the resort too ... >>> But aside from DVC, it's all at the low end. What does that tell you?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Disney hasn't added any low-end rooms since they opened Pop in '03 (after it sat in mothballs for two plus years) ... and these new ones will include suites, which make them pricier. I doubt you'll see WDW ever add another deluxe resort unless it is almost all DVC with some rooms thrown in.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< ^^Disney hasn't added any low-end rooms since they opened Pop in '03 >>> Has there been *any* WDW lodging other than DVC opened since then? If so, it escapes me at the moment. <<< and these new ones will include suites, which make them pricier. >>> But the suites are essentially just double rooms, right? That is, they were originally constructed in the blueprint as two single rooms, and they more or less knocked out part of the wall and changed the layout some. My point is they are targeted at families that would have needed two rooms anyway, and gotten just two regular rooms with a connecting door but no extra facilities like a kitchenette. And, these "family suites" are priced less than or about the same as two regular rooms, right? I think it's a great model, but a different one than what a hotel typically does, where a "suite" is often not used by any more people than a regular room but just offers more room, and is often priced well above two regular rooms. I guess what I'm saying is that since they typically would replace a booking for two regular rooms, these family suites are not at all "upscale" as you might normally associate with the term "suite."
