Originally Posted By hopemax How Disney was going to combat the Waldorf Astoria? They invited the Four Seasons to the party. And an official announcement about the second retail district. <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-01-2007/0004537540&EDATE=" target="_blank">http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi- bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-01-2007/0004537540&EDATE=</a> "Walt Disney World Resort today announced two new projects as part of an expansion plan for the resort in Central Florida: a new 900-acre luxury resort anchored by the prestigious Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and a 450-acre retail, dining and lodging district on the western edge of the Disney resort. "These projects are first-of-a-kind for Walt Disney World and we are thrilled to be able to bring Four Seasons to our resort," said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. "Families around the globe know they can trust Disney to deliver magical experiences and Four Seasons to offer exceptional service and amenities. Combined, this is a huge win for devotees of both brands and for Central Florida," said Crofton. LUXURY DESTINATION RESORT - NORTHEAST RESORT AREA Along the northeast border of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney plans to convert its Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses into a luxury resort and golf community. The development will include a luxury hotel, 18-hole championship golf course, single- and multi-family vacation homes and fractional ownership vacation homes."
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 It's safe to say that both the Four Seasons and Waldorf will put the service at the WDW 'deluxe' resorts to shame. Paper thin white towels, Ivory soap, limited room service, slovenly cast and dirty carpeting just aren't going to cut it anymore at WDW pricepoints. But I've already started a thread on the developments announced today by InoverherheadMeg.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I'm not sure how Disney will react to this in it's own deluxe resorts. It's kind of hard not to notice the difference in quality if the luxury resorts are on property...
Originally Posted By mrichmondj << I'm not sure how Disney will react to this in it's own deluxe resorts. It's kind of hard not to notice the difference in quality if the luxury resorts are on property... >> I'm not sure why folks bring this up as a big issue. Disney's resorts have always had some weird things going on that you would never expect from a traditional hotel chain, luxury or otherwise. Yet, the occupancy at the Disney resorts has always been well above the industry average. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the folks that wrote travel publications gave the Disney hotels such horrible reviews that Disney had to hire Steve Birnbaum to write an "official" book that glossed over and ignored all of those negative criticisms. To be honest, the Disney resorts have improved tremendously from the early days of the Contemporary and Polynesian. The quality of hotel service then was abysmal -- yet people still flocked to stay on the WDW property even under those circumstances. I really don't expect that trend to change much.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I can only hope that one good thing that will come from these horrible announcements is that these new ultra high end properties will force Disney to improve service at its "deluxe" resorts.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I can only hope that one good thing that will come from these horrible announcements is that these new ultra high end properties will force Disney to improve service at its "deluxe" resorts. >>> <<< Or lower its prices. >>> Don't hold your breath on either count. With WDW stretching to meet its earnings growth targets, and with it having to carry the burden of other Disney resorts that may be underperforming so that Parks & Resorts can still meet its overall numbers, it's very unlikely that the construction of a Four Seasons on property is going to in of itself allow the Deluxe resorts to either increase service or reduce prices.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> from these horrible announcements << I don't get this. Why are these announcements horrible? Horrible announcements to me is if they decided to shutter something. That would be a visible step backwards. Opening new at least is a step forward. Step forwards are always scarey. You never know. But you gotta step foward.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Oh goodie!! Just what WDW needs! Another hotel!! How much longer before the new resort name change takes place?? "Walt Disney's World of Hotels" Let me go over there and puke now.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Just what WDW needs! Another hotel << I would agree with your sentiments on this. But I'm not as upset as needing to puke just now. What I'm hoping is that this can act as a fulcrum for park development and improvement, and other hotel improvements elsewhere?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Yes, as long as Four Seasons is willing to dish up the $$$ for those other projects as well...
Originally Posted By dshyates ANYTIME ANYONE drops a dollar off property a Disney Fairy dies. No seriously, my guess is The Peabody, The Ritz, and even the J. W. Marriot were outclassing the Deluxes. So Disney is trying to gain back the customers they already lost by mediocre quality at beyond Lux prices.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 My guess is that other than a substantial leasing arrangement, WDW will pocket no money directly from the Four Seasons. And right now, Orlando's upscale hotel market has never been stronger. The Ritz Carlton, J.W. Marriott, Hyatt Grand Cypress, Omni Championsgate, Gaylord Palms and Marriott World Center all outclass WDW's deluxes in terms of rooms, service and, in many cases, amenities. Only the Hyatt and Marriott even existed in 2000. That doesn't even include the on property Swan and Dolphin and soon to be Waldorf Astoria. Having Mickey soap, character buffets and a bus to take you to theme parks does not make you a luxury resort. Disney has made some strides in the last two years by renovating the Contemporary, Poly and WL ... and doing a great job on each ... but the other stuff is still lacking. It blows my mind that folks who could have stayed at the Ritz last summer for $199 were paying almost that to stay at WDW moderate motels. The luxury guests that have fled Disney in droves as the quality has plummeted over the past 10-15 years might return and stay at the Waldorf or the Four Seasons ... convincing them to pony up $400 a night for a room at the Beach Club is gonna be a much tougher sell.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed Spirit. When we saw the Gaylord, we rethought our future plans for the next visit.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Oh goodie!! Just what WDW needs! Another hotel!! How much longer before the new resort name change takes place?? "Walt Disney's World of Hotels" Let me go over there and puke now. << I think you really missed it here. It should be "Walt Disney world of Hotels, and Time Share".
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I wonder how long it will be before Disney decides to get out of the hotel business all together and starts selling the hotels they have. Imagine, Hilton's Polynesian Village and La Quinta's Pop Century Resort...
