Granny
Yeah, I'm a guy
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2001
Boy, Lots going on this week!
It does seem that everyone is in the summer swing of things.
Sleepy...I hope that you and Luv are both satisfied with the challenges of your new jobs!
As for Artist Point, I'm kind of split on my reaction to the rumor. I really don't know that Disney needs a lot more character meals, but Disney clearly hasn't been able to make Artist Point a destination reservation. Personally I think it is because the menu is a little too eclectic but for whatever reason it never fills up. I do know that we generally do not patronize AP because we just aren't turned on by the menu (same with Flying Fish). So I understand that Disney wants to do something to make that space pay off, and it sounds like character meals are the way they are heading. I would have preferred something like changing to another good steakhouse but I guess they feel like they have that more than covered. And I think they have done a better job with Mara at AKL as far as a destination reservation.
Part of the problem with AP was that Wilderness not being on the monorail means that probably only 2% of reservations were from people NOT staying at Wilderness. Meanwhile, signature restaurants at GF, Poly, & Contemporary are nearly at full capacity all the time...
Ron...I think you hit the nail on the head.
2) Knock WL from the ranks of the deluxe resorts - You can't be a deluxe resort and not have a Signature restaurant. You can CALL yourself a deluxe all you want, but without a topnotch dining experience, you just aren't.
I agree Sleepy. For whatever reason, Disney has never been able to generate the deluxe reputation for Wilderness Lodge. As much as we love it, it clearly has been at the bottom of the deluxe resort list as far as demand goes. Even when it was consistently the lowest priced deluxe resort, it had severe occupancy issues that ended up with half of the resort being converted to DVC to turn empty rooms into additional revenue. They had the same problem with AKL, trying to call it a deluxe resort. But for most of the general, non-Disney fanatic population...WL and AKL just never got close to GF/Contemporary/Polynesian/Y&BC/BWI. My guess is that it because of location. If WL was on the monorail or walking distance to two parks, then I think it would have succeeded as a deluxe resort.
For the same reason, I think Riviera Resort (non DVC portion) may have some challenges. It will depend on whether the gondola system can generate the same excitement as the monorail. Who knows? For a new generation of park visitors, the gondola may be as cool (or cooler) than an antiquated monorail system? Time will tell, I suppose.
So I can definitely see the higher-ups struggling with how to maximize occupancy and profits, and I guess they think character meals will pull people from other resorts better than what the current Artist Point restaurant has been able to do. In any event, I think WL will continue to be seen by most as a Moderate Plus category.