Disney Dream doesn’t dent older cruise ships
Disney Dream doesn’t dent older cruise ships
Walt Disney Co. revealed a few details about the popularity of its cruise line last week as it discussed its fiscal second-quarter earnings with stock analysts.
Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said the company’s three-ship fleet is more than 95 percent booked for the current quarter (spring), 86 percent booked for the fourth quarter (summer) and almost 60 percent booked for the company’s fiscal first quarter (fall).
“Which is pretty interesting, considering the new ship has 4,000 guests on it, a considerable number of staterooms,” Iger said. “We added a significant amount of inventory, and bookings are very strong.”
Iger said shipbuilders in Papenburg, Germany continue to make progress on the Disney Fantasy, the sister ship to the Disney Dream. It is to begin sailing in spring 2012.
Disney continues to rein in hotel discounts
Disney appears to be making some progress in its long-running efforts to pull back on the discounts it relied on during the recession.
The company reported last week that advance room reservations at its domestic resorts for its fiscal third quarter are running 2.5 percent behind last year’s levels. But while the company may be booking less summer business at this point than it did a year ago, it’s getting higher prices for the rooms it’s reserving. Room rates for those reservations are up by double-digit percentages from last year’s rates, the company said during the second-quarter earnings call.
Iger said the company was going to keep prices where they are now to send a signal that the discounts Disney employed to draw crowds during the economic slump are a thing of the past.
“We worked really hard to wean the consumer of the discount, and it worked in the second quarter, where we had slightly improved — if you factor out Easter — attendance and occupancy rates and better pricing, which was really important,” Iger said. “The goal remains the same for the third quarter.”
Part-time Disney staff votes on contract Friday
Part-time workers at Walt Disney‘s World are scheduled to vote Friday on a new contract, as Disney seeks to wrap up a deal that affects approximately 10,000 “casual regular” workers at its Florida theme parks.
The vote, which includes employees represented by the Service Trades Council, is scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Contemporary hotel. The contract includes bonuses worth as much as $275 for part-time workers who don’t earn tips and $50 for part-time workers who do.
The proposed contract would also add two more holidays — Dr. Martin Luther King Day and Labor Day — to the list of days on which part-time workers can earn holiday pay.
NATO delegates take cultural tour of area
A local cultural-tourism operator played host to an interesting group of guests last week: 60 delegates from NATO who were attending a conference at Disney World’s military-run Shades of Green Resort.
Florida Cultural Tours, based in Kissimmee, said it took the delegates, who hailed from more than 17 countries, on a guided tour that included a boat ride on Winter Park‘s Chain of Lakes and a visit to the Orange County Regional History Center.
The delegates also met with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.
Build-a-Bear opens store in Orlando airport
Orlando International Airport announced last week that is now home to the first Build-A-Bear Workshop inside an airport.
The interactive toy store, which gives customers the opportunity to select, stuff and dress a furry friend, is located on the “B” side of the main terminal, near the food court.
An executive for Build-A-Bear said the company has had “great reaction” to the new store.
“This expands the variety of shops and services that appeal to travelers of all ages,” said Linda Baratta, manager of concessions for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
skclarke@tribune.com or 407-420-5664
jrgarcia@tribune.com or 407-420-5414
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