I tracked…because my daughter loves rides and I usually can take them or leave them…posted versus during our last trip. Hadn’t been in standbys in the main draws that much for awhile prior. And they all were in the 15-30 minute overage range.
Guardians was I think 44 on a 65…space was 10 on a 30…slinky was 30 on a 60…etc etc
So that 35 on tron is almost a joke…when you consider many paid $30 or so for it a week ago…behind a smoke screen that things are “busy”
This really is a game at this point.
It is most definitely not busy today.
Not sure why they would block out cast on such a slow day.
4:45pm
Haunted Mansion 20 minutes
Pirates 5 minutes.
Jungle Cruise 15 minutes
Space 30.
Tron 45
Tianas 50
I wish all days could be like this. It feels like off season from back in the day..... But it's July and also 2025 so definitely should not be like this.
Great for me. Great for those that are here. Not the best for business though I am sure TDO would explain this away as part of their long term plan to eliminate the highs of peak season and the valleys of off-season with more steady crowds throughout the year. They do this by raising prices during peak season and lowering them plus adding incentives during off-season.
I think the success in which they have done that is a factor but also a minimal one.
Also at play is a post covid revenge travel lull
Plus price hike fatigue has kick in.
A large chunk of the leisure travel population is back to value shopping their travel plans and Disney's current value proposition is not well positioned to be attractive to that segment. "Protecting" the few "lowest priced days" is not the answer.
Right wrong or indifferent, politics are also at play. Ymmv but is a factor.
Another contributing factor Is the decline in the quality of the product and experience they are offering. Live entertainment is a notably reduced, as are resort offerings, and new attractions or updated ones just do not have the wow factor that they should. Its not due to losing too much creative talent, Tokyo Disney's new projects demonstrate wdi still has the creative muscle.
At blame is a stateside corporate mind set that places a emphasis on "value engineering " so strongly that it has become "good enough is good enough". Worst is stateside Disney it's so ingrained in this thought that imo they don't even realize they now habitually eliminate the wow factor out of almost everything they do.
And the end result is an overpriced experience that relays on brand loyalty, which is resilient but is no longer expanding.
Definitely not what your typical or first time guest thinks of when they hear it's empty. Now below... Here is a great example of MK cast doing it right. This cm is proactively handing out cups of ice water on this hot day. Disney use to excel at moments like these. iMO Now they are more the exception then the rule.
Finally Epic is also a factor. More insult to Disney's already self-inflicted wounds, epic is many ways delivers on what Disney used to excel at.
Attractions are top notch and absolutely delivered quality experiences.
Food and beverage is upgraded with good portion size, though it is a high price point. It's not cheap but the value is there. Additionally the f&b restaurants are rich in detail and story telling.
I would say Disney's food beverage is still a strong offering But it too has been suffering a little bit from a constant quest of doing more with less. The spicy chicken sandwich from sleepy hollow is definitely a victim of that More for less mentality. Plus you can't walk into a restaurant at Epic's pizza Moon, Atlantic, Toad Stool cafe or Mead hall and not be impressed with the level of detail and theming in the environment itself.
Retail is just as amazing at Epic. Really out classes Disneys retail and their " The merchandise is the star" mentality that has neutered the retail experience at Disney. The retail experiences at Epic are loaded with details and complement in every way the themed land they are in. The entrance to their Christmas store even has periodic snow flurries (yes it's snoap). Like the attractions the stores have so much detail in that there's no way you can take it all in in one visit. Which then may lead you to come back and look at them again, and possibly buy something again. $$$$
I many ways Epic is old school Disney philosophy with modern day technology..
Sorry for the long post. I guess I had a lot of thoughts to share after all. Just did two laps in Liberty Belle and made to MS USA to board Lille Belle for what they are saying will be the last lap around the park.
All aboard!!!!
