News Park attendance showing significant softness heading into the Fall 2018

[wdwmagic]

Word from inside the park is that there are signs of some significant slowdown in attendance this month.

Alarm bells are beginning to sound, with various areas being asked to trim back labor and begin cost saving measures.

For those of you who may not be regular readers, this isn't entirely new, and has occurred several times over the last couple of years.

 

[larryz]

I've also noticed an increased amount of advertising lately across many channels.

 

[wdwfan757]

Beyond what they expected due to the "we'll wait until star wars opens" crowd?

 

[Bledley]

Just returned from a week there, I can confirm, very manageable crowds. We stayed in a cabin at Fort Wilderness, and after the Labor Day Holiday, the place was pretty empty.

 

[FigmentFan82]

Asking for speculation, does this appear to be the case into October as well?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Resort occupancy is still strong though, correct? That would suggest the softness is coming from locals or off-site guests?

 

[StarshipDisney]

Considering how Disney has been working so hard as of late to reduce benefits while raising prices, I am very happy to hear this. Can only hope it continues.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Is this slowdown for this month or are they seeing it starting this month and then going forward? Seems a little drastic to start cutting costs for slowness in one month, but then again, this is TDO we're talking about - No penny will go unpinched.

 

[Tick Tock]

After Irma last September, and the projections from NWS of future hurricane seasons... I can understand why too many people wouldn't be in a hurry to book around this time of year, especially way far ahead- as a good WDW vacation requires these days.

 

[jaxonp]

Back to school. Happens every year.

 

[MaximumEd]

We head down in October. Hope it’s not a repeat of Jan-Feb with low crowds but huge lines due to staffing cutbacks.

 

[wdwmagic]

Back to school. Happens every year.

No that is part of regular patterns that Disney fully plans for. This is unexpected softness.

 

[danlb_2000]

Beyond what they expected due to the "we'll wait until star wars opens" crowd?

I wonder what next fall is going to be like when we are even closer to Star Wars opening.

 

[deeevo]

That is weird since the parks seem busy to me especially for this time of year.

 

[FigmentFan82]

We head down in October. Hope it’s not a repeat of Jan-Feb with low crowds but huge lines due to staffing cutbacks.

Ditto exactly! Was down in WDW end of Jan into Feb and this is what happened to us. Attraction wait times were high across the board. Hope they can better manage the slow down coming up

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I wonder what next fall is going to be like when we are even closer to Star Wars opening.

Hoping it's dead. Just booked November 1.

Will be canceling if Star Wars opens early. Don't want to be anywhere near Orlando for that zoo.

 

[DisneyGigi]

Very slow during the week while we have been here since last Sunday. The weekend picked up of course, but I have not seen crowds this low in September in a few years.

 

[danlb_2000]

Hoping it's dead. Just booked November 1.

Will be canceling if Star Wars opens early. Don't want to be anywhere near Orlando for that zoo.

Same thing I have been planning, taking a trip in the fall before the land opens.

 

[ppet]

Will be there at the end of the Month. I hope the crowds are still manageable. I really miss the Jan/Feb times of the early 2000s.

 

[xdan0920]

Don't post much anymore, but this made me think, also made me a bit annoyed.

So attendance predictions look "soft" ok....

What does TDO do? Cut back labor, tighten up budgets, make an empty park feel fuller. Great! And, now, if their predictions are off, then this "optimized staffing" will make for a nightmare-ish park experience.

Wouldn't the better move be to fully staff and operate the parks. If attendance is soft, great, all the guests get a wonderful experience, making them more likely to return. Doesn't that seem like the better long term strategery?

Also, maybe it would help to give folks a reason to visit outside of whatever current festival Epcot is running and sundry after hour "parties" that effectively double the cost of your day at MK? I dunno...

Call me crazy.