News Walt Disney World theme parks increase capacity but see longer waits and less physical distancing

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't see spring being any different then now. Most experts figure things won't be much better til fall.

I agree...they’re “ramping up” for a brick wall...and will hurt the pocket book more in the process

 

[Miss Bella]

Is this the one millionth attempt in this forum to imply travel isn’t at the will of the medical situation?

Maybe it’ll stick this time

Is it impossible to have threads for different topics. That’s generally how forums function.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Is it impossible to have threads for different topics. That’s generally how forums function.

In normal times it’s very easy. So that’s the missing ingredient

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't see spring being any different then now. Most experts figure things won't be much better til fall.

What do you mean by Spring? Spring starts March 20 and first day of Summer is June 20. So will things be dramatically different by March 20, probably not. Will there be more changes by June 19 which is still Spring, much more likely. The removal of restrictions will be gradual so I don’t think they just wait until “Fall” when maybe everything can be removed to remove anything. So I disagree that things won’t be any different in Spring then they are today. Disney themselves already announced the opening of thousands of additional hotel rooms by around the start of summer so they are certainly expecting more people. Things can change, but that’s what they are looking at as of today.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What do you mean by Spring? Spring starts March 20 and first day of Summer is June 20. So will things be dramatically different by March 20, probably not. Will there be more changes by June 19 which is still Spring, much more likely. The removal of restrictions will be gradual so I don’t think they just wait until “Fall” when maybe everything can be removed to remove anything. So I disagree that things won’t be any different in Spring then they are today. Disney themselves already announced the opening of thousands of additional hotel rooms by around the start of summer so they are certainly expecting more people. Things can change, but that’s what they are looking at as of today.

I think you’re being too literal....

March/april is “springtime” to most and June is “summer”. The cycle in planetary astronomy doesn’t really correspond...it didn’t get the memo

 

[JoeCamel]

The Magic Kingdom was designed to handle 10 million guests per year and was doing double that with marginal gains in capacity and in the case of dining, less capacity than 30 years ago. The parks of Walt Disney World have been operating well over a guest-oriented capacity for years now. The parks can provide a profitable business without the sort of deliberate overcrowding that Disney long desired.

But can they do 10% yoy growth that the board demands? That is what led to the crowding in the first place.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think you’re being too literal....

March/april is “springtime” to most and June is “summer”. The cycle in planetary astronomy doesn’t really correspond...it didn’t get the memo

Fair point. In Disney seasons I think it will be more of the Summer season when we see bigger changes. March/April Spring break time is too soon to see major changes. The majority of resorts they are bringing back are end of May into July so Disney Summer. I think that probably lines up with expected vaccine distribution which is obviously not set in stone.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The Magic Kingdom was designed to handle 10 million guests per year and was doing double that with marginal gains in capacity and in the case of dining, less capacity than 30 years ago. The parks of Walt Disney World have been operating well over a guest-oriented capacity for years now. The parks can provide a profitable business without the sort of deliberate overcrowding that Disney long desired.

Correct.

But can they do 10% yoy growth that the board demands? That is what led to the crowding in the first place.

In a word: No

This is kinda my central mantra...forever. I have witnesses.

But it can’t co-exist with Iger love. Period. Therefore I am “negative” in all things. I’m sure that’s accurate/correct.

 

[JoeCamel]

Correct.



In a word: No

This is kinda my central mantra...forever. I have witnesses.

But it can’t co-exist with Iger love. Period. Therefore I am “negative” in all things. I’m sure that’s accurate/correct.

With Bobby holding 1.1M $DIS shares I'm sure his voice will be heard in the halls of Burbank for a very long time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Fair point. In Disney seasons I think it will be more of the Summer season when we see bigger changes. March/April Spring break time is too soon to see major changes. The majority of resorts they are bringing back are end of May into July so Disney Summer. I think that probably lines up with expected vaccine distribution which is obviously not set in stone.

Correct. This isn’t espionage...just look at their moves. Disney is yielding the 2 quarters.

So we have a minimum...arghh...of 5 months of the “why aren’t they bringing stuff back??”...
Tedious

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

With Bobby holding 1.1M $DIS shares I'm sure his voice will be heard in the halls of Burbank for a very long time.

Street value of $200,000,000...

And if that seems like that’s a drug reference...its cause it is.

 

[JoeCamel]

Street value of $200,000,000...

And if that seems like that’s a drug reference...its cause it is.

He sold $10M last week and Alan Braverman sold $24M last month - probably end of the year housekeeping......

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

He sold $10M last week and Alan Braverman sold $24M last month - probably end of the year housekeeping......

...that’s why it’s GREAT again

 

[Chi84]

The Magic Kingdom was designed to handle 10 million guests per year and was doing double that with marginal gains in capacity and in the case of dining, less capacity than 30 years ago. The parks of Walt Disney World have been operating well over a guest-oriented capacity for years now. The parks can provide a profitable business without the sort of deliberate overcrowding that Disney long desired.

I actually meant to say the kind of capacity they want, not need.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I actually meant to say the kind of capacity they want, not need.

Well that’s different...

What they “want” is to max out and drive “premium upsells”

Totally different

 

[Chi84]

Well that’s different...

What they “want” is to max out and drive “premium upsells”

Totally different

That kind of works for us now. We wouldn’t have been able to do them when we first started visiting though.

 

[GoofGoof]

Well that’s different...

What they “want” is to max out and drive “premium upsells”

Totally different

I think this fiscal year is also largely a free pass for TWDC. Wall Street isn’t expecting a return to normal at the parks by 9/30/21 so they sorta get some time to ramp up. All eyes are on streaming now. Whatever happens with parks will be an extreme increase over the prior year. Starting Oct 1 2021 it’s game on. That’s not to say they won’t push upsells this year but I do think there’s some effort to stabilize the business first. The situation in CA, Paris and Asia will also impact the need to ramp up profits sooner. If WDW has to carry a larger load that could be problematic. By 10/1/21 I’m sure the hope is all parks and DCL are fully open.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That kind of works for us now. We wouldn’t have been able to do them when we first started visiting though.

Everyone can afford them...until they can’t.

And that of course completely doesn’t make sense.

Make the standard product suck so then the “premium” product is like the standard? So what happens when that sucks?
I wouldn’t yodel on the mountain if I were you...

 

[Chi84]

Everyone can afford them...until they can’t.

And that of course completely doesn’t make sense.

Make the standard product suck so then the “premium” product is like the standard? So what happens when that sucks?
I wouldn’t yodel on the mountain if I were you...

My issue is with people being right on top of each other - I know that makes WDW seem like a weird vacation choice.

They could cut capacity by one-half and people would still all crowd in front of the castle for the best view of the fireworks and projections. The dessert parties fixed that for me. We’ve gone to Blizzard Beach at its most uncrowded times and people would still find ways to block the entrances or otherwise encroach on our tiny shady spot. The Polar Patios fixed that.

I understand your point, and it’s a valid one. But my solution is to go with the premium experiences that make WDW comfortable for my family. If the time comes when they price the parks out of our reach, we’ll find a different vacation spot.

I’m not going to forgo the experiences that make WDW enjoyable for me in the hopes that it will change Disney’s focus or direction. Others may disagree and I respect their opinion.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My issue is with people being right on top of each other - I know that makes WDW seem like a weird vacation choice.

They could cut capacity by one-half and people would still all crowd in front of the castle for the best view of the fireworks and projections. The dessert parties fixed that for me. We’ve gone to Blizzard Beach at its most uncrowded times and people would still find ways to block the entrances or otherwise encroach on our tiny shady spot. The Polar Patios fixed that.

I understand your point, and it’s a valid one. But my solution is to go with the premium experiences that make WDW comfortable for my family. If the time comes when they price the parks out of our reach, we’ll find a different vacation spot.

I’m not going to forgo the experiences that make WDW enjoyable for me in the hopes that it will change Disney’s focus or direction. Others may disagree and I respect their opinion.

Disney Parks operates on a mass attendance model...they were built that way and will never be operated in the long run without it. The shareholders/board won’t allow it forever.

In short: enjoy those parties as you can now. Because they will look to “level” the price playing field (on the higher peg...rest assured) and also pack to the gills. That’s the only “equilibrium” to be had.

This situation is very interesting coming up...if you want to watch how sales and operations are modified on a mass scale...a good case study is on deck (hopefully)