WDW during a Recession / Economic Downturn

[IanDLBZF]

They showed some pictures of Vegas looking less than busy on the news item and interviewed some people there who seemed very concerned for their own businesses.

And already we've seen layoffs and cutbacks in Vegas.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

They showed some pictures of Vegas looking less than busy on the news item and interviewed some people there who seemed very concerned for their own businesses.

Vegas and NYC have had the biggest decline in international tourists. International visitors to Vegas spend more and stay longer, which makes their absence of such concern. Vegas' troubles could get even worse if convention business doesn't renew or continue like in previous years. Increasingly hot summers and the perception it's a rip off are not helping either when it comes to drawing domestic crowds.

Orlando has avoided most of problems that have plagued other US tourist reliant destinations and towns so far this year.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

And already we've seen layoffs and cutbacks in Vegas.

And those who still have jobs have reported getting less tips as a result of fewer tourists.

 

[Miss Bella]

Vegas and NYC have had the biggest decline in international tourists. International visitors to Vegas spend more and stay longer, which makes their absence of such concern. Vegas' troubles could get even worse if convention business doesn't renew or continue like in previous years. Increasingly hot summers and the perception it's a rip off are not helping either when it comes to drawing domestic crowds.

Orlando has avoided most of problems that have plagued other US tourist reliant destinations and towns so far this year.

It's to be expected in a global recession.

I'm planning a trip to Vegas in December. I'm kind of shocked at the prices. That being said there is a lot more to do there than the last time I was there 25 years ago. I wondering what costs more Vegas or Disneyland. They seem comparable from what I can see.

 

[Miss Bella]

I try not to comment on Dcl too
Much

But their itineraries and choices have always been puzzling

Just a guess (no info) is it’s a
Relic from the land and sea era? They wanted you oh Orlando buying merch when Dcl started…doubling you up. But times have changed

We started cruising DCL 15 years ago. I honestly don't know how young families do it at these prices. I believe they offer so many short cruises because that's the price point that people can afford. I would still take a DCL cruise if they offered anything worth while.
I don't know how DCL is going to make it without the Gen X'ers that started cruising with them two decades ago.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We started cruising DCL 15 years ago. I honestly don't know how young families do it at these prices. I believe they offer so many short cruises because that's the price point that people can afford. I would still take a DCL cruise if they offered anything worth while.
I don't know how DCL is going to make it without the Gen X'ers that started cruising with them two decades ago.

They are 2X the closest equivalent cruise lines…

And I’m not talking carnival here

 

[MaryJaneP]

can't DCL post a ship in some polynesian port that also sails to Hawai'i? Maybe one of the duplicate 3-4 night florida/carribean ships. Seems like it could be a lucrative proposition given the number of foreign tourists I say in a recent Hawai'i trip. Maybe the recession would be less harsh with more choices available,

 

[Miss Bella]

can't DCL post a ship in some polynesian port that also sails to Hawai'i? Maybe one of the duplicate 3-4 night florida/carribean ships. Seems like it could be a lucrative proposition given the number of foreign tourists I say in a recent Hawai'i trip. Maybe the recession would be less harsh with more choices available,

Disney is family(kid)dependent.The childless Disney adults will claim otherwise, but there’s not enough of those to fill the ships.

Airfare for a family and school schedules are prohibitive. Their Panama cruise sell quite nicely with the retired people. Mostly adults that started cruising Disney with kids and stuck with the product.

They always seem to have trouble with unique offseason cruises. DCL is not something non Disney adults are going to book. At least not at Disney prices. That’s just not their market.

Only flagged US ships can cruise around Hawaii due to the passenger vessel service act. Ships have to stop in a foreign port. NCL has a ship that is US flagged and cruises around Hawaii. I’m not sure about this, but I think all the workers have to be American.

DCL does cruises from Vancouver to Hawaii, but are usually heavily discounted. Now that they are pulling out of Australia I’m not sure what they’ll do.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney is family(kid)dependent.The childless Disney adults will claim otherwise, but there’s not enough of those to fill the ships.

Are you sure?

60% of Disney+ subscribers are from households without children.

If the parks were dependent on children, they wouldn't be open on days in which school was in session.

 

[Miss Bella]

Are you sure?

60% of Disney+ subscribers are from households without children.

If the parks were dependent on children, they wouldn't be open on days in which school was in session.

I was referring to DCL not the parks. That being said parks are still full of kids during the school year. I've never been to a Disney park that is not full of kids. I've haven't been a DCL cruise out of Florida that wasn't kid soup.

My point was Disney doing off season longer better itineraries would not attract enough adults to be profitable. Parents aren't going to pull their kids out of school for weeks to do that. Therefore they stick with their short cruises because that is what makes them money.

I knew a childless adult would get tied up in knots in my saying Disney is kid dependent. Until I go to the parks or on Disney cruise and see no kids I'm going to stick with that.

 

[Andrew C]

If the parks were dependent on children, they wouldn't be open on days in which school was in session.

Parks are dependent on children. Their cruises are dependent on children. To say otherwise is kinda crazy. Go on days where school is in session; still full of kids. This is a weird take. It all exists and works because of children.

 

[ChrisFL]

It's to be expected in a global recession.

I'm planning a trip to Vegas in December. I'm kind of shocked at the prices. That being said there is a lot more to do there than the last time I was there 25 years ago. I wondering what costs more Vegas or Disneyland. They seem comparable from what I can see.

I've seen a few YT videos about Vegas and one of the issues is apparently there's a lot of expensive hotel room fees above and beyond the regular costs, so be careful about that.

There's also some table games that have changed to be even more difficult to win...odds changes, etc.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Go on days where school is in session; still full of kids.

I do.

It's not. At least, very very few school aged children.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You know…I was curious this past week when the “tariffs will kick in 8/6”
was bandied about a bit to see how our scrupulous, free market warrior suppliers would respond.

Just noticed a lot of 25% + price bumps in the last few days…in the GROCERY store…

Won’t say who (Wegmans…”best” supermarket as voted by the industry for like…ever)…but I was thinking mommy and daddy are gonna kicked in the hurt button again and prolly don’t see it coming…

How would that relate to “luxury” vacation planning? Nothing…im sure.

Bob better Raise those swamp prices NOW…so they can drive some more bread and butter clients away stat! The workers may also want another $0.50 an hour raise…and that could just tip the scales?

 

[CLEtoWDW]

I remember going to WDW in 2008 & 2009 and there was certainly a recession effect in place. Crowds were certainly lower (even in peak season) and Disney also cut theme park hours.

I have a theory that we are unlikely to see a similar environment. Since 2008 central Floridas population has exploded and with all the local attendants it will create a base level of attendance regardless of economic conditions.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I remember going to WDW in 2008 & 2009 and there was certainly a recession effect in place. Crowds were certainly lower (even in peak season) and Disney also cut theme park hours.

I have a theory that we are unlikely to see a similar environment. Since 2008 central Floridas population has exploded and with all the local attendants it will create a base level of attendance regardless of economic conditions.

Locals are a small percentage of the daily crowd

And not the high SPG that the suits don’t stop talking about.

Even if there is never an attendance drop (we’re in a sustained one…but whatever)…you’d see massive cuts and maybe even park hour slashing to account for the drop in spending per guest.

The thing about Florida too…Father Time is about to take a large share of its population….second wave of this happening…and it will be backfilled - if it’s bankfilled - with generations with far less wealth/means.

How does that go with biannual price increases?

 

[Miss Bella]

Parks are dependent on children. Their cruises are dependent on children. To say otherwise is kinda crazy. Go on days where school is in session; still full of kids. This is a weird take. It all exists and works because of children.

This has been my experience. Kids everywhere and thank God for that. Maybe in twenty years it will be all 40+ adults standing in line for Mickey Mouse. That is a scary thought.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You know…this just recently came out and I’ve caught a part of it (audio in the car)…and it’s instructive here

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQT0TrXhN5NOjMKYoacnK-TbxziApz2EwyrUTK-QADHkg&s=10

 

[Miss Bella]

I’m a Former Disney Employee and I Think ‘Disney Adults’ Are the Worst

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

Here's a different perspective.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I’m a Former Disney Employee and I Think ‘Disney Adults’ Are the Worst

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

Here's a different perspective.

It's a relief to know that adult parents of children -- who would never go to a Disney park by themselves -- always act in calm, mature ways and have never burdened a CM or ever been demanding and overly particular.