Epic Universe is the lowest rated theme park in Orlando

[maxairmike]

Meh. The vast majority of days are always available for reservations these days, at all parks. The number of people doing what you’re describing above is going to be a statistically insignificant rounding error.

Still doesn’t affect my last point, which I generally apply even more strongly to any resort with multiple gates.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Words words words. No idea what on earth you are talking about.

The general consensus from most on this board and online is that having longer operating hours may well be a simple short term solution to address the complaints from many visitors. You replied back with some sort of summary why this is not needed with words and more words about how you know the market.

Most likely what's gone on here, is that you know the point is correct, but you just want to do an opposing view point to give the illusion of feeling clever, so you've hyperboled with words and more words.

The point is incorrect. Extending open hours will not increase ride capacity at the times people are actually in the park. We were having a civilised discussion about why and they have a response.

The issues affecting the park will not be helped by your "simple short term solution". The real solutions are being rolled out but take time. Nobody is trying "to give the illusion of feeling clever" it's just an adult conversation.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Good thing social media and the web didn't exist in 1990 or Universal wouldn't even be around today (Not to mention the opening day fiasco at EPCOT Center in 1982)

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

The point is incorrect. Extending open hours will not increase ride capacity at the times people are actually in the park. We were having a civilised discussion about why and they have a response.

The issues affecting the park will not be helped by your "simple short term solution". The real solutions are being rolled out but take time. Nobody is trying "to give the illusion of feeling clever" it's just an adult conversation.

Well, to be fair, @DonniePeverley ’s first bright idea was to ban annual Passholders notwithstanding the fact that there is no annual pass for Epic Universe. His latest idea is at least less dumb than that, I guess.

 

[mkt]

Well, to be fair, @DonniePeverley ’s first bright idea was to ban annual Passholders notwithstanding the fact that there is no annual pass for Epic Universe. His latest idea is at least less dumb than that, I guess.

Next you'll tell me he wants to ban Disney Dollars from Epic.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Using the first click method with some tickets still requiring reservations does result in some skew of those real and estimated numbers, though, as DAK is almost always the easiest park for a last minute reservation which typically means a guest literally tapping in and walking right back out to go to the park they actually wanted to. And remember that the annual TEA numbers are estimates with very well-known disputes within the industry; I personally take them with multiple car-sized grains of salt.

I don’t feel like that is driving the numbers by that much per day. In order to bring the numbers down to epics current pool, it’s gotta be 4,000-8,000 people doing this PER DAY. Which I’m going to say I doubt that many passholders are doing that.

Now are there people who leave early or arrive late possibly boosting up those numbers while making the park feel more “empty”? Yes, I do think the reputation of a half day park gets it to have more people leave before the park end or come in when the crowds die down

 

[DonniePeverley]

Well, to be fair, @DonniePeverley ’s first bright idea was to ban annual Passholders notwithstanding the fact that there is no annual pass for Epic Universe. His latest idea is at least less dumb than that, I guess.

No i suggested banning all perks for locals who hold any form of Universal annual pass.

I'm glad to see locals whinging about Disney removing alot of perks. No one wants locals going into parks to use as places to go and bring in their home prepared meals for a 'free' day out.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

No i suggested banning all perks for locals who hold any form of Universal annual pass.

I'm glad to see locals whinging about Disney removing alot of perks. No one wants locals going into parks to use as places to go and bring in their home prepared meals for a 'free' day out.

???? What??? They paid for it, of course they should be able to chill out there, they help fuel the parks baseline rate even during the off times. This is an insane take imo. Just because they’re not “consuming enough” they’re not welcome???

 

[DonniePeverley]

???? What??? They paid for it, of course they should be able to chill out there, they help fuel the parks baseline rate even during the off times. This is an insane take imo. Just because they’re not “consuming enough” they’re not welcome???

There is no such thing as 'off times' anymore. They contribute to crowding, spend little, reduce the experience for high spending international and out of town visitors - and for this privilege they are given a reduction in prices.

 

[Baron Von Capybara]

No i suggested banning all perks for locals who hold any form of Universal annual pass.

I'm glad to see locals whinging about Disney removing alot of perks. No one wants locals going into parks to use as places to go and bring in their home prepared meals for a 'free' day out.

How is it a "free" day out for an annual pass holder ?
Do they get given free passes ?
Or are you still trolling this forum with your irrational hatred ?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

There is no such thing as 'off times' anymore. They contribute to crowding, spend little, reduce the experience for high spending international and out of town visitors - and for this privilege they are given a reduction in prices.

They are given a reduction in prices because they’re a strong component of the theme parks fandom. These are people who often love a ton of things about Disney and just want to be there. They watch the movies, buy merchandise occasionally, and interact with the Disney company. This is not a privilege, they paid for it.

 

[nickys]

They contribute to crowding, spend little, reduce the experience for high spending international and out of town visitors - and for this privilege they are given a reduction in prices.

Can you cite any evidence at all for your opinion?

And can you explain why Disney, Universal, Seaworld, Legoland and any other entertainment venue would sell APs if any of this was true?

 

[mkt]

There is no such thing as 'off times' anymore. They contribute to crowding, spend little, reduce the experience for high spending international and out of town visitors - and for this privilege they are given a reduction in prices.

I've been in the meetings where AP numbers and revenue have been discussed.

You're flat out wrong on everything you've said.

 

[mkt]

Can you cite any evidence at all for your opinion?

And can you explain why Disney, Universal, Seaworld, Legoland and any other entertainment venue would sell APs if any of this was true?

He can't.

He just likes being wrong.

 

[nickys]

He can't.

He just likes being wrong.

I mean, it was a rhetorical question. One of many that he never answers.

 

[Touchdown]

Why are we talking about APs in a park that costs them $119 at least to get in everyday? Any AP is going to behave like a day guest currently because they paid for a day ticket.

Also, the only APs going to Epic now are out of town APs like me, locals got their fill during previews and are waiting out to return when it’s included in their AP.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I'm glad to see locals whinging about Disney removing alot of perks. No one wants locals going into parks to use as places to go and bring in their home prepared meals for a 'free' day out.

Your post is internally contradictory. There is no AP for Epic, so nobody is there enjoying a “free” day out.

 

[BrianLo]

The point on APs is moot for Epic.

That said, some of the arguments that APs spend more for in park consumption is patently false. APs are what you bring in once there is space and you need them to stabilize attendance gaps. It’s not because they are necessarily more lucrative via loyalty. Their loyalty is awarded with a cheap per day entry discount. It’s a tit for tat.

There’s a reason neither Tokyo nor Epic have them currently, the price march on APs has been extraordinary and allusions about less desirable attendance mixes on calls have been cast.

APs are also not the monolith that Donnie paints them as. A good chunk of Disney’s Florida AP base are non-locals.

 

[mkt]

That said, some of the arguments that APs spend more for in park consumption is patently false.

My argument is about profitability, not raw revenue. APs often spend less time in the parks per visit but spend more, proportionally, during that time. And when you factor in that admission isn’t a high-margin item, the picture changes completely. Food, drinks, merch, and especially services and upgrades like PhotoPass, Lightning Lane/Express, and VIP experiences carry significantly higher margins.

A simple example: a local AP who pops into Epcot for dinner and a couple of drinks, maybe grabs a small piece of merch, then heads home. That pattern is extremely common, and in just a few hours that AP is often more profitable than an out-of-town tourist who spends the entire day focused on rides and shows. The AP is buying high-margin items; the tourist is primarily consuming capacity.

 

[BrianLo]

My argument is about profitability, not raw revenue. APs often spend less time in the parks per visit but spend more, proportionally, during that time. And when you factor in that admission isn’t a high-margin item, the picture changes completely. Food, drinks, merch, and especially services and upgrades like PhotoPass, Lightning Lane/Express, and VIP experiences carry significantly higher margins.

A simple example: a local AP who pops into Epcot for dinner and a couple of drinks, maybe grabs a small piece of merch, then heads home. That pattern is extremely common, and in just a few hours that AP is often more profitable than an out-of-town tourist who spends the entire day focused on rides and shows. The AP is buying high-margin items; the tourist is primarily consuming capacity.

I need to be driven quite a long way to onboard me to your hypothesis. I am slightly open, but I need a ton more data. For our purposes I'm going to currently use AP as more synonymous with a local; the Disneyland or USR bread and butter local.

An AP is perhaps using free parking or being dropped off. An AP is not staying in a hotel. An AP is not purchasing the high margin items, like lightening lane, single pass or the whales buying the premium passes. An AP is certainly not buying a wand for the 20th time. These are high margin things that APs avoid.

As far as merch - we might have a weird spectrum there. Some collector subtypes perhaps. But many others don't exactly need another Mickey stuffy, lightsaber or wand.

I really do not think APs spend more per hour consumption park time as a result.

Are they good for food and beverage? Perhaps, but still non-APs are somewhat stuck in the ecosystem of 3 meals a day, not one.