Attendance down

[rcpocetti]

is attendance down at disney world ?
I heard rumors its down 1 percent at all parks
anyone know

 

[Hammer1310]

Strangely, quite the opposite.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazin...4.htm?chan=magazine+channel_personal+business

 

[RiversideBunny]

That's something that's difficult for the average person to discern.
Some people can visit the parks and see short lines. Others can see long waits.

Only the WDW managers with the actual counts can tell and even they can get surprised. For example, guests can cancel their trips within 45 days or less. Guests tend to keep the reservations and then cancel only at the last minute.
Also the WDW managers are going to keep such numbers confidential.
Quarterly business results look backward, not at present time or the future.

One of the key indicators, I've noticed, is that if they start cancelling regular performances of Hoop Dee Do, then attendance must be really down.

:king:

 

[firemandisney]

Strangely, quite the opposite.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazin...4.htm?chan=magazine+channel_personal+business

YEP,
Business is booming at WDW and D.L.
All the doom and gloom the sky is falling types are just plain WRONG.

 

[rcpocetti]

then why is fantasmic getting cut to 2 shows

 

[slappy magoo]

then why is fantasmic getting cut to 2 shows

I thought Fantasmic only got more than 2 shows during peak PEAK times - holidays and the like. It's usually one and occasionally two shows (usually two shows during EMH)


Meanwhile I wonder how much of the attendance is based on American tourism (people who can't afford to travel overseas opting instead for trips to Orlando), and how much of the attendance is based on foreign travelers (taking advantage of the weakened US dollar).

 

[imamouse]

I thought Fantasmic only got more than 2 shows during peak PEAK times - holidays and the like. It's usually one and occasionally two shows (usually two shows during EMH)


Meanwhile I wonder how much of the attendance is based on American tourism (people who can't afford to travel overseas opting instead for trips to Orlando), and how much of the attendance is based on foreign travelers (taking advantage of the weakened US dollar).

Fantasmic is getting cut to two shows per week (not per day) in Jan when it's slower. Speculation runs from a reworking of the show to the desire to divert guests to AI's evening finale.

 

[DallasDis]

then why is fantasmic getting cut to 2 shows

I thought Fantasmic only got more than 2 shows during peak PEAK times - holidays and the like. It's usually one and occasionally two shows (usually two shows during EMH)

I think that he is referring to the fact that Fantasmic will be cut to 2 shows per week not 2 shows per day.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

then why is fantasmic getting cut to 2 shows

Global warming...:lookaroun...

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Its a little hard to say just now that Disney is going to go through this downturn like this. What you have to remember is that the people who these numbers represent already booked their vacations before the economy turned, ar at the very least, before it got really bad. You'll probably see high attendance figures through the end of the year because people have alrady booked their vacations, and will probably go through with their plans rather than cancel.

I personally think that you'll see some drops in attendance after the holidays and at the beginning of 2009 begins. With the recent entertainment cuts Disney has announced, they seem to be thinking along those lines. :shrug:

 

[slappy magoo]

Fantasmic is getting cut to two shows per week (not per day) in Jan when it's slower. Speculation runs from a reworking of the show to the desire to divert guests to AI's evening finale.

Gotcha. Thanks for the heads up. (And DallsDis, too). I was unaware of this, and since the OP didn't specify per week, I never wold've guessed this were the case.

 

[Philo]

I thought that part of the reason for cutting fantasmic was to get crowds to visit American Idol.

It won't work on me though. Until I see a big dragon shooting fire at American Idol I won't be attending

 

[New2WDW]

is attendance down at disney world ?
I heard rumors its down 1 percent at all parks
anyone know

Have not heard this but I have been hearing thru the grape vine that people have had no trouble getting ADR's changed up and made with very little advance notice. This makes me think that attendance is down or either no one is eating at the World. :lol:

 

[HinunterZuNich]

TOTALLY not true I am live 'at the world' since two days ago after a visit to Universal, and it's been packed! Not that it's anything different from past summers, but there is no way that travel is down for Disney. Maybe the economy scared people to travel, everywhere except Walt Disney World LOL. We are making the best of it, no point in being bummed about it because in the end we are still at WDW (and not home).

 

[fosse76]

YEP,
Business is booming at WDW and D.L.
All the doom and gloom the sky is falling types are just plain WRONG.

Perfect example of someone who thinks on the micro scale and NOT the macro scale. While attendance isn't plummeting, you will notice a HUGE influx of foreign tourists and a large drop in domestic tourists (at least here in New York, where Times Square is the most visited individual spot in the country). As someone else posted, most people plan and pay for their vacations in advance, so Disney shouldn't be experiencing too brutal a decrease until next year. Even Six Flags had a good 2nd Quarter, but that could be because people can't afford to travel further (just to play devil's advocate) )

But for people to dismiss that economy is bad is pure ignorance. The fact that the Candian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar is a telling sign on how bad our economy really is.

 

[firemandisney]

Perfect example of someone who thinks on the micro scale and NOT the macro scale. While attendance isn't plummeting, you will notice a HUGE influx of foreign tourists and a large drop in domestic tourists (at least here in New York, where Times Square is the most visited individual spot in the country). As someone else posted, most people plan and pay for their vacations in advance, so Disney shouldn't be experiencing too brutal a decrease until next year. Even Six Flags had a good 2nd Quarter, but that could be because people can't afford to travel further (just to play devil's advocate) )

But for people to dismiss that economy is bad is pure ignorance. The fact that the Candian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar is a telling sign on how bad our economy really is.

Most responsible folk refuse to participate in a so called economic down turn.
We could go back to the late 70's when the dollar was king, Also high high interest rates. And a misiery factor.
The economy is already improving (gdp) and interest rates are low.
Unemployment is under 6%, 95% of homeowners are not and NEVER have been late on a mortgage payment. So, enough with the doom and gloom.
Things aint perfect, but their FAR from bad. We are STILL in a growing economy. Things are simply NOT bad. We never actually were in a true definition of a recession. Most folks do what it takes to enjoy life and keep on plugging away. We ignore folks that talk bad about the economy and just keep on living our dream. You can remian negative and thats your right to.
As for Disney? Business is good!
Kings Island (theme park) close to me is having a record year. We are talking about leisure time places/activites. People are still going to sporting events (MLB) has a top 5 year in attendence going. (the NFL) is already 98% sold out of each city's football games. Racing (all forms) are 95% sold out. (those places have ADDED seats from last year.
If things were as bad as some of you think...folks would not be doing these things.
Im a very optimistic/ happy person. You should try it someday. Being negative is easy and kinda silly. Being optimistic and loving life takes WORK and resposibility but in the end its all worth it.

 

[firemandisney]

then why is fantasmic getting cut to 2 shows

Many reasons.
American Idol has something to do with it.
MAJOR S.M. refurb is about to happen. (cost saving measure) to help pay for it. (remember the shareholders)
2 times per week is still more than the no times per week. There actually at one time wasnt even nightly fireworks at the M.K.
S.M. will cost 10's of million to redo.
You have to ge tthat money somewhere and NOT from profits (again see share holders) so there will be cost savings measures.
Remember, Disney had a VERY VERY good year and beat the "street".
These arent cuts for financial suffering reasons. They are saving money for a refurb. Oh, and so you'll go see idol!!

 

[KnK]

This might be a slightly different take, but I think we have had fewer trip reports this summer compared to last summer.

I do think people are changing the way they travel and plan trips.

I am statistician. Anyone can make numbers work for them. It's all in how you ask the question and who you are asking the question of.

 

[fillerup]

But for people to dismiss that economy is bad is pure ignorance. The fact that the Candian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar is a telling sign on how bad our economy really is.

There's no question the economy is weak, for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is that the media has been telling us for almost a year that we're headed for recession.

But as an earlier poster said, we have yet to experience the conditions that economically define a recession, though we still could.

Unemployment from 1948 to 2005 averaged 6.8%. Our current rate is 5.7%. Not exactly a depression.

Since the July lows, the stock market has risen about 9%. This may or may not be temporary.

I'll avoid your phrase "pure ignorance", but say only that your data is stale. Yes, the Canadian $ reached and exceeded parity with the US $ but has been falling pretty dramatically for a month (along with all other major currencies). The Canadian is now worth slightly over .93.

Besides, currency fluctuations are largely a function of the interest rate environments in the respective countries, not the health of a given economy.

I do think people are changing the way they travel and trip plans.

I am statistician. Anyone can make numbers work for them. It's all in how you ask the question and who you are asking the question of.

I agree that people are modifying their behavior, no question. I know I have.

The rise of oil to $147 bbl is an inarguable fact of life, and people have to adjust to that. But as we speak, oil is below $115 bbl, about a 30% selloff, and that's a huge change. If the bubble has truly burst on oil, then hopefully this economic downturn will be very short.

And your comment about statistics is spot on - but it's fun anyway.

 

[Irie]

But for people to dismiss that economy is bad is pure ignorance. The fact that the Candian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar is a telling sign on how bad our economy really is.[/quote]


Actually, one US dollar is = to 1.06 Canadian so the US dollar is still worth more but compared to what it was three--five years ago your point is well taken