Crowds are down? Curious about the claims . . .

[Phantom Mickey]

Anecdotally, living in the heart of Mouse Town, it has felt like a slow Summer so far. And most of the tourists I've seen have been from northern Florida or Georgia (can tell by the Gator and Bulldog clothing). As has been mentioned, Brazilians are missing, but haven't seen the typical influx of northeasterners, either.

I think it is the perfect storm of factors. Economic collapse in South America--biggest market outside of Florida, uncertainty in UK, kind of a soft economy in the US, out-of-control rising prices, bad PR from gator attack and Pulse shooting. Throw in my point above about the seeming trend away from Summer vacation, it's not that busy.

I think that mix of things happening has quite an influence and lower attendance can be the result.
Dealing with the public can run in strange ways.

 

[Phantom Mickey]

It seems that the stars have aligned for the mouse ( not in a good way ) I think everything has come together to cause this down turn. We can point fingers at many things that have led to this. Cuts, it wasn't that long ago we talked about cuts that was a result of SDL opening. Brazil is headed the way of Venezuela. They have huge problems right now. A WDW vacation is the least of their concerns. We all know about the recent tragic events. Americans are just not happy right now. There is a real uneasy feeling. The economy is rocky. Recent world events have us all on edge. I am not happy about that but I will say I am happy to think that the big cheese could be squirming a bit. Wall street is going to smell blood and like a true predator they will be there with baited breath. Also history tells us that our beloved SWL and its budget will get the " slim fast" treatment. I also think that the fact that you have to plan just about every second of your visit has caught up as well. It took time, but its just a big hassle to plan a visit. Given the ever rising cost who wants to put that kind of effort in to a vacation? Its supposed to be relaxing.

And what business EVER said " we want less customers" no one ever! That's the most ridicules thing I have heard. I have seen it before on this board and cant believe someone would even think such a thing. Disney wants the place packed to the seems everyday, all day. Disney stopped caring about guest experience long ago. Please don't think that all of the sudden they started caring. Just ridicules. Seriously, they don't care.

Its nice that some of you think the place is still magical. I know it is your hope that they have all these new things and attractions coming on line. But its only to distract you from the real issues that WDW has. I said it before and I will say it again. Attractions wasn't what made WDW special or magical. Attractions were not the Disney difference. It helped. It added to the magic, but it was down the list. The real magic was the company going above and beyond your imagination. Its easy to fool a three year old. But real magic is when you could make adults eyes fill with tears of joy. Not tears of sadness when they get the bill.

Nothing will ever change, WDW will never see its once glorious past. Its just that, the past. For those who never visited before 2000, you just have no base of reference. For that I am sad for, because you never experienced true Disney magic. But keep the faith, someone has to.

I have to agree, I have similar concerns.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Nice list on additions, but what about the list of removals?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

So essentially you can't really comment since you live in a different state and therefore don't have any first hand knowledge on the situation? Some overpriced beach in South Carolina isn't a good indication of any summer trends.

I believe that his point may be that it appears to be a WDW/Orlando issue since the tourist destination near him seems to be kicking on all cylinders.

And he doesn't seem to believe the recent events are factoring in yet. So that leaves price increases and cuts at WDW as a leading factor in the decrease in attendance.

 

[peter11435]

I believe that his point may be that it appears to be a WDW/Orlando issue since the tourist destination near him seems to be kicking on all cylinders.

And he doesn't seem to believe the recent events are factoring in yet. So that leaves price increases and cuts at WDW as a leading factor in the decrease in attendance.

Except that Hilton head while a great vacation spot is not really an international destination. So you can't really compare it to WDW/Orlando where they see high numbers of tourists from Canada. Europe and South America. If international travel is down due to economic conditions around the world, the Olympics etc... This would have a huge impact on Orlando and not so much on Hilton head.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Except that Hilton head while a great vacation spot is not really an international destination. So you can't really compare it to WDW/Orlando where they see high numbers of tourists from Canada. Europe and South America. If international travel is down due to economic conditions around the world, the Olympics etc... This would have a huge impact on Orlando and not so much on Hilton head.

True, but it does speak to the fact domestic travelers are still vacationing, but maybe avoiding WDW.

 

[peter11435]

True, but it does speak to the fact domestic travelers are still vacationing, but maybe avoiding WDW.

But you are assuming domestic travel to WDW is down. Has that been officially stated from a reputable source. Maybe domestic travel to WDW is just fine and the decreased attendance is entirely a result of lower international travel.

 

[networkpro]

Except that Hilton head while a great vacation spot is not really an international destination. So you can't really compare it to WDW/Orlando where they see high numbers of tourists from Canada. Europe and South America. If international travel is down due to economic conditions around the world, the Olympics etc... This would have a huge impact on Orlando and not so much on Hilton head.

You'd think that, but you should rephrase it in more plausible terms such as price sensitive international tourists. I was eating dinner at Tang Chao at the Radisson in Kuwait City and met a local who owned a beach front house on Hilton Head.

 

[King Panda 77]

Reality is, DIZZY is running tight. WIth all the projects and Euro Dizzy and now Shanghi over cost, things are getting tight. With the parks with so few people during what should be a heavy tourist season, even the way overprice park tickets may not be enough to keep in the black.
the DIZZY organization is HUGE, probably TOO huge, and it takes a lot of cash to keep it going. It wouldn't take much to upset that balance because of the amount of cash needed to pay the bills. Every article that I have read says WDW is the cash cow that brings in the money and if they are seeing tough times, it is not unlikely the rest of the organization is tightening up as well.
The recent cuts of personnel, now I hear cutting the AirCon, lighting, all this makes me nervous.
DIZZY is huge and they have not been exactly wise with what they have been doing with the cash, as I see it. They seem to really be stretching that rubber band tight. Of course if it all goes south, the board can just disband and walk away with all the money they have taken from the DIZZY organization.
Dont be surprised to hear of delays in projects if they really get in trouble cash wise.

Just wondering how this person

Has any relevance to this discussion

 

[peter11435]

You'd think that, but you should rephrase it in more plausible terms such as price sensitive international tourists. I was eating dinner at Tang Chao at the Radisson in Kuwait City and met a local who owned a beach front house on Hilton Head.

I'm sure there are exceptions. But I don't think Hilton head is anywhere near as high on the world scene as Orlando/WDW.

 

[ANJ]

True, but it does speak to the fact domestic travelers are still vacationing, but maybe avoiding WDW.

I agree, I think that the damage to the psyche of the typical domestic WDW tourist can not be under estimated. What happened at WDW and Orlando is having a bigger effect then we imagine. At least in the short term Disney should be very concerned

 

[WDW862]

Treat the park with respect? Are you nuts?? The TOURISTS are the ones that trash the park. We pick up trash that people are throwing on the ground because we actually care what the park looks like. You would not believe how many times we see people just drop trash on the ground only a few feet from a trash can..

Hes so wrong about the cast members. I have family members who were cast members and they said that AP holders are the best, tourist suck and Brazilians are demons.

 

[Skibum1970]

My guess is that you're young and never knew a WDW that wasn't aimed at the screamin' ankle biting snot monsters. To you, it is as it should be.

WDW hasn't always been the Toddler Kingdom.

Amen to this and I wish that I gotten into this thread earlier. Walt Disney wanted to appeal to all members of families and to create an enjoyable park for all ages. Thus, some rides are for children and some should be targeted at teenagers/adults. However, those in charge seem to think that toddlers are the only ones who go to the parks and thus the increasing popularity of UO. Also, if a park wants people to pay more than $100/day to visit, the park should have fresh offerings of new attractions more than once a decade. Parks do become stale and the magic fades a little.

I bet that you wish you had stayed on United at this point.

 

[21stamps]

Amen to this and I wish that I gotten into this thread earlier. Walt Disney wanted to appeal to all members of families and to create an enjoyable park for all ages. Thus, some rides are for children and some should be targeted at teenagers/adults. However, those in charge seem to think that toddlers are the only ones who go to the parks and thus the increasing popularity of UO. Also, if a park wants people to pay more than $100/day to visit, the park should have fresh offerings of new attractions more than once a decade. Parks do become stale and the magic fades a little.

I bet that you wish you had stayed on United at this point.

What rides were ever geared for adults/teenagers anywhere in WDW?

I think it's nice that a typical 5/6 year old can do everything. IoA and WDW are different parks..it seems like sometimes people want to make them the same or at least similar. Each is it's own experience.

Re: the crowd level... I hope this is true, and if so- I hope it keeps up!

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Amen to this and I wish that I gotten into this thread earlier. Walt Disney wanted to appeal to all members of families and to create an enjoyable park for all ages. Thus, some rides are for children and some should be targeted at teenagers/adults. However, those in charge seem to think that toddlers are the only ones who go to the parks and thus the increasing popularity of UO. Also, if a park wants people to pay more than $100/day to visit, the park should have fresh offerings of new attractions more than once a decade. Parks do become stale and the magic fades a little.

I bet that you wish you had stayed on United at this point.

Haha, I do occasionally enjoy a good kerfluffle.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

What rides were ever geared for adults/teenagers anywhere in WDW?

I think it's nice that a typical 6 year old can do everything. IoA and WDW are different parks..it seems like sometimes people want to make them the same or at least similar. Each is it's own experience.

Re: the crowd level... I hope this is true, and if so- I hope it keeps up!

Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rock N Rollercoaster, Hall of Presidents, American Adventure, America The Beautiful, All the films of WS, Living With The Land, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur!, etc.

 

[Skibum1970]

What rides were ever geared for adults/teenagers anywhere in WDW?

I think it's nice that a typical 5/6 year old can do everything. IoA and WDW are different parks..it seems like sometimes people want to make them the same or at least similar. Each is it's own experience.

Re: the crowd level... I hope this is true, and if so- I hope it keeps up!

Big Thunder MRR, Space Mountain from the old days as well as the Western Expansion ride (or whatever it was called). Exp Everest, Test Track, Tower of Terror, Rock-N-Roller Coaster, California Screamin', and some others more current. These aren't major thrill rides but neither are they addressed at five year olds. Again, the parks gave all members of the family something to do and were aimed all levels. I don't expect Disney to build major thrill rides (although I wouldn't complain). I am just saying that not every ride needs to have the thrill quotient of "It's A Small World".

I agree completely that it is nice for the younger set to be able to do a lot of the rides but they shouldn't have to be able to do every ride. I also agree that IOA is and should be different than Magic Kingdom. I always go to MK but not always to IOA on vacations. However, my point was more that IOA and UNI have both experienced a great deal of crowd growth and it is because of new rides (some of which are more thrilling). I just hear people saying that they take young kids to WDW and then go to IOA as the kids get older.

Bear in mind that I am not trying to generate an argument but just presenting some ideas. I really don't like the fact that people want to use these forums as a bully pulpit where they can behave like jerks or spoiled children without care for what others say.

 

[21stamps]

Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rock N Rollercoaster, Hall of Presidents, American Adventure, America The Beautiful, All the films of WS, Living Witg The Land,

Don't get me wrong.. Space Mountain is one of my fave coasters out of anywhere, probably a lot to do with nostalgia, but an awesome ride for sure. All of those are still basically "moderate" thrill rides aka family/young child appropriate.

 

[71jason]

I believe that his point may be that it appears to be a WDW/Orlando issue since the tourist destination near him seems to be kicking on all cylinders.

And he doesn't seem to believe the recent events are factoring in yet. So that leaves price increases and cuts at WDW as a leading factor in the decrease in attendance.

I tend to agree--if the rest of the nation (or at least the high-end tourist destinations of the nation) aren't seeing the same trend, what makes Orlando different? I imagine pricing going to be high on that list.

 

[71jason]

More anecdotal evidence: I-4 traffic on Sunday of the holiday weekend is slightly LESS than a typical Sunday this morning. Friend at Grand described it as a "ghost town," said pool is empty right now.