Crowds are Insanely Busy - Why?

[bakntime]

I guess Frozen is keeping that park going, but it will be guests on multiday tickets.

I guess I'm just not convinced that there's any appreciable degree to which Universal is taking days away from a WDW guest's stay. Some people, yes, but I think it's a smaller amount than people might suggest. If anything, having the Harry Potter stuff at Universal is encouraging some people to come to Orlando since there's "something new", and they figure "Well, if I'm going to be making this big trip Orlando, it would be silly not to go to WDW." I think those types of guests ultimately cancel out anyone who might decide to spend 5 days at WDW instead of the "usual" 7.

 

[Jon81uk]

I guess I'm just not convinced that there's any appreciable degree to which Universal is taking days away from a WDW guest's stay. Some people, yes, but I think it's a smaller amount than people might suggest. If anything, having the Harry Potter stuff at Universal is encouraging some people to come to Orlando since there's "something new", and they figure "Well, if I'm going to be making this big trip Orlando, it would be silly not to go to WDW." I think those types of guests ultimately cancel out anyone who might decide to spend 5 days at WDW instead of the "usual" 7.

That was my point too, the Harry Potter stuff is bringing people to Orlando (as in the post I quoted) and while here people do think "Well, if I'm going to be making this big trip Orlando, it would be silly not to go to WDW." But by WDW they mean MK, I think most of those if I am here for a week I might as well do WDW will only do MK, or MK and the highlights of the other parks.

Universal's Harry Potter is probably bringing lots of new guests to Orlando, bringing higher crowds to WDW and Uni. The only park that seems to be losing out is SeaWorld.

 

[jloucks]

So MK & the resort as a whole has been insanely, bat-crazy since Memorial Day. Statistically abnormally busy. June & July 2014 had a grand total of 8 peak* crowd days at MK. This June and July? 34. The resort as a whole? 22 for June & July whereas 2014 J&J had 7. The crowd has shifted up, what was an average crowd* last year has returned in droves and is busier than ever. Even DHS is pulling peak crowds. I checked with my Bothan Spies and this same question is being asked behind closed doors.

Anyone have any insights as to the why?

If you chose to come this summer or are planning a trip for this summer, why this summer? Why now? Marketing? Discounts? Frozen? (No Seriously.... Did Frozen clinch it?)

The numbers are statistically out of line with Summer 2013 & 2014 and for the life of me, I can't figure out why.

*A peak day is defined (by me anyways) as having a crowd level of 8+ as observed by Touring Plans. Average is 4-7. Off-peak is 1-3.

That's easy. Given no attraction changes, the increased demand is due to more people globally being able to afford to go. It is not accurate to view wages decreasing either locally, nationally, or globally as being the only indicator of affordability. Globally, there are more and more people becoming wealthy, and they are coming in droves.

Wild zero-proof conspiracy theory: In the not too distant future, the number of foreigners will outnumber non-Florida nationals at WDW.

 

[lunchbox1175]

is it because there is no major construction going on at MK....I know FLE was pretty much done last year, but it wasn't 100% until july I thought

 

[Bairstow]

Is there a breakdown on where these tourist are coming from, whether it's from overseas markets or domestic markets?

I can't offer anything empirical, but I was in the parks last week and noticed an unusually high concentration of people wearing shirts with Spanish and Portuguese writing, not just tour groups, but families too.

Much fewer Brits than I saw (or rather, heard) last fall.

 

[Jahona]

So I visited WDW last year with friends. We originally intended to go to San Diego Comic Con but one of us wasn't able to get a ticket. I suggested Disney instead. I had no intention of coming back to WDW for a few years. I guess my sister saw my photos on Facebook and decided she wanted to take my 9 year old niece this year. I've been trying to get her to go to WDW for years and so I went again this year. No other reason on why I took a trip this year.

 

[Raineman]

I still find it a bit odd that WDW is busy in the summer. As a Canadian, I would never visit in the summer, as we get temps consistently in the 80s and low 90s here with humidity, so I would not want to deal with 100 degree temps that Florida gets this time of year. Are there alot of locals that stay away during the winter and go during the summer when their kids are on vacation? I was always under the impression that it was the overseas/northern US/Canadian tourists from fall to spring that made up the bulk of the business at WDW.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

*A peak day is defined (by me anyways) as having a crowd level of 8+ as observed by Touring Plans. Average is 4-7. Off-peak is 1-3.

Didn't TP just revise their model a few months ago? Could be an issue with the formula as much as actual clicks.

I still find it a bit odd that WDW is busy in the summer. As a Canadian, I would never visit in the summer, as we get temps consistently in the 80s and low 90s here with humidity, so I would not want to deal with 100 degree temps that Florida gets this time of year. Are there alot of locals that stay away during the winter and go during the summer when their kids are on vacation? I was always under the impression that it was the overseas/northern US/Canadian tourists from fall to spring that made up the bulk of the business at WDW.

Many parents are hesitant to take their kids out of school for vacation. So whenever schools are out, that's when WDW is the busiest. Americans in general do most of their traveling in the summer, regardless of the relative weather of their destination.

Personally, I agree with you. My WDW vacation window is October - April.

 

[Missymoe4]

So MK & the resort as a whole has been insanely, bat-crazy since Memorial Day. Statistically abnormally busy. June & July 2014 had a grand total of 8 peak* crowd days at MK. This June and July? 34. The resort as a whole? 22 for June & July whereas 2014 J&J had 7. The crowd has shifted up, what was an average crowd* last year has returned in droves and is busier than ever. Even DHS is pulling peak crowds. I checked with my Bothan Spies and this same question is being asked behind closed doors.

Anyone have any insights as to the why?

If you chose to come this summer or are planning a trip for this summer, why this summer? Why now? Marketing? Discounts? Frozen? (No Seriously.... Did Frozen clinch it?)

The numbers are statistically out of line with Summer 2013 & 2014 and for the life of me, I can't figure out why.


For me: I chose to take a much needed vacation. I really don't have any deals, and I'm definitely not going because of Frozen. For me and my travel party, Disney is simply a fun, relaxing vacation. I know what I'm getting into/expecting and I'm guaranteed to have a great time. For me, a trip to WDW is always worth it (and the money).





*A peak day is defined (by me anyways) as having a crowd level of 8+ as observed by Touring Plans. Average is 4-7. Off-peak is 1-3.

 

[nelsonj3]

So MK & the resort as a whole has been insanely, bat-crazy since Memorial Day. Statistically abnormally busy. June & July 2014 had a grand total of 8 peak* crowd days at MK. This June and July? 34. The resort as a whole? 22 for June & July whereas 2014 J&J had 7. The crowd has shifted up, what was an average crowd* last year has returned in droves and is busier than ever. Even DHS is pulling peak crowds. I checked with my Bothan Spies and this same question is being asked behind closed doors.

Anyone have any insights as to the why?

If you chose to come this summer or are planning a trip for this summer, why this summer? Why now? Marketing? Discounts? Frozen? (No Seriously.... Did Frozen clinch it?)

The numbers are statistically out of line with Summer 2013 & 2014 and for the life of me, I can't figure out why.








*A peak day is defined (by me anyways) as having a crowd level of 8+ as observed by Touring Plans. Average is 4-7. Off-peak is 1-3.

The funny thing is that it seems like Epcot and DHS have been very slow lately when I've gone. Also, July 3rd wasn't that bad at all at MK. Maybe I've just been lucky!

 

[PhotoDave219]

The funny thing is that it seems like Epcot and DHS have been very slow lately when I've gone. Also, July 3rd wasn't that bad at all at MK. Maybe I've just been lucky!

You were very lucky. The July 4th weekend wasnt bad at all by comparison.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Didn't TP just revise their model a few months ago? Could be an issue with the formula as much as actual clicks.

October 2012.... Also the same time they started presenting the observed data. Which is where I've started this. (Time Flies!) Alas I will double check.... although I made a quick check with some friends and this data is consistent with what Disney is seeing behind closed doors....

Its just damn weird.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Epcot is stagnant though, nothing to drive any increase. At least DHS added Frozen stuff.

All the parks are up. Epcot hasnt been stagnant; they've seen a significant uptick as well. Its just that Epcot can handle a bigger crowd easier....

Alas there isn't anything at Epcot to drive the overall increase.

Up till Memorial Day, crowd distribution looked more like 2013 than 2014. Total feast or famine, when it was busy - very busy. Very few average days. That got blown right out the window starting at Memorial Day and I just figured it was a busy June, with things Slowing July 4th Weekend. Turns out it was just a speed bump. Now we're pulling peak crowds at MK every day and it wasn't this way last summer or the summer before that.

Could be the influx in international travel.

Thanks all for the responses....

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

Maybe the new health care laws have made health care more affordable for the lower income families, thus providing more expendable funds along with tax breaks.

Not trying to make this political, but strictly a word-of-mouth observation I've noticed from talking to many of my guests...this is very much the case for a lot of people. And we receive mostly average, middle-class families to our area (for the most part). I do a lot of one-on-one interactions with guests at my job, and there have been quite a handful of mentions, both subtly & non, about how that has been a major factor in giving folks more freedom to travel & stimulate the economy in other ways today.

Regardless of the reason, and despite traffic being a headache more times than not... business is booming, and we'll gladly take it.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm not sure that's the case:

All four parks are pulling peak crowds 20% of the time. (DAK 41 days, EP 49, DHS 54, MK 65, Resort overall 50. YTD). DAK has not exceeded last years total of 51 yet. Yesterday, Epcot matched 2014's total. DHS and MK are already above.

Just a word on DHS, they're just staying in line with teh resort as a whole. They only showed this uptick when Ep/DAK did. DHS firmly leads in off-peak days and will add to that come September.

 

[wsmith1978]

I'm 99% sure it has to do with the ocean level rising and the fear that FL will disappear soon.

 

[Jahona]

Not trying to make this political, but strictly a word-of-mouth observation I've noticed from talking to many of my guests...this is very much the case for a lot of people. And we receive mostly average, middle-class families to our area (for the most part).

It's very much a case by case situation. For the most part those that I know who have health insurance through their company or corporation have had their monthly premiums increased. I know mine has.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

It's very much a case by case situation. For the most part those that I know who have health insurance through their company or corporation have had their monthly premiums increased. I know mine has.

True. Different scenarios for different folks. For a lot of people, it also could be a relief in fear of losing everything over a family illness...which was not uncommon before. Or it could be a combination of things.
Another factor could be the bitter winter seen in the Northeast this past year, and cabin fever making people more travel-happy this summer.

 

[DisDadWoz]

I actually thought it was the very simplistic and easy MM+ addition
In all seriousness though we booked our Spring Break trip because the weather in Chicago was once again awful and we needed some sun. Our August trip has been extended a little bit for the same reason. We are done we gray overcast summer here this year and we need out. With a little extra money we were able to save, we added a few more days. Just being able to save some extra this year has been different than in years past.

 

[kfergdisney]

Strange because I had a ton of families with elementary school aged children book vacations for the fall this year and not the summer. I've been to WDW too many times during the summer and if I can help it, I do not want to go back during the summer. I mean I already get to experience the heat because I live in the South...although here it gets over 100 degrees way too often-even though I would like to be in a happier place like WDW in the heat
Disney does not need extra help during the summer because all the students, teachers, and other groups come during that time.