Crowds are Insanely Busy - Why?

[PhotoDave219]

I don't know that we will ever be able to discern the "whys". There are several factors...actually many that may contribute to these crowds.

1. Pent up demand by the infrequent visitor. For example, a family that goes to WDW every two or three years recovering from a "reversal of fortune" in 2008 has finally been able to save enough or justify going into debt after a number of "staycations".

2. Gas prices are averaging in a range not seen since 2009. Families within driving distance may have made their decision based on the relative cost of this year vs the last several years.

3. New stuff to see in Orlando (Diagon Alley, FLE) since their last visit a couple of years ago.

4. Increased attendance by foreign tourists due to favorable package pricing and their current ability to pay (subject to the world economy).

5. The familiarity factor. In other words, guests who previously went to Disney resorts and had a predictably good time not wanting to chance the beach, mountains, national park would appeal to the varied interests of their family.

6. Changes in school year scheduling. The old "Memorial day to Labor Day" summer holiday really doesn't exist anymore. Also, on some threads on some message boards I am seeing more of a reluctance on the part of school districts to permit "unexcused absences".

7. Renewed interest in "loosening" credit criteria. After a hiatus on issuing additional credit, with new programs such as HARP, banks are loosening the purse strings once again and falling into the same old "sign up for this credit card for a low introductory rate". HARP loans are locking people into new 30 year lower interest mortgages to save 200-300 dollars a month etc.

8. The "Bucket List" mentality. I personally know of many people who, this summer are taking "Bucket List Vacations" (although not to WDW). There is some pervasive attitude of "you only live once" or "now or never" that seems to be infecting these people. Once upon a time, delayed gratification was the pervasive attitude. Somehow, the "life is short so live it now" is where all my friends and family are at. I feel silly for meeting with one of my CFPs (Certified Financial Planner) today to discuss long term goals in my "portfolio". My friends don't have one. The attitude that "nobody is going to let me go hungry or die" seems to be infiltrating even the middle class.

9. The horrible winter(s). Many in the Northeast and Midwest have suffered through two successive winters of crazy snow and cold to the point we are wondering why we even live here. If summer is when we can go to Florida, we'll go in summer. Not to mention, 90 and humid isn't exactly unheard of "up north" in the summer. We can deal. We already deal with 140+ temperature differences in a given year.

10. Disney Marketing and "synergy". Okay, don't shoot me. This is me tipping my hat to dragging out the Frozen phenomenon and the success of "Once Upon A Time". Cross marketing, IP placement and earworms are effective or companies wouldn't use them.

I'm sure there are more. After thinking about it for an hour, this is what I came up with.

And I thank you (and everyone else) for the thoughts.

 

[jloucks]

I think many travelers have simply lost their spirit of adventure. The people who live the sheltered, Disney ONLY lifestyle...so be it, that's what they love, so more power to 'em. Just don't come to our hiking trails; our adventurous places expecting that same comfort zone. They honestly wouldn't know what to do with this sort of freedom. Speaking from experience of nearly half my lifetime living next door to one of America's most scenic & adventurous destinations, I've seen what becomes of most of the "adventure-seekers" who visit my area. Their idea of seeing wildlife is driving a local, paved, 11-mile loop road through a popular wilderness preserve & taking pictures with their iPad or smartphone from the safety of their car. Their idea of "exploring" is pulling over on a scenic overlook to snap more pics, or choose one of our well-known, heavily-foot-trafficked hiking trails that doesn't even cover a portion of a portion of our national park. And that is even if they make it into the national park. Most others simply hang around the established tourist towns at the foot of the national park, browsing outlet malls, spending $$ on amusements, food, souvenirs, more food, and...food. Then they return home & tell their friends/family how they had such an "adventurous" weekend in (insert my local national park's name here), like the real Davy Crockett's or Daniel Boone's they think they are.
Sorry. But hanging around hotels, resorts, and other establishments looking for attraction coupons (or "coopin's", as many pronounce it), does NOT make you an explorer. It makes you a tourist. If being a tourist is what you want, fine. Just stay at Disney or other safe spots. Keep your strollers & crying kids where they'll be better off, and receive their coveted hug from Mickey. No shame in that if that's what you want every trip.
But if you want to live out of your comfort zone for once...then do it, and make it count! Get off the beaten path. Find the less-known areas & explore the hell outta them. It can be amazing what you find.

There are lines that dictate what is and is not adventure. They move.

Somebody that never leaves the house is going to think that somebody that takes a weekend trip to the casino is an adventurer.

That casino visitor will in turn think that somebody that takes a week long trip to Hawaii is much more of an adventurer.

I have a 5th wheel travel trailer and go "camping" regularly.

People in pop-up campers speak of me like you speak of tourists. I am no true camper with a 5th wheel! I still have raccoons under my lawn chair. ..while I am in it.

Of course tent campers speak of pop-up campers as neophyte want-to-bees

Bed rollers smack talk tent campers.

Deep woods adventurers (you?) smack talk bed rollers.

Spelunkers and mountain climbers belittle deep woods adventurers.

Astronauts might think everything else is a huge joke.

Opinions. Everybody has them.

 

[LIMA TIME]

I would say it's the constant deals you can get year round, the economy is rolling, and most of all last winter was just terrible. I live in the south east and this was the coldest, wettest winter we have had in the 15 plus years I've lived here.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

We were only at DTD/DS last week and besides the tons of Brazilian Tour groups on-property we noticed A TON of folks from the UK. We found out that in the community we rented in, a majority of the houses had UK owners (including ours) and one family we met said they rent their house out all year but holiday the entire month of July (or August) depending upon their work schedules.

 

[Missymoe4]

As a HS teacher the first week of August (or anytime during the summer for that matter) is the only time my family can go due to the SY, kids camps and workshops during June and July. Trust me, I wish I could go during October or November!

Agreed!

 

[DHoy]

Looking at FP and wait times in MDX today. The parks appear extremely busy this week. MK having 8am openings is out of the norm outside of EMH and Xmas/spring break

 

[prfctlyximprct]

2015: the year everyone in the world goes to Disney, except me.



Love reading these theories though, so interesting!

Summer just seems like a safer time to travel. Had to deal with so many winter storms up North this year, it makes cancelling airline flights seem like a common thing. I would hate a snowstorm delaying my trip! Feels like we are getting no in between seasons, just summer and winter. Crazy hot summers (might as well go to Florida) and "bat-crazy" winters (can't risk the possibility of not going to disney!)

 

[PhotoDave219]

We were only at DTD/DS last week and besides the tons of Brazilian Tour groups on-property we noticed A TON of folks from the UK. We found out that in the community we rented in, a majority of the houses had UK owners (including ours) and one family we met said they rent their house out all year but holiday the entire month of July (or August) depending upon their work schedules.

Did you rent from (Forum Member's Name Deleted)?

 

[ItlngrlBella]

Did you rent from (Forum Member's Name Deleted)?

??? I didn't rent from anyone here I know since everyone is basically anonymous. It would be pretty funny if who we rented from happened to be on here.

... Cue up... "It's a Small World..."

 

[Lucky]

I don't remember ever seeing as many tourists and tour buses around the DC monuments as I have this summer. If WDW attendance is up it may not have anything to do with Disney or Orlando in particular, but rather economic recovery and whatever other factors may be pushing up tourism more generally.

 

[aka_emilicious]

If hotel occupancy is anything to go by, the last week of September/first week of October is going to be BUSY. There's hardy anything available.

It is the start of food and wine, MNSSHP, and dapper day though.

 

[Bairstow]

dapper day

Is that a barbershop quartet competition or something?

 

[aka_emilicious]

Is that a barbershop quartet competition or something?

If I'm remembering correctly Dapper Day is supposed to be a throwback to when you would dress your best to go to the parks. Most people dress in a retro fashion though.

 

[Bairstow]

If I'm remembering correctly Dapper Day is supposed to be a throwback to when you would dress your best to go to the parks. Most people dress in a retro fashion though.

Ah. I see now. Google is my friend.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Feels like we are getting no in between seasons, just summer and winter. Crazy hot summers (might as well go to Florida) and "bat-crazy" winters

It certainly feels like that's the case, although even with the chance of travel delays I'd still rather go to Orlando during the winter half of the year.

Even 60 degrees in Orlando is still better than 20 here.

 

[POLY LOVER]

PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY NOW TO SPEND

 

[BaconPancakes]

If hotel occupancy is anything to go by, the last week of September/first week of October is going to be BUSY. There's hardy anything available.

It is the start of food and wine, MNSSHP, and dapper day though.

Eww that's when we'll be there!

 

[Nick Wilde]

PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY NOW TO SPEND

Average household income has been rising steadily at the same rate since 1965 and the rate hasn't changed. So not really. AND THERE'S NO NEED TO YELL. If you want to factor in inflation, it's stayed around the same since 1965.

 

[nelsonj3]

I keep hitting the various parks when they're not that busy. I'm at Univeral Studios today, and there's only a 10 minute wait for both trains and 30 minutes for Gringotts. It's 2:00pm, and I thought it would be more crowded. Wonder how Disney is today?

 

[POLY LOVER]

Average household income has been rising steadily at the same rate since 1965 and the rate hasn't changed. So not really. AND THERE'S NO NEED TO YELL. If you want to factor in inflation, it's stayed around the same since 1965.

are you really trying to tell me there is no difference in disposable income from 2008 economy and the 2015 economy. In 2008 I would not have evn considered blowing money to go to Disney , I've been here twice this year..