Current Crowd Levels & Visitor Origins

[Lilofan]

I wonder, is it a requirement at the foreign parks for all CMs who work with guests to be fairly fluent in English?

In the WDW resorts at times we had to switch to Spanish since some CMs in housekeeping spoke little English.

 

[mergatroid]

I believe you have to speak at least 2 languages to work at DLP, but English doesn't have to be one of them

We found that every CM we asked a question to in DLP was able to answer it in English. Granted we weren't discussing building nuclear reactors or the philosophy of different religions but we had no problems. Having an implant in my brain means I can no longer pass through metal detectors and on each of our visits the random CM's at the security entrance were able to understand that with a little hand gesture to the battery in my chest. I think they probably thought that I had a pace maker which I don't but there were no problems with skipping the detectors which is my point.

 

[Calmdownnow]

I will try to keep this as non-political as possible.

I was at the parks last week and I noticed a wide variety of visitors. Most of the foreign tourists appeared to be from Central and South America but there were sizeable numbers of Europeans (Brits, Swiss, Germans) as well as a sizeable amount of Australians.

What normally happens in these types of situations is that there is a loud and forceful boycott at first that quickly diminishes.

Disney will probably do what anyone would do in this situation and that would be to offer bigger discounts / travel packages to those in the areas where it is noticing a steep drop in travelers in order to stimulate demand.

Brits tend to book their US trips about 7 - 11 months out (when flights are cheapest traditionally), so many families will have been locked in to 2025 trips that couldn't be cancelled without a big penalty. (Travel insurers tend not to pay out if you cancel because of changes in the political/economic climate). There is a time lag with sentiment now impacting on decisions about future vacations. The litmus test for UK visitor numbers will be if flight bookings for 2026 are massively down

 

[Chef Mickey]

Iger knows how to smooze the feathers of Wall Street during the quarterly's company public earnings call with the Wall Street analysts.

Disney's stock is hated.

 

[Alice a]

We run the last hardware store left in downtown Charleston, SC, which is located on a peninsula in a pretty large international tourist destination, especially for high-end destination weddings.

Every major business in town has a charge account at our store or at least comes in regularly, so we’re kind of a communications touchpoint for the community.

We’ve been hearing from pretty much everyone in the hotel industry that since the pandemic, people don’t tend to book travel/pre-pay for a long stay a year in advance anymore, and that this year has been far worse; that people are nervous about the future and large, distant expenditures.

Instead, stuff is selling, sometimes at a discounted rate, at a more last-minute rate. People are booking for next weekend or next month, not next year.

The biggest vacation property management company in town, which rents out everything from historic carriage houses downtown to condos on Folly Beach to palatial houses on Sullivan’s Island says their calendars for July and August are pretty bare, and it’s been that way all Spring.

People aren’t booking until 2 or so months out, and there’s been a huge increase in booking cancellable rates.

We’ve also been hearing for months that a lot of the restaurants have been struggling, and even businesses that cater to the top 1% have been feast or famine.

I won’t even mention what’s been scaring the construction industry around here, or what it’s like being in retail right now, when most of our products come from abroad.

 

[Lilofan]

Disney's stock is hated.

Fortunately investors like me and majority of Disney investors are invested in Disney via institutional managed funds which have done very well for me long term. Investing in the individual Disney stock is like walking a tightrope.

 

[Lilofan]

We run the last hardware store left in downtown Charleston, SC, which is located on a peninsula in a pretty large international tourist destination, especially for high-end destination weddings.

Every major business in town has a charge account at our store or at least comes in regularly, so we’re kind of a communications touchpoint for the community.

We’ve been hearing from pretty much everyone in the hotel industry that since the pandemic, people don’t tend to book travel/pre-pay for a long stay a year in advance anymore, and that this year has been far worse; that people are nervous about the future and large, distant expenditures.

Instead, stuff is selling, sometimes at a discounted rate, at a more last-minute rate. People are booking for next weekend or next month, not next year.

The biggest vacation property management company in town, which rents out everything from historic carriage houses downtown to condos on Folly Beach to palatial houses on Sullivan’s Island says their calendars for July and August are pretty bare, and it’s been that way all Spring.

People aren’t booking until 2 or so months out, and there’s been a huge increase in booking cancellable rates.

We’ve also been hearing for months that a lot of the restaurants have been struggling, and even businesses that cater to the top 1% have been feast or famine.

I won’t even mention what’s been scaring the construction industry around here, or what it’s like being in retail right now, when most of our products come from abroad.

I doubt the ones making decisions that affect the everyday working residents gives two hoots on how all feel. Florida main revenue streams are agriculture and tourism. Those severely affected will send FL into a tailspin. Many work directly or indirectly in these industries. Construction between lack of workers and more expensive materials is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Nubs70]

I think some of you here are severely underestimating the resolve of a good percentage of Canadians when it comes to not vacationing in the US now. Canadians who have owned vacation homes in Florida, for example, are selling them. For the most part, there will be no "they'll be back soon when they cool off" or "they'll be back if attractive offers are made". The effect is already being felt in tourist areas in the northern half of the US, with cancellations from Canadians, and it's gonna get worse as the year progresses. People are scared of possibly losing their small businesses, scared that they are going to lose their jobs. It's been estimated that it will be a $6 billion loss in tourism revenue for the US in 2025 based on a 30% drop in Canadian tourist spending. The impact of this should not be underestimated.

A major factor in the selling of vacation homes is the mostly of insurance and HOA increases.

Insurance rates have increased due to increased cost of replacement and psychology induced fears of potential weather impacts.

HOA maintenance fees have increased as condos associations have failed to keep facilities repaired and up to code. Now, increased fees are outstripping owners ability to pay. So better to try to sell now before the glut hits the market.

This.could be used as a marketing plan for WDW. "Buy the time, not the building"

 

[Ayla]

We run the last hardware store left in downtown Charleston, SC, which is located on a peninsula in a pretty large international tourist destination, especially for high-end destination weddings.

Every major business in town has a charge account at our store or at least comes in regularly, so we’re kind of a communications touchpoint for the community.

We’ve been hearing from pretty much everyone in the hotel industry that since the pandemic, people don’t tend to book travel/pre-pay for a long stay a year in advance anymore, and that this year has been far worse; that people are nervous about the future and large, distant expenditures.

Instead, stuff is selling, sometimes at a discounted rate, at a more last-minute rate. People are booking for next weekend or next month, not next year.

The biggest vacation property management company in town, which rents out everything from historic carriage houses downtown to condos on Folly Beach to palatial houses on Sullivan’s Island says their calendars for July and August are pretty bare, and it’s been that way all Spring.

People aren’t booking until 2 or so months out, and there’s been a huge increase in booking cancellable rates.

We’ve also been hearing for months that a lot of the restaurants have been struggling, and even businesses that cater to the top 1% have been feast or famine.

I won’t even mention what’s been scaring the construction industry around here, or what it’s like being in retail right now, when most of our products come from abroad.

We booked our trip to Charleston a couple weeks ago, for Mid-May. So that checks out for us. I can't wait to come back to Folly.

 

[networkpro]

A major factor in the selling of vacation homes is the mostly of insurance and HOA increases.

Insurance rates have increased due to increased cost of replacement and psychology induced fears of potential weather impacts.

HOA maintenance fees have increased as condos associations have failed to keep facilities repaired and up to code. Now, increased fees are outstripping owners ability to pay. So better to try to sell now before the glut hits the market.

This.could be used as a marketing plan for WDW. "Buy the time, not the building"

Its a mixed bad and there's a lot of post COVID drawback with "return to office" mandates snatching people with jobs in less desirable and hospitable climates back to reality. Insurance is problematic with people and builders attempting to live in locations that are prone to storm damaged, water intrusion, and land subsidence (including sinkholes) and then expecting companies to accept and cover that risk for minimal pricing. We have friends with coastal waterfront domiciles that are still working to rebuild so they can sell and move inland. Not inexpensive properties, but fraught with risk. The condominium debacle is just the proverbial chickens coming home to roost thanks to ineffective HOA governance. Legal requirements changing for inspection, repair, how its funded, and capital reserves is what has sent that market into a tailspin.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

We run the last hardware store left in downtown Charleston, SC, which is located on a peninsula in a pretty large international tourist destination, especially for high-end destination weddings.

Every major business in town has a charge account at our store or at least comes in regularly, so we’re kind of a communications touchpoint for the community.

We’ve been hearing from pretty much everyone in the hotel industry that since the pandemic, people don’t tend to book travel/pre-pay for a long stay a year in advance anymore, and that this year has been far worse; that people are nervous about the future and large, distant expenditures.

Instead, stuff is selling, sometimes at a discounted rate, at a more last-minute rate. People are booking for next weekend or next month, not next year.

The biggest vacation property management company in town, which rents out everything from historic carriage houses downtown to condos on Folly Beach to palatial houses on Sullivan’s Island says their calendars for July and August are pretty bare, and it’s been that way all Spring.

People aren’t booking until 2 or so months out, and there’s been a huge increase in booking cancellable rates.

We’ve also been hearing for months that a lot of the restaurants have been struggling, and even businesses that cater to the top 1% have been feast or famine.

I won’t even mention what’s been scaring the construction industry around here, or what it’s like being in retail right now, when most of our products come from abroad.

First of all, I want to say that I LOVE Charleston! I went there on a girl trip staying on the Ise of Palms and visiting Charleston. I love the old slave market and the carriage rides. We even took one of the ghost tours, lol. I love the old houses, gardens, narrow alleyways, everything I have seen about Charleston. I'm sorry that the tourist trade is down. I feel that people are being more cautious, not just cancelling their vacations. I hope things in your economy straightens up soon. What a lovely place to live, and I can't wait to go back

 

[Chef Mickey]

Fortunately investors like me and majority of Disney investors are invested in Disney via institutional managed funds which have done very well for me long term. Investing in the individual Disney stock is like walking a tightrope.

It's more like falling off a high rise building.

And the funds holding Disney would be better off selling it. Most competent managed funds likely have sold it while it remains in passive funds, like the S&P500.

Disney is a horrible stock and one of the worst managed companies in the S&P500.

 

[mergatroid]

There was a radio show on yesterday in the UK that I caught midway through where they were talking about British people going or not going to America now. Now the thing with phone ins is that you can say that the only only people ringing in are those with strong opinions (which is probably true, why ring in if you're not really swayed?) and some will argue that only negative people will ring in (I don't agree with that as much and is often said by those defending the losing view). I know that there are shows about many topics but the fact they were taking calls on this subject made me think that it's becoming a thing.

From those people who were bothered enough to ring in, the majority were people saying how much they loved going to America but were not planning on returning in the current climate. They seemed to have a "Wait and see how things are next year" kind of philosophy with regards to food and rental prices. Some went as far as saying that they would never go again unless things changed dramatically with some political reasons which we won't discuss. Personally I think the "Wait and see" people are in the majority and my wife and I have not ruled out returning especially myself who has been flying over annually for over 40 years now.

It saddens me greatly that people are talking about the damage to small businesses in Florida because my wife and I found quite a few of our regular places to eat at which weren't chain restaurants went out of business during covid. It would be sad if a second wave of smaller businesses going under happened again as some of these places were away from the British tourist areas and there were staff who we were friendly with who remembered us (my wife says it's because I'm weird and annoying but I like to think it was more down to them not being inundated with tourists and being a little more personal ).

 

[Lilofan]

There was a radio show on yesterday in the UK that I caught midway through where they were talking about British people going or not going to America now. Now the thing with phone ins is that you can say that the only only people ringing in are those with strong opinions (which is probably true, why ring in if you're not really swayed?) and some will argue that only negative people will ring in (I don't agree with that as much and is often said by those defending the losing view).

From those people who were bothered enough to ring in, the majority were people saying how much they loved going to America but were not planning on returning in the current climate. They seemed to have a "Wait and see how things are next year" kind of philosophy with regards to food and rental prices. Some went as far as saying that they would never go again unless things changed dramatically. Personally I think the "Wait and see" people are in the majority and we've not ruled out returning especially myself who has been flying over annually for over 40 years now

USA tourism annually is 9% of GDP or $2 trillion dollars spent. A ripple effect of Europeans , Canadians, etc wait and see and not coming to the USA would be beyond significant. It would affect peoples livelihood.

 

[Chef Mickey]

USA tourism annually is 9% of GDP or $2 trillion dollars spent. A ripple effect of Europeans , Canadians, etc wait and see and not coming to the USA would be beyond significant. It would affect peoples livelihood.

Good thing there is no evidence of that happening. Besides Covid stopping most travel, the US tourism GDP has been steadily increasing regardless of political leadership.

Again, Disney's problem is they have horrible management.

 

[mergatroid]

Politics likely have almost no impact in who visits America, especially American politics. If it's a safety issue during a war or something, sure, but let's see the numbers before we start speculating on politics impacting tourism in America to any measurable degree.

Seriously, it's a non-factor.

That's why I carefully said

They seemed to have a "Wait and see how things are next year" kind of philosophy with regards to food and rental prices. Some went as far as saying that they would never go again unless things changed dramatically with some political reasons which we won't discuss. Personally I think the "Wait and see" people are in the majority and my wife and I have not ruled out returning especially myself who has been flying over annually for over 40 years now.

I pointed out that some wouldn't for political reasons though I tried to clearly emphasize that 'the majority' were saying they were waiting to see how prices would be affected and that I was deliberately trying to keep specific politics out of it. Let's not turn it political as the point I was making is the potential financial uncertainty was worrying to those phoning in. That's also why my wife and I and the friends who were going to come with us aren't coming this year. Please let's not try to make what I said political. We all know that there's folk who make decisions based on reasons that aren't just financial but I'm trying to not discuss them in detail and why I said that financial reasons are in the majority.

It's more an attempt to answer the question of the thread about people not going and a comment about a radio show taking calls from British people and what they thought and their reason for not going. Again the financial uncertainty seemed to be in the majority and was the main issue in my answer. I can't 100% say that those phoning in weren't lying or were being paid to give reasons to back a particular agenda, however with it being a radio show in England it seemed unlikely.

 

[Chef Mickey]

We run the last hardware store left in downtown Charleston, SC, which is located on a peninsula in a pretty large international tourist destination, especially for high-end destination weddings.

Every major business in town has a charge account at our store or at least comes in regularly, so we’re kind of a communications touchpoint for the community.

We’ve been hearing from pretty much everyone in the hotel industry that since the pandemic, people don’t tend to book travel/pre-pay for a long stay a year in advance anymore, and that this year has been far worse; that people are nervous about the future and large, distant expenditures.

Instead, stuff is selling, sometimes at a discounted rate, at a more last-minute rate. People are booking for next weekend or next month, not next year.

The biggest vacation property management company in town, which rents out everything from historic carriage houses downtown to condos on Folly Beach to palatial houses on Sullivan’s Island says their calendars for July and August are pretty bare, and it’s been that way all Spring.

People aren’t booking until 2 or so months out, and there’s been a huge increase in booking cancellable rates.

We’ve also been hearing for months that a lot of the restaurants have been struggling, and even businesses that cater to the top 1% have been feast or famine.

I won’t even mention what’s been scaring the construction industry around here, or what it’s like being in retail right now, when most of our products come from abroad.

Do you think they're more worried about inflation finally relenting, decreasing food prices, decreasing energy prices, or the coming decrease in taxes? It's not like we've had a great economy the last 4 years. There was a recession, the worst inflation in 40 years and more taxpayer money than ever was spent pumping the economy.

I booked 4 trips for the next year (not at Disney because they don't know what they're doing) but to several places around the world. Everyone I know is happy about costs decreasing.

I guess some anecdotal stories cancel out others.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Again, Disney's problem is they have horrible management.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'm sure a few Canadians have cancelled trips but others have made trips. Let's see some hard data. I really don't care about anecdotal stories .

I'm frankly tired of people giving Disney an out based on some macro factor. THEY are they problem. Nothing outside Disney has more of an impact than they have on themselves. Unless it's a Covid type event, management should be managing the situation. Disney sucks at this.

 

[Lilofan]

Because he's a politician and has a narrative to push. And right now, he's on the other team. Florida is thriving, btw. Do you ever notice facts and what politicians say (both sides) are exactly counter to the facts?

I'm sure a few Canadians have cancelled trips but others have made trips. Let's see some hard data. I really don't care about anecdotal stories or what politicians say.

I'm frankly tired of people giving Disney an out based on some macro factor. THEY are they problem. Nothing outside Disney has more of an impact than they have on themselves. Unless it's a Covid type event, management should be managing the situation. Disney sucks at this.

You must be joking that FL tourism is thriving.