Disneyland to customers: Visit us now! Ahora! That means NOW! Please?

[TP2000]

This is a new one. Disneyland is kicking off the summer season with a new Star Wars Land and the first Disneyland E Ticket in 25 years by begging people to come visit the place.

The brilliant communicators at the Disney Parks Blog have marshalled all the resources of their cubicle farm to create a couple of Blog posts and a video reminding people that Disneyland is still open for business.

Here's the main Parks Blog post. Notice the "Now!" phrasing, which is absolutely hysterical and reveals a bit of their obvious panic. Plus a quote from a TDA suit telling us how adding park capacity increases human happiness.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...s-a-good-time-to-visit-disneyland-resort-now/

“When you add a new area to the park, it adds capacity and has a positive impact on the whole park,” said Kris Theiler, vice president of Disneyland park. “So there is no better time to visit the Disneyland Resort than now.”



And for those who sometimes slip into a foreign tongue, here's a separate Blog entry that randomly drops Spanish words and phrases into the English text. Ahora!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-is-the-best-time-to-visit-disneyland-resort/

Go to Disneyland Now! Ahora! NOW!!!!

 

[Stevek]

This is a new one. Disneyland is kicking off the summer season with a new Star Wars Land and the first Disneyland E Ticket in 25 years by begging people to come visit the place.

The brilliant communicators at the Disney Parks Blog have marshalled all the resources of their cubicle farm to create a couple of Blog posts and videos reminding people that Disneyland is still open for business.

Here's the main one. Notice the "Now!" phrasing, which is absolutely hysterical and shows more of their desperation than they should have.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...s-a-good-time-to-visit-disneyland-resort-now/



And for those who sometimes slip into a foreign tongue, here's a separate Blog entry and video that randomly drops Spanish words and phrases into the text.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-is-the-best-time-to-visit-disneyland-resort/

Go to Disneyland Now! Ahora! NOW!!!!

Crikey...parks have been jammed for the past few years and now they want folks to jam it full again...well of course they do.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Galaxy Edge has an awkward "current land status" which is just begging to be changed to "Open to all visitors." I guess it's too early to ignore the reservation nonsense and not make the people who reserved feel like they wasted their time.

 

[The_Mesh_Hatter]

They’re missing out on so much potential merch spending... and just as a lucrative pride season is beginning!

 

[sponono88]

Blockout dates for CM's have also been lifted for the next two weeks. I think a panic alarm went off in TDA. Oopsie!

At least it shows that perhaps DL was more concerned about creating a more comfortable experience for the first SWGE guests rather than cramming everybody in.

 

[fctiger]

I do find this whole thing funny, people have been up in arms for years about how crazy packed the park would feel once GE opened. Everyone was predicting the worst things possible. There was even an article floating around MC last year that opening day could have 200 thousand people show up (and no that is not a typo). It's that kind of hysteria that probably scared a lot of people away today and what also made Disney decided to go with the reservation option in the first place.

Then it opens and people did what many said they were going to do---stay away! And with the reservation system (and Disney emphasizing no stand by line) it only gave people another reason not to bother. I can ONLY imagine what the conversation would be right now if GE was open for everyone and lines would be wrapped around the bag check lines with people waiting hours just to get in, because that probably would be the case now.

I think Disney trying its best to not turn the opening into a full on zoo probably worked too well. Still, in about 2 weeks time, the place will probably be swamped once everyone has a chance to see it. But I am super excited now! Our reservation into GE is this Tuesday. We really just planned to do that and maybe ride a few things before heading home. But now it sounds like we will get a pretty dead park and plan to fake full advantage lol.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

This is giving me deja vu. It's like February 2001 all over again.

 

[fctiger]

This is giving me deja vu. It's like February 2001 all over again.

LOL true. Although the difference is people just really really didn't want go to DCA because it sucked. Although I do remember there was a fear DCA would be packed to the brim and even one executive bragging DL would be the empty park because everyone will be dying to get into DCA to experience factory tours, old movies and carnival rides. Good times!

With GE, its more like biding their time when they actually have the chance to do it.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

This is giving me deja vu. It's like February 2001 all over again.

Superstar Limo had just opened. Rocket Rods was allegedly being refurbished...

 

[TP2000]

This is giving me deja vu. It's like February 2001 all over again.

Yeah, it kind of is. I don't think it's going to be as bad long-term, taking Billions and a decade to fix it.

But obviously they over-corrected in advance for a problem they thought they would have.

What's even more amazing to me is that apparently even just one slow week sets off a panic. Star Wars Land opened just six days ago, and they are already doing everything in their power to make sure the park is packed with people and as miserable as possible. Instead of just rolling with it and allowing the three week reservation window to play out, while providing a wonderful experience for all those people who paid cash-money to get in instead of locals who bribed their cousins roommate who works at Tomorrowland Terrace to sign them in for free, they panic and immediately begin lifting blockouts and trying to get people to visit AHORA!

The OC Register is now reporting that as of this afternoon they are offering "more reservation windows" for Star Wars Land for "disappointed fans". I'd link to the story in the Register but it just leads to a paywall and I refuse to play that game with the Register.

 

[shortstop]

Rocket Rods was allegedly being refurbished...

I think it’s still being refurbished. I’m beginning to suspect that maybe it’s not coming back.

 

[mickEblu]

Blockout dates for CM's have also been lifted for the next two weeks.

I guess it’s a nice bone to throw to CMs. What they really want to do however is get paying customers to DL before the reservation period ends. I’d imagine that the people who booked hotel rooms to get an SWL reservation would be pretty upset if they open the the land up to the general public.

 

[fctiger]

Look at that, I found the article I mentioned in my OP (and to prove I wasn't crazy lol):

https:///2018/12/star-wars-galaxys-edge-crowds-disneyland/

"According to Blooloop, experts predict enormous crowds, swamped parking lots, and 10-hour lines. Bill Zanetti, who teaches theme park courses at the University of Central Florida, expects 200,000 guests to descend on Disneyland for the debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. “The number is based on what I believe is the actual interest,” he said. “That’s just how many people I expect to descend on the resort on the first opening day.” Touring Plans, which uses statistical analysis to predict crowd sizes and wait times at the parks, places the estimated number of guests at 150,000. The company predicts 8 – 10-hour lines just to get into Disneyland."

While I think 200 thousand people showing up sounded a bit crazy (especially since one is coming at WDW a few months later) they were probably not wrong it would've been enough people to shut the park down and have people wait for hours just to enter DL, much less GE. Remember the 24 hour 60th anniversary event did exactly that as well (which I was there and NEVER got into the park) and that was just for a new fireworks show and parade.

But it was also these kind of hysterical warnings that told everybody who DIDN'T care about GE to not bother going to the park for awhile.

 

[shortstop]

I guess it’s a nice bone to throw to CMs. What they really want to do however is get paying customers to DL before the reservation period ends. I’d imagine that the people who booked hotel rooms to get an SWL reservation would be pretty upset if they open the the land up to the general public.

Yeah and I have to imagine this is part of the reason they’re not going to lift the reservation requirement.

However, it would be nice if they went back and offered more reservations for the remaining dates. If I’d known it would be this uncrowded during the reservation period, I might have actually tried to get one.

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah, it kind of is. I don't think it's going to be as bad long-term, taking Billions and a decade to fix it.

But obviously they over-corrected in advance for a problem they thought they would have.

What's even more amazing to me is that apparently even just one slow week sets off a panic. Star Wars Land opened just six days ago, and they are already doing everything in their power to make sure the park is packed with people and as miserable as possible. Instead of just rolling with it and allowing the three week reservation window to play out, while providing a wonderful experience for all those people who paid cash-money to get in instead of locals who bribed their cousins roommate who works at Tomorrowland Terrace to sign them in for free, they panic and immediately begin lifting blockouts and trying to get people to visit AHORA!

The OC Register is now reporting that as of this afternoon they are offering "more reservation windows" for Star Wars Land for "disappointed fans". I'd link to the story in the Register but it just leads to a paywall and I refuse to play that game with the Register.

Looks like they re adjusting and it will be nice and packed just in time for my reservation.

 

[JD2000]

Isn’t this normal for early June?

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah and I have to imagine this is part of the reason they’re not going to lift the reservation requirement.

However, it would be nice if they went back and offered more reservations for the remaining dates. If I’d known it would be this uncrowded during the reservation period, I might have actually tried to get one.

Well according to @TP2000, the Orange County register is saying Disney is going to offer more more reservations. Hopefully they keep it comfortable.

 

[mickEblu]

Isn’t this normal for early June?

I don’t think so. I was there the other day and it was like being there on an off-season weekday in the early 90s.

 

[shambolicdefending]

Yeah, it kind of is. I don't think it's going to be as bad long-term, taking Billions and a decade to fix it.

But obviously they over-corrected in advance for a problem they thought they would have.

What's even more amazing to me is that apparently even just one slow week sets off a panic.

Maybe their internals are showing more than just a one-week problem afoot. Could it be that bookings and park-hopper sales are down into July and August?

Could it be that the masses anxiously awaiting June 24th to rush in and try out all the new attractions aren't turning out to be so massive after all?

 

[JD2000]

I don’t think so. I was there the other day and it was like being there on an off-season weekday in the early 90s.

IsItPacked.com says otherwise. And other calendars said low to moderate crowds.