peter11435
Well-Known Member
Fluctuations in attendance at WDW are not unusual.
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Expect more premium events with recent organizational changes
- Thread starter ptaylor
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geekza
Well-Known Member
You are correct. However, let's break down the numbers from the TEA report available at the link below. (I am not a business analyst and math tends to make me break out into hives. So if anyone here is better at analyzing data, please feel free to chime in.)
http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_235_103719_170601.pdf
Attendance was up overall in Orlando in 2016. 77,489,000 in 2016 compared to 74,706,000 in 2015.
What is significant isn't the relatively small drop in attendance figures for the Disney parks in 2016. What is significant is the shift in market share. In 2015, Disney had 72.3% of the market share in Orlando with Universal having 21.3% and SeaWorld having 6.4%. If we look at the 2016 numbers, however, Disney slips to 69.3%, Universal grows to 24.9% and SeaWorld dips to 5.6%. That's a loss of market share to Universal of 3%. 2,324,670 attendees is a substantial number of admissions to lose.
Mind you, the increasing costs of attending a Disney park in 2016 made up for the loss in attendance. Still, I'm sure Disney is concerned about the attendance report as it could hurt their stock should the trend continue.
Nubs70
Well-Known Member
To channel Meghan Trainor, "it's all about the trend ". Did DIS forecast a drop in market share with static to drop in attendance?
I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say that I'm not really sure that they care there was a drop. In fact it may be even desired.
The customers they lost (to universal, somewhere else, six flags, whatever) may have been the most price sensitive customers that typically aren't going to be big spenders in the parks. They're certainly not the whales that Disney craves (and hence why these upcharge events keep proliferating like a cancer). And if you look at the last earnings call, I think they even forecast that attendance might be down, but per guest spending and revenue IS UP. That's what they really care about.
In a way, they WANT to drive people away (especially those who aren't paying) because it results in a better, more satisfying experience for those that do. Not to mention, lower labor costs, due to their dynamic staffing models from MM+.
The customers they lost (to universal, somewhere else, six flags, whatever) may have been the most price sensitive customers that typically aren't going to be big spenders in the parks. They're certainly not the whales that Disney craves (and hence why these upcharge events keep proliferating like a cancer). And if you look at the last earnings call, I think they even forecast that attendance might be down, but per guest spending and revenue IS UP. That's what they really care about.
In a way, they WANT to drive people away (especially those who aren't paying) because it results in a better, more satisfying experience for those that do. Not to mention, lower labor costs, due to their dynamic staffing models from MM+.
Biff215
Well-Known Member
And don't forget, lower attendance also means they can get away with the same capacity, so less new attractions and more replacements instead.
IanDLBZF
Well-Known Member
Per the Q2 Earnings call...
By the looks of it, seems like Q2 17 vs Q2 16 seems like attendance was higher now than it is then.
Casper Gutman
Well-Known Member
I've got another idea that will really harpoon those whales!
Unlimited fast passes for all rides at a park for, let's say, $1750 a day. Fast passes become exclusive to people who will pay that.
I am completely OK with folks who are... "affluent"... enough to shell out that kind of money and ONLY those folks getting to jump to the head of the line. The rest of us all go back to waiting.
Oh... oh... and booking dining half a year in advance adds $50 per person to the bill. Everyone else has to make reservations the day of.
Disney has made all these great "improvements" to the park experience, they deserve to be rewarded for them! The rest of us poor folks will have to content ourselves with going back to the way the park used to be before FPs and ADRs and character meet and greets and desert parties - poor us.
Unlimited fast passes for all rides at a park for, let's say, $1750 a day. Fast passes become exclusive to people who will pay that.
I am completely OK with folks who are... "affluent"... enough to shell out that kind of money and ONLY those folks getting to jump to the head of the line. The rest of us all go back to waiting.
Oh... oh... and booking dining half a year in advance adds $50 per person to the bill. Everyone else has to make reservations the day of.
Disney has made all these great "improvements" to the park experience, they deserve to be rewarded for them! The rest of us poor folks will have to content ourselves with going back to the way the park used to be before FPs and ADRs and character meet and greets and desert parties - poor us.
Don't forget - these "enhancements" would be a direct result of guest requests and guest feedback. Remember, Disney is just giving the guests what they are asking for - More MAGIC!!!
You get the equivalent of that cheaper with a VIP Tour.
Quoted for agreement. Every silly upcharge event is fine with me as long as it doesn't take from regular guests. To that end, I don't like the viewing parties when they take prime viewing spots away from the regular guest. And Preferred Parking really es me off. But the monorail-hopping dinner, early opening at MK, after-hours Frozen ride, Wild Africa Trek, Segway tours, Living Seas diving...sure.
That's the Uni model, although the price point is lower.
Generally, I'm with you. I don't buy the arguments that Disney would concentrate on other things if they weren't concentrating on upcharge events. And if you can use existing assets to generate more profit, that's generally good for everybody.
But certain of the upcharge things do take away from the regular guest. I think Disney has gotten away with them because they are small takeaway. I speak of the fireworks viewing parties that take what would otherwise be good viewing locations; preferred parking that takes away better parking places; special dining parties that close off restaurants to those who would like to eat there at regular prices. These are small things so far, but they do take away from non-upcharging guests.
flynnibus
Premium Member
It's a nice story...
Try watching a movie on your iphone on your next flight over and see how much good that adaptor does you
flynnibus
Premium Member
Except the same music is sold on other platforms without issue (computer)... and apple music has been DRM free for how many years now? Apple, not the labels are the big boy on the block.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Did that mantra just start? Because best I can tell... they had to do that for decades before. It's not a excuse for the change in business strategy as necessity.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
As you say Apple's MUSIC has been DRM free for years,
Apple's VIDEO is not DRM free and I expect the disappearance of the 3.5MM jack is due to movie studio pressure to close the 'analog hole' The WWDC should be interesting if the new laptops continue the trend of removing analog I/O which if they do so will confirm that the move was to close the 'analog hole'
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
It's a nice story...
Try watching a movie on your iphone on your next flight over and see how much good that adaptor does you
As in none at all
flynnibus
Premium Member
flynnibus
Premium Member
Yes, because lifting the sound track off of videos is the big boogy man in the closet. Holy cow you'll dig deep...