Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Thepuma]

I’m not too surprised that’s the rate on a Saturday night during HHN season - Hard Rock is easily the best place to stay for the event and loads of people do short trips just for HHN. If your dates are at all flexible I’d suggest trying to change to another night both to save money on the room and attend a less crowded HHN night.

We don’t tend to hit the parks much during the day when we do HHN in the evening so we’re staying at Sapphire in September for our trip. If the hotel express worked for HHN that would be a different matter entirely.

Yeah, we are crazy Brits and we will rope drop Universal and cram as much as we can in by 3pm...then go back to the Hard Rock for a shower and a rest and then hit HHN ..we will be shattered for sure, but it's always the same when we go to Orlando...we hit the parks Hard EVERY day of the holiday. We often say we need a holiday to get over our Orlando holidays

 

[CaptainAmerica]

…then you’d be a moron…frankly.

I love dak. But this is the kinda bucket carrying crap touted by Disney fans that has run smoke screens and allow this longterm pathetic management to let parks decay and underinvest

Let me be very clear.

My comment was about my lack of enjoyment of Universal, not about how exceptional I consider Animal Kingdom. I would rather go to Lake Compounce than Universal. I would rather go to *work* than Universal. I would rather go to the dentist than Universal. I don't enjoy it.

 

[Splash4eva]

If someone took the time to answer you, would you even be satisfied with the answer? No. No one ever is. Yet everyone still tries to convince each other why they are right.

Actually would love to hear someones reasoning if they are going to the parks for 7 days and plan on basically sleeping and showering only in the rooms… like i can afford it but why should i lay say an extra 3-400 a room for 2 rooms for 7-8 nights… just doesnt make sense to me.

 

[Thepuma]

I’m with you, but I was more referring to the HHN crowds on a Saturday compared to a Wednesday or Sunday…

Yeah for sure....I picked it because I wanted more atmosphere and quite like the idea of it being busy. To be honest we've never done a HHN before and my wife doesn't like scary stuff like that, so the hope is we can blend into the crowds a bit to not get too scared ...

 

[dreday3]

Actually would love to hear someones reasoning if they are going to the parks for 7 days and plan on basically sleeping and showering only in the rooms… like i can afford it but why should i lay say an extra 3-400 a room for 2 rooms for 7-8 nights… just doesnt make sense to me.

Just all my years on various message boards but I'm going to guess you won't just accept their answer and say "oh yeah, that makes sense".

 

[JustLikeMe]

Yeah, we are crazy Brits and we will rope drop Universal and cram as much as we can in by 3pm...then go back to the Hard Rock for a shower and a rest and then hit HHN ..we will be shattered for sure, but it's always the same when we go to Orlando...we hit the parks Hard EVERY day of the holiday. We often say we need a holiday to get over our Orlando holidays

I get it, we’re Brits too. All I’d say is that if you’re doing HHN on a Saturday it might be worth looking into HHN express or even a RIP tour. The crowds can be pretty insane.

 

[Splash4eva]

Just all my years on various message boards but I'm going to guess you won't just accept their answer and say "oh yeah, that makes sense".

Try me lol

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Actually would love to hear someones reasoning if they are going to the parks for 7 days and plan on basically sleeping and showering only in the rooms… like i can afford it but why should i lay say an extra 3-400 a room for 2 rooms for 7-8 nights… just doesnt make sense to me.

I know for us, as a family of 5, we need to stay either in a family suite at a value or a moderate so that does up the cost some

From talking to others they just like having higher quality furnishing and larger rooms and don't like exterior doors. For many it is location - I know a lot of people that just love the Crescent lake resorts and being able to walk to EPCOT has huge value to them.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Apples to Pears.

They are two totally different types of parks. If you you like rides and roller coasters and themed experiences, the Universal is a million miles better than AK. I've always found AK to be a very weak park. It just doesn't have anywhere near enough attractions. And we end up rope dropping and being out of the park by Midday!! - something you could never say about Universal.

But if you like the Animal aspects rather than attractions then yes, AK is a good little park.

I understand what you are saying , and AK is my favorite park in Disney no question, but I wish people would stop saying it can be done in half a day. I have been there hundreds of times as others have and it’s impossible to do it in half a day. We can’t do it in a day. If you go to a few attractions and eat then yes. It’s impossible to do all the shows, all the attractions, both walking trails, eat and any shopping at all in half a day.
With that being said, yes they do need another attraction or two or three.
I can do any Disney park in half a day if I decide not to enjoy everything that is in it.

 

[the_rich]

Actually would love to hear someones reasoning if they are going to the parks for 7 days and plan on basically sleeping and showering only in the rooms… like i can afford it but why should i lay say an extra 3-400 a room for 2 rooms for 7-8 nights… just doesnt make sense to me.

Well I would never stay in an all star resort again. Didn't like it and didn't like sharing buses. I would also never stay in a resort that used the Skyliner because I'm afraid of heights. I tried it once and that was enough for my entire life. I have and would stay in other moderates though. Certain resorts like wl and akl I just enjoy the theme and ambiance. I wouldn't go into debt to stay in a deluxe but I see no reason not to go there.

 

[Thepuma]

I get it, we’re Brits too. All I’d say is that if you’re doing HHN on a Saturday it might be worth looking into HHN express or even a RIP tour. The crowds can be pretty insane.

The price of the HHN tickets were quite reasonable and we aren't majorly into scare houses (Yeah I know what you're thinking, why choose HHN ) but in all the years we've been going to Orlando we've never done it so thought what the heck...even if we only get into 1 or 2 houses, we will be happy enough as we are quite happy wandering round the park soaking up the atmosphere.

 

[dreday3]

Try me lol

When we go to WDW we will always stay at a WDW resort.
When we go to Universal, we will stay at one of their resorts.
When we go to Dollywood we stay at DreamMore but now her new resort is opening and we will stay there.
If we ever get back to Disnelyand, we will stay at one of those.

Just how we like to travel. I like a resort-feel vacation wherever we go with transportation to parks, dining and entertainment available on-site.
Even an island vacation, we're staying at a big resort with a lot of amenities/activities.
Heck, I try and find that even when visiting National Parks.
Now big cities, I like boutique hotels.

I'll add we never, never do parks open to close.

 

[JustLikeMe]

Yeah for sure....I picked it because I wanted more atmosphere and quite like the idea of it being busy. To be honest we've never done a HHN before and my wife doesn't like scary stuff like that, so the hope is we can blend into the crows a bit to not get too scared ...

Ah ok, I’m with you. My wife is the same, hates being scared and refuses to watch horror. She used to point blank refuse to even talk about going to HHN. One year we were there in Sept and we‘d both had a fair bit to drink over dinner on a HHN night - we were walking back to Hard Rock and passing the gates to Universal and she suddenly decided she wanted to give it a go. Now she loves it and insists we go as often as we can.

The price of the HHN tickets were quite reasonable and we aren't majorly into scare houses (Yeah I know what you're thinking, why choose HHN ) but in all the years we've been going to Orlando we've never done it so thought what the heck...even if we only get into 1 or 2 houses, we will be happy enough as we are quite happy wandering round the park soaking up the atmosphere.

That’s exactly what we ended up doing on our first HHN. We went in late and my wife wanted to ease herself into it so we did a couple of laps of the park to check out the scare zones, had a couple of drinks etc. We then managed to do a couple of the less intense houses together, then just before closing I quickly did one of the more intense ones by myself. Had a great night. You’ll love it!

 

[JustLikeMe]

Ive never understood why people pay so much for rooms when going to Disney. Especially the ones who basically do the parks majority of the day. Everyone trashes “Value” resorts but honestly they serve their purpose imo

For us it all comes down to location and proximity. When we still found value in Disney we’d always stay at either the Yacht or Beach Club because we liked eating in Epcot and then walking back to our hotel via International Gateway.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The price of the HHN tickets were quite reasonable and we aren't majorly into scare houses (Yeah I know what you're thinking, why choose HHN ) but in all the years we've been going to Orlando we've never done it so thought what the heck...even if we only get into 1 or 2 houses, we will be happy enough as we are quite happy wandering round the park soaking up the atmosphere.

I totally get where you are coming from - I am not into scary things at all, but am still intrigued by HHN just b/c of the quality of it and to just take in the atmosphere. I have never pulled the trigger but have been tempted so definitely understand your thought process

 

[Thepuma]

I understand what you are saying , and AK is my favorite park in Disney no question, but I wish people would stop saying it can be done in half a day. I have been there hundreds of times as others have and it’s impossible to do it in half a day. We can’t do it in a day. If you go to a few attractions and eat then yes. It’s impossible to do all the shows, all the attractions, both walking trails, eat and any shopping at all in half a day.
With that being said, yes they do need another attraction or two or three.

We easily get it all done in half a day to be fair. (As in by 1pm ish)

We stay on resort and rope drop.(AK opens later I see this year, but I'm sure last year it was 8am for resort guests.)

We are off FoP by 8.30pm...walk on NaviR...have a G+ set up for the Safari for around 9.30am - Everest G+ around 10:15am See the Kite show while over that way - and RiverRapids G+ for around 11am. Parrot Show, then Bug...were at midday at this time, so it's head over to Jungle treck, then Dinosaur and Triceratops before heading out to another park around 1pm.

In the 20 or so times I've been to AK, I don't think I've ever been in the park past 2pm?....we often go to another park and then head back to have a ride on FoP and experience the area in the dark which is sublime.

 

[dreday3]

I totally get where you are coming from - I am not into scary things at all, but am still intrigued by HHN just b/c of the quality of it and to just take in the atmosphere. I have never pulled the trigger but have been tempted so definitely understand your thought process

I would love to do all the houses - the set design looks amazing.

I think the street atmosphere stuff looks very cheesy/cringy rather than scary. Such a pet peeve of mine is in any vampire or zombie movie - the over-exaggerated open mouth hiss to show fangs. Or sexy vampires/zombies. You're supposed to be scary. Like it makes me want to throw things at the tv. I see that there on videos I've watched. I realize that's a very specific complaint.

I'd also like to do the houses without the other guests.

 

[Thepuma]

I totally get where you are coming from - I am not into scary things at all, but am still intrigued by HHN just b/c of the quality of it and to just take in the atmosphere. I have never pulled the trigger but have been tempted so definitely understand your thought process

This September's holiday will be our last to Orlando ..so we are trying to do all the things we've never done and tick them all off. HHN was one we just never thought was worth it as we don't really like people jumping out at us etc...but we have to do it as we will never get the opportunity again..and we will just have a few Cocktails in the Hard Rock beforehand to pluck up some Dutch courage.

 

[Nubs70]

Are people really saying Disneys footfall is down because of a handful of Taylor Swift concerts?

Imagine believing that a music tour is making a massive dent in Disneys footfall, rather than the obvious reasons which are:

1) Recession.
2) Post covid rush has run its course.
And...(Most importantly) ....
3)Disney raising prices while giving worse value for money just about p1ssing off all its park users.

At BEST the TS tour has taken half a one percent of sales away from Disney tickets...and that's at a huge over exagerration, its probably way way less than that.

Who on earth has cone up with the nation that Disneys reduced numbers is down to Taylor Swift? That just what a typical delusional Disney Board member would say, to take away the heat from the real reason....which, let's be honest, is blindingly obvious.

As to point 1.

I am beginning to see 2007 market behaviors in the market I work.

I work in the commodity packaging side of the CPG market place. In the past month, customers are taking market related downtime at a rate of about 20% of output. One customer is expected to officially mothball 15% of production.

Same behavior occurred in 2007 about 6-7 months before the wheels really fell off.

 

[JustLikeMe]

This September's holiday will be our last to Orlando ..so we are trying to do all the things we've never done and tick them all off. HHN was one we just never thought was worth it as we don't really people jumping out at us etc...but we have to do it as we will never get the opportunity again..and we will just have a few Cocktails in the Hard Rock to pluck up some Dutch courage.

If you’re not doing Stay & Scream, don’t forget to load up on some free beer and wine during happy hour in the Club Lounge from 5pm - 7pm.