Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[lentesta]

The cost of living has shot up just about everywhere. And didn’t @lentesta say that other theme parks have also seen dips in their attendance?

UOR might show a dip this year. Privately they’ll say it was collateral damage from fewer WDW visitors.

 

[LittleBuford]

Privately they’ll say it was collateral damage from fewer WDW visitors.

Which is itself telling!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

UOR might show a dip this year. Privately they’ll say it was collateral damage from fewer WDW visitors.

And based on the Lowe’s/Home Depot effect…

They would be at least partially correct.

When LBV gets a cold…it spreads to CFP and Kirkman…may even become the flu

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I get that, but if they’re continuing to pay even though they think the experience is no longer worth it, then it seems a bit premature to me to talk of Disney being at a crisis point.

I think people can still find it worth it even if not *as* worth it in the past

If you felt in the past you were getting 200% value on what you spend and now you are getting 125%, still a good option, but you will also feel a bit bummed that it isn't 200% anymore

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Which is itself telling!

That wdw is the driving catalyst to an area with like 2,500,000 residents that had 50,000 in 1964 when walt and Roy called the reporters in?

Wdw is AMAZING…it’s entire history.

Which is why if I had Bob Iger in a room alone…and I could see that far down…I’d tell him what Alfred tells Bruce in Batman begins:
“It’s not just your name…it’s your fathers name…
…don’t ruin it”

 

[Jrb1979]

This is going way back, but in 2006 I got free dining which, at the time, still included appetizers and gratuities. It was probably valued pretty close to what I paid for a room at Pop Century.

Crowd levels were still old school off season.

I don't think people realize how profitable WDW is. If they could thrive back then, with much lower attendance than today and better discounts, they can do just fine today.

A downturn in WDW business is a far cry from potentially going out of business as some people seem to exaggerate.

Nobody is saying they are going to go out of business. They will continue to be profitable. What many are saying is they have to change their ways. If this continues that profit could go from say 5 billion to 1 or 2 billion. If that happens you can kiss may major investments into the parks goodbye. Be prepared for more blue sky ideas

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Definitely benefits to being in the #2 spot

Everything that goes well: We have a great product!

Everything that goes poorly: Disney's fault, not us

 

[LittleBuford]

That wdw is the driving catalyst to an area with like 2,500,000 residents that had 50,000 in 1964 when walt and Roy called the reporters in?

More that the rival park still acknowledges behind the scenes that they’re dependent on Disney’s fortunes.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think people can still find it worth it even if not *as* worth it in the past

If you felt in the past you were getting 200% value on what you spend and now you are getting 125%, still a good option, but you will also feel a bit bummed that it isn't 200% anymore

I agree…

…but there’s also a fundamental problem
As a business in leisure when people have to increasingly “search“ for value.

A lot of deserters from your army

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Definitely benefits to being in the #2 spot

Everything that goes well: We have a great product!

Everything that goes poorly: Disney's fault, not us

Tough being an immensely wealthy company, huh?

“Life’s A B…and then you die”

 

[GhostHost1000]

More that the rival park still acknowledges behind the scenes that they’re dependent on Disney’s fortunes.

They aren’t dependent on it, it just helps them. Probably will even more when they open their 3rd park because some may spend less time at WDW parks and more in Uni parks during an Orlando vacation more than today

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nobody is saying they are going to go out of business. They will continue to be profitable. What many are saying is they have to change their ways. If this continues that profit could go from say 5 billion to 1 or 2 billion. If that happens you can kiss may major investments into the parks goodbye. Be prepared for more blue sky ideas

Correct and we ALL lose…
Period.

Whether you are fordexplorer91 or Katie on pixie laced with fentanyl

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They aren’t dependent on it, it just helps them. Probably will even more when they open their 3rd park because some may spend less time at WDW parks and more in Uni parks during an Orlando vacation more than today

They’re symbiotic…more than competitors

That’s pretty much standard business

Anyone remember those things called “shopping malls”?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

They aren’t dependent on it, it just helps them. Probably will even more when they open their 3rd park because some may spend less time at WDW parks and more in Uni parks during an Orlando vacation more than today

and will be interesting to see if after Epic Universe opens we see some of the reverse - people coming for EU but figure while there might as well check out Disney

 

[GhostHost1000]

and will be interesting to see if after Epic Universe opens we see some of the reverse - people coming for EU but figure while there might as well check out Disney

they might...

until they see how much it costs in addition to EU

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Nobody is saying they are going to go out of business. They will continue to be profitable. What many are saying is they have to change their ways. If this continues that profit could go from say 5 billion to 1 or 2 billion. If that happens you can kiss may major investments into the parks goodbye. Be prepared for more blue sky ideas

Or it could encourage investment.

No incentive to build new attractions if we keep going back for the same old offerings.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

and will be interesting to see if after Epic Universe opens we see some of the reverse - people coming for EU but figure while there might as well check out Disney

There will be many…

Question there is do they lose market share?

The dynamics of Orlando are changing because of time needs and cost.

“Add a day” really doesn’t work anymore.

Actually…it’s kinda flipped. Comcast is pricing to keep you there and Disney is making it so they encourage you to do it by day?

Somewhere…Michael eisner’s head is floating in space over Lake Michigan

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

they might...

until they see how much it costs in addition to EU

That’s the new wrinkle

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Or it could encourage investment.

No incentive to build new attractions if we keep going back for the same old offerings.

I think this is the real debate - how does Disney view the drop in attendance and what will their response be

Are they ok with it as helps with the complaints about crowding and with additional revenue streams if revenue is viewed as good and earnings per guest up while expenses down, maybe they are (largely) ok with it (or at least less worried than this thread is)

Or do they see it as a long term issue and they do invest in the parks and try to increase actual total capacity across the parks and try to motivate more people to come with the hopes of increasing total revenue and earnings even if the per-guest figures go down a little

So far their actions say they are worried about attendance at the resorts (given all the room discounts) and at the restaurants (dining plan coming back and some dining related promotions) but not as much about attendance in the parks themselves

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Or it could encourage investment.

No incentive to build new attractions if we keep going back for the same old offerings.

Well that’s why deciding you’re a “tech player on Wall Street” and not a creative based on movie lots is a mistake. You can’t invest down a hole.

People roll their eyes about how I bash Iger…

Here’s how it goes: I’m gonna be more correct as the hours pass.

Hate the game…not the player