Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

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TheIceBaron

Well-Known Member
Not to bring up a possible 5th park at WDW and invite scorn, but I think it might make some sense to build a 5th park in close proximity to Magic Kingdom that could serve to alleviate some crowds. Of course the parking and other transportation systems would need to be retooled a bit.

Beyond big thunder won’t solve the crowd problem and it might even make it worse if they plan to allow more people to enter Magic Kingdom. Magic kingdom is very far from the other parks so it makes it kind of a production to get to them and time is valuable to the guest.

It wouldn’t make sense to build a 5th park otherwise since pretty much the other 3 parks (especially AK) are underbuilt. The 5th park being close to Magic Kingdom could offer as a quick respite to unhappy Magic kingdom guests, or even be packed with compelling dining options to further entice a visit. It could even have a competitive fireworks show on a Magic kingdom level at the same time.
 
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Touchdown

Well-Known Member
JD80 said:
MK is slowly becoming my least favorite park because of the crowds. The mass of humanity is just uncomfortable towards the end of the day as everyone packs in for fireworks.
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The MK has nothing on DHS, which is only pleasant from open til 10:30ish, and sometimes (but not always) after 6pm.
 
Tha Realest

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
Sir_Cliff said:
When I read these articles, I really wonder what sort of person who wasn't already a fan of the parks would plan a WDW vacation today. It really sounds like the opposite of a good time.
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Not just the uninitiated. We went to a Disney park around once a year since 2015, and then 2x a year early on during Covid. We’ve tapered off substantially, and other than a current plan to do W&D (where an Epcot ticket is included) we have no desire to go back for the foreseeable future.
 
Laketravis

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
The concept of raising prices to suppress attendance while maintaining the same financial margins has one glaring fault -

Disney can't resist the temptation of reducing costs to further maximize those margins, further degrading the experience rather than enhancing it.

For example (and in simple math) - doubling the price of admission to halve the number of people in the parks presents a wonderful possibility of low to no attraction wait times. EXCEPT they then reduce staffing and other cost contributing elements that only serve to make the park "feel" just as crowded as it did when twice as many people were in it.
 
Laketravis

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
_caleb

_caleb

Well-Known Member
EPCOT-O.G. said:
Is it in any way worrisome to some of the more staunch Disney defenders that articles like this on national news platforms is a bimonthly occurrence?
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I’m often called a “Disney defender,” and no, it doesn’t bother me at all that articles like this are popping up more frequently. Quite the opposite!

In my opinion, the parks—everything about them—are way too expensive. And the nickel-and-diming has gotten way out of hand. I’m not expecting anything to change anytime soon, but I think articles like this are great because it applies negative PR pressure that Disney might actually pay attention to.

While I don’t think prices are going to come down, I do think this pressure might help them fix Genie app (or at least make it less central to the experience).
 
Drdcm

Drdcm

Well-Known Member
_caleb said:
I’m often called a “Disney defender,” and no, it doesn’t bother me at all that articles like this are popping up more frequently. Quite the opposite!

In my opinion, the parks—everything about them—are way too expensive. And the nickel-and-diming has gotten way out of hand. I’m not expecting anything to change anytime soon, but I think articles like this are great because it applies negative PR pressure that Disney might actually pay attention to.

While I don’t think prices are going to come down, I do think this pressure might help them fix Genie app (or at least make it less central to the experience).
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I honestly think the only thing that will change the current course is for them to hit hard times again - like a precipitous decline in attendance that they can’t claw back with increased prices. So… a major economic recession essentially.

I’m not hoping for it, it’s just that they need to be put in the position of needing to entice consumers rather than act like they need to turn people them away.

I love Disney and still go, although less now than in the late 2010s.
 
Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
Drdcm said:
I honestly think the only thing that will change the current course is for them to hit hard times again - like a precipitous decline in attendance that they can’t claw back with increased prices. So… a major economic recession essentially.

I’m not hoping for it, it’s just that they need to be put in the position of needing to entice consumers rather than act like they need to turn people them away.

I love Disney and still go, although less now than in the late 2010s.
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2019, Ah the good ol' days ;)

But we do have EPIC Universe to look forward to!!
 
JD80

JD80

Well-Known Member
Drdcm said:
I honestly think the only thing that will change the current course is for them to hit hard times again - like a precipitous decline in attendance that they can’t claw back with increased prices. So… a major economic recession essentially.

I’m not hoping for it, it’s just that they need to be put in the position of needing to entice consumers rather than act like they need to turn people them away.

I love Disney and still go, although less now than in the late 2010s.
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One year of soft bookings at the hotels and reduced revenue YoY from the parks will make them do something. This will for sure happen in 2025.

I'd just set your expectations to be disappointed at D23 this year and be ready for excitement in 2026 after they realized EU is going to chop their market share.
 

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