Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Laketravis]

I’m younger, so my good ol’ days were circa 2012 when the parks were open until 1-2am regularly and you didn’t have to pay for a second ticket. The end of ME was when I realized it wasn’t the same though.

2010 stands out for me as the year they were literally begging people to come while simultaneously offering the highest level of benefits and perks to do so.

 

[Dranth]

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.

I think they are still scarred by the last time they added a park. It did not have the intended impact. Throw in staffing issues with just the existing parks and I don't see how they would want to do a 5th gate anytime soon.

Having said that, if they see Universal pull off Epic, including staffing, and it shows an actual, substantial increase in the overall number of visitors, not just a slight increase with the rest moving days around to hit the new park, then it may reopen that door for Disney.

 

[Nubs70]

"Murphy recommends that guests bring an extra power bank or cellphone charger when they go to the parks because they’ll spend so much time on their phones."

This sums up the problem.

Don't need an intra day charge cord or power bank in Europe. Europe - better experience, similar/cheaper price.

 

[JD80]

"Murphy recommends that guests bring an extra power bank or cellphone charger when they go to the parks because they’ll spend so much time on their phones."

This sums up the problem.

Don't need an intra day charge cord or power bank in Europe. Europe - better experience, similar/cheaper price.

This is kind of ridiculous. If you have a newer phone where the batter is not 4+ years old, you won't need a battery pack. You aren't on your phone that much compared to what people are normally on their phone for.

Most of your power drain is sitting on your phone looking at social media waiting on line. Or taking pictures/video.

 

[Lilofan]

"Murphy recommends that guests bring an extra power bank or cellphone charger when they go to the parks because they’ll spend so much time on their phones."

This sums up the problem.

Don't need an intra day charge cord or power bank in Europe. Europe - better experience, similar/cheaper price.

Parks and resorts should sell in merchandise locations to make more profit.

 

[MR.Dis]

The reports seen from those who have gone to WDW this month both on this forum and others I read, indicate that attendance / visitors is up significantly from the last couple of years for the month of Jan. We have no way of knowing since Disney does not release attendance figures. The only figures we get come out once a year and are released by AECOM.

 

[SamusAranX]

I had to laugh (for the wrong reasons) at this “perk” of staying onsite:

“Semanoff’s number one tip is to book a room at a Disney resort. He said it’s worth the splurge if for no other reason than being able to pay for a spot on the most popular rides at 7 a.m”

so it’s worth it to pay more money for an opportunity to…pay more money.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

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.

I think if you haven’t been enough to times to not miss anything…and aren’t comfortable where and what everything is…it would be a disaster for many if not most.
That’s contrary to what they want: wide eyed newbies who spend. You gotta be a little bit cynical now to even accept it.

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.

Problem is the model is not…nor ever has been…to have less people. More people equals more discretionary spending…which is entire game. It’s why it’s there…it drives the engine.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I had to laugh (for the wrong reasons) at this “perk” of staying onsite:

“Semanoff’s number one tip is to book a room at a Disney resort. He said it’s worth the splurge if for no other reason than being able to pay for a spot on the most popular rides at 7 a.m”

so it’s worth it to pay more money for an opportunity to…pay more money.

That’s exactly where we are…

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Tuesday's Washington Post on the complicated nature of planning a Disney trip.

I got a pay wall on this so I couldn't read it. Any other suggestions besides signing up for it?

 

[Grimley1968]

I got a pay wall on this so I couldn't read it. Any other suggestions besides signing up for it?

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/is-attendance-really-down-at-wdw-this-or….981083/post-10830799

 

[HauntedPirate]

The reports seen from those who have gone to WDW this month both on this forum and others I read, indicate that attendance / visitors is up significantly from the last couple of years for the month of Jan. We have no way of knowing since Disney does not release attendance figures. The only figures we get come out once a year and are released by AECOM.

January has been a very busy month for many years.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm a little bit surprised they haven't done more to promote and incentivize food and beverage purchases at the parks, like Eat-around-the-World passports, in-park refillable cups, buy-10-get-one free, etc.

Disneyland does do sip and savor passes for their festivals, and I'm surprised WDW hasn't done the same at least for food and wine festival

 

[Nubs70]

I have, multiple times. Other than Disney, resort bubbles are not for me; I'd sooner take my chances with the world around me.

Resort bubbles are my winter vacation. Summer vacations are full on Clark Griswold.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

No-one is saying the risk is the same everywhere you go; of course it isn't.

And yes, to have gone off on a tangent about the dangers of Mexico does strike me as weird in a thread entitled "Is attendance really down at WDW this or…"

The value and worth of alternate vacation destinations isn't terribly off topic in my opinion.

A lot of people are devoted fans of Disney because of their unique offerings and level of entertainment provided for the price.

I'd rather spend a week at a theme park than a tropical beach, but for some people a tipping point is being reached where their choice of vacation spot is expanding due to perceived value.

It's fair to look at alternatives to Disney, and evaluate those based on what one gets for one's money.

 

[Laketravis]

In other news..... is there something going on next week and the week after at WDW? I'm arriving on the 12th and I'm getting the impression from ADR's and crowd calendars that it's going to be relatively crowded. I thought I was between marathons and festivals.

 

[HauntedPirate]

In other news..... is there something going on next week and the week after at WDW? I'm arriving on the 12th and I'm getting the impression from ADR's and crowd calendars that it's going to be relatively crowded. I thought I was between marathons and festivals.

President's Week is busy because NY schools are out, plus the Princess Half-Marathon is that next weekend. But the week before? No idea. Perhaps some other larger schools are out that week?

 

[Laketravis]

President's Week is busy because NY schools are out, plus the Princess Half-Marathon is that next weekend. But the week before? No idea. Perhaps some other larger schools are out that week?

I suppose I'll find out - one thing I noticed in December was a more distinct presence of corporate / private conference attendees. They may have lost Pop Warner and the BTG's but it looks like a lot of marketing has been done to attract and book corporate events.

 

[James J]

I suggest everyone gets back to discussing attendance at WDW.

 

[_caleb]

Some are claiming attendance is way down.

But when people say, "it seems like it's difficult to find reservations for this particular week," or "I was at there last week, and it was crowded," someone else jumps in and says something like, "well, that's the week after the Arbor Day break for private schools in New England, that week is always busy."