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Is attendance really down at WDW this or…
- Thread starter coachb
- Start date
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
This is purely anecdotal, but of the few people I know who have decided to halt Disney trips for awhile, lackluster park visits were the reason. One person mentioned loss of FastPass and Genie not working well with the big crowds, another said transportation with the bus system was becoming too slow and cumbersome, another mentioned crowds. All said they’ll go back at some point but don’t feel like Disney is worth it at this exact moment.
No idea if that’s representative at all and I do think a myriad of reasons come into play, but did find that interesting. I don’t know if I’d be excited about going back either if not for my son (he recently reached a point where he finally seems to be outgrowing the endless meltdowns that ensued whenever we traveled, and will actually go on some rides). But I do think that if something is an amazing experience for people, they’re more likely to “find a way”. Shorter trip, less expensive hotel, no character meals, etc. If the experience is a bit meh then suddenly it’s easier to rationalize various reasons not to go and let them take precedence.
No idea if that’s representative at all and I do think a myriad of reasons come into play, but did find that interesting. I don’t know if I’d be excited about going back either if not for my son (he recently reached a point where he finally seems to be outgrowing the endless meltdowns that ensued whenever we traveled, and will actually go on some rides). But I do think that if something is an amazing experience for people, they’re more likely to “find a way”. Shorter trip, less expensive hotel, no character meals, etc. If the experience is a bit meh then suddenly it’s easier to rationalize various reasons not to go and let them take precedence.
DopeyRunner
Active Member
We know he will bail if another bad economic environment hits, i.e. another black swan event. His image and bonus are what’s most important, so if we can just watch the Disney crowds (summit) plummet a bit more, and D+ continues to drag, he may resign for “other reasons”…
A 25% drop in booking volume seems huge. And if it’s showing in the travel agents what is the drop off Disney is seeing directly? It would assume most people book direct and not with an agent.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
you know there's a problem when they don't sell annual passes since covid.. and then all of a sudden recently they do, AND now are up'ing the discounts for the summer.
after covid - psft we don't need AP holders
now - omg please come back, we love you and need you! please help us - here's a magnet, no hard feelings right?
after covid - psft we don't need AP holders
now - omg please come back, we love you and need you! please help us - here's a magnet, no hard feelings right?
erasure fan1
Well-Known Member
Don't forget the coupon for 20% off whatever celebration cupcake you want!
DopeyRunner
Active Member
I was discussing this with my wife this morning. The hard-core fans (us included) will continue to go, but I suspect at a lower frequency (we used to go 2-3 times a year, and even got married back in December). We’re going in Nov. for wine and dine race weekend, but outside of race weekends, we don’t plan on going. I would imagine some other fans feel this way too, and while it’s true the DHFs don’t spend as much per trip compared to the once in a few years crowd, our overall $ value is certainly much higher. I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual KPI leadership cares about is/was $/family-trip.
SamusAranX
Well-Known Member
For DCL they actually got it right….they charge premium market rates but EVERY person I’ve met or friend I’ve had who’s done DC said it’s head and shoulders above the competition and their favorite CL….if only Disney would do this with the parks. If you’re gonna charge a higher rate, make the experience match.
SamusAranX
Well-Known Member
Credit cards.
mightynine
Well-Known Member
Ding ding ding. This, to me, is the biggest problem. That's your next generation of regular visitors right there and leadership only cared about goosing quarterly numbers rather than trying to give a good experience that would lead them to go back home and talk about how great of a time they had.
And then the people that can (maybe?) afford it come back and say it's too complicated, don't bother.
Also, doesn't surprise me UO would feel the spillover from WDW. IMO, it's still dependent on getting people visiting both while in Orlando, not planning an Orlando trip exclusively for UO.
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FTFY - Credit card cash advance to help finance vacation
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
We need folks who actually are in the parks daily to report back and tell us if they see or feel if the crowds are less and the guest experience is better.
Perhaps some numbers are down but are the queues are still packed and is it true the only way to get on an attraction is in the last hour the park is open?
Perhaps some numbers are down but are the queues are still packed and is it true the only way to get on an attraction is in the last hour the park is open?
hopemax
Well-Known Member
These are some long term problems. Eventually the reason why the current "Over 50" crowd stops showing up won't be politics that may be temporary, but because they are no longer traveling / living. If Disney isn't replacing them, naturally, with younger families that's a demographic time bomb.
Also probably means that Disney will be loathe to actually meaningfully increase capacity. More gimmicks until the Boomers are removed from the calculations.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Most of the “under” dragging that Nineveh down were never going anyway
But they outpriced themselves. Really did an awful just of preparing for a downturn…because Bob doesn’t believe he has to.
It’s not negligence…it’s malfeasance.
TheMaxRebo
Well-Known Member
DCL is such an interesting situation as a high % of their cruisers say if it wasn't for DCL they wouldn't cruise
I feel like that used to be a high % of WDW's guests but now more are finding alternatives
Will also be interesting to see how things progress as Royal Caribbean is clearly targeting Families/the DCL client base with their new ships - and I know DCL probably ced us out and we did Royal and really liked it and are converted
seabreezept813
Well-Known Member
There's definitely something to be said for the last part that when the experience is excellent you make more of an effort to make it work. When we went last summer, my husband was like are we really going to go again with a 1 year old, and on the trip he goes okay you're right this is amazing all of our girls 18, 4, and 1 at the time were having a blast. So it didn't take much convincing to get him to okay going this summer. But our trip was amazing partly due to the hours of time I spent planning it, which is fun for me. The cost is ridiculous, but we are pretty frugal and careful in other areas of our budget.
Ayla
Well-Known Member
Younger baby boomers are nearing 70, so it won't be long before they're removed from the calculations.
