Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Andrew25]

The highly "coveted" summer season has been in a decline the past few years with the parks doing a great job at balancing attendance somewhat evenly throughout the year due to demand-based pricing. But... it's definitely less busy than it was a year ago.

I sincerely doubt Universal/Disney are surprised by the decline in attendance, knowing that Covid Revenge travel had to end at some point.

It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next 2 years with only SeaWorld opening a major new attraction this year and next until Epic Universe opens up.

 

[ToTBellHop]

This is a traditional slow time of year. Still, this May has been slower than what we saw in the 2016-2019 time period.

The summer hotel discounts, annual pass bonus days, and specially priced tickets suggest summer bookings are not meeting expectations.

As some have suggested, I think it's (mostly) the end of post COVID "revenge vacations". Those who deferred their Orlando vacations for 2 years have now (mostly) taken them. There's going to be a natural lull after that peak.

Also, we saw huge price increases over the last 2 years. Even with discounts, someone who last took a WDW vacation in (say) 2018 is in for some serious sticker shock.

Finally, and as Park Chairman Josh D'Amaro has suggested, recent changes making a WDW vacation overly complex to plan probably are turning off a few.

Don’t forget the end of the outrageously popular 50th celebration! Now that the iridescent sprinkles and Enchantment are gone, many are left wondering, “why bother returning?”

 

[Trauma]

Now Disney can cut more staff to artificially inflate wait times and sell more Genie.

Win win.

 

[Ayla]

Ancidotal but I travel a lot, I’ve gotten significantly better hotel rates nationwide starting a few months ago. It goes beyond Disney.

Agreed...though it's great for people still traveling.

 

[Bocabear]

Don’t forget the end of the outrageously popular 50th celebration! Now that the iridescent sprinkles and Enchantment are gone, many are left wondering, “why bother returning?”

DId they ever really finish installing them? This was absolutely the worst milestone anniversary celebration in the Disney company history... even before Covid the plans for the 50th were terrible and uninspiring... and then it got worse... So...Sunburn castle with purple roof, and a whole lot of nothing... EPCOT's first new fireworks show in decades does a belly flop, Star Wars Galactic StarCruiser crashes and burns, EPCOT revitalization plans get value engineered and work goes on slow-down for a few more years... It is making a lot of us who are die-hard Disney fans rethink our DVC investments...They seem to be moving away from all of the things that Disney was known for...

 

[Ayla]

DId they ever really finish installing them? This was absolutely the worst milestone anniversary celebration in the Disney company history... even before Covid the plans for the 50th were terrible and uninspiring... and then it got worse... So...Sunburn castle with purple roof, and a whole lot of nothing... EPCOT's first new fireworks show in decades does a belly flop, Star Wars Galactic StarCruiser crashes and burns, EPCOT revitalization plans get value engineered and work goes on slow-down for a few more years... It is making a lot of us who are die-hard Disney fans rethink our DVC investments...They seem to be moving away from all of the things that Disney was known for...

Hey, it took them two months to remove those 10 decorations!!

 

[Weather_Lady]

If you've been watching the wait times lately as a crowd level gauge, they've been amazingly low.

I think it's a combination of [edited: inflation and increased costs affecting the average household], exhaustion of post-COVID make-up trips, and the increased expense and complexity (a/k/a hassle) of taking a WDW vacation (for reasons well-known on these forums -- cessation of DME, park reservations, VQs, G+, ILLs, parkhopping restrictions, each with their own set of rules and timelines) that has resulted in guests not wanting to return, or simply not wanting to return as often. I know the latter is certainly true for my family.

 

[Bocabear]

What economic downturn? unemployment is the lowest in history, Real Estate prices are ridiculous and things keep selling, people are spending, Construction projects are going on everywhere despite not being able to find enough labor... Maybe it is not the downturn but people are tired of going to Walt Construction World...lol

 

[Lilofan]

What economic downturn? unemployment is the lowest in history, Real Estate prices are ridiculous and things keep selling, people are spending, Construction projects are going on everywhere despite not being able to find enough labor... Maybe it is not the downturn but people are tired of going to Walt Construction World...lol

The one downturn among many is the continuous supply chain issues. Try being without one of your cars that sits at a service center waiting for a part that may take months to get while still making monthly payments.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think another factor is the price of the dollar for Canadians right now. I Canadian dollar is only .75 cents US.

 

[Disstevefan1]

What economic downturn? unemployment is the lowest in history, Real Estate prices are ridiculous and things keep selling, people are spending, Construction projects are going on everywhere despite not being able to find enough labor... Maybe it is not the downturn but people are tired of going to Walt Construction World...lol

Folks with the money will still have the money no matter what is happening with the economy. Price increases at WDW always out paced the cost of living and folks still show up.

 

[Weather_Lady]

What economic downturn? unemployment is the lowest in history, Real Estate prices are ridiculous and things keep selling, people are spending, Construction projects are going on everywhere despite not being able to find enough labor... Maybe it is not the downturn but people are tired of going to Walt Construction World...lol

I didn't use the right term. What I should have said was inflation/the increased cost of living.

And you're absolutely right about the construction. It's a big de-motivator for me personally, and breeds the idea that Disney is a bloated, ham-fisted, slow-moving company that doesn't care about needlessly subjecting its guests to inconvenience and ugliness for years on end -- great at destroying legacy attractions, but in recent years, rarely capable of bringing its own visions for a new-and-better replacement to life.

 

[Jrb1979]

Folks with the money will still have the money no matter what is happening with the economy. Price increases at WDW always out paced the cost of living and folks still show up.

Their Invincible

 

[Brer Oswald]

Let’s see:
- New attractions are notoriously difficult to get on (Rise, Cosmic Rewind, Tron)
- Park reservations have given them the reputation of being “overly complicated” to visit.
- Multiple parks are under construction (EPCOT since 2019, TBA in MK until 2024)
- They’ve given themselves a bigger reputation for nickel and dining with increased prices and Genie +
- Pent up demand from Covid shutdowns has mostly subsided
- Lack of new additions on the horizon

Yeah I’m not surprised

 

[James Alucobond]

Let’s see:
- Multiple parks are under construction (EPCOT since 2019, TBA in MK until 2024)

To be fair, I feel there should always be ongoing construction or refurbishment. EPCOT’s is just especially disruptive and drawn out.

 

[Brer Oswald]

To be fair, I feel there should always be ongoing construction or refurbishment. EPCOT’s is just especially disruptive and drawn out.

When it’s an addition to the parks, sure.

 

[Lilofan]

Folks with the money will still have the money no matter what is happening with the economy. Price increases at WDW always out paced the cost of living and folks still show up.

A number of guests are hocked up to their eyeballs in debt. Continuing to be in debt while charging the vacation and making the min payments on credit cards.

 

[TalkingHead]

Let’s see:
- New attractions are notoriously difficult to get on (Rise, Cosmic Rewind, Tron)
- Park reservations have given them the reputation of being “overly complicated” to visit.

I suspect these two have led to fewer locals visiting. Not being able to show up, buy a ticket, and get on the new ride was a seismic change.

 

[flyakite]

I went to Studios on Saturday and arrived at 7pm. Rode ROTR, MF, TOT, and Alien Saucers…had two cocktails….perused several stores…and arrived 15 early for my 10:30pm reservation at the Cantina (the reservation opening popped up on Wednesday midday). It was strange to walk on TOT and MF. Also strange to watch the people with their ILL entries, who paid, since we all pretty much got in line together. It was a great stress-free night.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Based on the current deals offered, I’d say the rooms aren’t being filled.

Based on my wife’s client base trying to reserve certain weeks I would disagree. There are nights here and there but try getting a straight week somewhere and it’s getting almost impossible. It’s like every other summer at WDW.