Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes, I know they've been doing it a while but it's gotten worse. I'm ok with raising the temps a bit but zero air flow is a no go. It's always about the bucks. WDW seems to be run by former Six Flags wannabes.

No…run by people who just hang around to see if they can get anything out of it?

For 20 years…starting with the guy standing on the box at the top.

And I hear you…some sweaty preshows are now standard

Got a little moist in guardians, runaway railway and rat…and it was only mid 80’s

 

[BrianLo]

I'll add to this. I have no clue how you can say Comcast are the ones playing catch up, respectfully. I mean other than the fact that they're literally trying to catch up to WDW's immense infrastructure.

Well yes I do mean infrastructure and I do mean they are starting from a global place of 'behind'.

Yes they took an incredible lead in the early part of last decade, but it was slowly squandered and saved up against Epic Universe. Will they be ahead in 2025? Yes, but that's not yet where we are.

My point is Disney DID respond the last decade. For as much credit as Comcast deserves for the Potter run they had a sub par follow up act and did not maintain their pacing. In large part that's because needed projects like Super Nintendo World were pushed and saved for their third gate.

I still love IOA, USF is now my least favourite park of the six. It most certainly wasn't in 2014. AK is probably my favourite and DHS has come a significantly long way from the bottom of the barrel. Today, I would personally much rather go to WDW. Though I seem to have a less toxic relationship with the resort with more infrequent visits.

 

[jannerUK]

So are we safe to say that the payoff for having a light summer with crowds (based on what we see currently) is:
- No/Limited Rides maintained or fixed (Thinking of the Dinosaur thread). Why bother when the attendance will be low
- Early Closing hours (someone mentioned AK is 7pm) throughout the summer to cut costs?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So are we safe to say that the payoff for having a light summer with crowds (based on what we see currently) is:
- No/Limited Rides maintained or fixed (Thinking of the Dinosaur thread). Why bother when the attendance will be low
- Early Closing hours (someone mentioned AK is 7pm) throughout the summer to cut costs?

Hours will be interesting to watch. Cutting hours in the summer could only be properly described as “unprecedented”…
…but these are strange times

 

[Tha Realest]

So are we safe to say that the payoff for having a light summer with crowds (based on what we see currently) is:
- No/Limited Rides maintained or fixed (Thinking of the Dinosaur thread). Why bother when the attendance will be low
- Early Closing hours (someone mentioned AK is 7pm) throughout the summer to cut costs?

I was there during RECORD REVENUES AND ATTENDANCE over the last three years, and the maintenance and hours (relative to years past) was abysmal.

 

[JoeCamel]

I was there during RECORD REVENUES AND ATTENDANCE over the last three years, and the maintenance and hours (relative to years past) was abysmal.

So that's a yes?

 

[orion54]

I was there during RECORD REVENUES AND ATTENDANCE over the last three years, and the maintenance and hours (relative to years past) was abysmal.

Iger and Cheapak and their management group have only used WDW to pay for the other divisions at the same time re-investing little to nothing in WDW. The bill comes due and they are seeing it. Well deserved. They've ruined their nostalgic IPs with creatively bankrupt live actions and raised prices in WDW so much that they are seeing the results. The spigot McCarthy said they can always turn on to boost revenue is running dry.

 

[Trauma]

Iger and Cheapak and their management group have only used WDW to pay for the other divisions at the same time re-investing little to nothing in WDW. The bill comes due and they are seeing it. Well deserved. They've ruined their nostalgic IPs with creatively bankrupt live actions and raised prices in WDW so much that they are seeing the results. The spigot McCarthy said they can always turn on to boost revenue is running dry.

Not to mention they are turning the parks into Six Flags.

 

[Chomama]

Not to mention they are turning the parks into Six Flags.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Trauma]

What do you mean by that?

Well I’ve never tried but I’m sure that I could have made a list of 100 things that set Disney parks apart from the rest. It’s why I loved the place so much.

Over the last 5 years so much has been removed. I don’t have time to list everything but some are Magical express, parades, rides and live entertainment.

If things continue to disappear at this pace Disney will certainly be passed by Universal. I doubt it ever reaches the dumpster fire of Six Flags but I wouldn’t put anything past Iger.

 

[GimpYancIent]

It has been the pre-BC BI's stated goal to reduce crowding and he has diligently continued to press forward to achieve that goal.

 

[Tha Realest]

So that's a yes?

In a way. But to suddenly blame those things on poor attendance implies that they weren’t happening already

 

[Chomama]

Well I’ve never tried but I’m sure that I could have made a list of 100 things that set Disney parks apart from the rest. It’s why I loved the place so much.

Over the last 5 years so much has been removed. I don’t have time to list everything but some are Magical express, parades, rides and live entertainment.

If things continue to disappear at this pace Disney will certainly be passed by Universal. I doubt it ever reaches the dumpster fire of Six Flags but I wouldn’t put anything past Iger.

That makes sense to me. I just wasn’t sure what you meant. The big things that stick out to our family on this trip are package pick up (total pain to buy stuff and carry it around so we aren’t shopping much), Epcot entertainment is nonexistent which is so disappointing (to us it was one of the big things that made the parks special), parades are gone except MK, free fastpass, and general magical moments. Oh gosh and the photo boxes instead of actually getting interaction with a photographer. They are so impersonal and obviously putting distance between guest and cast. It’s weird. I’m sure I have more!!! Oh the restaurants have way less menu variety. Even California grill!

 

[orion54]

That makes sense to me. I just wasn’t sure what you meant. The big things that stick out to our family on this trip are package pick up (total pain to buy stuff and carry it around so we aren’t shopping much), Epcot entertainment is nonexistent which is so disappointing (to us it was one of the big things that made the parks special), parades are gone except MK, free fastpass, and general magical moments. Oh gosh and the photo boxes instead of actually getting interaction with a photographer. They are so impersonal and obviously putting distance between guest and cast. It’s weird. I’m sure I have more!!! Oh the restaurants have way less menu variety. Even California grill!

They have standardized the menus for the most part. Almost every sit down has a bread pudding and each buffet is $50+ per person character or not. The quality of the food has dropped as well. This usually goes in cycles but McCarthy is probably the main ingredient. You know, we're too fat so she's going to help us with that. Guessing we're too "fat" both with money and waistline so she wants to take from both.

 

[Chomama]

They have standardized the menus for the most part. Almost every sit down has a bread pudding and each buffet is $50+ per person character or not. The quality of the food has dropped as well. This usually goes in cycles but McCarthy is probably the main ingredient. You know, we're too fat so she's going to help us with that. Guessing we're too "fat" both with money and waistline so she wants to take from both.

Ha well the food certainly isn’t any healthier so not sure the waistline issue is going to be impacted but my tastebuds sure have been!!!

 

[TDLFan]

I just checked into what is usually a busy resort to be told, "You're in luck! Your room is ready as the resort is at less than 50% occupancy, which is odd for this time of year, but you'll have a nice quiet stay! Enjoy!" ...

 

[dreday3]

Reading elsewhere and people are complaining about not expecting such large crowds while they are there now.

Perspectives I guess.

 

[drizgirl]

It has been the pre-BC BI's stated goal to reduce crowding and he has diligently continued to press forward to achieve that goal.

If they really wanted to reduce crowds, they would stop offering ticket deals and resort discounts.

 

[seabreezept813]

I just got off the phone with a member from Disney’s corporate office and all I can say is yikes. Just so out of touch with how people tour, what draws them to the parks, and how to win over guests. Every solution offered was something that would tack on 300-500 on a trip. The person had no idea why Magic Kingdom would be a priority over Epcot with little kids. It was like talking to a robot. Guess it’s good my kids are into Mario and we might start Harry Potter, just at that the time when we could think about buying DVC. Guess we need a new magic spot..so annoying..

 

[JoeCamel]

If they really wanted to reduce crowds, they would stop offering ticket deals and resort discounts.

Those are the desirables..