Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[TheMaxRebo]

I seem to remember being able to purchase individual rides in park as well or was that Disneyland in the 60's?

At Disneyland it started with only individual tickets and then people complained that they kept having to go back to he ticket books for a ticket for the next ride so Walt came up with the Ticket Book idea to package together a good sampling of rides/tickets that you could get and be set for a while, but individual tickets were available too - generally got after you ran out of the ones in your ticket book (or, most likely, the D tickets, and then E tickets when they were added)

 

[eliza61nyc]

I mean...no one's arguing that you couldn't buy your way to a better experience at Disney previously, but now it's very much in your face. Previously, once I was in the park no one knew that I was a poor (relatively speaking of course) schlub, but now it's kind of advertised. Can people really not see the difference in how that makes people feel? I can guarantee you it's not just me that feels this way, and it's not just weirdos on a Disney message board. I understand the academic argument, but I'm telling you from what I hear from others like me, this feels different.

No I can't, sorry maybe it's me but when I'm on vacation I never think "oh poor me, it's not fair that someone else is purchasing lighting lane and I can't "
I really don't see how it's advertised, and I don't associate where someone is staying with their financial status.
When someone goes whizzing by me in lightening lane, I don't think it's some how unfair

 

[Willmark]

There is certainly something "strange" afoot, what exactly is the cause is up for debate.

Movies aren't doing too well and if people are passing on something much lower in terms of cost (aka movie tickets) that likely means that vacations are likewise on the "chopping block" of personal finances.

I personally think there isn't any one thing but a multitude of factors, some we can't discuss here but suffice to say Disney is facing some interesting choices ahead. This is not to say they are going "belly up" but I don't think they have the hold on folks they once did.

 

[Jrb1979]

There is certainly something "strange" afoot, what exactly is the cause is up for debate.

Movies aren't doing too well and if people are passing on something much lower in terms of cost (aka movie tickets) that likely means that vacations are likewise on the "chopping block" of personal finances.

I personally think there isn't any one thing but a multitude of factors, some we can't discuss here but suffice to say Disney is facing some interesting choices ahead. This is not to say they are going "belly up" but I don't think they have the hold of folks they once did.

Agreed. Two big factors are price and people are finding that there is more out there than Disney and Universal. I have mentioned before that Cedar Point is up 25% in attendance this summer so far.

 

[Lilofan]

Agreed. Two big factors are price and people are finding that there is more out there than Disney and Universal. I have mentioned before that Cedar Point is up 25% in attendance this summer so far.

Cedar Point Iowa? Guess not. I had to look up what Cedar Point was. OH isn't exactly a place where I'm thinking " oooohhh, let's go to OH for vacation !"

 

[Jrb1979]

Cedar Point Iowa? Guess not. I had to look up what Cedar Point was. OH isn't exactly a place where I'm thinking " oooohhh, let's go to OH for vacation !"

You're missing out on a lot. The park is really good and there is a hidden gem in Lake Erie in Put in Bay.

 

[Lilofan]

You're missing out on a lot. The park is really good and there is a hidden gem in Lake Erie in Put in Bay.

The Yeti will be fixed at DAK before OH exceeds FL in tourists from all over the world spending their discretionary income to support the state

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Well, it's luxury price for middle of the road quality.

In the '70s/'80s, Disney was, not really luxury quality, but far exceeding middle class quality, think old school Holiday Inn. Which were on the nicer side of places where you would stay on a cross country "Family Vacation". But still solidly in the middle class price range.

Alas, the world has changed since then. The middle class has all but disappeared, and a "Disney Vacation" has folks pulling down $120K+/year staying at Art/Pop to take their family of 5.

 

[Trauma]

I like Cedar point.

Sorta a thrill ride junkie must do.

Steel Vengeance is easily in my top 3 coasters in the world.

 

[LSLS]

But your past posts have stated you've stayed at Boardwalk and Portofino. Both very nice resorts with first class theme parks. Thanks for supporting the Sunshine State!

So is the Breakers at Cedar Point

 

[Willmark]

I like Cedar point.

Sorta a thrill ride junkie must do.

Steel Vengeance is easily in my top 3 coasters in the world.

Rides at Cedar Point blow the doors off anything at WDW.

For me, Maverick is the best coaster.

 

[Nubs70]

The Yeti will be fixed at DAK before OH exceeds FL in tourists from all over the world spending their discretionary income to support the state

Did to go to Wharton?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What is wrong w the Garden Wings?!? Thats my childhood we are talking about sprinkled in w Tower stays as well. Tbh. I loved the Garden better than the Tower growing up… and then the old game room. Wow. Memories!

Nothing wrong with it, to my mind it was just a lot of long, narrow hallways (with drop down ceilings that kinda looked to be in need of repair.) Ambiance was neither here nor there… just “standard hotel”. Maybe I just didn’t know the right places to go.

True story…but I know someone involved with the recent renovation of the south wing…
Interesting stuff when they started removing the walls down to the steel

 

[Splash4eva]

True story…but I know someone involved with the recent renovation of the south wing…
Interesting stuff when they started removing the walls down to the steel

You have my attention lol….

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You have my attention lol….

However they built that…let’s just say there was “swamp access” into the wall cavities…and apparently a great place for LOTS of critters to hang out

 

[CntrlFlPete]

“In 1971, the entry fee for the Magic Kingdom was $3.75. Ride tickets ranged from A tickets at 10 cents to E tickets at 90 cents. There was an “8 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 1-C 2-D and 3-E) that sold for $5.75 for adults and a “12 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 2-C 4-D and 4-E) that sold for $6.75 for an adult.”

Even Adjusting for inflation this hardly supports your claim.

but from my mom's work back in the day, during an off season, one would be in a 'club' that sold a book of all E tickets at a discounted rate (though I do not know what it cost).

Since tickets never expired back then, we would have to save those tickets while getting regular tickets for the A,B,C tickets if there was something we wanted to do in those categories. Also, the Eastern Commercial (If You Had Wings) and CoP were free.

I also recall it was around $.50 for the transportation ticket (not sure if that was included in the $3.75).

I also recall they would place a (free) bumper sticker on your car if you parked in the MK parking lot.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

but from my mom's work back in the day, during an off season, one would be in a 'club' that sold a book of all E tickets at a discounted rate (though I do not know what it cost).

Since tickets never expired back then, we would have to save those tickets while getting regular tickets for the A,B,C tickets if there was something we wanted to do in those categories. Also, the Eastern Commercial (If You Had Wings) and CoP were free.

I also recall it was around $.50 for the transportation ticket (not sure if that was included in the $3.75).

I also recall they would place a (free) bumper sticker on your car if you parked in the MK parking lot.

Obviously a lot of things in the grand consumer empire has changed since Gerald Ford…

…but todays “value” doesn’t provide nearly Enough lb for lb. Before i hear “but it’s worth it to ME!!….”
Let’s let our brilliant capitalism/micro/macro - much ballyhooed for emperor Bob by fans allowing them to crash the plane - be the judge?

I just heard yesterday (again)…that the bookings are terrible and NOT improving. Getting close to break the glass time.

So the market is always right? It will bear what it will bare?
At this price…it’s not bearing much…not at the volume needed.

He did it! After 15 years of trying to convince you to rob yourself…we finally here! Assist to Covid monetary policy and an unnatural span of economic largesse…

 

[monothingie]

I just heard yesterday (again)…that the bookings are terrible and NOT improving. Getting close to break the glass time.

No kidding. They should have been at break glass time when Bald Bob declared the age of unprecedented demand will never end.

Why do you still think it's price that is the primary factor?

The Disney brand from streaming to theme parks is imploding. Unlike Parks and Resorts, consumers are not complaining about price points for D+ or Pixar and Lucasfilm movies, they're just not showing up. At best it's brand fatigue for Disney which might be temporary, at worst it's a longterm break from the company because of (u pick reason) direction TWDC has gone in to alienate them. Because the entire Disney brand system is so tightly integrated, one failure sets off a domino reaction which impacts the rest.

The only thing not failing is DCL, likely because most DCL cruisers don't know what the competitors offer (some of which is quite superior to DCL) and/or are uncomfortable leaving the Disney bubble of cruise lines for something not familiar.

 

[Splash4eva]

However they built that…let’s just say there was “swamp access” into the wall cavities…and apparently a great place for LOTS of critters to hang out

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No kidding. They should have been at break glass time when Bald Bob declared the age of unprecedented demand will never end.

Why do you still think it's price that is the primary factor?

Because Adam smith says things will sell at an appropriate price in the market. The long ago abandoned “backstop” policies and philosophy can’t protect them from slowing demand anymore

The Disney brand from streaming to theme parks is imploding. Unlike resorts, consumers are not complaining about price points for D+ or Pixar and Lucasfilm movies, they're just not showing up. At best it's brand fatigue for Disney which might be temporary, at worst it's a longterm break from the company because of (u pick reason) direction TWDC has gone in to alienate them. Because the entire Disney brand system is so tightly integrated, one failure sets off a domino reaction which impacts the rest.

They have problems across the board and it’s spreading to all their business segments

I was reading up on the new Star Wars show…and it is described as a “one off series”. 8 episodes?

Huh? If you’re gonna make a tv show…make a tv show…instead of 5 years to make 5 hours
They’re doing this all wrong. The path is not sustainable. Not only that…but Hollywood is about to have 2 strikes they can’t fix.
Not going well anywhere.

The only thing not failing is DCL, likely because most DCL cruisers don't know what the competitors offer (some of which is quite superior to DCL) and/or are uncomfortable leaving the Disney bubble of cruise lines for something not familiar.

Dcl has kinda dumb lucked themselves into the right side of the S&D curve. There is such a small number of bunks on small ships that they don’t really have to sell it at this point.

And as you said - a vocal volunteer PR wing that pushes “the best” without trying the others or comparing them to the ships 10+ years ago that don’t compare to the quantum/breakaway/ edge-solstice ships