Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yup - down year overall for every major competitor. Both Uni/Dis have significant investments lined up for Florida/Global and they don't want to scare investors.

My best guess is that they want to release TEA numbers somewhere closer to investor calls for Q2 (Q3 for WDW) presentations to reduce their impact. (CMCSA has theirs next week)

Remember that Disney unofficially/officially has never acknowledged TEA numbers at all.

And their problem is they have nothing lined up. They purposefully parked themselves in a 5+ year glut.

5 years is an eon when you have overextended your ability to attract customers already

 

[Jrb1979]

Remember that Disney unofficially/officially has never acknowledged TEA numbers at all.

And their problem is they have nothing lined up. They purposefully parked themselves in a 5+ year glut.

5 years is an eon when you have overextended your ability to attract customers already

While true, most parks don't outright acknowledge TEA, none have ever disputed the numbers either.

 

[monothingie]

And now closes at Epcot closing time of 9pm. No longer the 11pm they used to have for WS.

Epcot hasn’t had a regular closing time past 9 for decades? (Except select weekend nights for F&W at 10PM)

It’s money left on the table for restaurants and bars at Epcot.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

While true, most parks don't outright acknowledge TEA, none have ever disputed the numbers either.

That’s why I phrased it the way I did.

But here’s something to keep an eye on…Watch Disney begin dispute losses

We are on that threshold

 

[Lilofan]

Epcot hasn’t had a regular closing time past 9 for decades? (Except select weeks nights for F&W at 10PM)

It’s money left on the table for restaurants and bars at Epcot.

I recall when we visited DHS the park closed at 9 and last seating in the dine in locations was at park closing times. The guests can still eat then at 1030,11pm exit the park while the merchandise locations on Hollywood Blvd were still open to extract more money from the guests. Park closing time at 9 at Epcot and there are still a handful of guests still eating and shopping .

 

[Lilofan]

Last year, when attendance, revenue, and profit all fell at WDW, and according to all insiders here, bookings are dropping even more this year.

How is that? Disney reported to Wall Street , for 3 months ending 12/23, parks and resorts operating income up 8%, 7% up in revenue. With lower attendance the higher pricing surely help get those quarterly numbers to give to the Street. That's an example of "quarterly capitalism" of companies under pressure to give Wall Street increasing #s every quarter.

 

[LSLS]

How is that? Disney reported to Wall Street , for 3 months ending 12/23, parks and resorts operating income up 8%, 7% up in revenue. With lower attendance the higher pricing surely help get those quarterly numbers to give to the Street. That's an example of quarterly capitalism of companies under pressure to give Wall Street increasing #s every quarter.

Because, AGAIN, Disney World is NOT Parks and Experiences, it is a PART of it. From the Q1 report (and you can find this in the last 3 or 4 reports, at least in respect to WDW):

The original statement was about WDW, not about the company or even all parks as a whole.

 

[Lilofan]

Because, AGAIN, Disney World is NOT Parks and Experiences, it is a PART of it. From the Q1 report (and you can find this in the last 3 or 4 reports, at least in respect to WDW):

View attachment 801243

The original statement was about WDW, not about the company or even all parks as a whole.

Yes that's right but Iger will continue to say this is down, but this is up and here are the #s, rinse and repeat when he reports quarterly numbers to Wall Street.

 

[monothingie]

Yes that's right but Iger will continue to say this is down, but this is up and here are the #s, rinse and repeat when he reports quarterly numbers to Wall Street.

I'd say quit while you're ahead but....

 

[Tha Realest]

Because, AGAIN, Disney World is NOT Parks and Experiences, it is a PART of it. From the Q1 report (and you can find this in the last 3 or 4 reports, at least in respect to WDW):

View attachment 801243

The original statement was about WDW, not about the company or even all parks as a whole.

Yep. And you can’t discount the additional revenue/profit that a new cruise ship brings to the overall P&R numbers. That, coupled with various price increases and revenue streams, papered over flatlined attendance for a time.

These quotes cogently show that revenues and profits are down at WDW (they admit revenues were down there, and “higher costs” implicitly eats into profits).

 

[GhostHost1000]

Because, AGAIN, Disney World is NOT Parks and Experiences, it is a PART of it. From the Q1 report (and you can find this in the last 3 or 4 reports, at least in respect to WDW):

View attachment 801243

The original statement was about WDW, not about the company or even all parks as a whole.

easy now... some of us can only take so many facts

 

[Lilofan]

Yep. And you can’t discount the additional revenue/profit that a new cruise ship brings to the overall P&R numbers. That, coupled with various price increases and revenue streams, papered over flatlined attendance for a time.

These quotes cogently show that revenues and profits are down at WDW (they admit revenues were down there, and “higher costs” implicitly eats into profits).

Lets see what Iger has got to say to Wall Street when the company releases next quarterly report second week of August. For parks exp if operating income and revenue are up as a whole then regardless if parks and resorts numbers are down, it is the figure what Iger gives the Street with explanation is what matters. Nothing but little crickets when Wall Street analysts do Q&A with Iger and CFO during public earnings conference call regarding parks and resorts concerns.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Lets see what Iger has got to say to Wall Street when the company releases next quarterly report second week of August. For parks exp if operating income and revenue are up as a whole then regardless if parks and resorts numbers are down, it is the figure what Iger gives the Street with explanation is what matters. Nothing but little crickets when Wall Street analysts do Q&A with Iger and CFO during public earnings conference call regarding parks and resorts concerns.

Gooooooooooo Disney!!!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I see we have tried to somehow…again…to reset the dial and claim there’s no problem in Florida?

…knock this off.

Parse all you want…but wdw is the prime generator of revenue and profit for the P&R…or whatever it’s called now.

Full stop. Any decline is a huge problem. There’s no need to ask? Debate? Analyze or reinterpret.

It is.

Don’t expect them to tell you…don’t expect them not to hide all the way to the line and beyond.

Welcome to the the real world. The land of money and desire.

Coincidentally…know two people in MK today.

Dead. Shocking dead.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Don't forget they also added merchandising to DPEP for 2019, and combined in several more things to make the division larger but also harder to discern just what any part is doing.

"Revenue growth of 4% at our domestic operations was primarily due to an increase of 3% from higher average guest spending due to an increase in average ticket prices for admissions to our theme parks and for sailings at our cruise line, as well as higher food and beverage spending and average hotel room rates. Domestic volumes were comparable to fiscal year 2016 as increased attendance at Walt Disney World Resort was largely offset by lower occupied room nights at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort."

There were signs as early as 2018 that WDW was in trouble, despite what some will cherry-pick from that quote ("increased attendance, see?!?!!).

 

[el_super]

Yep. And you can’t discount the additional revenue/profit that a new cruise ship brings to the overall P&R numbers. That, coupled with various price increases and revenue streams, papered over flatlined attendance for a time.

So we're back to the original point: the losses at WDW are so small as to be completely offset by gains (and then some) at the other parks and cruise line. Which either means WDW is only down a small insignificant portion, or it's revenues are just not that important to the entire portfolio anymore.

Take your pick.

 

[el_super]

There were signs as early as 2018 that WDW was in trouble, despite what some will cherry-pick from that quote ("increased attendance, see?!?!!).

You mean the place was so busy that the tourists stop coming? Gee I wonder what 2018 Iger is going to do about that.

 

[el_super]

Last year, when attendance, revenue, and profit all fell at WDW, and according to all insiders here, bookings are dropping even more this year.

I'm sure the investors will get right on this tragedy.

 

[monothingie]

So we're back to the original point: the losses at WDW are so small as to be completely offset by gains (and then some) at the other parks and cruise line. Which either means WDW is only down a small insignificant portion, or it's revenues are just not that important to the entire portfolio anymore.

Take your pick.

You can not continually offset your losses caused by lower attendance with price increases. It doesn’t work that way.

 

[el_super]

You can not continually offset your losses caused by lower attendance with price increases. It doesn’t work that way.

You got it backwards. The lower attendance is caused by their higher prices. They are doing it purposefully. Which is why, and I know this is confusing for some, they haven't lowered prices back.