Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[JD80]

We are big park hoppers too. It's amazing how quickly the Standby queues move when there isn't anyone in the LL. It's why rope drop is still the best time.

Believe it or not, the longest line we waiting on was 40m for Pan during Rope Drop. We were in the front of the line for Mine Train and it was down so we had a 5-6m delay on getting in the queue.

I don't think we did any standby lines all weekend. The only things we didn't do were Remy/Frozen and all of the LLSP rides since we didn't feel like spending money. We did do GotG during EEH.

 

[JD80]

Yet I'm actually here and I can't remember the last time I saw the queue for ST wrap around several times outside.

Last time I actually did Star Tours was early December in '22 (In '23 we didn't go to DHS). The queue was decently full outside.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Believe it or not, the longest line we waiting on was 40m for Pan during Rope Drop. We were in the front of the line for Mine Train and it was down so we had a 5-6m delay on getting in the queue.

I don't think we did any standby lines all weekend. The only things we didn't do were Remy/Frozen and all of the LLSP rides since we didn't feel like spending money. We did do GotG during EEH.

Do you mean not spending any more money? Because if you did everything you wanted but didn’t do standby, that means you either rode nothing or bought LLMP.

 

[Laketravis]

it's to disney's advantage to "appear" crowded....gotta sell those LLs

And configure the Standby queues to look longer than they actually are.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Believe it or not, the longest line we waiting on was 40m for Pan during Rope Drop. We were in the front of the line for Mine Train and it was down so we had a 5-6m delay on getting in the queue.

I don't think we did any standby lines all weekend. The only things we didn't do were Remy/Frozen and all of the LLSP rides since we didn't feel like spending money. We did do GotG during EEH.

You need to get a dictionary and look up what the word “spending” means

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

What about “saying a particular restaurant or park APPEARS to be crowded” on a random day or time is not DEFINITIVE is not being understood?

That is anecdotal…Disney own comments on their quarterlies and Iger ego interviews is definitive. At least in Florida…attendance is down. For the those not understanding the translation: that means less people.

So here is the sitch: attendance is down…they are increasing prices across the board to try to make up. And as they do that…more attendance will decline.

It’s the Dutch door of bad management.

Now can we cut out the dusty stupidity and have a slightly higher dialogue?

There is absolutely no need to look down your nose at people sharing their own experiences. No one is disputing that attendance is down, they’re simply saying that it’s still busy. When you’re the most visited theme park resort in the world, it’s always gonna be busy. What people are refuting is this undercurrent of insinuation that the parks are ghost towns and that the company is collapsing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There is absolutely no need to look down your nose at people sharing their own experiences. No one is disputing that attendance is down, they’re simply saying that it’s still busy. When you’re the most visited theme park resort in the world, it’s always gonna be busy. What people are refuting is this undercurrent of insinuation that the parks are ghost towns and that the company is collapsing.

It’s not true

We can discuss park trends - and do - without “it feels mobbed TO ME” when TWDC has been forced to publicly state the opposite to investors.

This is black and white in a grey world.

I’m not offended…I assume most that say this don’t have the background knowledge to understand the history of park design and crowd flow…or they’re forgetting on purpose to not acknowledge they hate the prices, policies and line chaos for profit just as much as vocal critics.

But there’s no need to be contrarian for the sake of a corporate monolith who is not doing too hot.

I’ll remind: this is very similar to the “it’s worth it to ME” crap that spiraled out of control and got us to the current level of park disgruntlement in Florida. By far the worst in its history. And the only trick that Bob - who should have already been fired - can keep trying to pull. The customer should never help with that. That’s not our role.

 

[Chi84]

There is absolutely no need to look down your nose at people sharing their own experiences. No one is disputing that attendance is down, they’re simply saying that it’s still busy. When you’re the most visited theme park resort in the world, it’s always gonna be busy. What people are refuting is this undercurrent of insinuation that the parks are ghost towns and that the company is collapsing.

That's what led me to post my recent experiences. WDW was as lively and vibrant as I've ever seen it; the only difference is that the drop in attendance may have actually led to it being a bit less uncomfortable and crowded than in some past years.

If the company can't make money with what it charges now and with the number of people currently visiting the parks, then it probably should go out of business. I sure would not want to see any more people in the resorts, pools, water park, parking lots, restaurants, parks, buses, etc.

But this idea that the parks and restaurants are empty, people visiting are unhappy and the place is going out of business? I know some posters hate the way it's being run and desperately want that to be the case, but I sincerely doubt it.

 

[John park hopper]

The more things Bob can close for one Reno or another makes it look like it is more crowded --less to do

 

[Laketravis]

If the company can't make money with what it charges now and with the number of people currently visiting the parks, then it probably should go out of bubusiness.

That is what really hit home for me last night. After leaving the parks and getting back to the resort, I stopped at the pool bar for a beer.

Draft beer, rang up at $12.75 - menu board right above my head said $9.50, which was what I paid a few nights earlier.

I asked why the discrepancy - bartender just shrugged and said "that's wrong, they just haven't changed it yet" in a way that came across like "it's no big deal, why are you complaining about it?"

I told him maybe that's why the lobby is filled with Instacart and UberEats deliveries and I'm the only one standing at the bar. Shame on me.

 

[JoeCamel]

That is what really hit home for me last night. After leaving the parks and getting back to the resort, I stopped at the pool bar for a beer.

Draft beer, rang up at $12.75 - menu board right above my head said $9.50, which was what I paid a few nights earlier.

I asked why the discrepancy - bartender just shrugged and said "that's wrong, they just haven't changed it yet" in a way that came across like "it's no big deal, why are you complaining about it?"

I told him maybe that's why the lobby is filled with Instacart and UberEats deliveries and I'm the only one standing at the bar. Shame on me.

Must have been surge pricing.....

 

[lewisc]

Draft beer, rang up at $12.75 - menu board right above my head said $9.50, which was what I paid a few nights earlier.

Shame on you for paying more then the posted price. Give him a ten dollar bill and tell him to keep the change

 

[Lilofan]

Shame on you for paying more then the posted price. Give him a ten dollar bill and tell him to keep the change

Yep that's their problem reader board price was not changed . Posted price is posted price.

 

[Laketravis]

He offered some lame excuse about how he has nothing to do with how it rings up.

I didn't pay. Just walked away without it.

Shame on you for paying more then the posted price. Give him a ten dollar bill and tell him to keep the change

Yep that's their problem reader board price was not changed . Posted price is posted price.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Must have been surge pricing.....

That kinda “based on guest feedback…this is what they want” move gives me a bowel “surge”

 

[Lilofan]

He offered some lame excuse about how he has nothing to do with how it rings up.

I didn't pay. Just walked away without it.

I doubt WDW is going to follow NYC “ Congestion pricing “ to stick it to the vehicles entering NYC by charging them more fees since the vehicles are crowding up the NYC roads. WDW I would think wants more guests to fill up the parks and resorts.

 

[Laketravis]

I doubt WDW is going to follow NYC “ Congestion pricing “ to stick it to the vehicles entering NYC by charging them more fees since the vehicles are crowding up the NYC roads. WDW I would think wants more guests to fill up the parks and resorts.

Say what????

 

[Disstevefan1]

I doubt WDW is going to follow NYC “ Congestion pricing “ to stick it to the vehicles entering NYC by charging them more fees since the vehicles are crowding up the NYC roads. WDW I would think wants more guests to fill up the parks and resorts.

Maybe I do not understand this post but WDW already has different pricing; higher pricing for peak times for EVERYTHING.

 

[jpeden]

He offered some lame excuse about how he has nothing to do with how it rings up.

I didn't pay. Just walked away without it.

A $3 price increase seems pretty steep, even by Disney standards (34%). I wonder if he rang up the wrong thing and didn't even notice and couldn't be bothered to check it out. Just to be clear, I'm with you and would not have paid more than the posted price for the item.

 

[networkpro]

I doubt WDW is going to follow NYC “ Congestion pricing “ to stick it to the vehicles entering NYC by charging them more fees since the vehicles are crowding up the NYC roads. WDW I would think wants more guests to fill up the parks and resorts.

In effect, that's what they've done for everything except food so far. When added to reducing the coverage of DAS, in effect it has reduced "congestion" .

Not necessarily in the manner most would want (that being the elasticity of perpetual expansion) but its working as referenced by the effect on the bottom line: increased profitability with reduced attendance.