Len Testa Crowd Analysis

[monothingie]

- fancy cupcake parties: LIKE THEM!
- parking fees: Meh. Not a make or break either way — I suspect it isn’t for vast majority.
- increased upcharge events: BIG FAN!
- entertainment cuts: mostly seasonal when forecasts are down — not nearly as dramatic as some posts suggest
- parade cuts: I hate all parades EXCEPT MNSSHP, MVMCP, and MK nighttime parades (miss those!); but I do like that they eat up crowds
- operating hour cuts: HATE this. But it ebbs and flows. It’s not a steady downward slide.

You are P&Rs ideal model guest. Which explains so much.

You do realize that most people can no longer afford Disney because they’ve been priced out? Not that it was ever affordable to begin with.

How much extra will a cupcake party on a party night set the average family of 4? On top of hotel airfare park admission food etc.

Perhaps this explains why people aren’t going??

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You are P&Rs ideal model guest. Which explains so much.

Happy to fill the role (even though I suspect this is meant as an insult of sorts)! We love our trips today just as much as the ones 14yrs ago. Lucky us!

The trips aren’t identical to what they were back then — and we LOVE that! Always something new, even though we’ve been going at least twice a year. Is everything “perfect” to us? No. Is it at least as good if not better for us vacationing there over the years? Yes.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You are P&Rs ideal model guest. Which explains so much.

You do realize that most people can no longer afford Disney because they’ve been priced out? Not that it was ever affordable to begin with.

How much extra will a cupcake party on a party night set the average family of 4? On top of hotel airfare park admission food etc.

Perhaps this explains why people aren’t going??

People aren’t going?? That’s a sweeping statement.

The vast majority have always been priced out of Disney. There are more high end offerings now — just as we’re seeing across the leisure/travel spectrum. If Disney didn’t keep up, some would complain about that! Can never make everyone happy. And most certainly NOT on a board like this!!

 

[monothingie]

People aren’t going?? That’s a sweeping statement.

The vast majority have always been priced out of Disney. There are more high end offerings now — just as we’re seeing across the leisure/travel spectrum. If Disney didn’t keep up, some would complain about that! Can never make everyone happy. And most certainly NOT on a board like this!!

Word from inside the park is that there are signs of some significant slowdown in attendance this month.

Alarm bells are beginning to sound, with various areas being asked to trim back labor and begin cost saving measures.

For those of you who may not be regular readers, this isn't entirely new, and has occurred several times over the last couple of years.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

“This month”.

Let’s not act like the sky is falling with so little data.

Ebbs and flows... and SWGE + so much more is around the corner.

 

[monothingie]

“This month”.

Let’s not act like the sky is falling with so little data.

Ebbs and flows... and SWGE + so much more is around the corner.

“For those of you who may not be regular readers, this isn't entirely new, and has occurred several times over the last couple of years.”

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

“For those of you who may not be regular readers, this isn't entirely new, and has occurred several times over the last couple of years.”

Uh, yeah. Cyclical in part. What are the year over year trends for the past several years? Even where attendance is flat yoy, per guest spending is up as are profits (unless my info is out of date?).

That may scream “big problem” to some. I disagree.

And to view this in a vacuum — like they don’t have major things coming on line in the next few years — is nonsensical. But many seem to.

 

[xdan0920]

Even where attendance is flat yoy, per guest spending is up as are profits.

Nothing screams “magic” and guest satisfaction like guest spending numbers and profit margins.

I know when I’m at WDW and they kick me out of the MK at 6pm for yet another after hours party, I’m just thankful that TWDC is able to make more money. Warms my heart.

 

[xdan0920]

There are more high end offerings now

Can you give me a few examples of high end offerings?

Before you start though. Early Morning Magic and After hours parties are not high end offerings. Those are normal offerings that TDO has found a way to charge guests a second time for.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Nothing screams “magic” and guest satisfaction like guest spending numbers and profit margins.

I know when I’m at WDW and they kick me out of the MK at 6pm for yet another after hours party, I’m just thankful that TWDC is able to make more money. Warms my heart.

You’re right. Let’s ignore “money” — so crass. Companies survive on pixie dust and the happiness of a tiny number of Uber-unofficial-Disney-boards-posters, right?

Our trips are as magical today as they were 14yrs ago. I’m sure I’m not the only one, or their numbers wouldn’t be so good.

Or I guess they have so many “stupid” new guests who just don’t realize their trips should be MORE magical than they are because they weren’t visiting 20yrs ago.

 

[larryz]

Can you give me a few examples of high end offerings?

Ooh! Ooh! I got one...
$600-a-day tents in the MK (and that's even without A/C)!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Ooh! Ooh! I got one...
$600-a-day tents in the MK (and that's even without A/C)!

That was incredibly stupid. They can’t all be winners!

 

[monothingie]

Uh, yeah. Cyclical in part. What are the year over year trends for the past several years? Even where attendance is flat yoy, per guest spending is up as are profits.

That may scream “big problem” to some. I disagree.

And to view this in a vacuum — like they don’t have major things coming on line in the next few years — is nonsensical. But many seem to.

You do realize that this is a downward trend right? There is a limit with Higher margin guests. Higher spending will not compensate for overall lower attendance, especially when that number peaks. Hence the cuts we are seeing now. It is not a growth strategy, it’s an easy out.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You do realize that this is a downward trend right? There is a limit with Higher margin guests. Higher spending will not compensate for overall lower attendance, especially when that number peaks. Hence the cuts we are seeing now. It is not a growth strategy, it’s an easy out.

Write me back after they peak and hit a really solid, lasting down slide and fail to correct. I’ll wait...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Nothing upsets people on a Disney fan site more than a WDW fan!

 

[monothingie]

Write me back after they peak and hit a really solid, lasting down slide. I’ll wait...

#fakebudgetcuts right?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

#fakebudgetcuts right?

No. #temporarybudgetcuts

As evidenced by years and years of posts on boards like this that lamented how the state was permanent. Just silly.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks for the chat, all — off to do real world boring stuff.

 

[Rteetz]

No. #temporarybudgetcuts

As evidenced by years and years of posts on boards like this that lamented how the state was permanent. Just silly.

I wouldn’t call these temporary. Sure they may add new things later on but rarely do they bring anything cut back for good.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I wouldn’t call these temporary. Sure they may add new things later on but rarely do they bring anything cut back for good.

The budget cuts — i.e. decrease in spending — ARE temporary.

The specific things cut may not come back. And thank goodness. They’re often stale or low performers. Keeps the parks fresh to introduce new things. Especially for those of us who are lucky enough to visit often.

Disclaimer: some will always be sad when any particular thing is cut, etc. Sometimes I’m that person. Par for the course in entertainment.