Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[HauntedPirate]

May is sometimes a weird month for attendance. Keep an eye on Memorial Day for a better handle of what the summer will shape up to be.

I was going to start looking second week of June. I have some friends going in early August so knowing what things are looking like then, with everyone out of school, will be telling for the summer.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh yeah. I'm just in post-vacation haze where all I want to do is plan vacations, to anywhere.

So say we all

 

[Chi84]

Reading all of this is just convincing me to plan a trip for late 2024. Low crowds? Discount incentives? Sure!

(j/k, we have different vacations planned for next year or so, but let's see how the year pans out monetarily, maybe we can swing one more... )

You better hurry before they close the place for lack of interest

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You better hurry before they close the place for lack of interest

…or hold out until they adjust prices down to meet relative value/demand…

But I’m a “Princeton school” kinda guy…not a “Chicago School” one

 

[Chi84]

…or hold out until they adjust prices down to meet relative value/demand…

But I’m a “Princeton school” kinda guy…not a “Chicago School” one

Nah, I’m good with the value. I’m sure they’ll miss you though

 

[dreday3]

…or hold out until they adjust prices down to meet relative value/demand…

But I’m a “Princeton school” kinda guy…not a “Chicago School” one

I took econ in college as an elective. I failed. I did excel in smoking (I have since quit) and poker in the cafeteria though.
Want to talk about Healthcare Compliance? I'm your gal. Unfortunately that doesn't help me with vacation planning.

I will be watching to see the Genie + changes next year, especially for resort stays. If anything really changes at all. Very curious.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nah, I’m good with the value. I’m sure they’ll miss you though

…just when I thought we were getting somewhere?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The best all rounder was the original FP system. In park, on the day and go visit the attraction to get a FP. Makes it fair on everyone.

Or perhaps the maxpass system Disneyland had where you could use your phones vs having to have a "runner" to physically go to the attractions, but still only in the park, etc

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Or perhaps the maxpass system Disneyland had where you could use your phones vs having to have a "runner" to physically go to the attractions, but still only in the park, etc

Maxpass was great…but I don’t think it would work in wdw…

I’m sure they looked at it

 

[TheMaxRebo]

You're funny when you get wound up.

I think it's a lot simpler.

People are over Disney.

Pick your reason: (Cost, Value, Politics, Economy, etc.)

Disney OD'd on their own pixie dust and overplayed their hand, got arrogant, decided to target a customer demographic that doesn't exist and at the same time p!ss off their bread and butter customer. Couple that with an entire building in Burbank filled with sniveling yes men with MBAs who know nothing about providing a quality product that customers will value, and you have a bright shining future of suck.

I think that is pretty fair. And there was some pend up demand for going back and some people were waiting until it was more back to "normal" .... But that is running out - be it "revenge travel" or whatever

So booking those next trips there is a reduced desire given the cost and all the other stuff - and people find alternatives and I am sure some are getting excited about Epic Universe, etc - just the "pull" of Disney isn't as strong as it used to be

 

[TheMaxRebo]

May is sometimes a weird month for attendance. Keep an eye on Memorial Day for a better handle of what the summer will shape up to be.

I was wondering if people there now can compare to this same time in years past

There is a lot of testing going on and spring sports activities - just not an easy time for many to pull kids out of school compared to other times

Obviously things like all the discounts for the summer are a big sign of soft bookings - but is it *as* bad as today's crowd makes it seem?

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

Those Cinderella carriage popcorn buckets must not be selling as much as they’d like

Quick someone put a new cupcake out!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think that is pretty fair. And there was some pend up demand for going back and some people were waiting until it was more back to "normal" .... But that is running out - be it "revenge travel" or whatever

So booking those next trips there is a reduced desire given the cost and all the other stuff - and people find alternatives and I am sure some are getting excited about Epic Universe, etc - just the "pull" of Disney isn't as strong as it used to be

Well AAA was touting “way up travel numbers” for the summer just today on the tickers…

,..but then again…have they ever NOT said that?

But let’s assume they’re correct. Could it be possible that it is trending up but NOT to Orlando/wdw?

It seems antithetical in so many ways…but we can’t rule it out.

A big factor could be URO is down too…waiting for epic?
But they’ll adjust better…they’d just cut the crap and price to move.

Blue ocean can’t figure that out

 

[Jrb1979]

Even more evidence that summer is going to be very soft.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

…unprecedented demand

They just have hit the wall in a couple of key developments

 

[seabreezept813]

I think that is pretty fair. And there was some pend up demand for going back and some people were waiting until it was more back to "normal" .... But that is running out - be it "revenge travel" or whatever

So booking those next trips there is a reduced desire given the cost and all the other stuff - and people find alternatives and I am sure some are getting excited about Epic Universe, etc - just the "pull" of Disney isn't as strong as it used to be

I wonder if there is something to be said with them not putting out new animated draws for kids right now. My 5 year old is prime Disney age and all she wants to watch is people play Mario since the Mario movie came out...

 

[mikejs78]

You're funny when you get wound up.

I think it's a lot simpler.

People are over Disney.

Pick your reason: (Cost, Value, Politics, Economy, etc.)

Disney OD'd on their own pixie dust and overplayed their hand, got arrogant, decided to target a customer demographic that doesn't exist and at the same time p!ss off their bread and butter customer. Couple that with an entire building in Burbank filled with sniveling yes men with MBAs who know nothing about providing a quality product that customers will value, and you have a bright shining future of suck.

In case you haven't noticed, we're heading into a really nasty macroeconomic period. I know at least it doesn't families in my circle who were contemplating trips who are postponing it now because of the current economy coupled with the high price of Disney. I don't think people have soured on Disney, but as you've pointed out before, when the economy sours, people look to where they can cut expenses. People won't give up their vacations, but they will travel to less expensive places than Disney for the foreseeable future. This could also explain why travel is still high, but Disney and/or Orlando in general is not. (I also know another reason people are skipping on Disney, but it's not related to Disney at all and rather the current state of things where Disney happens to be located...).

I don't think you can really say that people have soured on Disney or Orlando in general until we're in good economic times and crowds are down.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Everybody spent all their vacation money on "revenge vacationing" last year. There's no money left to go on any vacations this year!!!

 

[Jrb1979]

Everybody spent all their vacation money on "revenge vacationing" last year. There's no money left to go on any vacations this year!!!

Unprecedented demand.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I wonder if there is something to be said with them not putting out new animated draws for kids right now. My 5 year old is prime Disney age and all she wants to watch is people play Mario since the Mario movie came out...

I think it’s more…like the parks…that they have NOTHING in the pipeline