Magic Kingdom set to break attendance records next week? 7am to 3am operating hours!

[jt04]

Sorry but I disagree with the majority here. While per guest spening may be down due to discounts and fewer purchases, my guess is the absolute numbers of guests are more than making up for it. To that add the fact that the payroll is shrinking by a large amount and I think they have probably improved the bottom line. I'd also bet money it is just about impossible to get a TS meal without resevations, so the "people are eating cheaper meals" take just doesn't add up in my opinion.




Build me a E Ticket :lookaroun

 

[wdwmagic]

Sorry but I disagree with the majority here. While per guest spening may be down due to discounts and fewer purchases, my guess is the absolute numbers of guests are more than making up for it. To that add the fact that the payroll is shrinking by a large amount and I think they have probably improved the bottom line. I'd also bet money it is just about impossible to get a TS meal without resevations, so the "people are eating cheaper meals" take just doesn't add up in my opinion.




Build me a E Ticket :lookaroun

Remember that in previous years it has been there, or thereabouts, this busy. Even though there might be a record this year, it will be very close to previous busy times. But in those previous years there was also the large spending on food and merchandise.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Sorry but I disagree with the majority here. While per guest spening may be down due to discounts and fewer purchases, my guess is the absolute numbers of guests are more than making up for it. To that add the fact that the payroll is shrinking by a large amount and I think they have probably improved the bottom line. I'd also bet money it is just about impossible to get a TS meal without resevations, so the "people are eating cheaper meals" take just doesn't add up in my opinion.




Build me a E Ticket :lookaroun

I guess that the earnings reports are being falsified. It isn't that people are assuming that numbers are down, the Disney officers are proving it with their reports.

 

[jt04]

I guess that the earnings reports are being falsified. It isn't that people are assuming that numbers are down, the Disney officers are proving it with their reports.

Yes but we haven't seen any reports post reorganization. That's when the numbers will be more telling.



I imagine reimagining the Imagination ride is a bright idea......and affordable too

 

[DMC-12]

z0mg teh parks r gunna close every other day cause know1 is going1!!1!1!11!eleven


:lookaroun

 

[WDW1974]

Ah, the spin machine has been turned on ...

MK hours appear to be exactly what they normally are every year during the two weeks surrounding Easter. (adding in EMH will always be disingenuous as it assumes that everyone stays at Disney resorts, Swan/Dolphin/Hilton DD) The hours are 8-midnight. And where are the 11 and midnight closes at EPCOT or TPFKaTD-MGMS? They used to offer those during Easter/Spring Break too when the crowds were there.

That in no way should lead anyone to leap to a conclusion that the MK will be breaking any attendance records. Rest assured, in this day of economic crisis, if that happens someone at Disney will leak the info (because as we know Disney doesn't release attendance numbers).

Guest spend is way down. That is a fact. You'll hear about that when quarter two (just ended) results come out around May 1st. That is why Iger, Staggs, Rasulo and Co felt the need to lay off so many workers ... oh, and they aren't finished ... even with these HUGE crowds ... people are losing their jobs as I type this and will be in the weeks ahead in numerous departments.

And resort load levels, while quite healthy for the time of year, are that way based on everyone staying at 40% off (in other words, almost what the places are really worth).

Want to talk real numbers?

Let's talk about TDR.

They just set an all-time attendance record for the month of March. And that's a legit record. That coming on the heels of an all-time annual two-park record of almost 28 million visitors in 2008!

They're in soft openings for a real E-Ticket at TDL in Monsters: Ride and Go Seek and finishing up a 25th Anniversary Celebration that sees new entertainment offered every THREE months.

They just debuted a major new high end resort hotel and thei first Cirque show.

They have already announced new attractions including PhilharMagic at TDL and Turtle Talk and a differently themed version of Midway Mania at TDS. They are also replacing BraviSEAmo with the new World of Color show debutting next spring at DCA.

Oh, and they're in the final stages of design work for what will be a new Tomorowland tool.

And that doesn't include all the seasonal shows, parades and entertainment they offer.

And they aren't laying anyone off either. If you think Japan's economy isn't bad either, you'd be mistaken. When we broke ourselves, we brought the world along with us since we are the straw that stirs the world's economy.

WDW is being run in a way that will perpetuate the continued spiral downward it has been in.

~Headed to TDR: Fall 2009!~

 

[jt04]

Ah, the spin machine has been turned on ...

MK hours appear to be exactly what they normally are every year during the two weeks surrounding Easter. (adding in EMH will always be disingenuous as it assumes that everyone stays at Disney resorts, Swan/Dolphin/Hilton DD) The hours are 8-midnight. And where are the 11 and midnight closes at EPCOT or TPFKaTD-MGMS? They used to offer those during Easter/Spring Break too when the crowds were there.

That in no way should lead anyone to leap to a conclusion that the MK will be breaking any attendance records. Rest assured, in this day of economic crisis, if that happens someone at Disney will leak the info (because as we know Disney doesn't release attendance numbers).

Guest spend is way down. That is a fact. You'll hear about that when quarter two (just ended) results come out around May 1st. That is why Iger, Staggs, Rasulo and Co felt the need to lay off so many workers ... oh, and they aren't finished ... even with these HUGE crowds ... people are losing their jobs as I type this and will be in the weeks ahead in numerous departments.

And resort load levels, while quite healthy for the time of year, are that way based on everyone staying at 40% off (in other words, almost what the places are really worth).

Want to talk real numbers?

Let's talk about TDR.

They just set an all-time attendance record for the month of March. And that's a legit record. That coming on the heels of an all-time annual two-park record of almost 28 million visitors in 2008!

They're in soft openings for a real E-Ticket at TDL in Monsters: Ride and Go Seek and finishing up a 25th Anniversary Celebration that sees new entertainment offered every THREE months.

They just debuted a major new high end resort hotel and thei first Cirque show.

They have already announced new attractions including PhilharMagic at TDL and Turtle Talk and a differently themed version of Midway Mania at TDS. They are also replacing BraviSEAmo with the new World of Color show debutting next spring at DCA.

Oh, and they're in the final stages of design work for what will be a new Tomorowland tool.

And that doesn't include all the seasonal shows, parades and entertainment they offer.

And they aren't laying anyone off either. If you think Japan's economy isn't bad either, you'd be mistaken. When we broke ourselves, we brought the world along with us since we are the straw that stirs the world's economy.

WDW is being run in a way that will perpetuate the continued spiral downward it has been in.

~Headed to TDR: Fall 2009!~

Sorry, but you indicated time and again how empty the parks would be at all spring when you were bloviating back in December so please excuse me if I question your conclusions.



Take it with a chunks of sea salt :dazzle:

 

[MousDad]

Remember that in previous years it has been there, or thereabouts, this busy. Even though there might be a record this year, it will be very close to previous busy times. But in those previous years there was also the large spending on food and merchandise.

I'm sorry, but if WDW can only turn a profit when attendance is at record levels and guest spending is at record levels, then there is something grossly wrong with the management of the product that has nothing to do with good/bad economy, high/low attendance, or high/low spending, cuts/no cuts, layoffs/no layoffs.

What you have, then, is a product that has evolved far beyond the realm of sustainability. And that's a scary thought.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I'm sorry, but if WDW can only turn a profit when attendance is at record levels and guest spending is at record levels, then there is something grossly wrong with the management of the product that has nothing to do with good/bad economy, high/low attendance, or high/low spending, cuts/no cuts, layoffs/no layoffs.

What you have, then, is a product that has evolved far beyond the realm of sustainability. And that's a scary thought.

Disney doesn't always have to be at capacity levels for them to do well. Disney has average attendance projections of where there parks should be if all else holds equal. If guests traffic is normal and spending is normal then you don't have to be at capacity every day of the year. You just have to be in line of what is expected.

 

[WDW1974]

Sorry, but you indicated time and again how empty the parks would be at all spring when you were bloviating back in December so please excuse me if I question your conclusions.

JT, I think one of your sole purpose's for being is to question my conclusions. I have no problem with that per se. But at least don't misrepresent what I have said or take it out of context.

I NEVER said the parks would be empty at anytime, least of all during Spring Break.

I said attendance would be down. And guess what? It is.

It was very quiet at the parks during parts of January and February, and likely would shown drastic drops if not for the Buy 4, Get 3 Free deal ... you don't think Disney offered it and then extended it a few times because things were rosey and load levels were even in the same universe as normal, do you?

If you have something of substance, please offer it.

But telling me or everyone else you don't like my conclusions got very tired months ago.

~You mean I have to pay full price in Tokyo?~

 

[DisneyJoe]

And resort load levels, while quite healthy for the time of year, are that way based on everyone staying at 40% off

Not every room is being sold at 43% off. Guests would need to book a 7-nt stay and get the 3 nights free for that to be true. Guests staying 4 nights or less had no discount at all, unless they were AP holders or FL residents or took advantage of the room only rate that was available for some rooms in January-March.

Not every resort had every room available with that Buy 4 Get 3 promotion or the others.

 

[WDW1974]

I'm sorry, but if WDW can only turn a profit when attendance is at record levels and guest spending is at record levels, then there is something grossly wrong with the management of the product that has nothing to do with good/bad economy, high/low attendance, or high/low spending, cuts/no cuts, layoffs/no layoffs.

What you have, then, is a product that has evolved far beyond the realm of sustainability. And that's a scary thought.

Great point ... and it's also not close to being true as you well know.

WDW has no trouble turning large profits without any sort of records being set.

The scary thing, though, is due to the greed and overdevelopment, Disney is much more exposed when there is an economic downturn. You don't see UNI and BEC making the job cuts and cutbacks that Disney is doing.

But Disney decided it was going to try and make every Orlando visitor a WDW captive and built 30,000 hotel rooms and timeshares. Filling them at rack rate when times are good is like literally printing money ... but when you're in a depression (and we are ... whether the market is up 300 points or not!) they can really be a costly weight around your neck.

That's when you start even more nickel and diming BS like making it near impossible for guests to get a cold hotel room to sleep in.

~74, after all, is magic!~

 

[wdwmagic]

Ah, the spin machine has been turned on ...

MK hours appear to be exactly what they normally are every year during the two weeks surrounding Easter. (adding in EMH will always be disingenuous as it assumes that everyone stays at Disney resorts, Swan/Dolphin/Hilton DD) The hours are 8-midnight. And where are the 11 and midnight closes at EPCOT or TPFKaTD-MGMS? They used to offer those during Easter/Spring Break too when the crowds were there.

That in no way should lead anyone to leap to a conclusion that the MK will be breaking any attendance records. Rest assured, in this day of economic crisis, if that happens someone at Disney will leak the info (because as we know Disney doesn't release attendance numbers).

The hours on at least 5 days next week for regular guests (no EMH) are 8am till 1am (not 8 - 12 as you say). Those are long hours by anyone's book.

Including EMH, on several days over the next few weeks they are 7am till 3am.

And I didnt just leap to a conclusion of the record falling - there are people within Disney upper levels who are expecting it to happen.

 

[WDW1974]

Not every room is being sold at 43% off. Guests would need to book a 7-nt stay and get the 3 nights free for that to be true. Guests staying 4 nights or less had no discount at all, unless they were AP holders or FL residents or took advantage of the room only rate that was available for some rooms in January-March.

Not every resort had every room available with that Buy 4 Get 3 promotion or the others.

Disney is discounting non-stop these days.

You'd have to demand staying at a certain resort to NOT get discounts these days.

Beyond the 4/3 deal, there have been AP/FLA/AAA AND general discounts on room only.

They are doing so now with value resorts for $64 for APers/FLA residents starting after Easter and $69 for general public.

The cycle of discounting is almost constant. Now, we have 'free' dining yet again for August 16- Oct. 3.

So is everyone staying on a discounted rate? No. Are most? Yeah.

~Rack rate at POP is $125? No ... seriously!~

 

[wdwmagic]

I think it is also worth putting in perspective with Universal. For next week they are doing 9am to 9pm at both of their parks.

MK 8am to 1am (7am EMH to 3am EMH)
Studios 9am to 10pm (9am to 1am EMH)

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I think it is also worth putting in perspective with Universal. For next week they are doing 9am to 9pm at both of their parks.

MK 8am to 1am (7am EMH to 3am EMH)
Studios 9am to 10pm (9am to 1am EMH)

And EPCOT and AK? Why are they left out?

 

[Missing20K]

OK, well the numbers speak for themselves. Hi doom and gloomers :zipit:



But can Disney seriously tell us that they can't green light some major stuff for the WDW parks after restructuring their payroll and record crowds? :brick:

Are you seriously completely disregarding the projected 10% drop in attendance this year by every analyst? And the entire thread which you so conveniently ignore? Not too mention I questioned your logic on how more people automatically equals a better product, and you have yet to respond. And as many others have said before me, people are spending less in the parks, and coupled with 4/3 deals and free dining deals, profit margins have to be extremely thin, even with cost cutting measures. I'm not a doom and gloomer, but when the company chases attendance or market share figures at the cost of profit margins, I call them out.

I don't think Disney can announce any green lit projects because they are losing money every day in order to maintain market share (totally my opinion). They are allowing people to stay in their hotels at a 43% discount during 4/3, and letting people eat for free during free dining. That has to seriously cut into any profits they make from hotels or dining during those periods. A hotel can't make much money when it let's people stay there half off. A restaurant doesn't make any money when it give food away. Does anyone have any idea what Disney's "break even" point for the hotels are, anyway? Are they making any money during 4/3?

My question for those in the know would be, why does management feel it is necessary to have the parks open 20 hours a day, when they have now less staffing, and relatively fixed costs? I thought they were trying to save the company money, not bleed it dry by having a theme park open at 2 am? What family has any of their pre-pubescent children up at that hour anyway? Is management just giving people something to do now that PI is gone? :ROFLOL:

I don't understand the logic in having the parks open, with all of the costs involved in keeping them open, at hours in which they have to be operating at 10% or 20% (if that?) capacity. For those that have been there in the past when they are open this late, how crowded are the parks at those late hours?

 

[DisneyJoe]

So is everyone staying on a discounted rate? No.

Are most? Yeah.

MOST? Sorry, no, at least not in my experience. About half? Probably and possibly.

I am speaking from my experience as a travel agency owner.

There are many times we try and get discounts for our clients for certain dates and certain resorts and they aren't available - so either the client books at rack rate, or moves to a different resort.

Most people aren't even aware of many of the discounts - many call Disney, ask for a package, and book it - and Disney won't offer them a discounted room unless the guest knows about it already or asks for it.

Free Dining? Nothing new - its been offered every August/September since 2005 - so I doubt it will hurt anything more than previous years - its getting people to book the rooms - AT RACK RATE.

 

[jt04]

JT, I think one of your sole purpose's for being is to question my conclusions. I have no problem with that per se. But at least don't misrepresent what I have said or take it out of context.

I NEVER said the parks would be empty at anytime, least of all during Spring Break.

I said attendance would be down. And guess what? It is.

It was very quiet at the parks during parts of January and February, and likely would shown drastic drops if not for the Buy 4, Get 3 Free deal ... you don't think Disney offered it and then extended it a few times because things were rosey and load levels were even in the same universe as normal, do you?

If you have something of substance, please offer it.

But telling me or everyone else you don't like my conclusions got very tired months ago.

~You mean I have to pay full price in Tokyo?~

Your memory is short. Unfortunately I can only search back 500 posts but I am almost positive you were saying at one time that Disney faced a drastic decline in visitors. I can't prove it but I trust my memory. You claimed they faced these drastic declines because of the "worst economy since the depression". So, without debating the economy, or discounts etc., your conclusions were innacurate.


And I know you prefer people not question your conclusions but the is a forum and not a dictatorship.


Question questionable authorites :zipit:

 

[wdwmagic]

My question for those in the know would be, why does management feel it is necessary to have the parks open 20 hours a day, when they have now less staffing, and relatively fixed costs? I thought they were trying to save the company money, not bleed it dry by having a theme park open at 2 am? What family has any of their pre-pubescent children up at that hour anyway? Is management just giving people something to do now that PI is gone? :ROFLOL:

I don't understand the logic in having the parks open, with all of the costs involved in keeping them open, at hours in which they have to be operating at 10% or 20% (if that?) capacity. For those that have been there in the past when they are open this late, how crowded are the parks at those late hours?

They need the 20 hours operating schedule because they are forecasting the crowds to be at a level that they will need those amount of hours for the guests to experience the expected number of attarctions in their day. They have avery scientific method for doing this, and you would expect, they wouldnt be running those hours if they wern't required.

You would be surprised how many kids are in the parks very late. I've been in there at 3am and seen lots of small kids around (ages 5 to 10) - I was amazed. Whether they take a nap and recharge in the day and return I dont know, but you can bet the park will still be full of families with kids well past midnight.