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

[MKCP 1985]

I think we've all been to those parks enough to know that if people are in the parks, they are going to spend money. Even when I had an annual pass, just being in the parks cost money for food and beverages. And a good percentage of people will buy something to take home for themselves or others. These will be high times for the parks and will help offset some slower days before and after.

Good for the company, and good for the Disney fans!

Not so good for the people in the parks at Easter though, unless they don't mind crowds.

 

[Missing20K]

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.

Ok, right, you jogged my memory about the attendance projections. Could it ever get to the point they must be open 24 hours a day because of how many people are projected to show up? Not trying to be sarcastic, but with a fixed number of attractions, there would have to be a certain number of attendees that would require the parks to be open 24/7, right? Either they open a fifth gate, or build more attractions, or let less people in right?

So could you just rough guess, Steve, about capacity during those times? And do they keep everything open or stagger attraction closings, close TS, most shops, etc.? Do they reduce costs during those late night hours? I would assume they do, but one never knows.

~Seriously starting to wonder if WDW is too big for it's own good~

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Ok, right, you jogged my memory about the attendance projections. Could it ever get to the point they must be open 24 hours a day because of how many people are projected to show up? Not trying to be sarcastic, but with a fixed number of attractions, there would have to be a certain number of attendees that would require the parks to be open 24/7, right? Either they open a fifth gate, or build more attractions, or let less people in right?

So could you just rough guess, Steve, about capacity during those times? And do they keep everything open or stagger attraction closings, close TS, most shops, etc.? Do they reduce costs during those late night hours? I would assume they do, but one never knows.

~Seriously starting to wonder if WDW is too big for it's own good~

No, because the park would max out its capacity before it ever got to that level. However, Werner Weiss had an article the other day on Miceage where he said that Disney (and its competitors) are building hotels faster than they can compete with them. Once people have money again to regularly vacation, Disney is going to be forced to look at ideas to build their attendance levels. This can include more large capacity attractions at the existing parks (the more likely and smart choice), or a new park altogether (which should not happen).

 

[wdwmagic]

Ok, right, you jogged my memory about the attendance projections. Could it ever get to the point they must be open 24 hours a day because of how many people are projected to show up? Not trying to be sarcastic, but with a fixed number of attractions, there would have to be a certain number of attendees that would require the parks to be open 24/7, right? Either they open a fifth gate, or build more attractions, or let less people in right?

So could you just rough guess, Steve, about capacity during those times? And do they keep everything open or stagger attraction closings, close TS, most shops, etc.? Do they reduce costs during those late night hours? I would assume they do, but one never knows.

~Seriously starting to wonder if WDW is too big for it's own good~

The attractions available on EMH are reduced (you can see the list here http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/Extra-Magic-Hours.htm). All the big stuff is running however.
So everything will be running fromo 8am to 1am, and the reduced EMH list of attractions will be running during the 7am - 8am and the 12am to 3am times.

I think it's getting clear that the MK needs another big Eticket to boost it's capacity, as well as some reworking on Main Street to get guests in and out.

 

[jt04]

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?

Don't believe everything you read or hear. I don't comment on conjecture by analyts and experts about future events because experience tells me they are almost always wrong. That is why I have stayed away from that particular thread.

Media "experts" and "analysts" are usually displaced professionals. Enough said :zipit:

 

[SirGoofy]

I think it's getting clear that the MK needs another big Eticket to boost it's capacity, as well as some reworking on Main Street to get guests in and out.

Man, Steve, I just hope, no I PRAY, that these crowds(no matter where they are from) shows the suits that MK is seriously lacking in what it has to offer right now.

Am I saying there is nothing to do? Heck no. But there is so much room for expansion. The 20K plot is vacant, and could fit 2 E-tickets in that massive space. But personally I'd rather see I big ticket thrill ride, and a couple smaller experiences thrown in there.

 

[alecshawn]

Don't believe everything you read or hear. I don't comment on conjecture by analyts and experts about future events because experience tells me they are almost always wrong. That is why I have stayed away from that particular thread.

Media "experts" and "analysts" are usually displaced professionals. Enough said :zipit:

Yep
Folks are going to WDW, and alot of them. They are enjoying life.
Cause why not? Life really IS good.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Don't believe everything you read or hear. I don't comment on conjecture by analyts and experts about future events because experience tells me they are almost always wrong. That is why I have stayed away from that particular thread.

Media "experts" and "analysts" are usually displaced professionals. Enough said :zipit:

Corporate analysts actually are usually people who work for large financial firms and get paid a lot of money because they have the ability to run the math for these forecasts. Financial analysis and forecasting is not easy, and when large investment banks come up with these things it is because they are advising clients on them. They don't just arbitrarily create information since their livelihood is riding on it.

 

[ewensell3]

That whole "guest spending" moniker is fishy with me to begin with, because it's based on guest spending per room. (If I understand the term correctly.)

So it seems to me that "guest spending" can only really be down if attendance stays flat. If attendance is up, or drastically up, "guest spending" (in total) should actually be higher even though "guest spending" (per room) is down.

:brick:

Except when you are also giving people a $200 gift card as part of their 4/3 deal.

 

[SirGoofy]

Cause why not? Life really IS good.

Have you had your Soma today?

:lol:

 

[Missing20K]

No, because the park would max out its capacity before it ever got to that level. However, Werner Weiss had an article the other day on Miceage where he said that Disney (and its competitors) are building hotels faster than they can compete with them. Once people have money again to regularly vacation, Disney is going to be forced to look at ideas to build their attendance levels. This can include more large capacity attractions at the existing parks (the more likely and smart choice), or a new park altogether (which should not happen).

Well I know the parks will reach capacity during such busy times, I just meant in terms of projections. The parks will not naturally be at capacity at 2:30 am Easter Sunday next week, but that does not mean it COULD be full at that time.

Steve talked about the projection methods used to determine park hours.

My hypothetical question was whether projected attendance would be so high, that in order for the formula to work (everyone sees 8 attractions or whatever it is), the parks would need to be open 24 hours.

The attractions available on EMH are reduced (you can see the list here http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/Extra-Magic-Hours.htm). All the big stuff is running however.
So everything will be running fromo 8am to 1am, and the reduced EMH list of attractions will be running during the 7am - 8am and the 12am to 3am times.

I think it's getting clear that the MK needs another big Eticket to boost it's capacity, as well as some reworking on Main Street to get guests in and out.

That's what I figured, thanks for the info. I agree MK needs another people eating E-ticket ASAP, especially considering these projections. They also need to use the excess capacity they currently in empty buildings, waterways, restaurants, etc.

~Bring back the Diamond Horseshoe Revue~

 

[alecshawn]

Have you had your Soma today?

:lol:

Na, i just came home from duty today (this morning) im watching both kids today......That in itsself makes life GREAT! Being able to work 24 hrs then off 48 gives me time with the kids...Time i'll NEVER get back.
So, yes life is good.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

MK needs Mermaid and fast. Among a million other things.

This time of year The Swan Boats would operate as would the canoes and keelboats, but they need even more now.

Adventureland Veranda should be open, and so should other eateries (even the little snack stand behind Liberty Square). Guests should be in the shops, but there is nothing of interest to buy (or money to do so). MILF has a lower capacity than the Circle Vision theater, Pooh less than Toad, no one wants to see SGE or UNM, no sky buckets to move crowds above the ground, no Walt Disney Story or Hall of Presidents open to take in some couple hundreds of guests each. No theater in Tomorrowland etc.

Everyone in Mk wants to do the same 10-12 things and they just can't handle the crowds they have now.

 

[jt04]

Corporate analysts actually are usually people who work for large financial firms and get paid a lot of money because they have the ability to run the math for these forecasts. Financial analysis and forecasting is not easy, and when large investment banks come up with these things it is because they are advising clients on them. They don't just arbitrarily create information since their livelihood is riding on it.

I didn't say they aren't trying but the most accurate forcasters are weather forcasters and they are usually only good for about 3 days out.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

MK needs Mermaid and fast. Among a million other things.

This time of year The Swan Boats would operate as would the canoes and keelboats, but they need even more now.

Adventureland Veranda should be open, and so should other eateries (even the little snack stand behind Liberty Square). Guests should be in the shops, but there is nothing of interest to buy (or money to do so). MILF has a lower capacity than the Circle Vision theater, Pooh less than Toad, no one wants to see SGE or UNM, no sky buckets to move crowds above the ground, no Walt Disney Story or Hall of Presidents open to take in some couple hundreds of guests each. No theater in Tomorrowland etc.

Everyone in Mk wants to do the same 10-12 things and they just can't handle the crowds they have now.

This post made my day. Not only were they better attractions, they were efficient!:lol:

 

[SirGoofy]

MK needs Mermaid and fast. Among a million other things.

This time of year The Swan Boats would operate as would the canoes and keelboats, but they need even more now.

Adventureland Veranda should be open, and so should other eateries (even the little snack stand behind Liberty Square). Guests should be in the shops, but there is nothing of interest to buy (or money to do so). MILF has a lower capacity than the Circle Vision theater, Pooh less than Toad, no one wants to see SGE or UNM, no sky buckets to move crowds above the ground, no Walt Disney Story or Hall of Presidents open to take in some couple hundreds of guests each. No theater in Tomorrowland etc.

Everyone in Mk wants to do the same 10-12 things and they just can't handle the crowds they have now.

Imagine the nightmare MK will be once Space is closed...

My word, I'm going back to work in that park next semester! I must be insane.:lol:

 

[Missing20K]

I didn't say they aren't trying but the most accurate forcasters are weather forcasters and they are usually only good for about 3 days out.

So what do you consider Disney's crowd forecasters?

 

[jt04]

Ahhh, the head in the sand approach, ok.

And I've gotten used to you picking out small parts of posts you disagree with and totally ignoring any other questions or ideas posed to you.

A post based on "expert" conjecture is just added conjecture.

What if a giant sea monster eats Florida?

Get the point?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I didn't say they aren't trying but the most accurate forcasters are weather forcasters and they are usually only good for about 3 days out.

I really do not understand the way you think...I guess ignorance truly is bliss.

 

[SirGoofy]

I really do not understand the way you think...I guess ignorance truly is bliss.

No, it's not ignorance, it's PIXIE DUST!