Park attendance down in 06...

[hokielutz]

To all,
Just heard this on local Wash DC station referencing an AP story about dropping attendance at Six Flags. I didn't see this posted earlier today.

Six Flags Puts Looks For Buyer For 6 Parks


LARGO, Md. (AP) - Six Flags is looking for buyers for six amusement parks after a tough summer season, but officials say Six Flags America in Largo is not for sale.
The parks up for grabs include Magic Mountain, near Los Angeles, and Elitch Gardens in Denver, as well as locations near Seattle, Houston and Buffalo.
The company saw attendance at its 30 parks drop 14 percent this summer -- a loss of about 1.5 million visitors from last year. Six Flags reported a second quarter loss of 39.6 million dollars, or 48 cents per share.
There were high hopes for Six Flags after Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder gained control of the company last fall. But a new family oriented approach by Snyder's managers has led to higher operating costs.

http://www.wmal.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=454327&PT=NEWS

So one question is where is Disney's attendance track in relation to last year at this time? Does anyone have that information? If the levels of crowds that I saw in May and late June are any indication... it seems they are very well packed.

Also, on a personal note... I applaud Snyder for trying to make SF a more family friendly park to visit... but as they have seen... it will take a while to achieve that goal.
Two weeks ago, I visited SF in Largo, MD, and I was disgusted with what I have to report.
~Paint was worn off everywhere in the parks (ride vehicles, trains, park benches, fences, walls, etc),
~Corrosion showing on roller coaster structures,
~Snack stands did not have many menu items in stock,
~Cost of parking is getting attrocious ($20)
~Noisy atmosphere created by some employees with microphones (doing amature rap sessions) at pay for play game attractions,
~The general disconnected attitude of the park employees as compared to the CMs at Disney.
I hope this is not the same at all Six Flags parks... but if Danny is looking to make his parks better, then most of the issues above need to be addressed.

To all CMs out there reading this. I applaud your everyday efforts in all that you do to make visiting Disney a magical experience.

 

[Hakunamatata]

WDW attendence is up from last year. How much I do not know.

On a side note, the above article is not totally accurate. They fail to tell you that Astroworld (the Houston Six Flags park) was sold and demolished earlier this year. So if they are comparing last year attendance records and including Houston in the mix for this year, then yes, there will be a tremendous decrease because this year it was taken to ground level...

 

[New2WDW]

I agree with your comment on the workers at Six FLags over Georgia as well. For the most part we were ignored, and the service was well below average! We only go to SF once a year because our girls earn tickets thru a reading program at their school! Even with that I am thinking about not going anymore.

Disney on the other hand is awesome when it comes to CM's!!!!

 

[wannab@dis]

Interesting title to use for a SIX FLAGS article in a WDW forum. :veryconfu

As has been said, the numbers seem to be up at WDW, but since Disney does not release gate counts, it's a guess as to what the final tally for this year will be.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Interesting title to use for a SIX FLAGS article in a WDW forum. :veryconfu

I agree...after reading the title, I was all ready to jump in and call someone stupid.....but then I read the post and saw where the link was made.

 

[Stitch69]

they got nothin on Disney!

 

[hokielutz]

should be SF attendance down in 06

my apologies about the title. forgot to put in SF

 

[Master Yoda]

I agree...after reading the title, I was all ready to jump in and call someone stupid.....but then I read the post and saw where the link was made.

You are not the only one. I came in here locked and loaded ready to blast some misinformed Disney hater to oblivion.


Imagine my disappointment.:lol:


The OP made a very good point. Disney's attendance is rising while virtually every other amusement/theme park's attendance is slipping and the reasons are simple. Customer service at Disney is beyond compare. While ticket prices might be higher at WDW vs. other parks other things such as parking and food are less expensive and have vastly better quality. It was only a matter of time before the general public realized that by the time a trip was all said and done they spent the same or less at WDW and had a much better experience.

 

[hokielutz]

On a side note, the above article is not totally accurate. They fail to tell you that Astroworld (the Houston Six Flags park) was sold and demolished earlier this year. So if they are comparing last year attendance records and including Houston in the mix for this year, then yes, there will be a tremendous decrease because this year it was taken to ground level...

I would hope that the writer of the article in sourcing the attendance numbers, uses a 1 for 1 comparison of parks that were operating both last year and this year. But since this is the AP we are talking about... your point is well taken.

Bringing up this article was not meant to be a beating of Six Flags... but just to report the sad news in this article and point out some items that still need work to make them better. Undertaking such a huge change in the current mindset of this company is definitely a daunting task. It will require time, patience, and, unfortunately to the paying public, a lot of capital.

This thread was also meant to highlight the top notch personal services that Disney's parks provide to everyone who visits and praise the CM's for their efforts and thank Walt for his vision and out of the box thinking that has made his parks the successes that they are.

 

[gsimpson]

From reading some of the industry rags both Six Flags and Cedar Point are having lower attendance in almost all parks when compared on a park by park basis. Paramount parks were also down prior to the Cedar Fair take over, I don't know if anything has changed since but I know Cedar Fair has been getting rid of a lot of "redundant" positions since the take over. I think part of their problem is more people are coming to expect the same level of cleanliness and upkeep you see at a Disney park. It really throws into sharp relief just how good Disney is at doing these things. I applaud and appreciate the work that all the CMs up and down the chain of command do keeping the parks clean and enjoyable.

 

[joelleharbert]

From reading some of the industry rags both Six Flags and Cedar Point are having lower attendance in almost all parks when compared on a park by park basis. Paramount parks were also down prior to the Cedar Fair take over, I don't know if anything has changed since but I know Cedar Fair has been getting rid of a lot of "redundant" positions since the take over. I think part of their problem is more people are coming to expect the same level of cleanliness and upkeep you see at a Disney park. It really throws into sharp relief just how good Disney is at doing these things. I applaud and appreciate the work that all the CMs up and down the chain of command do keeping the parks clean and enjoyable.

I don't want to be ignorant here, but we go to Cedar Point once, sometimes twice a year, and I personally would say that CP is just as clean as Disney. On a friendliness factor, I would rate Disney higher, but you have to remember that CP hires many college students (I KNOW! Disney does too!), It seems to me that Disney hires many older, full-time employees in contrast to CP. As far as rides go, CP definitely has the thrill factor over Disney. What Disney does for imagination and animatronics, CP makes up for in total thrills. I think CP is an amusement park, whereas Disney is a total resort.

 

[MaryMcMagic]

I don't want to be ignorant here, but we go to Cedar Point once, sometimes twice a year, and I personally would say that CP is just as clean as Disney.

Cedar Point's queue areas are covered in graffiti and chewed bubble gum, the bathrooms are steamy messes and the amount of time spent waiting to ride the coasters can be timed with a calendar! The similarities to Disney Parks are almost nonexistent. (I will admit that I do love the coasters-Raptor, Magnum, and Mean Streak, etc.!) I'd take a day at Disney over CP any day, no contest.

 

[joelleharbert]

Cedar Point's queue areas are covered in graffiti and chewed bubble gum, the bathrooms are steamy messes and the amount of time spent waiting to ride the coasters can be timed with a calendar! The similarities to Disney Parks are almost nonexistent. (I will admit that I do love the coasters-Raptor, Magnum, and Mean Streak, etc.!) I'd take a day at Disney over CP any day, no contest.

I don't know when you were last there, but I sure didn't see any graffiti or chewed bubble gum anywhere. I'm sure if you looked hard enough anywhere, you'd find things. I think some people on this board are so pro-Disney that you fail to recognize that other parks may be good, as well. Just my opinion, though. No disrespect intended.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I don't know when you were last there, but I sure didn't see any graffiti or chewed bubble gum anywhere. I'm sure if you looked hard enough anywhere, you'd find things. I think some people on this board are so pro-Disney that you fail to recognize that other parks may be good, as well. Just my opinion, though. No disrespect intended.

In the grand scheem of things it goes like this....

Disney
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Good
Nice
Average
Crappy Carnival

 

[MaryMcMagic]

I willingly admit that I go to CP at least once a year, as well. I don't intend to view other parks through "Disney colored glasses", but once you've been to WDW, you can't help but do it to some extent. There's a lot to be said for Cedar Point, I do enjoy myself while there, but in the grand scheme, it just doesn't compare. Again, this is just my opinion.

 

[coasterphil]

Unfortunately Six Flags is in such a deep hole that the quality will never get to where Snyder would like it to be. They're already cutting hours for the end of the season and cancelled Fright Fest at a few parks.

 

[VoiceGuy07]

Two weeks ago, I visited SF in Largo, MD, and I was disgusted with what I have to report.
~Paint was worn off everywhere in the parks (ride vehicles, trains, park benches, fences, walls, etc),
~Corrosion showing on roller coaster structures,
~Snack stands did not have many menu items in stock,
~Cost of parking is getting attrocious ($20)
~Noisy atmosphere created by some employees with microphones (doing amature rap sessions) at pay for play game attractions,
~The general disconnected attitude of the park employees as compared to the CMs at Disney.
I hope this is not the same at all Six Flags parks... but if Danny is looking to make his parks better, then most of the issues above need to be addressed.

To all CMs out there reading this. I applaud your everyday efforts in all that you do to make visiting Disney a magical experience.

Agreed. Went to SF in Maryland last year on a "company day". The park was closed except for employees and families of the company I work for. The place was about two steps above a carnival - run down, unclean and the employees were at best, indifferent. Free admission, free food, no lines and the run of the place isn't nearly enough to interest me in attending the same "company day" this year.

In my opinion, the only parks that even come close to Disney are Busch Gardens parks.