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News Park attendance showing significant softness heading into the Fall 2018
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
jt04
Well-Known Member
I'm not your doctor.
Just a little wider....
He won't feel a thing...
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Thanks. I realize now that is the reason why the standby times remain high. They operate with less theaters to cut down on payroll costs. Good for the bottom line, bad for the guest experience.
LSLS
Well-Known Member
I can say we cut a trip this year due to it. And if we go next year (which we probably won't, seeing much more value in the cruises), we are def. staying offsite. Offiste also means we are much less inclined to spend the whole time at Disney as opposed to doing other things around Orlando. I'm willing to bet very few fall into our category, but it may be some.
disneyflush
Well-Known Member
What would be the percentage increase number in your mind that raising it above that number would signify they are not worried about attendance/net profit between now and SW:GE? 5%?
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
I'd have to look at past increases -- haven't done that yet. If they're in line with that recent average, I'd say they're not too worried.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
What occurred is subject to interpretation.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
A glance at a GDP growth graph or other indicators would tell you it makes sense that the early 2000ās is probably the last time they cut more drastically, a la MK fireworks.
They always have profit goals. Thereās constant complaining on forums every time they cut anything to reach them ā even printed napkins. My only, simple point is that I do not believe we are anywhere close to them cutting MK fireworks. Unless a major downturn happens or something really blows up at TWDC.
Iāll stop belaboring... Iām sure most get what Iām saying, and itās always ok to disagree!
See my problem with this is that the economy is roaring now and attendance numbers are high(generally speaking) There should be no reason for any cuts at all. In a downturn I can see cuts being logical because it reflects the general nature of the business and the attendance numbers collectively follow.
The management mindset right now is guests come last over quarterly numbers. As @xdan0920 said the right way to get more people back in the parks is to increase offerings (expand park hours, shows, etc) to get people in the park, the economy will support it provided people have a motivation to go. (If we were in a negative economy this probably wouldn't work, but we are not in a bad economy.) Management has taken the easy way out and taken the guest for granted on the hope they will return for SWGE. Big risk for the people that don't really care about SWGE or do, but can no longer afford or don't see any value to going to see it.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
I don't think any guests looking at the park hours and go "Magic Kingdom is open to midnight, we better plan a trip!". Its more like "Star Wars land opens in late 2019, we'll plan to go summer 2020!"
This is why Universal is opening something every year, but holding off on announcements until January, if you don't know new rides are coming 2 years away then you go for what is there now, not the better trip in the future.
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
@monothingie, I agree with some of this -- not the most pessimistic portions wrt Disney management, though -- suspect that's overstated.
I'd just add that they are building more than SWGE, as we know. To the extent that they are risking putting people off now and just crossing their fingers they'll return for SWGE, there's more than just that to return for in the next few years. To the extent that they are being cavalier with guest satisfaction, they may be banking on ALL of that stuff to *"pull them back in" (*read like Godfather III line) -- or just attract new die-hards and one-timers.
Not saying that's "right", or even stipulating that this is necessarily what they are doing. Just that they have more than just the SWGE arrow in their quiver.
I'd just add that they are building more than SWGE, as we know. To the extent that they are risking putting people off now and just crossing their fingers they'll return for SWGE, there's more than just that to return for in the next few years. To the extent that they are being cavalier with guest satisfaction, they may be banking on ALL of that stuff to *"pull them back in" (*read like Godfather III line) -- or just attract new die-hards and one-timers.
Not saying that's "right", or even stipulating that this is necessarily what they are doing. Just that they have more than just the SWGE arrow in their quiver.
The problem I have with this, is that Sumer 2020 is a little less than 2 years from now. Why not just close shop until SWGE opens then?
What do most businesses do when they're slow? Offer more to get people in the door. Cutting offerings and raising prices do not win back your customers, especially if you know that you are going up against a tough year.
All they have are Mickey's mine train, more upcharge parties, festivals at Epcot, and cupcakes....and increased ticket prices and across the board cuts.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
...this thread has turned skeevy weird...hope thereās not a congressional investigation 
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
People here are really obsessed with cupcakes... :-D
Guess I was thinking a little longer term beyond SWGE as well. We'll see how the gap between SWGE and the next bigger attractions goes...
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Thatās what Iām watching...
I think āthe Bobsā are stuck...
They canāt offer the typical promotions that could overlap the opening of Abrams land...because theyāve promised the street theyāll monetize it.
And they canāt offer discounts In this āboomā economy to make up for the dead year....cause they promised the street theyād monetize it.
So they are doing what bad leaders do...ignore it, hope nobody notices/everyone shows, and in doing so make it stick out like a sore thumb.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Yes to both.
People buy cupcakes to the detriment of us all...
And you glossed (probably unintentionally) that they have nothing to promote in 2019...differing from 17 and 18 and leading in to 20.
Theyāre caught again for being flat footed...the Star Wars land canāt be sold as a 2019 addition because they wonāt get it open till the end...so you have 2 wrecked parks with nothing actually new.
They canned the magic kingdom theater and the other additions wonāt be ready soon enough. Because they wonāt pay. That ratatuoille ride is a clone...thereās no mystery there...that could be built in a year...if you wanted to. But thereās an agenda at work.