Epcot World Showcase is totally insane today. Wall to wall people.
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News Park attendance showing significant softness heading into the Fall 2018
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
It's Sat. and F&W. The locals come out in droves.
Yeah it was dead during the week.
clarabellej
Well-Known Member
This is so true!! I know because my husband recently dropped DISH after being with them from the beginning of time. They were able to comment on his years of using their service.
And what about all those times that we’ve answered ad nauseam how many times we’ve visited when we call in for information or to make reservation alterations.
They know very well how often we’ve visited and very consistently spent money.
clarabellej
Well-Known Member
I am as serious as all that money I’ve spent and yes, some sort of acknowledgement would be nice.
I know they know. They have too. Think of how many times we answer that question of how many times we’ve visited. You know the one. The TelePrompTer questions when you call Disney for anything.
Yes, some recognition would be great. They don’t have to twist my arm too much. I just find it poor customer service not to have some sort of something or other.
They are really quick to send out upcoming vacation brochures with your family name on them. Even though I may modify my original date a few times.
As to a drop in attendance awaiting Star Wars, I don’t know about that. Probably a drop in attendance due to things being in flux in general.
I know in the case of HS, that is most certainly the case. Who wants to spend all that money and spend their time at an incomplete park. And of course since that is where SWL will be, yes I can see that.
Am I the only one who, no offense to Star Wars, just doesn’t relate the two (Disney & Star Wars) in my mind?? That will take some getting used to.
Also, interesting how many people out there really don’t know where they’re going.
My daughter may or may not (she is on the fence) go to Disney with her school for Spring Break.
They were initially doing both Universal, but have since dropped it. The teacher took a poll and was asking parents questions about the parks. I could tell by the responses that they had no idea about the size and scope of the parks.
I think they will be there all of 3-4 days and I am one who just voted for sticking with Disney.
Sorry, my thoughts are all over the place.
If Mickey knows my name, it helps & yes, I would love to see him again real soon!!!!
Sorry, Mickey, I got a little cheesy there, lol
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
I do know what you're saying. I remember sitting down a while back and really calculating the cost of our annual longer WDW trip, and then realizing we could have gone to Europe for that! That said, we are DVC and use it such that it really is a good deal and cut on lodging. We have APs and thus don't feel the incremental on tix when we add a running trip or something on. And we are fortunate enough to still be able to "pay the bill", as you say, without feeling like it's over the top.
My husband has ALWAYS said when asked about WDW: "You never leave thinking 'wow -- that was cheap!', but we always leave thinking 'that was worth it'". I understand there is a point at which that is NOT true for each person/family. We're not near it.
All of that said, I think something often left out of this discussion is that for many of us, as our kids get older we begin to think about OTHER vacations they now seem more ready for -- other ways we might want to spend that money just by virtue of them getting older and becoming more mature. It would make sense that many people would start to go less when they have teens than when those kids were much younger. I think that's a factor as well in people researching other trips more and shifting away from more WDW trips as time goes on... but that seldom gets a mention; the focus is always on the price increases, etc.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I will have to respectfully disagree...
Even recently on a day post Labor Day by 11 am There were too many mulling around. The park is just not built to handle crowds organically.
There is a about a quarter mile walk from one man’s dream to the middle of toy story land that is very “non disney” in its feel...
I just don’t see daily crowds any higher being effectively handled.
Aren’t you a local?
When exactly are you going to mgm with your AP - for reference purposes?
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
It’s why fall sucks now...didn’t used to
That would be based on the premise that people/families do not vacation anywhere besides WDW while there children are young.
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
No, it wouldn't be based on that. We vacation in other places as well and always have. Some cannot do that, and would replace WDW altogether as they shift to other types of trips with older kids. Others may go to WDW less than before as they begin to vacation in other places more. Same principle.
We still find HS enjoyable. Even prior to TSL opening, we still had a good time. But we are not park commandos trying to get our ride count as high as possible in an effort to determine value, (not saying you are). We enjoy hanging out at Tune In Lounge or Baseline Tap House in between rides or shows and browsing around the shops. Just grabbing a beer and watching the Citizens of Hollywood is fun. HS still has a great atmosphere, IMO.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
IMO and I may be wrong (just ask my wife who is all ways right) Disney has lost sight of the fact they are in the business of creating brand loyalty, guest satisfaction and providing a unique experience you don't get at the run of the mill amusement park. Long time guest recognition should be a given, many hotel chains have perks for repeat customers (my son who travels a lot is a diamond club member with Hilton with many perks) airlines with air miles etc. My sons who have been to WDW many times now as adults vacation other places, Disney is not high priority or even a thought. The costs, crowd levels, up charges, and reduced hours IMO for many is a negative. May be WDW is interested in the first time guest who has no reference point and there are enough first timers repeats are not a concern to them. I still enjoy WDW but for us costs have become a concern (on a fixed income--retired)
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
You’re actually arguing against the point you always make...
There were people before you and there will be people after you in the cycle. So as you cycle out - fundamentally others cycle in.
But...if attendance goes soft then that could indicate they are “cutting the pipeline” somehow...which is the fundamental point I always talk about.
I believe they are. If so - would it be because all of the sudden Disney world isn’t as popular? Less IP in media to cause want or bad economic times?
None of the above...it’s never been bigger.
Which means an attendance decline can only be for one legitimate reason: price.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I love rides...but ride hardly anything in WDW. It’s been done...I leave it up to the kids. I also walk out if the crowds are too big...go for an hour or two...or all day...depending on whim.
But thick crowds without proper attractions is a no win. That’s what we’re heading to and has kinda been the case in mgm for along time.
90 minutes waits at prime time? As it was the last time I strolled by in “light” crowds...
Yeah...no thanks.
The Disney equivalent would be AP members. They gets lots of perks among them including Hotel, dining, shopping, and other discounts.
It’s not much but they make a little effort to keep frequent guests a little happy.
I take it that, "Some cannot do that", is a reference to financial ability. I would have to say that for families who save for a year or more to be able to visit WDW are most definitely vacationing in other places while they save the money. Its not as if families simply do no vacation at all during the process of saving for WDW.
I wouldn't call it dead, but it certainly was no weekend crowd.
Good point. Just completed a survey from our trip last week, and they asked us for a detailed day-by-day listing of which parks we were in.
They had that information already in the system via (a) Gate entry records and (b) POS purchase records.
Just my opinion - Guys like Chapek think people have their kids watch Disney Channel, they buy merchandise, then they visit WDW, and then they have customers for life. I'm sorry to say that isn't the case, that it takes a lot more than that to develop customers for life. Previous management knew and understood that, probably because they knew or worked with or listened to the teachings of some old dead guy...
If Disney wants to (still) be considered a premium product, they need to do more than charge a premium price these days. They can't build a FoP once every dozen years and think that's good enough (A phrase that seems to be more aligned with their philosophies these days, sadly). Build something new and unique every 2-4 years instead of the current feast-or-famine approach to building. Slow and steady wins the race.
MickeyMinnieMom
Well-Known Member
I am sure there are both (check out various budget boards) -- and we'll never know how it breaks down. I know that the first time I went many years ago, that was our only family vacation for quite some time and we saved up a while for it. I'm sure we weren't alone.
build_it
Well-Known Member
I would say one minor change: instead of price - I would say value (to which price is a part).