News Passholder Benefits Shifting

[FigmentForver96]

Epcot still has a long way to go but I'm not sure how people can say it's boring or has lack of stuff to do. I mean Test Track, Sorian, and even Mission:space are all really great rides. Not to mention World Showcase itself is an amazing attraction but that's just me.

Not to say they shouldn't be adding anything

 

[Bob Harlem]

Folks are just holding off until Star Wars opens, I'm pretty sure Disney expected a drop off, but not to the degree they are seeing. They'll beg for passholders right up until Star wars opens.

 

[JohnD]

Attendance recently has been not meeting projections across WDW, causing concern amongst management. As a result, a variety of programs have shifted. The big one being that most Low level Passholders can now visit during June (up to the 29th). Also, due to low Epcot Lite (now without a Festival) attendance, Passholder magnets have moved from studios (the expected attendance bomb) to Epcot (the actual one).

TLDR:
Lower Level Passholders are un-blocked until TSL opens
Magnets Move to Epcot
Attendance caused these

I was at the Studios last week. Part of the reason may have been lower attendance. The other is that, unlike Epcot with a single location to get magnets, you had to seek out a CM roaming the stores. Odd way to track down getting the magnet.

 

[mikejs78]

I don't see your point at all.

The ability to lift blackout dates is the absolute ideal for WDW. If crowds are high, they keep the blackout dates. If crowds dip, they remove them. It gives WDW the flexibility to level off peaks and valleys in attendance.

And WRT attendance: If FEA is down to 20 minutes, then yeah, huge attendance dip right now. But it sure as heck was not 20 minutes the first week of February when I was there. They've had two years of increased attendance. If this sudden seasonal dip happens, then that's a single data point. And a single data point isn't a trend. Now, it could be, but we don't know what the crowds will be in midsummer or fall.

Folks are just holding off until Star Wars opens, I'm pretty sure Disney expected a drop off, but not to the degree they are seeing. They'll beg for passholders right up until Star wars opens.

Could it be too that people are holding off their summer visits because of TSL? Not having it ready for Memorial Day is probably contributing to this. I remember looking a couple of months ago for a room in mid June, and found very little available. Now I'm finding plenty of rooms, which is unusual a week or so out. I think people moved their trips until after TSL opens.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

If they really want to get our attention....waive the resort parking fees and roll back some of those inflated room rates.

I'd go for an unscheduled impromptu few nights if I got the POR for 160 or WL for 230.

 

[JohnD]

Agreed that silver should've been included. They clearly are hoping passholders upgrade. TSL is nowhere near enough for me to upgrade. I'd love a preview to not have to experience these two new rides with a ridiculous line, or struggle to get a FP for it just to give them a spin. But it is what it is, I guess.

Why didn't they pull this stunt with Pandora? They let all passholders gain access (albeit the signup was messy and quickly filled). I mean, maybe I can understand if it were BEFORE the opening of TSL. But in September? lol

I don’t think so. As a Silver AP holder, I thought I was blocked out over the summer. Then they extend Silver to 6/29 before TSL opens but blocks us out in September for previews when theoretically my pass is “good to go” again. Now why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would I want to book a return trip in September when I’m “good to go” but blocked from the preview? Do they not realize I could have planned a bonus trip I originally wasnt planning on taking? Thanks for nothing. WDW. I was planning on waiting until the holidays this year anyway.

 

[Casper Gutman]

You know what would be a great perk for not only Annual Passholders but any frequent visitor or first time to EPCOT?

Having the end of Club Cool all the way through the big hallway of nothing leading to The Land and Living Seas not smell like a sewage line break.

Yes, I know the reasons, but it does not need to be like that and no one is willing to fix it. The fact that any theme park managment is okay with it smelling like that for literally years is all kinds of wrong.

Oh hey,
and guess where you traditionally go to pick up magnets? Same said hall.

I recall Mouseworks always having a similar aroma. Do we know the cause?

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Something like Fast food Blvd at Universal would be a welcomed sight but I am not sure how it would fit the area.

Innoventions has lots of unused space these days.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Folks are just holding off until Star Wars opens, I'm pretty sure Disney expected a drop off, but not to the degree they are seeing. They'll beg for passholders right up until Star wars opens.

Indeed...the typical Florida/AP procedure:

This year: “please, come!!”
Next year: “go away”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t think so. As a Silver AP holder, I thought I was blocked out over the summer. Then they extend Silver to 6/29 before TSL opens but blocks us out in September for previews when theoretically my pass is “good to go” again. Now why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would I want to book a return trip in September when I’m “good to go” but blocked from the preview? Do they not realize I could have planned a bonus trip I originally wasnt planning on taking? Thanks for nothing. WDW. I was planning on waiting until the holidays this year anyway.

It’s quite simple: you spend more on a non-blackout pass...then they treat you like you have bought an actual annual pass.

I don’t condone it...but the psychology is clear

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If they really want to get our attention....waive the resort parking fees and roll back some of those inflated room rates.

I'd go for an unscheduled impromptu few nights if I got the POR for 160 or WL for 230.

...I’m assuming you’re not SERIOUSLY suggesting they reduce prices, correct??

 

[JohnD]

It’s quite simple: you spend more on a non-blackout pass...then they treat you like you have bought an actual annual pass.

I don’t condone it...but the psychology is clear

Well, tough. When I left WDW on 6/3, thinking at the time it was my last day before the blackout, I vowed never to come back in the hot weather and large crowds. It confirmed I have no desire to attend in the heat of summer. I don’t mind missing out over Easter and Christmas/New Year’s either.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well, tough. When I left WDW on 6/3, thinking at the time it was my last day before the blackout, I vowed never to come back in the hot weather and large crowds. It confirmed I have no desire to attend in the heat of summer. I don’t mind missing out over Easter and Christmas/New Year’s either.

I agree with you...

...the problem is there seems to be two wreckless fools right now prepared to jump In and take your place.

Disney knows their targets...if things dip they release a coupon and the lemmings crash like on Black Friday at Walmart.

 

[huwar18]

Who would have thought 20 years of mediocre to poor decisions and indecision in EPCOT would have led to the park failing to surpass pre-Animal Kingdom attendance #s?

@marni1971 might disagree, but I have little confidence they know a way to fix it.

I completely agree. Honestly, I don’t know if they even care to fix it. Adding little band-aids to stop the bleeding, maybe? I love Epcot. It’s one of my favorite parks to go to. It always has been. However, FW needs shut down and completely revamped. Even though Disney showed new concept art of FW, I have little faith. They have been quiet on that front for a long time. Until it starts dragging down their bottom line drastically, I don’t see them moving at a faster pace.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

...I’m assuming you’re not SERIOUSLY suggesting they reduce prices, correct??

Not only reduce them...but waive them as well. It's okay though, they'll make it back with the $42 beers. FWIW the beer prices at EPCOT are almost back to the 20oz prices for the 12oz cups. I'm sure $42 is right around the corner. It may soon be cheaper for a Highland or Speyside Single Malt at Rose and Crown - than it will be for a Dunkel at the Germany pavilion.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not only reduce them...but waive them as well. It's okay though, they'll make it back with the $42 beers. FWIW the beer prices at EPCOT are almost back to the 20oz prices for the 12oz cups. I'm sure $42 is right around the corner. It may soon be cheaper for a Highland or Speyside Single Malt at Rose and Crown - than it will be for a Dunkel at the Germany pavilion.

I feel your pain...but you know you’ve lost that battle.

Your best shot will be when the MAGA recession is in full swing - whenever that comes. That will be when igers rubber hits the road.

 

[Rodan75]

If they do the 13 for 12 promotion again, you know that things are not well.

I think that one is probably a super cheap promo. Same revenue, min expense.

 

[Rodan75]

I wonder if Disney Springs has started to hurt Epcot? The night time / dinner appeal of Epcot has faded a bit in the face of all of the options at DS and an aging RoE.

 

[ATLdragon]

Folks are just holding off until Star Wars opens, I'm pretty sure Disney expected a drop off, but not to the degree they are seeing. They'll beg for passholders right up until Star wars opens.

I'm willing to bet attendance is soft all across Orlando. People are delaying vacations entirely. I've been planning to go to Anaheim/Los Angeles for a while now and still debating if I should go this year, or just do it all next year until after SWL opens.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I wonder if Disney Springs has started to hurt Epcot? The night time / dinner appeal of Epcot has faded a bit in the face of all of the options at DS and an aging RoE.

...possibly