Will the upcoming work at Uni be enough to steal more "Disney days"? Alternatively, has WWOHP run its course and the Uni additions are needed simply to maintain gains? Will the upcoming rumored WDW changes be enough to bring more guests back?
Remember, there is no right or wrong answer, just speculation.
Great question.
These are the facts:
1. Uni has millions more guests due to Potterland. (Forget the exact number).
2. WDW's growth is about 1% a year, maybe this year 2% due to improving economy and *some* interest in NFL.
3. In absolute numbers, millions more are coming to Orlando (if we assume the uptick in Uni's business isn't folks who would visit just downtown Orlando/Gatorland).
Uni's Potterland drove tourists to Orlando . . . without Potterland, there is no reason to assume that these guests would fly to Orlando, drive up from Miami, however, and go to Disney instead. I am guessing that without Potterland, WDW's attendance would chug along at 1% a year, just due to the recovering economy.
Length of Stay. I would figure these are the facts:
1. Quite possibly Disney makes more off of two families of four stay for *2* days, versus one family of four staying for *4* days, if only because as you add more days to the park hopper, the cheaper it gets. And possibly one family with a budget for merchandise might spread out their spending over four days, while a family stay just two days might spend all of their "disney dollars" in those two days. Of course, the two day family might save up their money for something at Potterland over Disney, so it probably comes down to tickets.
2-Day Park Hopper = $92 per day, for two families of four for 2 days (16 guest days) = $1,472
4-Day Park Hopper = $69.75 per day, for one family of four for 4 days (16 guest days) = $1,116
That means an extra $356 for Disney, even though the same number of park admissions occurred. Will a family of four staying for 4 days spend $356 more in merch than two families of four staying for 2 days? I kinda doubt it. Remember, it is the same number of meals needed in both cases.
Sure, if a family uses the park hopper to stay extra day, if they were planning on going home that day, then Disney gets more money via the tickets, and food. But Disney *may* make more money if the they have the same number of guests who don't stay as long as they used to, but come at a higher frequency.
So, to compensate for guests not staying as long on property, Disney needs more families coming to make up, and can actually do quite well with a quick turn around model.
I personally think that Potterland 2.0 will mean less guest days at WDW, though I wouldn't be surprised if WDW is flush with families who want to spend a couple days to "do Disney" after seeing Potterland 2.0. Though if it comes down to just one day to "do Disney", then I think you'll see attendance dip a little bit, though with the recovering economy that trend might be masked.