TEA Global Attendance Index is out

[Stripes]

Guests may not like crowded parks but Disney does. Crowded parks help with revenue from low margin things like merch and food.
Its why they keep raising prices. To make up for the lower attendance.

In a vacuum, sure. But park operators, including Disney, also value guest satisfaction and intent to return, which is harmed if guests have a poor experience due to crowding.

Am I missing something? Attendance is increasing…

Attendance is lower than it was pre-COVID.

(But that’s a good thing from a guest prospective IMHO)

Absolutely.

However, the characterization that Disney is continuously increasing prices to “make up for lower attendance” is highly misleading when you consider that the Experiences business surpassed its pre-Covid financial performance quite some time ago and has only built on that progress since. Further, the pricing strategy deployed many years ago was instituted with the goal of decreasing attendance while maintaining profitability. The characterization has the cause and effect reversed. If Disney decreased prices tomorrow, attendance would skyrocket. And guests would have a worse experience.

Disney has publicized the quarterly reports for the first half of calendar 2025. In the first quarter of the calendar year, attendance was up, per-capita guest spending was up, and hotel occupancy was up. In fact, hotel occupancy was at 92%. Indeed, Disney filled more rooms that quarter than they did in the first quarter of calendar 2019. And in the second quarter of the calendar year, domestic park attendance was flat, but per capita guest spending and hotel occupancy were up. And, again, they filled slightly more rooms than the respective quarter in 2019. All of these figures are for the domestic business.

 

[JD80]

From the report:

View attachment 889347

They're counting visits. If you have a ticket and enter a park. It is a visit. So, yes based on reasonable assumption a person that park hopped could be counted as a visit twice. Maybe three times. Depending on how many parks they visit.

The problem with these types of things is that they are very vague when definining how calculations are made and/or what data they use. Because they are purposely being vague. Disney, Uni, and others can review the numbers and provide them with things but they are under no obligation to do so. And as long as a park thinks the number represents them in manner they feel it should.

To be brutally frank, I could give a flying fox whether Disney parks have more, less, or exactly the same attendance. I'm still going to go several times a year. I'm still going to compain that it's a blatant money grab. I still won't see a working YETI. I'll still curse Disney for making me pre-plan down to the time I take bathroom and water breaks. And I'll still find a way to make it a fun experience.

I'm just saying. Numbers can tell a lot of different stories. It can reinforce narratives and it can destroy them. And in some cases that can be done at the same time.

How can you complain its a money grab but you go multiple times a year. Clearly you see value in what you way for the experience. That by definition isn't a money grab.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

How can you complain its a money grab but you go multiple times a year. Clearly you see value in what you way for the experience. That by definition isn't a money grab.

Yes, it’s a money grab. And yes, I still enjoy it. Recognizing one doesn’t cancel the other.

 

[Chi84]

Yes, it’s a money grab. And yes, I still enjoy it. Recognizing one doesn’t cancel the other.

Then what’s your point? You just want people to agree with you that Disney is greedy but still provides an enjoyable experience?

I’m on board with that.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Then what’s your point?

I see you just feel the need to be argumentative so I'll go slow.

Suppose you have a family. And that family enjoys going to a theme park. And you enjoy the time you spend with your family at said theme park. You, yourself may even enjoy certain attractions, restaurants, activities, and/or properties that the theme park offers.

But the theme park does not provide the same value it once did. And it is increasingly outpacing CPI at a staggering rate. Almost to the point that prices increase on you regularly. You can very easily identify this as a money grab, greed, unfair treatment of loyal guests, - you can put any name on it that you want.

Now weigh that with the enjoyment your family gets. Weigh that with the enjoyment you feel in spending time with your family and being able to provide them with the means for that enjoyment.

THE POINT IS. The poster feels that anybody who feels Disney is gouging, money-grabbing, or again you can put whatever name on it you like, should not be attending Disney. And we both know that life is not that black and white. THATS THE POINT.

 

[JD80]

I see you just feel the need to be argumentative so I'll go slow.

Suppose you have a family. And that family enjoys going to a theme park. And you enjoy the time you spend with your family at said theme park. You, yourself may even enjoy certain attractions, restaurants, activities, and/or properties that the theme park offers.

But the theme park does not provide the same value it once did. And it is increasingly outpacing CPI at a staggering rate. Almost to the point that prices increase on you regularly. You can very easily identify this as a money grab, greed, unfair treatment of loyal guests, - you can put any name on it that you want.

Now weigh that with the enjoyment your family gets. Weigh that with the enjoyment you feel in spending time with your family and being able to provide them with the means for that enjoyment.

THE POINT IS. The poster feels that anybody who feels Disney is gouging, money-grabbing, or again you can put whatever name on it you like, should not be attending Disney. And we both know that life is not that black and white. THATS THE POINT.

Words matter. If you think it's too expensive but you still find value in it so you put up with it because your family loves it- is a pretty reasonable sentiment.

If you feel like it's a money grab, greedy, and they treat you unfairly yet you still go.. OFTEN then you have some other problems. You may need a an intervention.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Words matter. If you think it's too expensive but you still find value in it so you put up with it because your family loves it- is a pretty reasonable sentiment.

If you feel like it's a money grab, greedy, and they treat you unfairly yet you still go.. OFTEN then you have some other problems. You may need a an intervention.

 

[Jrb1979]

I see you just feel the need to be argumentative so I'll go slow.

Suppose you have a family. And that family enjoys going to a theme park. And you enjoy the time you spend with your family at said theme park. You, yourself may even enjoy certain attractions, restaurants, activities, and/or properties that the theme park offers.

But the theme park does not provide the same value it once did. And it is increasingly outpacing CPI at a staggering rate. Almost to the point that prices increase on you regularly. You can very easily identify this as a money grab, greed, unfair treatment of loyal guests, - you can put any name on it that you want.

Now weigh that with the enjoyment your family gets. Weigh that with the enjoyment you feel in spending time with your family and being able to provide them with the means for that enjoyment.

THE POINT IS. The poster feels that anybody who feels Disney is gouging, money-grabbing, or again you can put whatever name on it you like, should not be attending Disney. And we both know that life is not that black and white. THATS THE POINT.

That's why my family moved on. We found other parks and places to spend time with family that has a better value for us.

We have just as much fun at Dollywood, Cedar Point, Hershey or Busch Gardens. Part of that is we are big coaster and thrill seekers.
Part of it is we have 5 weeks of vacation.
Money wise we can pick either one week at Disney and the rest just the odd weekend trip.
Or we can take different trips visiting multiple parks across the country.
That's where the value for us comes in.

 

[Chi84]

I see you just feel the need to be argumentative so I'll go slow.

Suppose you have a family. And that family enjoys going to a theme park. And you enjoy the time you spend with your family at said theme park. You, yourself may even enjoy certain attractions, restaurants, activities, and/or properties that the theme park offers.

But the theme park does not provide the same value it once did. And it is increasingly outpacing CPI at a staggering rate. Almost to the point that prices increase on you regularly. You can very easily identify this as a money grab, greed, unfair treatment of loyal guests, - you can put any name on it that you want.

Now weigh that with the enjoyment your family gets. Weigh that with the enjoyment you feel in spending time with your family and being able to provide them with the means for that enjoyment.

THE POINT IS. The poster feels that anybody who feels Disney is gouging, money-grabbing, or again you can put whatever name on it you like, should not be attending Disney. And we both know that life is not that black and white. THATS THE POINT.

I didn’t get that from the post. I think we’re in agreement that anyone who wants to attend Disney can do so and feel however they want about it.

I think Disney is greedy but I still find value in the parks. There’s no need to be condescending.

There does seem to be an issue with some people (not you) who desperately want Disney to fail because of its current management and refuse to accept that they can actually have guest satisfaction in mind. To what extent they achieve that is a matter of personal opinion.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

There’s no need to be condescending.

Not trying to be. But in fairness you amended your post that led to that reply.

Your original post just read “Then what’s your point?”

I hope you can see how that type of short concise post can be interpreted with differing levels of intent.

My reply was not intended to come across as condescending, although I see in hindsight that I did get a good start out of the gate.

 

[Chi84]

Not trying to be. But in fairness you amended your post that led to that reply.

Your original post just read “Then what’s your point?”

I hope you can see how that type of short concise post can be interpreted with differing levels of intent.

My reply was not intended to come across as condescending, although I see in hindsight that I did get a good start out of the gate.

Sorry - I hit post before I intended to which is why I amended so quickly.

 

[Jrb1979]

I didn’t get that from the post. I think we’re in agreement that anyone who wants to attend Disney can do so and feel however they want about it.

I think Disney is greedy but I still find value in the parks. There’s no need to be condescending.

There does seem to be an issue with some people (not you) who desperately want Disney to fail because of its current management and refuse to accept that they can actually have guest satisfaction in mind. To what extent they achieve that is a matter of personal opinion.

I don't believe for a second they care about guest satisfaction one bit. I fully the reason they keep raising prices is to make up for revenue they lose from lower crowds.

Im like you in that I don't care if they fail or succeed. I have accepted that Disney will never be what once was.

 

[Chi84]

I don't believe for a second they care about guest satisfaction one bit. I fully the reason they keep raising prices is to make up for revenue they lose from lower crowds.

Im like you in that I don't care if they fail or succeed. I have accepted that Disney will never be what once was.

I disagree on the guest satisfaction issue. They will succeed or fail based on their choices. In entertainment guest satisfaction is a huge factor.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don't believe for a second they care about guest satisfaction one bit.

Of course they do; their survival as a company depends on it. Difficult as it is for some of you to believe, many guests who visit (and revisit) are satisfied.

 

[coffeefan]

If you're no longer satisfied with what Disney parks offer you have to vote with your wallet. Telling other fans to do it for you is not gonna happen.

 

[Jrb1979]

If you're no longer satisfied with what Disney parks offer you have to vote with your wallet. Telling other fans to do it for you is not gonna happen.

I don't care what others do one bit. I have voted with my wallet. My family hasn't been back since 2019. We may not like the direction of the parks, we still have an interest in what they do.

 

[Jrb1979]

Of course they do; their survival as a company depends on it. Difficult as it is for some of you to believe, many guests who visit (and revisit) are satisfied.

I'm not saying many guests aren't satisfied. You guys do you.
I'm saying that they aren't raising prices to keep attendance down to appease the masses. They are raising prices to make up for the loss of attendance since 2019.

 

[peter11435]

They are raising prices to make up for the loss of attendance since 2019.

They’d be raising prices either way.

 

[Jrb1979]

They’d be raising prices either way.

True but they aren't doing it to keep crowds low. That's my point.

 

[Chi84]

True but they aren't doing it to keep crowds low. That's my point.

First of all you don’t know that. Secondly why could it possibly matter? A strategy either increases guest satisfaction or it doesn’t regardless of intent.