VIDEO - July 4 crowds at Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Pixiedustmaker]

No...projections are based upon trends. One day out of last years figures does not make a projection.

Holidays and special events are times when the parks get jammed. DLR knows that they are going to get hit during the holidays, likewise, a project for the 4th of July attendance at DHS would rely heavily on what happened last year, the historical trend . . . obviously, if they opened a new ride then they'd expect more, ditto if there was a special marketing campaign/event.

More likely than not, DHS's 4th of July attendance would be closer to 2012's 4th, than going back five years . . . the economy has rebounded, Easter was a record holiday for the resort . . . wouldn't at all be surprised that this 4th of July might well be a record 4th for WDW.

 

[unkadug]

If a park is consistently underperforming then no matter what holiday or special event rolls around, attendance will follow the underperforming trend.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

If a park is consistently underperforming then no matter what holiday or special event rolls around, attendance will follow the underperforming trend.

Uh, DHS attendance is up, it is at 9.9 million. WDW just had *record* attendance this last Easter holiday . . . based on this, you'd expect DHS's holiday attendance bump to be up as well. I also don't believe that Disney would project a "tremendously lower" volume at DHS for the 4th, after WDW's 2012 attendance bump and a record Easter . . . doesn't make sense.

DHS is also isn't "underperforming." Sure, I'd like to see DHS get a new ride, but obviously the park (which has been open quite a bit longer than DCA), is doing just fine.

Also, if DHS if "consistently underperforming", then why would the volume be "tremendously lower" this year??

It seems to me that some are desperate for news that DHS is going down the tubes, and hence it will push Burbank to "rebuild" the park . . .

 

[the.dreamfinder]

 

[sweetpee_1993]

No doubt special events pack in more guests, DHS got 9.9 million guests last year, attendance is up. DCA went from 6.3 million to 7.8 million with Carsland open half a year, so even with Carsland, DCA might not top DHS. Different market forces/specifics on the coasts . . .

That was "hell no" as in you'd need to have a gun to my head to get me to go willingly into that mass of people. I could care less about all the numbers. That many people in that small an area with the blaring music and flashing lights...this does not even whisper "fun" to me. No flippin' way.

 

[pheneix]

Uh, DHS attendance is up, it is at 9.9 million. WDW just had *record* attendance this last Easter holiday . . . based on this, you'd expect DHS's holiday attendance bump to be up as well. I also don't believe that Disney would project a "tremendously lower" volume at DHS for the 4th, after WDW's 2012 attendance bump and a record Easter . . . doesn't make sense.

DHS is also isn't "underperforming." Sure, I'd like to see DHS get a new ride, but obviously the park (which has been open quite a bit longer than DCA), is doing just fine.

Also, if DHS if "consistently underperforming", then why would the volume be "tremendously lower" this year??

It seems to me that some are desperate for news that DHS is going down the tubes, and hence it will push Burbank to "rebuild" the park . . .

I'm just thinking back to this awesome Flash-animated Counter Strike parody from years ago with this kid spazzing out in front of this computer screaming "EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" every time he gets griefed. It was hella funny, albeit kind of dark given the state of humanity in 2013.

I mean, my eyes see the paragraphs contained within the quotation, and I recognize that there are words there. But my mind just processes all of it as "EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" now.

 

[Bolna]

actually, I would guess if someone would have taken a video of DHS from that same spot on May 4th one hour before the fireworks, my guess would be that it would have looked similar.

And still, we were able to get a FP for ToT one hour before the fireworks for later and rode Star Tours twice without any wait.

 

[unkadug]

Uh, DHS attendance is up, it is at 9.9 million. WDW just had *record* attendance this last Easter holiday . . . based on this, you'd expect DHS's holiday attendance bump to be up as well. I also don't believe that Disney would project a "tremendously lower" volume at DHS for the 4th, after WDW's 2012 attendance bump and a record Easter . . . doesn't make sense.

Or so they say...

It seems to me that since there are no hard figures ever released for each individual park, that the numbers have been over inflated in the past and now they have realized that they cannot compete with their own inflated crowd numbers. It's all going back to bite them it the butt.

DHS is also isn't "underperforming." Sure, I'd like to see DHS get a new ride, but obviously the park (which has been open quite a bit longer than DCA), is doing just fine.

Also, if DHS if "consistently underperforming", then why would the volume be "tremendously lower" this year??

Very good question indeed.

 

[JimboJones123]

I hear attendence on the 4th was between 25-30% higher than the projection for the day.

We went on the 4th in 2011 and nobody was there.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Or so they say...

It seems to me that since there are no hard figures ever released for each individual park, that the numbers have been over inflated in the past and now they have realized that they cannot compete with their own inflated crowd numbers. It's all going back to bite them it the butt.

Well, we know that WDW overall saw an attendance bump, around 2.2%. The economy is recovering, and WDW hit an attendance record last Easter. To assume that DHS attendance is going down is to assume that despite increased guests numbers, (2.2% of 48 million is about 1 million guests more to WDW in 2012 over the year before), then you'd have to assume a very uneven distribution of these additional guests. Kinda doubt it, statistically very un-probable. A lot of guests buy park hoppers and decide on their way to the bus what park their going to that day, so DHS certainly benefits from being in WDW, as opposed to a stand-alone park in Tampa.

There's no reason to doubt TEA, even if the absolute numbers were off, the trend is clear. We'd also have to assume that Iger lied about the WDW attendance record on Easter.

 

[JimboJones123]

Wednesday surprises me. Drove up in the evening, no signs of a phased closing, and while it was busy during the fireworks, by 10:00 felt like a normal Summer night again. Anecdotal evidence from one of the monorail bars is that it was a local crowd--"everyone paying separately with a Tables in Wonderland card." I'm wondering if the majority of the turnstyle clicks came late afternoon/early evening and left immediately after fireworks.



Not a shock. Hadn't even heard they were doing fireworks this year, only about the Monsters U event.



Amazing. Even more so when you consider, as far as I know, Universal did nothing out of the ordinary for the Fourth.

Any word on how DTD was, despite not having fireworks for the 6th year in a row, with a dozen signs scattered around announcing that fact?

They sure have tons of tacky tent bars set up to sell drinks.

Those things look so stupid.

 

[unkadug]

Well, we know that WDW overall saw an attendance bump, around 2.2%. The economy is recovering, and WDW hit an attendance record last Easter. To assume that DHS attendance is going down is to assume that despite increased guests numbers, (2.2% of 48 million is about 1 million guests more to WDW in 2012 over the year before), then you'd have to assume a very uneven distribution of these additional guests. Kinda doubt it, statistically very un-probable. A lot of guests buy park hoppers and decide on their way to the bus what park their going to that day, so DHS certainly benefits from being in WDW, as opposed to a stand-alone park in Tampa.

There's no reason to doubt TEA, even if the absolute numbers were off, the trend is clear. We'd also have to assume that Iger lied about the WDW attendance record on Easter.

Corporate leaders are notorious for skewing the truth.

To blindly accept everything they say at face value is ignorant.

 

[TP2000]

The DHS fireworks show was very good. I wish Mulch, Sweat and Tears were pulled off the stage and a proper band booked for this event though. Take away the dumb hat and this fireworks show feels like something that could have gone down in Mississippi.

This part made me chuckle. Loudly. And I agree with you. Although when I was watching the video and trying to mute the sound from that awful Wedding Reception DJ they'd hired for the night, I was thinking more "Branson" than "Mississippi".

I think that's a bigger problem than arguing over guesstimate 'numbers', but that's just me.

 

[JimboJones123]

No doubt special events pack in more guests, DHS got 9.9 million guests last year, attendance is up. DCA went from 6.3 million to 7.8 million with Carsland open half a year, so even with Carsland, DCA might not top DHS. Different market forces/specifics on the coasts . . .

DCA simply does not get the year round daily attendance DHS does. But when packed, DCA is packed. But a quiet day at DCA is simply amazing. Even with the Carsland addition.

 

[monorail81]

We were there on the 3rd and 4th and kept looking at each other saying, "Where is everyone?" Until fireworks time, it seemend like just another day. (We were at MK on the 3rd and DHS and EPCOT on the 4th). It was just not as busy as it should have been. We went fully anticipating not to ride anything, but had no problems getting on attractions or getting FPs.

 

[SMPTE MOUSE]

MK was great all day, the crowds were big but the lines weren't crazy by any means. Then 8PM and BOOM! Crowds erverywhere! Boy what an amazing firework show! Check out this pic from we snapped during the grand finale! If you are looking for expert WDW advice be sure to like my new facebook page:

 

[Zman-ks]

I hear attendence on the 4th was between 25-30% higher than the projection for the day.

We went on the 4th in 2011 and nobody was there.

Same thing happend with us.

 

[llrain]

oy vey, its the Hollywood Studios dance rave again...This thing is going to be permanant, isnt it?

 

[PhotoDave219]

oy vey, its the Hollywood Studios dance rave again...This thing is going to be permanant, isnt it?

Hey, DJ Elliott draws a crowd. Plays good sets.

 

[llrain]

thats funny cause some awesome videographer taped epcot ALL day and from what I saw, it was busier in April during flower and garden than it was at epcot, He also showed video of wait times to give you a snapshot and it was nothing compared to my april wait times.