It depends upon the beach. We have been going to the same resort in NE FL for about 30 years, and most of the other people staying there have been from the Atlanta area. Most people drove to the resort.
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Walt Disney World Park Hours cut starting September 8 2020
- Thread starter durangojim
- Start date
It depends upon the beach. We have been going to the same resort in NE FL for about 30 years, and most of the other people staying there have been from the Atlanta area. Most people drove to the resort.
deeevo
Well-Known Member
I mean Gregg Popovic is at risk because of his age and should be wearing a mask in public along with anyone else at risk.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
In my mind driving from GA to NE FL you are basically a local. Up here in PA many people go to the NJ shore for beaches. They aren’t from NJ but they are local travelers.
SamusAranX
Well-Known Member
I don't necessarily believe that it's the main reason...at the same time, i haven't seen a decrease in beach crowds, so I feel for whatever reason that sector of tourism is somewhat well still.
The reduced hours are a disappointment and a hard pill to swallow. We cancelled a 9 night trip (12 of us-3 generations) that was scheduled for Sept 19th. When the total cost for resort-OKW-tickets-travel-etc over 20 grand with these reduced hours it was simply not worth the money.
If Disney wants to reduce the hours then in fairness to the patrons that should be done months in advance. Most of us plan and plan to go to Disney and for my 6 grandchildren and their parents closing the parks at those early hours was a deal killer.
I speak for my entire family-Disney has been slowly losing its magic and with some of the new directions it may be the end of our Disney experiences. Have been taking my kids and grandkids since 1976 and it is a very difficult decision but Disney leadership has blown it for us.
If Disney wants to reduce the hours then in fairness to the patrons that should be done months in advance. Most of us plan and plan to go to Disney and for my 6 grandchildren and their parents closing the parks at those early hours was a deal killer.
I speak for my entire family-Disney has been slowly losing its magic and with some of the new directions it may be the end of our Disney experiences. Have been taking my kids and grandkids since 1976 and it is a very difficult decision but Disney leadership has blown it for us.
DisneyDebRob
Well-Known Member
Agreed. For 20 grand fully open would be a tough pill to swallow. No brainer now.
Bob Harlem
Well-Known Member
The parks were the busiest they have been since they reopened this past weekend according to https://touringplans.com/blog/2020/08/09/theme-parks-see-busiest-post-reopening-day-on-saturday/
The Universal & Sea World water parks hit capacity both days also. (Despite the insane lightning storm last night)
The Universal & Sea World water parks hit capacity both days also. (Despite the insane lightning storm last night)
Possibly a late rush before school starts for locals in whatever form that takes.
Vegas is inside. And I’d assume most, if not all shows are dark. I really don’t think gambling is comparable to amusement parks at all with respect to masks
Polkadotdress
Well-Known Member
What were the "posted hours" when you booked the trip? Oh...they weren't posted and you ASSUMED they would be the same as last year?
It's hardly a reflection on leadership that the current posted hours reflect a downturn in business during a worldwide pandemic in a state that has been deemed one of the "worst" for cases in the entire country.
easyrowrdw
Well-Known Member
It's an article purportedly about how parks were the busiest they've been since reopening, but they never compare waits across time. I don't get it. Who cares about their app and wrong predictions?
It does seem like it was busier this weekend though. The numbers on the app were higher at all the parks than they have been in previous days. Some other websites had good pictures of the crowds too.
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They did compare to an equivalent day last year
"let’s take a look at the wait times for this equivalent day last year (the Saturday before school was back in session locally in the Walt Disney World area). "
easyrowrdw
Well-Known Member
Yes, I meant across time since reopening. Seeing that waits at a park with capacity restrictions and no FP are lower than at one without restrictions and with FP tells me about restrictions and FP. It doesn't provide insight into how the parks have operated since reopening - the only time period that really matters right now and the supposed purpose of the article.
Definitely agree that people aren't flying. Some of that is due to not feeling safe, other is due to the already miserable experience being made even more miserable. Most of the people I know that are traveling are doing so via car specifically because they don't want to deal with all the hassles of flying today.
At the same time, it's difficult to compare beaches to Disney-- I may make a trip to the beach for a "cheap" get away, but the cost of going to Disney is MUCH more expensive. A number of people I know that would love to go to Disney just can't see the value in going at the moment due to the price/value proposition (lack of entertainment, shortened hours, required park reservations, and yes masks to a greater or lesser degree for a "full price" ticket);
Given the number of people concerned about not being able to send their kids to school, I'd expect the same number of people would feel safe going to Disney.
Basically, I'm sure some people aren't coming to Disney because of safety concerns, but I'm sure others aren't going because of financial concerns (lost their jobs), and still others aren't coming because of perceived lack of value/experience.
Yep; people up here are getting away. They're going to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and Florida and Savannah and Myrtle Beach. Places that are easy to drive to. Several people in my office have been to the Florida panhandle (Destin/Pensacola/Panama City) and Orlando; a few people several times over the past month or so.
Not true at all, I have been flying and it has picked up, not near normal but much more than late April/early June. It won't get back to normal for a while but more people are flying as it is still down 70 or so from the previous year. Mostly due to lack of business travel
Domestic U.S. Load Factor Averaged 45% in Most Recent Week, Versus 89% a Year Earlier
Parker in NYC
Well-Known Member
How is DollyWood doing? Not asking you directly but was just wondering since you brought up Pigeon Forge.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
This is true. People are staying closer to home. If they are going places it’s driving in a lot of cases not flying. Disney‘s own numbers from the earnings call pointed that out. They said half of their visitors have been local and half from out of state. The regular split is 20/80 during normal times. I agree that Disney is also a more expensive trip and more time consuming to plan so that adds to the drop in demand.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
You are posting data showing air traffic is way down and then telling me it’s not down because it’s up compared to April when full stay at home orders were in place. I agree that air traffic is Not near normal...it’s down over 70%.
Well that is different than , "people are not traveling" and "air traffic is 'completely" down" etc etc. Glad you agree.
It has more than doubled since early June but will take a while to get back to normal especially with business travel.