Amazed and Disappointed

[ucfknight]

Hey, I get what you're saying...I'm coming from the standpoint of escalated prices. Park hours should not be lowered, given the ticket prices.
Disney is making their money.

Perhaps they should try to learn what is causing the decrease in attendance?

Disney has publicly stated that they are very happy with slightly lowered attendance if they are able to continue their trend of increased per guest spending. Less guests spending more money is exactly what they are trying to do. Looks like things are working out exactly as they planned.

 

[jdisnut]

Wait, are people suggesting that the parks have a crowding issue? That's asinine. I've been here since Thursday, and I've never seen the parks so empty. It's wild. The parks are so empty that at about 3, there were Fastpasses for Flight of Passage still available for later that night. In three days, the longest line we've waited on for anything was 25-30 minutes. Soarin' and Expedition Everest were practically walk-ons. There were open reservations at Be Our Guest.

I wish Magic Kingdom was open later as well. I do. But there's nobody here, relatively speaking.

 

[DoTheDisFam]

Disney has publicly stated that they are very happy with slightly lowered attendance if they are able to continue their trend of increased per guest spending. Less guests spending more money is exactly what they are trying to do. Looks like things are working out exactly as they planned.

Kinda hard for guests to spend more money if they are closing early.

It's a catch22, I get it.

Nice chat. See you on the flipside! Life is calling... Lol

 

[Westcoastwild]

Wait, are people suggesting that the parks have a crowding issue? That's asinine. I've been here since Thursday, and I've never seen the parks so empty. It's wild. The parks are so empty that at about 3, there were Fastpasses for Flight of Passage still available for later that night. In three days, the longest line we've waited on for anything was 25-30 minutes. Soarin' and Expedition Everest were practically walk-ons. There were open reservations at Be Our Guest.

I wish Magic Kingdom was open later as well. I do. But there's nobody here, relatively speaking.

The only example that I've seen cited so far is July 4, which isn't a good example, because anyone who doesn't like crowds DOES NOT go on holidays. Disney can't do a thing to relieve those crowds. No one is going to skip out on the fireworks on that day because everyone came for the festivities.

I agree. 3pm is pretty dead in July. But you must have reptile blood because I desperately wanted shelter around that time.

The stroller guy doesn't look panicked to me. He looks cranky. He's probably holding that stroller up so he can move faster and no one trips over it.ive tried to get a wheel chair through crowds like that. If I could have lifted it above my head, I would have.

 

[Jim Shuler]

We have been going to Disney on a regular basis now for over 10 years and I am totally staggered by the closing times of MK in July. I was certain they would change the hours and close at 12/1.00am or even 2.00am as they have in previous years, but I have never known such a consistent period of 10.00pm closing as is posted for this July. It just does not make sense, all the prices are sky high and they shut MK at 10.00pm in July!! And they compensate us by opening 2 rides at AK instead.

Very disappointed.

Many families can only come during the summer months and it just seems cheap to close at 10:00. For the prices they are charging it is almost like telling the patrons we just really don't care about you. Disney leadership is lacking.

 

[soxrob]

We have been going to Disney on a regular basis now for over 10 years and I am totally staggered by the closing times of MK in July. I was certain they would change the hours and close at 12/1.00am or even 2.00am as they have in previous years, but I have never known such a consistent period of 10.00pm closing as is posted for this July. It just does not make sense, all the prices are sky high and they shut MK at 10.00pm in July!! And they compensate us by opening 2 rides at AK instead.

Very disappointed.

I was chatting with a bus driver about MK hours and he told me it was due to resources being funneled over to AK during the EEMH for Pandora.

 

[soxrob]

We did AK EMH at night and didn't care for it. Yes, its cool to look at the lights but I felt like cattle being lead to the slaughterhouse. Pandora is the only thing open and it was packed and a good majority of the people are not watching where they are going. Last night, I several numerous people running into each other and falling because they are trying to video things.
I am also disappointed MK does not stay open later then it does, I realize the focus is on Pandora but when you got everyone leaving the other three parks to go to Pandora for EMH its can cause a mess.

Absolutely agree! Pandora was gridlock during EMH. No point in staying late at AK.

 

[soxrob]

I honestly don't get this. Particularly if they are only keeping 2 rides open late. That hardly replaces the capacity of MK open late. Are they AT LEAST opening ALL of AK?

Nope only Pandora is open and it is complete gridlock.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Nope only Pandora is open and it is complete gridlock.

I think this is ridiculous. Period.

 

[Valbot]

Thats disappointing to hear that MK is not staying open later. Last trip was about 5 years ago and MK was open until midnight in July

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Disney has publicly stated that they are very happy with slightly lowered attendance if they are able to continue their trend of increased per guest spending. Less guests spending more money is exactly what they are trying to do. Looks like things are working out exactly as they planned.

Not for us. We left 2 days early.

 

[Disney_Cindy]

I'm hoping they'll extend hours for my upcoming August trip, but not counting on it. Coming from the west coast makes it hard to adjust to the time change. The 10 pm closing will feel like 7pm for a couple of days and we never do rope drop that's like 5am for us. Hopefully our flight will help us adjust, and make it so bad. I'm an optimist!

 

[ucfknight]

I was chatting with a bus driver about MK hours and he told me it was due to resources being funneled over to AK during the EEMH for Pandora.

Whenever I want to know the inside scoop on confidential, executive level, resort-wide financial decisions I always ask the bus drivers. They know everything!

 

[twoplustwins]

Whenever I want to know the inside scoop on confidential, executive level, resort-wide financial decisions I always ask the bus drivers. They know everything!

Snarky! Not sure if that's the tone you intended, but that's how your comment comes across.

 

[DaisyJ]

Saturday, July 8. 4:00 pm.
Just checked MDE.

Magic Kingdom (open 9 am to 10 pm):
There are 16 attractions at MK listed with wait times of 20 minutes or less (including a "headliner" Big Thunder Mountain).
There are only 5 attractions at MK with a wait time of 60 minutes or longer, with the longest being 80 minutes.

Epcot (open 9 am to 9 pm as it usually is):
All but 2 attractions are 25 minutes or less (including "headliner" Soarin' at 25 minutes)
Only 2 attractions are longer than 25 minutes with the longest being 85.

I don't know how many times it must be said, summer crowds at WDW are not what they once were. It has been this way for a few years. Disney has adjusted their hours accordingly. There is no overcrowding going on.

Did you also check the radar?

 

[rteetz]

I think this is ridiculous. Period.

I don't think so. I stayed in Pandora from before EMH right up to 1AM. This helps with people who want to experience Pandora.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I don't think so. I stayed in Pandora from before EMH right up to 1AM. This helps with people who want to experience Pandora.

Not if it's as crowded as most seem to be reporting recently. You could experience Pandora while I experience EE!

 

[DoTheDisFam]

I don't think so. I stayed in Pandora from before EMH right up to 1AM. This helps with people who want to experience Pandora.

However, the member she was responding to stated it was grid lock.

 

[rteetz]

Not if it's as crowded as most seem to be reporting recently. You could experience Pandora while I experience EE!

I was there opening week and I feel it wasn't terrible. I'm sure once AK is in the EMH rotation they'll have other attractions open but the fanfare is all around Pandora and they have the extended hours for that specifically. Just wait until all the special hours and events for Star Wars.

 

[rteetz]

However, the member she was responding to stated it was grid lock.

Which means Pandora is popular and justifys the hours.