Another DVC....will they enlarge the parks?

[ilovepooh]

Don't flame me....I'm just a little nervous.

I do love DVC and I am all for VAK or Villas at the Contemporary, but I'm starting to wonder about the parks. I 'm thinking about when these hotels/villas are at capacity...what will the parks be like compared to now?

I hope they keep expanding the attractions to allow for all the extra people that will be staying in the parks besides all of the visitors who stay off-site. I realize a lot of people don't always do the parks, but I'm getting nervous about the prospective increase in anticipated guests.

Being a school teacher I am limited to only going during peak times.

Should I be worried or do you think it will all balance out somehow?

 

[DVCconvert]

Should I be worried or do you think it will all balance out somehow?

Chillout! ....IF both were to become true the resulting attendence load would not be noticable. Also remember that there's been a long standing policy to protect that only guests staying on property are guarentted admission even on the busiest of days!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Ditto...there's still plenty of room for everybody! It would be interesting to see some attendance figures on what percentage of people are still staying offsite. Also, I wonder what the actual numbers need to be before Disney does close the gates down during peak times for non-Disney guests.

 

[spiceycat]

the parking lot must be full for Disney to close to offsite guest - it hasn't happen since 97?

disney is still far behind it 97 numbers...

and the lastest problem (GB) will only kept people from traveling again...

but then Disney appreciates us DVC members more because we continue to go to WDW no matter what happens....

Disney has say it will not built any new parks - now I think they will still update the parks - but that is generally done with closing one thing and putting something else there. Not expanding.

when Disney finished the Pop Century as a hotel (not a DVC resort) like the original intension then if might start closing to offsite guest again.

until then - don't worry.

 

[dbm20th]

Regardless of this proposal, AK and MGM need expansion notwithstanding

 

[dianeschlicht]

the parking lot must be full for Disney to close to offsite guest - it hasn't happen since 97?

That's not true, Pat. We have been there several New Year's Eve's since '97, and Epcot was closed to offsite, and for a time onesite guests in 1999/2000.

 

[spiceycat]

I forgot - Christmas to NY, and Palm & easter week....

those times close alot.

sorry about that!

 

[dvc at last !]

I think closing the parks when filled should
----------EXCLUDE DVC Members/those staying on property.

 

[JimMIA]

Chillout! ....IF both were to become true the resulting attendence load would not be noticable. Also remember that there's been a long standing policy to protect that only guests staying on property are guarentted admission even on the busiest of days!

I agree the extra load from two new DVC's would be negligible.

I also think Disney is always in the process of changing the parks -- to update attractions, to offer new choices, to expand carrying capacity, etc. So I'm sure they will continue to do that.

The other thing I expect to see is the expansion of marketing programs to encourage people to stay onsite -- not just to lodge onsite, but to spend all of our time there. They have been very successful, I think, with DME and DDP, so I expect other initiatives like that will come up from time to time.

The next big one I'm expecting is an "onsite FastPass" that gives onsite guests some kind of advantage in getting into the more popular attractions. I have no idea what form that would take, but there were posts here a few months ago about them doing some patent work to protect that alternative. Obviously, they've seen Universal's Front of the Line program.

It's always interesting to watch and speculate...

 

[BeccaG]

I don't know if Disney World runs the same but I have been as Disneyland several times when they have "closed" the parks. However, hotel guest of the resort were guaranteed entrance, even on the actual 50th b-day last year.

 

[spiceycat]

disney world attracts more crowds.

I think the maximum amount that the MK can handle is 125,000 - while the parking lot is 75,000?

Epcot would be even higher.

to me MK at 40,000 is crowded - don't want to see 125,000 in the same space...

 

[spiceycat]

The other thing I expect to see is the expansion of marketing programs to encourage people to stay onsite -- not just to lodge onsite, but to spend all of our time there. They have been very successful, I think, with DME and DDP, so I expect other initiatives like that will come up from time to time.

The next big one I'm expecting is an "onsite FastPass" that gives onsite guests some kind of advantage in getting into the more popular attractions. I have no idea what form that would take, but there were posts here a few months ago about them doing some patent work to protect that alternative. Obviously, they've seen Universal's Front of the Line program.

It's always interesting to watch and speculate...

just as long as they don't copy US/IOA anyone fast pass - which you now have to PAY for....

lots of people are mad about something that was free once - now you have to pay for and it isn't cheap... I think the management at US/IOA needs to rethink this one.

 

[Laurajean1014]

They have big plans to finish AK - Asia which has just been tapped with EE.

I wouldn't worry - WDW isn't finished yet.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I don't know if Disney World runs the same but I have been as Disneyland several times when they have "closed" the parks. However, hotel guest of the resort were guaranteed entrance, even on the actual 50th b-day last year.

The parks do close down, especially in the high months. As people leave, people can enter. It's not a WDW, it's an insurance thing.

 

[ilovepooh]

I still think Disney will need to expand their parks enough to allow for the additional hundreds+ of guests, but I'm not going to let it ruin my Disney Spirit dwelling on something that hasn't even happened yet. It was just a thought

It's good to see how others feel about this as well. Thanks for the feedback.


spiceycat-I'm not sure what this means....us/IOA... US..Universal Studios ? What is IOA? Sorry...nothing is coming to mind. How does that program work that they have to pay for?

 

[DVCconvert]

I think closing the parks when filled should
----------EXCLUDE DVC Members/those staying on property

It already does. If you're on property you will be able to get into A park --it's possilbe an on property guest won't be allowed into the park of their choice, but space (property wide) is reserved for on site guests.

 

[Sammie]

I forgot - Christmas to NY, and Palm & easter week....

those times close alot.

sorry about that!

Add 4th of July to that list, as we have been there when they have closed it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It already does. If you're on property you will be able to get into A park --it's possilbe an on property guest won't be allowed into the park of their choice, but space (property wide) is reserved for on site guests.

Not true. Each park has a maximum occupancy limit for insurance reasons, and NO guest will be allowed in if that limit is reached until someone else leaves. We have seen that first hand on NYE in Epcot. If all parks are at the limit, there will be nowhere to go.

 

[DVCconvert]

diane-
You maynot have understood what I said. Yes there are capacity limits (and that's determined by the fire marshall's office, not insurance companies).

There is a sequence of systems involved in shutting down (either for one park or all parks property wide) due to nearing or reaching capacity. That sequence is designed so as to maintain admission access such that all on property, company owned resort guests are able to enter a park. As you experience (apparently) this dose not mean that from time to time (usually NYE or other extreme peak period) an on site guest may not be able to enter the park of their choice, but there will be available space for guests in at least one park.

HTH

 

[bicker]

The impact of an additional resort or two or three would be insignificant on the attendance at the parks.

Many new DVC members have visited WDW before, and so often represent just the movement of a guest from a hotel to DVC (and from Disney's perspective, hopefully from an off-site hotel).