Both water parks open this summer?

[SL6827]

I wonder what the attendance was at the waterparks pre-covid...had it declined? Maybe the promotion is to rekindle the fun and love of the waterparks? Or was it just to draw some of the crowd away from the parks? I hadn't been to a waterpark in years, decades really. Never with my kids until we bought a DVC contract. I loved the waterparks as a teen, but I just thought they got so pricy, I didn't think we'd get the same enjoyment from that as we would from a second day in MK. When we went in April 2023 to TL for first time for my husband and 2 of my kids, the crowd was pretty low. It wasn't empty but there were very minimal lines. It wasn't very warm so that could have impacted attendance that day.

We'll be there during the week after Easter. They haven't updated the hours yet beyond I think April 2. Only TL has been open the last two trips we've had so I am a little extra hopeful that BB will be open when we're there. But we have a split stay and a taking my daughter's friend who has never been to either so it would be cool if we could get to both!

I agree! As the weather gets even warmer with this promotion ongoing, they would really need both waterparks open. I read recently on a Facebook group they had run out of parking space and people had to park somewhere else and bus over to the waterpark. We are planning to stop there first because we'll get to the area before check-in time anyway, but might have to rethink that if there's no parking.

Yes, the parking situation is very telling. We are now choosing not to go for a water park trip this year.

 

[The Jackal]

I wonder what the attendance was at the waterparks pre-covid...had it declined? Maybe the promotion is to rekindle the fun and love of the waterparks? Or was it just to draw some of the crowd away from the parks? I hadn't been to a waterpark in years, decades really. Never with my kids until we bought a DVC contract. I loved the waterparks as a teen, but I just thought they got so pricy, I didn't think we'd get the same enjoyment from that as we would from a second day in MK. When we went in April 2023 to TL for first time for my husband and 2 of my kids, the crowd was pretty low. It wasn't empty but there were very minimal lines. It wasn't very warm so that could have impacted attendance that day.

We'll be there during the week after Easter. They haven't updated the hours yet beyond I think April 2. Only TL has been open the last two trips we've had so I am a little extra hopeful that BB will be open when we're there. But we have a split stay and a taking my daughter's friend who has never been to either so it would be cool if we could get to both!

I agree! As the weather gets even warmer with this promotion ongoing, they would really need both waterparks open. I read recently on a Facebook group they had run out of parking space and people had to park somewhere else and bus over to the waterpark. We are planning to stop there first because we'll get to the area before check-in time anyway, but might have to rethink that if there's no parking.

At one point they were #1 and #2 attended water parks in the world. Sadly attendance at the water park(s) is down about 45% since the pandemic with only one park open at a time. Would opening the other park increase attendance, possibly. I think at some point they will have to open both at the same time this summer. Disney makes lots of excuses, they are basically trying to maximize profits to pay for other parts of the company that consistently lose money.

 

[LAS2AMS]

At one point they were #1 and #2 attended water parks in the world. Sadly attendance at the water park(s) is down about 45% since the pandemic with only one park open at a time. Would opening the other park increase attendance, possibly. I think at some point they will have to open both at the same time this summer. Disney makes lots of excuses, they are basically trying to maximize profits to pay for other parts of the company that consistently lose money.

Attendance doesn’t matter - revenue does. The water parks have long been relatively cheap. In 2019, a standalone AP was less than two days admission. It was even cheaper if added to a parks AP.. it was also cheap as part of the “water parks and more options.” Highly discounted tickets were sold through third parties, and specials were sometimes offered to hotels. Disney Springs hotels could get 1/2 off with the coupon booklet they received. FL residents always received a great deal.

It’s telling that WDW put little money back into the water parks. BB has seen no significant updates since it opened. TL saw an expansion on 2007, then another ride added a decade ago… but they removed Shark Reef, which was still quite popular, rather than spending the cost to maintain it.

The free admission is also telling. When they offer direct busses, it’s only value and moderates - deluxe guests are using their hotel pools.

Disney has high operating costs. I would handily bet that the profit from the water parks is minimal at best. I wouldn’t be surprised if BB was permanently closed and redeveloped one day.

 

[uwate]

what are they doing with the land that the third water park use to sit on?

 

[TraceybaxNC]

Disney makes lots of excuses, they are basically trying to maximize profits to pay for other parts of the company that consistently lose money

That! WDW profits go support a whole lot of other things it doesn’t and shouldn’t have a thing to do with.

I hope the promotion has whatever effect they want from it. But I don’t think one open at a time is helping achieve whatever the goal is.

 

[BorderTenny]

what are they doing with the land that the third water park use to sit on?

Thread 'Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge Coming to former Reflections Site in 2027!'

Nov 26, 2024

While this is to be a DVC Resort, I thought the news would be interesting to some, so cross posting.

New DVC Property Revealed: Disney Lakeshore Lodge​

It’s finally happening—Disney has officially announced a brand new Disney Vacation Club property coming to Walt Disney World: Disney Lakeshore Lodge! This is the same project that was previously known as Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, and after years of speculation and active construction now underway, we’ve got some concrete details to share with you.

This news was first reported by Scott...

• mrsap
• Replies: 112
• Forum: Disney Resorts

• 
• 

 

[LAS2AMS]

That! WDW profits go support a whole lot of other things it doesn’t and shouldn’t have a thing to do with.

I hope the promotion has whatever effect they want from it. But I don’t think one open at a time is helping achieve whatever the goal is.

Disney isn’t using water park profits to subsidize elsewhere in the company. We can make a reasonable educated guess that any profit the WP earn would be immaterial to the company.

Unions won a hefty raise, which means ot’ be a lot more expensive to keep both parks open. That they’re giving free access to WDW hotel guests, over the summer, speaks volumes.

 

[The Jackal]

Disney knows that most will not take advantage of the free water park for first day of reservations. They threw this bonus out to try to get people to come since 2025 bookings are soft. Disney hasn’t been treating its guests like they did in 2019. Disney has raised prices well past inflation, cut back on food quality, portions and options. While this does not matter to some people, it does to others. When they could fly to another country and spend a week there and spend less money than a week at WDW. Disney is gonna have to something to get people back. I don’t see that the three proposed added attractions bringing in 10,000’s of new guests.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Disney knows that most will not take advantage of the free water park for first day of reservations. They threw this bonus out to try to get people to come since 2025 bookings are soft. Disney hasn’t been treating its guests like they did in 2019. Disney has raised prices well past inflation, cut back on food quality, portions and options. While this does not matter to some people, it does to others. When they could fly to another country and spend a week there and spend less money than a week at WDW. Disney is gonna have to something to get people back. I don’t see there the three proposed added attractions bringing in 10,000’s of new guests.

Free water park tickets on the day of arrival isn’t going to have a material impact on bookongs. It isn’t like somebody is trying to decide between the Caribbean Beach for $300/night or the Holiday Inn for $100/night and the water park sold them.

Most likely, the promo is offering offered
(A) because it’s often late between guests can check into their rooms, and any gripe about it;
(B) water park attendance is dismal - it gets more people into the park, spending money, etc, and maybe they’ll decide to come back.

 

[OKW Lover]

Most likely, the promo is offering offered
(A) because it’s often late between guests can check into their rooms, and any gripe about it;
(B) water park attendance is dismal - it gets more people into the park, spending money, etc, and maybe they’ll decide to come back.

I'm also guessing that water park attendance is lower as the day progresses so it doesn't cost Disney anything more to accommodate the extra guests.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I'm also guessing that water park attendance is lower as the day progresses so it doesn't cost Disney anything more to accommodate the extra guests.

I would bet that the water parks have minimum staffing levels and any additional staffing will more than be offset by additional spending. Meanwhile, cut backs in housekeeping have lead to more rooms being released later and later. So win-win.

 

[SL6827]

The parks, the resorts in general have been the whipping boys for Disney to make up for losses elsewhere. No brainer.

 

[LAS2AMS]

The parks, the resorts in general have been the whipping boys for Disney to make up for losses elsewhere. No brainer.

LOL, the water parks would be lucky to make a profit let alone subside the company.

Summer 2001, we stayed at the Contemporary. The main pool was closed (the basic pool is demolished and remade into what we see today) so they offered guests free admission to River Country. We took advantage and despite free admission to Contemporary guests, nearly free admission to FW guests and deeply discounted admission to other Disney resort guests, the park was nearly empty… in peak summer. Despite a massive Goofy themed promotion/ overly.

Reputable sources later reported that Disney was leaning toward closing the park even before the 9/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, on DISBoards 10-20 years later, users reported that RC was so crowed in 2001 that guests were regularly turned away, and the only reason Disney closed it was to jack prices at TL and BB. Even though discounts at those parks were stronger than ever.

Reality check: most top hotels, including Disney’s, have far more elaborate pool complexes than they did in 1995. Additional, water parks have sprung up around the country since then featuring more thrilling rides (made by the same people who did Disney) that are more frequently updated. Alas, the demand isn’t what it once was.

 

[SL6827]

LOL, the water parks would be lucky to make a profit let alone subside the company.

Summer 2001, we stayed at the Contemporary. The main pool was closed (the basic pool is demolished and remade into what we see today) so they offered guests free admission to River Country. We took advantage and despite free admission to Contemporary guests, nearly free admission to FW guests and deeply discounted admission to other Disney resort guests, the park was nearly empty… in peak summer. Despite a massive Goofy themed promotion/ overly.

Reputable sources later reported that Disney was leaning toward closing the park even before the 9/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, on DISBoards 10-20 years later, users reported that RC was so crowed in 2001 that guests were regularly turned away, and the only reason Disney closed it was to jack prices at TL and BB. Even though discounts at those parks were stronger than ever.

Reality check: most top hotels, including Disney’s, have far more elaborate pool complexes than they did in 1995. Additional, water parks have sprung up around the country since then featuring more thrilling rides (made by the same people who did Disney) that are more frequently updated. Alas, the demand isn’t what it once was.

I'm sure the water parks aren't that profitable, if at all. But parks and resorts are far more than the water parks.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Posts on other threads have said BB has been hitting capacity and turning people away unless they were hotel guests. Has that happened at other times since they went to one water park open?

 

[han22735]

before Covid both parks were open every year. We used to go to both each trip.
Disney have plenty of cash to open two water parks over summer.

Yup they sure do...its just them being cheap.

Posts on other threads have said BB has been hitting capacity and turning people away unless they were hotel guests. Has that happened at other times since they went to one water park open?

not sure on capacity being reached but Last summer we went to Typhoon a few times and outside of right at park open lines were very long for the slides. BB being open would have helped that.

 

[LAS2AMS]

We’re lucky they keep both parks. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing BB permanently closed and the savings used to upgrade the attractions at TL - even if I have to pay a bit more.

Being full doesn’t equate into making money. Seasonal passes are dirt cheap.

 

[wendlle]

We’re lucky they keep both parks. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing BB permanently closed and the savings used to upgrade the attractions at TL - even if I have to pay a bit more.

Being full doesn’t equate into making money. Seasonal passes are dirt cheap.

we aren't "lucky" at all. Just because the parks are there doesn't mean we are "lucky"
They don't maintain them and hardly have them open so no I don't feel lucky.

Blizzard beach is the one that needs keeping, it is unique and the theming is awesome. You can get a tropical feel at all the other water parks in Orlando - but no where else can you swim in the snow!

 

[SL6827]

Posts on other threads have said BB has been hitting capacity and turning people away unless they were hotel guests. Has that happened at other times since they went to one water park open?

That's not worth going to if it's that crowded.

 

[jade1]

That's not worth going to if it's that crowded.

Yea did that last week from BWV, turned away by car, took the AK bus later. Got in a bit though so fun to see. They were only allowing hotel guests in that day, or at least that afternoon.