DCA attendance=lousy?

[Greg K.]

I wandered over to mouseplanet.com and found s some news there about the attendance figures at Disney's California Adventure.

The news is not good.

Anybody else know anything about this??? Is this EuroDisney all over again??

"It's the time of your life, so live it well..."

Greg K.
Forest Hills, NY
Grand Floridian: '96,'97,'99
Disneyland Hotel: '00

 

[Michelle]

Greg, for those of us who went to the previews before the park was open, we can tell you that attendance most definitely CAN get better...the previews were packed.

The current low crowds are due to the following factors, IMHO:

1) The weather here has been lousy lately, cloudy, rainy and cold...keeps the locals away.

2) It's off-season. Traditionally lower crowds overall.

3) Disney STOPPED selling two-park annual pass upgrades, and in fact stopped selling APs at all to Disneyland. That means their loyal customer base, if they weren't fast enough to do the upgrade, is probably not coming to the parks right now. A sizable chunk of AP holders just attended one or more of the many previews.

I don't think there's need for concern from Disney at this point...if crowds still stay low after spring breaks and the summer holidays, then they need to start worrying.

Michelle
Assistant Webmaster
Cruise & Inspiration Board Co-Host
Disneyland Board Co-Host

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

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Greg,

I think a lot of it has to do with the cold rainy weather we've been having (I mean, who wants to go on a wet river ride that can soak you in 50-60 degree rainy weather?). Also, the media hype has stated that the park would be so overcrowded that people are staying away. I would, if it were any other park. Put that together with the middle of school, work, and a non-touristy season, and that pretty much adds up to low attendance.

Attendance at Disneyland has remained in the low 30k, and I bet that that has a lot to do with the annual passholders who go (that's my own opinion, of course).

I'd say to give the park some time. Wait to see what happens during spring break and this first summer before really making hard decisions about the park.

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=#FF0066>Mary Jo

Disneyland Board Co-Moderator

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[WebmasterMaryJo]

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heh gmta

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=#FF0066>Mary Jo

Disneyland Board Co-Moderator

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[Michelle]

TRULY, Mary Jo!

Michelle
Assistant Webmaster
Cruise & Inspiration Board Co-Host
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[Greg K.]

But there are some disconcerting figures and anecdotes in the report:

1) While Disneyland's attendance has been about par for this time of year, DCA has been dramatically lower than projected. Some waggish cast members have reportedly dubbed DCA "DOA."

2) Irate parents are complaining to DCA staff about the lack of attractions for children, and a number of families are, as a result, getting free comps to Disneyland.

3) After dark, evidently, you can practically walk onto the rides at DCA. (Personally, I like that!)

4) There are rumors afoot of an enraged Eisner cloistered in the Grand Californian, fuming about the attendance figures. (I find that a bit hard to swallow, but it does make for good copy.)

I think Disney, being Disney, will work out these kinks in due time. (There's been grumbling, also, about the lack of nighttime entertainment in DCA; for example, you can see some of the "Believe" fireworks, but you can't hear the soundtrack, and guests at DCA can't help but feel excluded. I suspect that will change, pronto.)

Some of the trouble, interestingly, is blamed on the marketing. The park is not a kiddie park, and Disney characters are scarce, but you wouldn't know that from the TV ads. Disney needs to fine tune that and figure out how to sell this new, and entirely different, theme park experience.

The good news: the Grand Californian is reported doing a brisk business. So is Downtown Disney.

And most concur: spring break will be the acid test. Stay tuned!

"It's the time of your life, so live it well..."

Greg K.
Forest Hills, NY
Grand Floridian: '96,'97,'99
Disneyland Hotel: '00

 

[BuffyFan]

We were at DCA (and Disneyland) over President's Day weekend, and noticed that DCA was increasingly crowded each day as the weekend progressed.

It is true, or at least was last weekend, that DCA got less crowded as the day progressed. On Saturday night, the big roller coaster was a walk-on. GRR is basically a walk-on any time after dark...most people don't like to get wet during the evening! Sailin' Over California stays busy right up until 11pm or so, but after that is basically a walk-on.

We noticed that Downtown Disney was really hopping. ESPN was packed; people seem to really like strolling around and shopping/dining there.

The Grand California is a marvelous hotel, and I can see why it was booked. The Storyteller's Cafe where we ate one night is right up there with similar types of restaurants at WDW. Also, they are as some have rumored moving toward buffet dining, and currently offer a buffet dinner a few nights a week (Friday is one). We did the buffet and it is great! Prime rib buffet? Oh yeah!

I hope the crowds improve for the park. It is a fun place, unique, and quite different from Disneyland, which is a good thing, I think. It is a lot more mellow than Disneyland, with subtler theming. Hopefully the Disney folk will rethink the marketing and figure out a more effective way to present it to people. It is worth it.

Now all they have to do is lose Superstar Limo and Golden Dreams, both of which are highly ineffective experiences (for different reasons), and they will be on the way to having an outstanding park.

S.

 

[dBugged]

Personally, this is a great time to see the park. We went on the 10th and it was dead. It was a great day off from a sales conference we had. The weather reports were for thunderstorms in the afternoon, but we went anyways. Guess what? No thunderstorms and just about five minutes of rain. Anyone want to buy an unused Disney poncho? I don't mind not having the lines. It allowed us to ride numerous times. In particular, we could experience SOC in all three rows and also ride screamin' about seven times. I suspect the crowds will pick up once the weather gets better.

One way to get the crowds up is to offer a park hopper pass to non-resort guests. Considering that the admission was $43, I would have paid, say $60 to get into both parks once. Something like that would really help bring in more crowds.

>>Now all they have to do is lose Superstar Limo and Golden Dreams, both of which are highly ineffective experiences (for different reasons), and they will be on the way to having an outstanding park.<<

Good points! Didn't care for either, although kids may like the Limo ride -- even though it is lame and short. They need another "biggie" ride like ToT or Rockin' Roller Coaster. Or, something with a backlot or hollywood theming -- especially since there aren't any rides in that section of the park (I don't count the Limo ride, because it stunk).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Michelle]

Totally agree about Superstar Limo, but I loved Golden Dreams. I think it's really geared for the California crowd, and those from out of state may not enjoy it as much, especially the montage of Californians at the end.

Michelle
Assistant Webmaster
Cruise & Inspiration Board Co-Host
Disneyland Board Co-Host

 

[Luv2Roam]

DH & I are looking forward to DL & DCA. No surprise tho', considering they could call it Mickey's Septic Tank Bomb and we would still go!
But it does seem like Eisner created a mini Six Flags. Anyone else thinking the same?

AK : Lions, Tiggers & Bears! Oh My!
CSR: 01/01
DL- off site: 05/01
WDW - on site: 01/02

 

[dBugged]

>> Totally agree about Superstar Limo, but I loved Golden Dreams. I think it's really geared for the California crowd, and those from out of state may not enjoy it as much, especially the montage of Californians at the end. <<

I guess I'm just not into that type of attraction. I lived in California for 15 years (moved to CT in the mid 90s) and still didn't care for it that much. I liked the animation flicks more, in the hollywood/backlot section -- but I've always liked that kind of stuff.

I've been to Disneyland probably about 50 or so times. We go about twice a year when we come back for sales meetings or to visit the family.

 

[raidermatt]

We are planning to make a trip to DL and DCA this summer, but I have to admit I am a little wary of DCA and can understand why attendance is low.

DCA is not a very large park, yet it carries a high entrance cost. While some of the rides/attractions sound interesting, some seem off-base. For instance, the Soap Opera Cafe. Granted, Soap Opera fans are very dedicated. However, they are small in number (reletively speaking). For someone like me who has never watched a daytime soap, why would I want to go there? Why not a Sitcom or Prime Time Cafe? Wouldn't that have a broader appeal?

The animation and Muppet 3D are at WDW. Nothing wrong with some duplication, but when your dealing with a small park (like DCA), this may not be the best strategy.

I also think the California theme may not appeal to the locals as much as some other theme would.

All this being said, we will still go, and are looking forward to it. As others have said, Spring Break and Summer are the times to look at attendance, and they are coming up fast.

Raidermatt