Disney Attendence

[scauzilloc]

I just got back from a day at the Disney theme parks and could not believe how low attendence was. I went to all parks and a lot of the rides had either 10 minute wait to 30 minute waits. Unbeliveable! I feel sorry for Disney if this holds out all summer long. I could not believe that Winnie the Pooh was 25 minutes and Test Track at EPCOT was 45 minutes. Over at MGM RRC was 30 minutes. This is a sad sign for Disney. Last year at this time the waits on those rides mentioned were over 1 1/2 hours long. I guess we won't be seeing anything new if this keeps up.

 

[wdwguide]

Crowds always ebb and flow, even during the summer (which is regular season, not peak). Sometimes you will be
If attendance turns out to be dropping beyond levels explainable by the lack of current special events, it may actually be a good thing. The parks don't usually add major attractions when they are solidly booked - many of the best rides in Disney history were added during problematic times

 

[All Aboard]

I've been real concerned about attendence this year. Too many factors add up to poor performance.

1) The economy. I know some are tired of me mentioning it, but I hear it every day here. We are really taking a beating here in Florida. Families are taking a hard look at their discretionary spending right now. A big trip to WDW takes big bucks that most are not willing to spend right now.

2) WDW is harvesting new attractions from 98/99. Nothing new opened in 2000, and the only thing slated for this year is Aladdin (which is not much to hype.)

3) No "special event" marketing. WDW blew it out with the Millennium and is now resting until the 100 years of magic campaign begins. Right now, its just generic stuff.

These are not good factors for attendence this summer.

 

[F.C. Fan]

The local evening news stated a week or 2 ago, that Disney and Universal are down as far as attendance is concerned, but all the smaller attractions (Gatorland, Ripley's, Guiness,Wonder Works, and the other local attractions) are all up approx 50% over their normal attendance. While the big parks are having to cut back, it's nice to see the little guys getting a bigger piece of the pie for a change( even if it is only temporary)

Some of the tourists that they interviewed stated that they could get their whole family into 1 of the smaller attractions for the cost of 1 single person admission to 1 of the bigger parks.

 

[ScroogesNephew]

It'll pick back up.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Since I work in the World I can attest to the fact that waits are almost the same in all situations. The posted times may be shorter but the actual times are around the same. However attendance is slightly down from last year but that is to be expected due to the economic slowdown and is not limited to just disney.

 

[WDWfanatic288]

it might have to do with the celebration last year..I bet attendence will pick up once walts 100th bday starts...it also could be the nations economy.

 

[Panthius]

Ummm...it doesn't seem fair to the guests to not be posting at least somewhat accurate waiting times. Why even have the signs stating the wait time if they are not going to be accurate times? I do know that if I decided to go on Space Mountain, for instance, because it said that there was a 15 minutes wait, and I ended up waiting 45 minutes before I got on the ride, I would not be very happy, and an unhappy guest is what Disney should be trying to prevent.

Panthius

 

[Carl]

I have found the posted times to usually be exaggerated, that is the wait times tend to be SHORTER - not longer.
The economy just HAS to be a factor, although I have heard it said that people will sacrifice many things before they will sacrifice their vacations.
For the Y2K, Disney milked much larger than average attendance.
As stated, nothing new is really going on now.
For me, the lack of "incentives" has cut my visits. I can actually afford to pay the standard prices, but just could not resist those little "perks" I used to get as an AP holder - discounts on passes, hotels, those coupons for the little gift packs with pins, free back stage tours, etc. I also used to be a MKC member. Disney has all but eliminated all the advantages to any of those memberships. The new Disney Club does not offer most of the advantages I used to like. (There are some new ones, which I do NOT care for.)
Not to open old wounds, but I am still upset by the fiasco connected with the change to the AP renewal policy. I went ahead an completed the trip I had planned for November 2000, but haven't made any new bookings, and I requested a refund for my AP renewal.
One last personal observation - I found myself losing interest in WDW during my last November visit. Some of this may be due to the huge number of visits I've made in the past 6 years, but I have to admit that maybe it is just getting a little old to me. A large number of new attractions might change my mood, but only if the new attractions are NOT coasters. I like the theme rides, not thrill rides. Hey, I'm over 60 years old.

 

[Kirby]

Low crowd attendence is also hitting here. Went to Six Flags/Texas this last week and we were practically walking on rides. Am having a hard time convincing my DH to go back to WDW and smaller crowds just might do it.

 

[Disneydenise]

I am new to this board but I had to jump in. I normally have a big mouth sorry. I would like to say that I too feel the lack of themed attrations is the reason people aren't flocking ito WDW in droves. I think they have dropped the ball on the Aladdin ride. I haven't seen it yet so I may be very wrong but they had an opportunity to make a great ride similar to the Peter Pan exhibit and instead they made another Dumbo. I guess if I think back to the 45 minute wait I had while my children were still loving that Dumbo ride I would be greatful for the addition of this ride and on the opposite sid of the park. I just think that they could have made a wonderful Magic carpet ride with very little effort in the storyboarding aspect. I am sure the cost is the main reason we will not be seeing too many of these rides in the future. I'm gald my children are teens now.

 

[Sarangel]

It's not just your imagination - here's a link to an article that claims attendance at the Florida parks is down 7%. One of the reasons cited is a reduction in European tourists.

Sarangel

 

[Greg K.]

Am I the only one who thinks Disney has shot the proverbial wad event-wise?

Five years ago, it was the 25th anniversary of WDW, an event that actually lasted nearly two years. Then came the debut of the Animal Kingdom. Then, the Millennium Celebration. This year, however, there's little for them to hype, and WDW does not have the buzz of being a Gotta Go destination. ("Gotta go this year, cause they won't have THAT parade/event/attraction/hoopla NEXT year...")

In fact, this year might be a GREAT time to visit the World. I suspect next year's attendance will jump a bit, with the 100 Year celebration. But now, with smaller crowds, the place may actually be more manageable.

Still...it would be nice if they spent money on quality e-ticket attractions, instead of parades, retreads of old rides ("Aladdin" and the new kiddie dinosaur attractions are just newer versions of "Dumbo," after all) and more hotel rooms.

Which reminds me: at a certain point, won't there be just TOO MANY hotels, with TOO MANY on site guests wedging their way onto Main Street for EE? I sorta think so.

 

[Carl]

You made several points with which I have to concur. Yes, I believe that Disney is overcrowding their parks with "on site" guests. I'm fine with them building more and more hotels –– as long as they expand the parks with new attractions to absorb the increase in attendance.
I also agree with your observation concerning the "retreads." The only ride they have redone which I really like is the Buzz Lightyear ride. I always enjoyed "Take Flight," but I have to admit that I also like Buzz. I just wish they had kept both. The Pooh ride is a "cheap-oh." Journey to Imagination is not as good as the original. But, mostly, I'd like to see rides added - not retooled.
And, as I've said in other threads, I'd go to Six Flags for my thrill rides. Keep the theme rides at Disney.

 

[cindyfan]

Here's my take on the situation.....
I really believe the primary reason attendence is down is the nation's economy. I live near 2 amusement (not theme) parks, Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH and Six Flags also in OH. Both parks seem to really be competing to get people to the parks. Lots of special rates, give aways, etc. We have season passes to Cedar Point and have been there 3 times already and there is a significant decrease in attendence compared to this same time in previous years. And I have never seen so many different promotional deals going.
As far as WDW goes, there are added reasons. First the nation's economy. Then the lack of the "new" and "must see's"!!
People have seen that with the "Millenium Celebration" if a "special event or attraction" is good, then WDW will keep it, ie. the Tapestry of Nations parade. As far as the Millenium Village, IMHO that was a waste of time and space.
There are people waiting for the Walt's 100th celebration too. But I don't think that will be a big draw for next year. So far it seems the only "new" things planned are the parades. And everyone knows that parades are usually around for more than just a few years. How long has Magical Moments been around???? Too long IMHO!
Now as for the wait times..... Let's remember that Fast Pass has been added to so many of the popular rides in just the past year and half!!! I think that has been a major factor in decreasing the wait times.
One last thing.........I agree with Carl on the lack of incentives for AP holders, DC members and DVC members.

I do believe though WDW will always shine through and continue to make MAGIC and make money.
We just went in May and are already planning our trip for next June!

 

[disrailfan]

It could also have something to do with Gas Prices. Our gas prices in the midwest in the last six months had gotten as high as $1.92 a gallon for low grade gas. In the last week our gas prices have dipped back down to $1.14 as early as today.

Hopefully this will help things and the economy.

 

[King Triton]

It's the economy. When your savings take a hit, people cut back on traveling. People have less money to spend. But in my case, I was so depressed about my stocks going down, I just had to go to WDW to get my mind off my portfolio. It worked!

I think attendence will pick up for Walt's 100th celebration

King Triton

 

[browneyes]

The crowds usually appear when I'm there. Maybe disney should pay me to go there everyday and they'll be assured of large crowds.

 

[ScroogesNephew]

Interesting.

 

[scauzilloc]

Well things are definetly starting to pick up now. I just spent the weekend and part of Monday in the land of the mouse and it was wall to wall people. We went to MGM and WDW and both parks well almost full. Everything was packed. I think I sent a total of 1 hour at each of the parks and then called it a day. Thank God for Annual Passes.