Economy Affecting Attendance?

[jimmymac]

I can't speak to the attendance numbers, but the people that were at Disney were spending PLENTY of money!

Lori[/QUOTE]

The Orlando Sentinel reported that per capita spending at WDW was down 42% last quarter. Why do you think Disney has extended the 4/3 offer? Their version of philanthropy? They are heaving trouble putting heads in the beds and those heads are not spending when they get into the parks. When we were there last (December), DW commented on how few people were leaving the parks with souvenir bags in their hands. Anecdotal, surely, but Disney is hurting

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Welcome to the wonderful world of spin Jimmy. Probably all 3 are correct. The chamber of commerce may be tracking attendance for the entire state. So even if Disney is booming, Miami and the keys and the gulf coast may be seeing a substantial drop in tourism, which could bring the entire state down. Same thing with profits. Disney has quite a few revenue streams, Movies, parks, merchandise sales. attendance at the parks can be off, while 1 hit movie (think POTC) can make a season.


Always believe us Dissers we are one of you. Personally, no matter what the economy, I think the days of empty parks is over. Disney is a good value and imo when you are stretching your pennies you want the best bang for your buck. Now with all different types of promotions, Disney makes it real hard not to go.

Disney a good VALUE? HAHAHAHA

Wait, let me pick myself up off the floor!

Disney will NEVER be known as a VALUE vacation. If you think it is......I have a bridge or two to sell you.

Oh gosh....I think I have to sit down I'm laughing so hard!!!!!!!!


Honesly - there are SOOOO many things to do in the country that costs NOTHING! DH and I just spent a fabulous long-weekend in Washington, DC. No $70p/day park tickets, no over-priced average food, we found a reasonable hotel room (with a fabulous view from the 14th floor - watched Marine One land on Monday). Free museums and history galore! It was an unforgetable time together....Hey the "country mouse" even rode the metro and survived!!!!!

Next trip.....a mountain cabin in the Shenandoah. Full-Week long cost....LESS than 2 nights in the Beach Club in Value Season! Lets not forget......No $$ for park tickets, reasonable prices for food.....SOOOOO much to see and do you cannot list it all......hiking, Skyline Drive, fishing, Luray Caverns or just looking at some of the most georgous sunsets God can create.


Again, there is SOOOO much to see and do around the country that we struggle to squeeze in an over-priced (at castmember rates) Disney trip once or twice a year.

Disney - value....that's a good one!!!!

 

[pioneer89]

The Orlando Sentinel reported that per capita spending at WDW was down 42% last quarter. Why do you think Disney has extended the 4/3 offer? Their version of philanthropy? They are heaving trouble putting heads in the beds and those heads are not spending when they get into the parks. When we were there last (December), DW commented on how few people were leaving the parks with souvenir bags in their hands. Anecdotal, surely, but Disney is hurting

This is very likely the exact case, but there is also the posibility that it's just the spending per capita that is down, and attendance is still high. A lot of the people at parks now are bookings from before the markets tanked.

The 4/3 offers could be an indication of lower advanced reservations, or it could be Disney's way of using it's deep pockets to pull some people from other destinations. Sort of a 'hit them while they are down' strategy.

In business, everything from boom times to bust is seen as a opportunity to get an advantage.

 

[bytheblood]

My in-laws were just there and said it was very crowded. They used TGM and UG to plan as well.

 

[pioneer89]

Disney a good VALUE? HAHAHAHA

Wait, let me pick myself up off the floor!

Disney will NEVER be known as a VALUE vacation. If you think it is......I have a bridge or two to sell you.

Oh gosh....I think I have to sit down I'm laughing so hard!!!!!!!!

Value is a relative term, no need to mock.

If not, then the best value vacation would be to rent out your house for a week, and sit in a public park and fast for seven days.

My own idea of value is getting what I want for good price. And Disney World certainly fits that criteria during it's 4/3 or Free DDP offers. I can't think of another destination that comes close to giving me what I get from Disney for the price I pay during those offers.

 

[cheerky]

When times are tough- there is no better place to escape reality than WDW.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Disney a good VALUE? HAHAHAHA

Wait, let me pick myself up off the floor!

Disney will NEVER be known as a VALUE vacation. If you think it is......I have a bridge or two to sell you.

Oh gosh....I think I have to sit down I'm laughing so hard!!!!!!!!


Honesly - there are SOOOO many things to do in the country that costs NOTHING! DH and I just spent a fabulous long-weekend in Washington, DC. No $70p/day park tickets, no over-priced average food, we found a reasonable hotel room (with a fabulous view from the 14th floor - watched Marine One land on Monday). Free museums and history galore! It was an unforgetable time together....Hey the "country mouse" even rode the metro and survived!!!!!

Next trip.....a mountain cabin in the Shenandoah. Full-Week long cost....LESS than 2 nights in the Beach Club in Value Season! Lets not forget......No $$ for park tickets, reasonable prices for food.....SOOOOO much to see and do you cannot list it all......hiking, Skyline Drive, fishing, Luray Caverns or just looking at some of the most georgous sunsets God can create.


Again, there is SOOOO much to see and do around the country that we struggle to squeeze in an over-priced (at castmember rates) Disney trip once or twice a year.

Disney - value....that's a good one!!!!

I disagree. Disney offers plenty of promotions that make a vacation there a good value. Between the 4/3 and free dining, (if it's offered this fall,) I may be able to afford two vacations this year.

 

[rosiep]

Value is a relative term, no need to mock.

If not, then the best value vacation would be to rent out your house for a week, and sit in a public park and fast for seven days.

My own idea of value is getting what I want for good price. And Disney World certainly fits that criteria during it's 4/3 or Free DDP offers. I can't think of another destination that comes close to giving me what I get from Disney for the price I pay during those offers.

I agree and I think you responded with grace to what I saw as an unnecessarily savage post.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Value is a relative term, no need to mock.

If not, then the best value vacation would be to rent out your house for a week, and sit in a public park and fast for seven days.

Just me and the trees....

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Value is a relative term, no need to mock.

If not, then the best value vacation would be to rent out your house for a week, and sit in a public park and fast for seven days.

My own idea of value is getting what I want for good price. And Disney World certainly fits that criteria during it's 4/3 or Free DDP offers. I can't think of another destination that comes close to giving me what I get from Disney for the price I pay during those offers.

Was not mocking....but come on!!!!

I remember the first comment from friends who traveled to WDW for their first ever Disney trip in 2008. We had given them tips for every possible $$$ advantage. Fred's first comment......'WOW - they sure know how to separate you from the most amount of money possible". <---- his exact words. By the way, they stayed at POP.


I am a simply middle-class working lady and my DH works for the Mouse --- never known for comparable high salaries. I envy those who think Disney is a value-hoilday. We obviously don't make nearly enough $$$ to qualify a Disney holiday (lets not forget the Castmember discounts) as a "Value".

I'm happy so many are so well off.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

My aunt and uncle just got back on Monday and she said it was insanly busy.

 

[kidshop]

The military deal is drawing a LOT of people to WDW. There are many military bases in and around FL. Heck, the last time I went was in 2005 for the last military promo! I know so many people going for our spring break this year or who have already gone under the promo. And most military jobs are secure right now, so they're spending too.

 

[rosiep]

Was not mocking....but come on!!!!

I remember the first comment from friends who traveled to WDW for their first ever Disney trip in 2008. We had given them tips for every possible $$$ advantage. Fred's first comment......'WOW - they sure know how to separate you from the most amount of money possible". <---- his exact words. By the way, they stayed at POP.


I am a simply middle-class working lady and my DH works for the Mouse --- never known for comparable high salaries. I envy those who think Disney is a value-hoilday. We obviously don't make nearly enough $$$ to qualify a Disney holiday (lets not forget the Castmember discounts) as a "Value".

I'm happy so many are so well off.

Well off has nothing to do with it I assure you. You are equating inexpensive with value. That's not how I nor many others see it. Is Disney a costly vacation? OF COURSE IT IS! I would never dispute that- however, the pleasure I get from that vacation makes it of great "value" to me.
I have been married 25 years and raised two children..when our kids were little we couldn't always afford a vacation and so I'd rent a room at a local hotel for the weekend and we'd play board games, have room service and watch a hotel movie. A "cheap vacation" to be sure...but we loved it and have great memories...So, please understand, I don't need the mouse to have a great time...but it truly gives me happiness..and I value that.

 

[mom2aandj]

I believe Disney when they say attendance figures are down. But I think that attendance figures would have to drop more than 8% for it to be *visible* to us as guests. If, just as an example, there were 65,000 people at MK last President's Day, 59,000 people this year is still going to look pretty darn crowded! We are going expecting our spring break week to be every bit as busy as in the past--and certain things like Fantasmic, we're expecting to be worse. If there's actually less people there, than it will be a bonus!

 

[labst60]

Sorry if this is redundant, I didn't have a chance to read all the responses.

I wonder what the typical lead-time on a Disney Vacation is (how far in advance does the "typical" guest book and start to plan?) Many of us here probably start earlier than the "average" guest, so I'm guessing 6 months out - which means that *most* of the typical guests at Disney now started planning this trip in late summer - when things were much better.

And I'm sure a good chunk of guests who booked later took advantage of the new promotions and may not have travelled now without such incentive. I think WDW really will start seeing the hit next Feb unless they continue to offer "too good to pass up" deals and airfare stay reasonable.

Whereas a retail store feels an immediate hit, Disney has a good portion of its customer base on site now that committed 6 months to a year ago, before the economy was quite as bad (or, at least, quite as publicized as bad!)

 

[labst60]

Sorry for the 2nd post - but I got a chance to read all the responses and had another thought....

For those reporting the parks/monorails/etc felt crowded, let's not forget that Disney is "manipulating" this by setting park hours/ride attendants/monorail service frequency/etc by the number of guests they expect to have.

I'm not doubtign there were tons of ppl for Pres Weekend - but the point is - they aren't going to have the same service staff up and running for an estimated attendance of 55,000 as they are of 45,000 - so even though there may be 10+% less people, waits/crowds at popular attractions/etc may seem similar.

It's like my local grocery store- you wait in line the same amount of time no matter what time of day you go - at lunch and dinnertime, they are packed, but have a ton of registers open. Go at an off time, and there are far fewer customers, but they only have 1 or 2 lanes open, and you end up waiting the same amount of time.

 

[jimmymac]

Value is a relative term, no need to mock.

If not, then the best value vacation would be to rent out your house for a week, and sit in a public park and fast for seven days.

Now who's mocking?

 

[JoanneNC]

Sorry for the 2nd post - but I got a chance to read all the responses and had another thought....

For those reporting the parks/monorails/etc felt crowded, let's not forget that Disney is "manipulating" this by setting park hours/ride attendants/monorail service frequency/etc by the number of guests they expect to have.

I'm not doubtign there were tons of ppl for Pres Weekend - but the point is - they aren't going to have the same service staff up and running for an estimated attendance of 55,000 as they are of 45,000 - so even though there may be 10+% less people, waits/crowds at popular attractions/etc may seem similar.

It's like my local grocery store- you wait in line the same amount of time no matter what time of day you go - at lunch and dinnertime, they are packed, but have a ton of registers open. Go at an off time, and there are far fewer customers, but they only have 1 or 2 lanes open, and you end up waiting the same amount of time.

Very good points

 

[MickeyNicki]

We were there Jan 20-25 and the Poly was not busy at all...very quiet in the lobby and the pool area.

The monorail was empty every time we rode it, never a line for it.

MK was completely dead on Jan 21, we did every single ride and show from 9am to 4pm.

HS was a nightmare, can you say Brazillian Tour Groups? Packed to the gills on Jan 22

Jan 23, Epcot, totally manageable and walk on everything, zero wait except Soarin

Jan 24, back to MK, since it was a Saturday it was busier but still no wait for anthing, including the mountains.

Jan 25, AK, park looked super busy but no waits for anything, 20 minutes for EE.

Restaurants were pretty quiet too, even CS places had no lines.

We are going back in 2 weeks and I hope it is just as calm and quiet without lines!

 

[CanadianGuy]

1) Let's see.
2) There is 7.5% unemployment.
3) That leaves 92.5% working.
4) Maybe 75% of the working feel apprehensive.
5) That leaves 23.1% still spending.
6) So, there are 6,999,000 people to go to Disney.

Seriously, yes, resort bookings are down, but there still are a lot of people doing vacations. WDW has seen busy days and medium busy days lately, especially since it is President's Week.

If that Math is true.. that's a huge drop... from the 17 million last year..

Cough.. smile.. sputter.