Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[wilkydelts]

Can we please stay on topic there are plenty of other threads to have this debate... please don’t derail this thread

 

[JakeAZ]

Today is the Saturday of a popular holiday weekend. For most of last week there were hardly any lines and all the parks besides MK were practically empty. FOP had a 10 minute line at 2:45pm one day! The crowds are not packed with long lines consistently.. HEA is incredibly expensive to run when they aren’t selling enough tickets. Most days they don’t hit the limited capacity.

We know nighttime shows will return. Have you seen World Showcase lagoon lately? They’re prepping for Harmonious.

Nighttime entertainment will happen.

I get right now it's hit and miss with crowds.

But, spring break is right around the corner. And that's encompasses a few weeks, not just a holiday weekend.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I get right now it's hit and miss with crowds.

But, spring break is right around the corner. And that's encompasses a few weeks, not just a holiday weekend.

For sure. Will be interesting to see how busy it is throughout all of March and April, or if the super heavy crowds are more concentrated to Easter.

 

[JakeAZ]

Can we please stay on topic there are plenty of other threads to have this debate... please don’t derail this thread

What's off topic?

It's a post about heavy crowds. Discussing the reasons seems appropriate. No?

 

[mwhite67]

I also speculate that I addition to the holiday weekend Disney may have just increased capacity. The park reservation availability calendar seemed to move around right before the weekend for this coming week. I don't think increasing capacity without increasing open attractions and even FP would be a good move on their part.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I also speculate that I addition to the holiday weekend Disney may have just increased capacity. The park reservation availability calendar seemed to move around right before the weekend for this coming week. I don't think increasing capacity without increasing open attractions and even FP would be a good move on their part.

On Thursday’s investor call, Chapek confirmed they are still operating at 35% and increases will be based on vaccination rates. I don’t think they’d increase it the next day.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Those wait times look like our last trip pre-covid. Amazing how quickly we forget that hour waits were pretty much status quo.

 

[supersnoop]

But man, moving from one 60+ min line to another, over and over again, sounds awful. Especially at current prices.

Those wait times look like our last trip pre-covid. Amazing how quickly we forget that hour waits were pretty much status quo.

I was going to say; isn't that how most people usually experience the parks? Moving from one regular line to the next. Even "fast pass ninjas" hop from line to line.

 

[Missingmypooh]

This thread is the exact reason disney has stopped selling APs. They claim that “annual pass holders don’t bring in as much income as ticket holders”

one day I’m going to have to do an anecdotal survey because, I can’t see how that’s possibly true, unless their comparing a 14
Day European vacationer with the after 4 epcot passes.

most APH get crazy merch, do staycations, multiple visits per year etc. they are the ones with DVC and the first ones back to try new offerings, entertainment and attractions. Before covid I was going 6-10 times a month and purchasing food and items each visit. I know many many locals who do the same.

But because of crowding, like this thread is emphasizing, APs are limited from being sold.
APH come back crowd after crowd, but many first timers won’t.

Not trying to hijack this thread, I just find all of this so interesting and I wish I had more data on this topic of crowding, lines and the likelihood of certain guests returning for future trips

 

[SaintsManiac]

I hate to be a broken record but when Presidents Day and Mardi Gras collide it means huge crowds.

 

[rileyz]

I hate to be a broken record but when Presidents Day and Mardi Gras collide it means huge crowds.

Even if they are at 35% capacity? I saw the calendars suddenly open up space for Sunday so I question if they really are at 35% still.

 

[JakeAZ]

I was going to say; isn't that how most people usually experience the parks? Moving from one regular line to the next. Even "fast pass ninjas" hop from line to line.

True, but with FP, you could mix in a 20 minute wait every now and then.

You could also find shorter lines during nighttime shows or skip waiting in line to watch a nighttime show.

 

[PCFriar80]

On Thursday’s investor call, Chapek confirmed they are still operating at 35% and increases will be based on vaccination rates. I don’t think they’d increase it the next day.

It was actually the CFO, Christine McCarthy that referenced the 35% park capacity on the investor's call.

Christine McCarthy -- Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
OK. Jessica, I'll address your question about capacity at the parks. You're absolutely right that there are days, especially holiday periods, where we have to shut our parks for additional entries. Those tend to be days that the park fills up quickly and we just can't accommodate more people.
But that being said, we are currently operating at 35% of that full capacity. And the teams in the park, especially at Walt Disney World, have really figured out a way to be as efficient as possible in operating the park that allows us to get up to that 35% and still maintain all of the protocols for social distancing, for COVID. I think you'll remember, when we started opening, we started at a level less than 35%............

 

[MickeyWaffles]

It was actually the CFO, Christine McCarthy that referenced the 35% park capacity on the investor's call.

Christine McCarthy -- Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
OK. Jessica, I'll address your question about capacity at the parks. You're absolutely right that there are days, especially holiday periods, where we have to shut our parks for additional entries. Those tend to be days that the park fills up quickly and we just can't accommodate more people.
But that being said, we are currently operating at 35% of that full capacity. And the teams in the park, especially at Walt Disney World, have really figured out a way to be as efficient as possible in operating the park that allows us to get up to that 35% and still maintain all of the protocols for social distancing, for COVID. I think you'll remember, when we started opening, we started at a level less than 35%............

Thanks for correcting me, I was just following along on Twitter so saw the statement but thought it was Chapek answering. Oops! At least I got the capacity part right

 

[mwhite67]

On Thursday’s investor call, Chapek confirmed they are still operating at 35% and increases will be based on vaccination rates. I don’t think they’d increase it the next day.

I know. I wonder if they operate normally at 35% but on holidays they increase? I just checked out a couple videos on Youtube from today/tonight and the MK looks pretty crowded - more than I've ever seen since Covid. I think they do a great job (was there in October), but I don't personally believe they stick to their stated cap at times when demand spikes drastically.

 

[abnihon]

I know. I wonder if they operate normally at 35% but on holidays they increase? I just checked out a couple videos on Youtube from today/tonight and the MK looks pretty crowded - more than I've ever seen since Covid. I think they do a great job (was there in October), but I don't personally believe they stick to their stated cap at times when demand spikes drastically.

I agree that this may be the case. I also obsessively check the park pass calendar and noticed almost all parks refreshed this weekend or for next week. Hmmm.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Even if they are at 35% capacity? I saw the calendars suddenly open up space for Sunday so I question if they really are at 35% still.

No idea what it is now, but are we sure they hit max 35% every day? I know people question if they increased it, but I question if they were even hitting that high without holidays.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I’m the same. We are fast pass ninjas. This is brutal.
If you are concerned with Covid (which I’m personally not) don’t come here. Zero social distancing. I posted a crowd pic just now.

I was looking for the pic. where can i see it?

 

[MATTERHORN]

Those wait times look like our last trip pre-covid. Amazing how quickly we forget that hour waits were pretty much status quo.

That's what I was thinking! These were all pretty darn normal wait times for years now on weekends and holidays. Not sure where the disconnect is for people?

 

[MATTERHORN]

Was there three times in the last two weeks, it's very easy to avoid crowds and have almost all walk ons. Don't come on weekends or holidays.
If you aren't able to make that work, that's not Disney's fault. They need people to continue on.

Seems like everyone crying to have places open with Covid also want them to be empty! That's not how it works if you want them to stay open.