Is it my imagination....

[tom1944]

Not sure which currency you are referring to as a foreign currency but it is not true for Canada.

In 2007 our dollar was on par with the US dollar.

In March of this year when I exchanged money I paid $1.50CDN for every $1.00US!!

I am one of very few of my friends who are visiting the US this year.

Actually, I never looked at any particular country. I had just read stories about the dollar being weaker than it has been for years.

Here is what I read- Over the past six months, the dollar has declined more than 10% compared with a basket of currencies from the U.S.’ major trading partners — something it has not done since 1973. Today, it sits at a three-year low.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Actually, I never looked at any particular country. I had just read stories about the dollar being weaker than it has been for years.

Here is what I read- Over the past six months, the dollar has declined more than 10% compared with a basket of currencies from the U.S.’ major trading partners — something it has not done since 1973. Today, it sits at a three-year low.

Not sure about other countries but Canada is not in that basket!

 

[elvispursley]

I monitor the waist times periodically as my Aug/Sep trip is fast approaching and I am kinda shocked at the wait times lately. Today I checked out the times around noonish, EST and I don't think I've seen jungle cruise at a 20 minute standby in a long time! Especially for a holiday weekend (I get that the 4th of July has not been as crowded as years ago, but still)! Looked like wait times across all the parks were significantly down today.

 

[Dakota731]

Think it’s a lot simpler than foreign currency exchanges and world markets - people like NEW! Last month at Epic universe crowd levels were 10/10 and the highest average wait time was Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (227 minutes), followed by Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (151 minutes), and Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness (95 minutes).

 

[CalSea12]

Think it’s a lot simpler than foreign currency exchanges and world markets - people like NEW! Last month at Epic universe crowd levels were 10/10 and the highest average wait time was Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (227 minutes), followed by Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (151 minutes), and Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness (95 minutes).

But with that said there isnt anything really new for the rest of the year at WDW... so does that mean low crowds for the rest of the year?

 

[Minnie1222]

I still don't think Epic Universe affects Disney that much. Surely there are people who skip Disney for Epic, but the number is not high enough to cause an alarm. I've been going to Universal for a long time and already taken two trips to Epic, their core demographics are different from Disney's. The high crowds at Epic are likely from the same core Universal guests. High wait times are not due to high crowds alone. Some of the attractions were down for hours when we were there. After a total of 3.5 days at Epic with Express Passes, we're still unable to see all the attractions. We currently have a stack of "recovery" EP to use when we go back next month.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Not sure which currency you are referring to as a foreign currency but it is not true for Canada.

In 2007 our dollar was on par with the US dollar.

In March of this year when I exchanged money I paid $1.50CDN for every $1.00US!!

I am one of very few of my friends who are visiting the US this year.

The poster is likely referring to this:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-dollar-track-worst-modern-153743272.html

In an absolute sense the US dollar is not the weakest versus the Canadian dollar that it has been in 40 years, however, it has lost more this year versus other currencies than it has in the last 40 years, and is still falling. Your Canadian dollar may yet reach par with the US dollar again!

 

[maxiesmom]

I live in Michigan, fairly close to a large tourist spot. It is definitely being hit hard by a lack of Canadian visitors.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

It's a combo of cost. and less internat'l travelers.

For everyone saying it's always been hot, I AGREE.
What has changed is WE are much more acclimated to Air Conditioning.
I grew up with NO AC in a house, NO AC in a car. NO AC in school and my first job that I had for 4 years had NO AC.
I didn't sleep in a bed with AC on until I was 25 yrs old ( exception was vacations) Imagine that now, LOL!

 

[katyjeka]

I have worked for a Hilton hotel for over 25 years. I'm in charge of the accounting and this is the first year I can say I see a steep decline in sales. (Even more than during Covid) Guests who would normally stay 2 nights for a wedding are staying one. Our business travelers are staying a couple days versus a week. People are struggling and hotels are hurting, at least in our area. Of course we can't get help so it's good we are not busy....but that's a different issue.

 

[kylenne]

Think it’s a lot simpler than foreign currency exchanges and world markets - people like NEW! Last month at Epic universe crowd levels were 10/10 and the highest average wait time was Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (227 minutes), followed by Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (151 minutes), and Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness (95 minutes).

Nah this is wildly off base because if anything Epic is having a rising tide effect on Disney. Memorial Day week was the busiest I’ve ever seen those parks during that time frame and it was around when Epic opened. Even right I’m seeing just as many people around the parks w Harry Potter crap and those Bowser backpacks on. People are just not skipping Disney trips for Uni in numbers enough to make a difference in Disney attendance. At most they may be cutting an AK day out to do Epic, which is what everyone expected and is why they’re focusing on that park first.

I keep saying it over and over in these threads but y’all really need to realize summer has not been busy in years. Even in 2021 Fourth of July was slow. It’s summers getting hotter, local APs being blocked out and staying home, and prices being high (Disney prices everything like it’s still the 90s when summer WAS a peak crowd time). If it settles out by the end it’s due to all the discounting they’re doing. Again, they are not offering all these discounts out of the kindness of their hearts.

Re: international attendance being down that’s news to me with the half a dozen or so massive South American tour groups (the 15s and others) I’ve seen around these parks the last few days and I’ve heard just as many UK accents around as usual. Many ppl were also already in Orlando for the Club World Cup. I don’t doubt US tourism is down as a whole but it’s not really affecting the theme parks as far as I can tell.

 

[japanese maple]

Everywhere is "flat" right now. I follow some Universal accounts and they are also reporting low crowds.

It's been this way for years now, summer is no longer the busy season it once was. Late fall, early December, Feb/March and spring are the more popular times now.

 

[Minnie1222]

if anything Epic is having a rising tide effect on Disney. Memorial Day week was the busiest I’ve ever seen those parks during that time frame and it was around when Epic opened.

I concur! We went to Disney right after our grand opening weekend at Epic. I saw many guests wearing Epic merchandise and/or matching shirts about family going to Epic...and those were just the people who didn't have the "appropriate" Disney attire.

 

[OKW Lover]

To quote that famous philosopher Yogi Berra:

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded

 

[Minnie1222]

I just checked the wait times at MK, EP, and HS. It looks like the typical summer crowds are back, at least for today.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

We were there from 6/22 to 7/2, and the crowds were really low. We go in June or July every summer, so we expected it to be much busier. It has rarely been more that what I would consider 7/10 in the summers, anyway, outside of the 4th of July and Memorial day. I would say it was mostly 5/10 for our visit, as long as we stayed away from the large teen groups.