Is lodging outpacing available theme park space?

[theoarn]

With on or near premises lodging increasing at a steady pace, does it seem like we will get to a point that the parks won't be able to handle the crowds.
It seems that if the number of Parks remain the same but lodging continues to increase that it will really deteriorate the quality of the theme park experience at DW because of over crowding.
THEO

 

[Mike©]

Good question! I think yes the parks WILL over crowd! Real question is , how long till they open another park?

 

[jarestel]

I agree that potential overcrowding (theme parks, dining, or simply obtaining reservations) is a definite concern when it impacts the guest experience. The reason I own DVC is for the WDW experience. If that experience becomes more like "Survivor, Disney Style", I think it would be time for me to move on to something else. Without the theme parks and other WDW draws, there's really no reason to own a timeshare at WDW, especially when there are plenty of other vacation places with timeshares to choose from.

 

[ZekeKelso]

To put things in perspective, the 4 parks average about 125,000 entrances a day. That includes hoppers, but it's at least 100,000 people a day.

Since the opening of POP 5 years ago, the only on site rooms added have been the 800 or so SSR units (am I missing anything). Add another 800 units for Kidani and, uh, some other DVC units that Disney might build, and you still haven't done that much to increase crowds.

 

[Starr W.]

To put things in perspective, the 4 parks average about 125,000 entrances a day. That includes hoppers, but it's at least 100,000 people a day.

Since the opening of POP 5 years ago, the only on site rooms added have been the 800 or so SSR units (am I missing anything). Add another 800 units for Kidani and, uh, some other DVC units that Disney might build, and you still haven't done that much to increase crowds.

Gotta factor in off site people. Sheraton keeps building on to the Vistana(I own a Starwood TS in CO and I had to basically yell at them to quit calling about the "free" trip to visit the new section).

 

[Muushka]

With all the price increases to enter the parks, they will have 2 less people to worry about overcrowding the parks!

We will probably start going to Universal again real soon......

 

[DisDaydreamer]

To put things in perspective, the 4 parks average about 125,000 entrances a day. That includes hoppers, but it's at least 100,000 people a day.

Since the opening of POP 5 years ago, the only on site rooms added have been the 800 or so SSR units (am I missing anything). Add another 800 units for Kidani and, uh, some other DVC units that Disney might build, and you still haven't done that much to increase crowds.

Don't know about the numbers, but DVC is certainly a very small portion of the park attendance. If Disney could also board every one of the 100k+ attendies.... they would be real happy. Me too.. cause I own Disney stock.

 

[DisFlan]

With all the price increases to enter the parks, they will have 2 less people to worry about overcrowding the parks!

We will probably start going to Universal again real soon......

Strange...I just talked to a neighbor who said the same thing! They're going to Orlando, but not to WDW (they've been to WDW several times). Their kids are grown. They discovered last year that they can stay offsite and get cheaper but really nice accommodations - and stay longer, and have a great time at Universal and elsewhere in Orlando for a LOT less money. Money isn't the biggest issue with them. They aren't poor by a mile, but they really don't like it when they feel they're getting an overpriced deal.

As usual, I defended Disney - sort of weakly this time - I can't really justify ticket prices compared to the other big venues in Orlando. I complain about them, too.

I'm not sure Disney will ever get these folks back.

If this is a trend, Disney may have a problem.


DisFlan

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Strange...I just talked to a neighbor who said the same thing! They're going to Orlando, but not to WDW (they been to WDW several times). Their kids are grown. They discovered last year that they can stay offsite and get cheaper but really nice accommodations - and stay longer, and have a great time at Universal and elsewhere in Orlando for a LOT less money. Money isn't the biggest issue with them. They aren't poor by a mile, but they really don't like it when they feel they're getting an overpriced deal.

As usual, I defended Disney - sort of weakly this time - I can't really justify ticket prices compared to the other big venues in Orlando. I complain about them, too.

I'm not sure Disney will ever get these folks back.

If this is a trend, Disney may have a problem.


DisFlan

I think maybe when they go to Universal and find out that the prices really aren't a bargain comparatively, they will reconsider. We have watched Busch Gardens and King's Dominion in Virginia keep steady with WDW pricing. And when all is considered there is nothing Universal can offer to equal WDW.

Talk to them when they come back and see if they really want to keep going back to Universal year after year. We went to Universal years ago and it was nice, but very limited in experiences. JMHO.

 

[Muushka]

We have 6 AP vouchers for USF in our ticket drawer. And this year they had 7 day 2 park unlimited passes for $85. That is pretty hard to beat. They always seem to have some sort of deal going. Either way, park or no park, WDW or no WDW, USF or no USF, we will have a great vacation.

 

[drusba]

With on or near premises lodging increasing at a steady pace, does it seem like we will get to a point that the parks won't be able to handle the crowds.
It seems that if the number of Parks remain the same but lodging continues to increase that it will really deteriorate the quality of the theme park experience at DW because of over crowding.
THEO

Yours is a valid conclusion with, I think, the only error being your comment that WDW "will get to the point that the parks won't be able to handle the crowds." Your "will get" should instead be "has already gotten." I am sure I am not the only one who has seen that even what were believed to be "slower" times in years past hardly are any more. The thing is the resort expansion on Disney property itself has not been the major cause. Off-site guests generally account for the majority of those in the parks and those have continued to increase at higher rates.

 

[AKV707]

I agree, that even with SSR and AKV, and soon KTV, that the impact on theme park attendance may enhance the bottom line for Disney, but not really impact crowd size.

In terms of offsite guests, they are already included in the current attendance numbers. There would have to be an inordinate amount of offsite resorts built to have a huge effect.

I do believe that Disney will add parks and capacity down the line to accommodate more guests. That will, in the end, help their bottom line and increase guest satisfaction.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

I wonder if, in general dvc'rs have as many 'park days' per vacation as others. We like the parks but generally don't go too often. Our kids are 13 and 16. We take two trips a year, one with the kids. The last two kid trips we didn't hit the parks at all. We travel with friends and the teenagers are busy doing everything at the resorts etc.

Strange, but without the kids we do the parks more as we go for F&W in the fall !!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I wonder if, in general dvc'rs have as many 'park days' per vacation as others. We like the parks but generally don't go too often. Our kids are 13 and 16. We take two trips a year, one with the kids. The last two kid trips we didn't hit the parks at all. We travel with friends and the teenagers are busy doing everything at the resorts etc.

Strange, but without the kids we do the parks more as we go for F&W in the fall !!

 

[WolfpackFan]

It seems that lately every time we've been to WDW the parks have been packed regardless of what time of year we've been. This does bother me somewhat. I hate to admit it but I think DW and myself are getting a little tired of the WDW parks. I think part of it is the crowds, part of it is we're tired of so much walking and hurt feet and part of it is we just want to see something new. We are not tired of DVC though and I can see us very easily scaling back our park visits and spending more time in the future just relaxing around our DVC resort. We also plan to venture out more and more visiting other Florida attractions. We've only been to Seaworld and Universal once, a long time ago. So we would like to give them a try. We would also like to drive over to Tampa and go to Busch Gardens. One thing I wish Disney offered - a 1 park AP. When we visit WDW, it would not bother me at all to skip the other parks just as long as we could go to Epcot. I just love the atmosphere of wandering WS plus the restaurants. Another alternative would be a special evening pass, so you could at least go and eat at the WS restaurants.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

It seems that lately every time we've been to WDW the parks have been packed regardless of what time of year we've been. This does bother me somewhat. I hate to admit it but I think DW and myself are getting a little tired of the WDW parks. I think part of it is the crowds, part of it is we're tired of so much walking and hurt feet and part of it is we just want to see something new. We are not tired of DVC though and I can see us very easily scaling back our park visits and spending more time in the future just relaxing around our DVC resort. We also plan to venture out more and more visiting other Florida attractions. We've only been to Seaworld and Universal once, a long time ago. So we would like to give them a try. We would also like to drive over to Tampa and go to Busch Gardens. One thing I wish Disney offered - a 1 park AP. When we visit WDW, it would not bother me at all to skip the other parks just as long as we could go to Epcot. I just love the atmosphere of wandering WS plus the restaurants. Another alternative would be a special evening pass, so you could at least go and eat at the WS restaurants.

Right there with ya Wolfpack. We just love Epcot, can take or leave the other parks. I'm planning my vacations where we will only be around to do the parks every three years or so. Taking a 3 day cruise, visiting VB almost annually, and want to try the II exchanges as well as HHI. With my pt. amount, it will take me awhile berfore rotating back to the parks!

 

[stopher1]

Disney itself hasn't added a lot of additional occupancy, but let's not forget about the new Hilton, Four Seasons and additional non-DVC timeshares being built at Bonnet Creek - not WDW property, but within the confines of the resort. Then factor in the Western Beltway rooms that will be built, and suddenly there will be thousands and thousands of new on-site guests, even if they aren't adding to Disney's bottom line. The parks are definitely getting more crowded, and traditional slow periods are diminishing.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Funny, but we were just talking about this same thing here last night. We were talking about how crowded the parks have been each trip this past year and wondering if all the added accommodations for DVC might not be the reason. Maybe it's just that Disney needs to add a park or expand the current ones a bit to accommodate everyone. We also decided that the Studios are MUCH in need of the new attractions they are creating. It just doesn't have the appeal it once did. Epcot's World Showcase is getting that way too, what with all the street acts that have left, and the parade etc. We loved to watch the living statues, mime, guy in a bubble etc, but there isn't much left to do in WS now except the movies in the lands, and Chinese acrobats. I haven't even seen the mariache (Sp?) band in Mexico for a long time, and last month Off Kilter was not there our whole trip.

 

[Starr W.]

Funny, but we were just talking about this same thing here last night. We were talking about how crowded the parks have been each trip this past year and wondering if all the added accommodations for DVC might not be the reason. Maybe it's just that Disney needs to add a park or expand the current ones a bit to accommodate everyone. We also decided that the Studios are MUCH in need of the new attractions they are creating. It just doesn't have the appeal it once did. Epcot's World Showcase is getting that way too, what with all the street acts that have left, and the parade etc. We loved to watch the living statues, mime, guy in a bubble etc, but there isn't much left to do in WS now except the movies in the lands, and Chinese acrobats. I haven't even seen the mariache (Sp?) band in Mexico for a long time, and last month Off Kilter was not there our whole trip.

The studios really do need something else. The new Toy Story ride looks a lot like Buzz Lightyear from MK. We go over mainly for Star Tours and the Muppet movie. We had a discussion about it with some fellow DVC'ers in the FP lane for Soarin in January. They weren't going to even bother going to DHS.

We saw the band and bellydancer at Morocco for the first time our last trip. Kids saw the parade on the one Samantha Brown show and wondered why they took it away(to them it looked better than Spectormagic).

 

[Alexander]

The crowds have definately seemed worse over the past two years. That, or my tolerance has gone down, a definate possiblility! We are finding that we are heading off to DCL once or twice a year and only hitting WDW once or twice, instead of the usual three or four trips we used to make.

I can't help to wonder if the increased ticket price won't be a marketing ploy for Disney in the near future. They get those prices way up there and then offer a remarkable special discount price on tickets to get people in. They aren't really losing any money and people find a good deal hard to turn down (kind of like "free" dining).