Is lodging outpacing available theme park space?

[tjkraz]

I can't believe the ticket prices for CP now! Sound like my DDad, "I remember when you could get in for $30."

Actually they aren't too bad now. A couple years ago they did a big roll-back in prices, probably designed to get more people into the park at lower prices. Their list price for an adult ticket is just over $40 now, and most people around here seem to know someone who can get passes in the low-$30s thru work or some other bonus program.

And to be fair I'll admit that comparing CP to WDW is apples-and-oranges. But the fact remains that sub-20 minute wait times during most of the year is not part of the infamous "Disney magic."

I think this spring has been very busy, without being quite as manic as other years due to Easter falling so early. It seems that many school districts have chosen from a wider range of dates for their spring break holidays and as a result there hasn't been any slow times at all since the beginning of March.

I agree completely. Rather than having all of the Spring Breakers and Easter vacation folks in the parks in a 2-week period, the breaks have been spread over a 6-week period due to the early Easter. Seems like this is more of a case of incorrect expectations rather than park overcrowding.

P.S. I think Annual pass holders also are allowed in during phase 2 and maybe 3 .

I think you're right.

 

[ADP]

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

This is a great question. The crowds have increased yearly since 2001. More attractions need to be added (they are at a slower pace than I'd like) which is helping thin the crowds.

going into the Disney parks in the afternoon, you can see wait times anywhere from 45 to 120 minutes on various attractions. This creates "stalemate" conditions meaning you can't move or you can't do anything because of the crowds/lines. As guests we've pretty much accepted these wait times. I don't think many people complain to guest services about wait times and crowds. I know fast pass helps, but sometimes you need to get there early in order to get one.

Bottom line, the more attractions built the wait times will be decreased. As for another theme park Bob Iger has already said no new theme parks in the forseeable future.

Just my two cents.

 

[Starr W.]

Actually they aren't too bad now. A couple years ago they did a big roll-back in prices, probably designed to get more people into the park at lower prices. Their list price for an adult ticket is just over $40 now, and most people around here seem to know someone who can get passes in the low-$30s thru work or some other bonus program.

And to be fair I'll admit that comparing CP to WDW is apples-and-oranges. But the fact remains that sub-20 minute wait times during most of the year is not part of the infamous "Disney magic."



I agree completely. Rather than having all of the Spring Breakers and Easter vacation folks in the parks in a 2-week period, the breaks have been spread over a 6-week period due to the early Easter. Seems like this is more of a case of incorrect expectations rather than park overcrowding.



I think you're right.

You can't compare CP and WDW, CP has more "real" coasters.

Personally I think really early Easters mess everything up, plus a lot of districts are going to Spring Break not around the holiday(someone over on the Family Board was really surprised that our district was "so old fashion" and not PC.)

 

[Muushka]

Their list price for an adult ticket is just over $40 now, and most people around here seem to know someone who can get passes in the low-$30s thru work or some other bonus program.

Please please please, anyone who knows how to get WDW passes for the low $30's let me in on the secret!

 

[Greg K.]

The biggest impact I've seen is with the early morning entry. Once upon a time, when there were only a half a dozen on-site hotels, early mornings were a dream, and a real perk.

Not anymore.

And then there's the extra traffic, which can make just getting from Point A to Point B a headache.

With the AKL coming, and the Kingdom Tower, and the Four Seasons, and the plans for new development/hotels over in the western corner...something's gotta give. Another park would help, wouldn't it?

 

[Starr W.]

Please please please, anyone who knows how to get WDW passes for the low $30's let me in on the secret!

He's talking about Cedar Point tickets, not WDW.

 

[stopher1]

The biggest impact I've seen is with the early morning entry. Once upon a time, when there were only a half a dozen on-site hotels, early mornings were a dream, and a real perk.

Not anymore.

And then there's the extra traffic, which can make just getting from Point A to Point B a headache.

With the AKL coming, and the Kingdom Tower, and the Four Seasons, and the plans for new development/hotels over in the western corner...something's gotta give. Another park would help, wouldn't it?

You'd think so... and the rumored Night Kingdom certainly won't do it. There definitely is a lot of "development" in the pipeline, but not the kind to ease the park capacity issues - only worsen it, IMO. All of the extra rooms, Disney and non-Disney will just strain the system further. The almost billion dollars being pumped into the DLR has been badly needed out there for a while (of course if they'd just built DCA "right" from the get go that money wouldn't have to be spent now, but that's another story)... but they shouldn't neglect WDW with new things to keep the masses happy, either. While new resorts, or the expansion of existing resorts with DVC accomodations are nice, and places we'd all enjoy staying - it isn't doing anything to alleviate the congestion.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

To quote Yogi Berra

"Nobody goes there anymore, its too crowded."

I think the weak dollar has made Disney an even larger magnet for foreign tourist than in the past, and Generation X parents see Disney as a rite of passage for little Johnny or Susie, or ummm...little Tyler and Kaelyn more so than previous generations.

Free dining, and the other perks have added to this as well.

DH and I were so spoiled on our honeymoon in '92 and didn't know it. We walked onto everything during the last week of April. The crowds have consistently been heavier from one trip to the next.

 

[tjkraz]

With the AKL coming, and the Kingdom Tower, and the Four Seasons, and the plans for new development/hotels over in the western corner...something's gotta give. Another park would help, wouldn't it?

Not substantially.

If EMH is the issue, I don't see a fifth theme park changing things much. There is only ONE park per morning that offers the Extra Magic Hours. As long as that is true, it doesn't matter much whether there are 4, 5 or 10 theme parks at WDW--people will still gravitate toward the one park with the extra hours.

Disney could help that situation now by offering extra hours at more than one park per morning/evening. Then you would have the early-risers split between at least two destinations.

 

[louisianatigger]

I don't think we will see another theme park for a few years. With all the talk of a RECESSION going on. Disney is pretty smart I think in buliding as many DVC RESORTS as they can. If you own DVC and finance(this is what most people do) even in a recession if you can't make it to the parks you will still send disney a check each month and try to ride this thing out. Just think how this will effect the park crowds. So in about two years you might see another park

 

[tfc3rid]

I think it's very crowded compared to the past... In addition, those traditional 'off peak' times are now being flooded with things like the Food and Wine Festival and Flower and Garden Festival...

There is still mid-late January...

 

[DeeCee735]

ABSOLUTELY, haven't we seen unbelievable crowds at times that were usually slower in the past already?

We try to take a few days off from the parks and enjoy the dining and resorts instead.

 

[tfc3rid]

ABSOLUTELY, haven't we seen unbelievable crowds at times that were usually slower in the past already?

We try to take a few days off from the parks and enjoy the dining and resorts instead.

Completely agree... I did not go to the parks from 2002 until this past January and saw a major increase in attemdamce in the same period in January...

I used to go in the summer and I can imagine that crowds are still the same but January has sure seen an uptick in visitors.

 

[UConnJack]

With proper "park management", you can really avoid a lot of the crowding impacts. Getting there before the park opens as the rope drops give you a good couple of hours of negligible to very manageable wait times. Eating lunch early or late helps, as does eating dinner early/late so you can do the attractions while others are eating. Making sure your in the right areas of the parks during parade times. Unfortunately, you can't just wander the parks willy-nilly without somewhat of a plan ahead of time, otherwise you just get caught with the rest of the herd.

 

[dsneygirl]

still remember the crowds in 97 - haven't seem anything that bad yet. WDW then had to close the park several days to offsiters and boy did that make these people mad and the travel agents.

(even worst it was because they had stuff in their parking lot - that caused the problem....)

I was a CM in 1997 and I agree it was packed every single day. We had huge crowds that summer.

I haven't been bothered by the crowds my last few trips. We have a toddler now so move at a much slower pace. We also really enjoy the resorts and their amenities and are far from park commandos. Our Dec trip we did about 1 ride/day. We also enjoy the dining, parades and special events and parties. We also travel at the quietest times of the year. This past Sept we were there the week after Labour Day and felt like we had BWV to ourselves most days.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Having been a FL resident for almost 19 years and going to WDW constantly throughout those many years, I have certainly seen the slow times become less and less. One think I have atributed this to is Disney recognizing the slow times and focusing their efforts on getting people to come then, i.e. foreign travel groups, various events, i.e. the Marathon, and the hundreds of other events that they can now attract. Yes, this is primarily due to the fact they have larger and more capable on-site property. Fortunately, we still know when the slow seasons are and focus, as much as we can, on those times. The only times we really deal with the crowds are when family and friends come down and we just have to deal with them, but we know how to get through the parks and attractions in a manner that still makes it fun for them even while dealing with the crowds.

I agree another park is needed, but I don't see that happening, as I think Disney is now in the mode to allow the crowds continue to make up for the investments Disney did make over the last 10 years with AK, attraction increases and upgrades. Hopefully they will focus on needed areas like MGM and Epcot FW.

For me, I still feel I get a better overall experience for my dollar at WDW then I do at US or BG or SW. Those are one day parks and not something I enjoy going back to over and over again like I do at WDW.

 

[dwelty]

I can give you another perspective. Disneyland (the second most visited theme park in the World) just after the MK at WDW, has about 12 Million visitors a year (just behind the Magic Kingdom at 14M) the magic Kingdom is 120 Acres, Disneyland is 80 Acres. We go to Disneyland quite often and while it can get quite crowded, I would not say it is overcrowded except during Christmas week and Easter Break. The same could be said about the Magic Kingdom during these times as well. I think there is still plenty of room for growth if Disneyland is any indication.

 

[ADP]

With proper "park management", you can really avoid a lot of the crowding impacts. Getting there before the park opens as the rope drops give you a good couple of hours of negligible to very manageable wait times. Eating lunch early or late helps, as does eating dinner early/late so you can do the attractions while others are eating. Making sure your in the right areas of the parks during parade times. Unfortunately, you can't just wander the parks willy-nilly without somewhat of a plan ahead of time, otherwise you just get caught with the rest of the herd.

Doesn't the fact that you have to adjust your vacation schedule this drastically so you can enjoy the parks and get your value out of park admission bother you. The fact we have to use a park strategy and touring plan to minimize extremely long wait times to me is not right.

Its become almost impossible to walk into one of the four theme parks in the afternoon and simply enjoy the attractions; especially the headliner attractions. For the price we are paying for admission we shouldn't have to wait 45 - 60 minutes for an attraction.

Just my opinion.
Ok...My rant is over.

 

[bpmorley]

Doesn't the fact that you have to adjust your vacation schedule this drastically so you can enjoy the parks and get your value out of park admission bother you. The fact we have to use a park strategy and touring plan to minimize extremely long wait times to me is not right.

Its become almost impossible to walk into one of the four theme parks in the afternoon and simply enjoy the attractions; especially the headliner attractions. For the price we are paying for admission we shouldn't have to wait 45 - 60 minutes for an attraction.

Just my opinion.
Ok...My rant is over.

I agree