MAybe it really is about value and price....

[EUROPA]

D-R were you a juror on the OJ Simpson trial by any chance?

I mean you guys are really starting to come up with some dozzies about Disney's attendance problems. I'd like to point you guys to Occam's razor. I mean what is more likely that all of these combination of events you guys like to point to , happen to convene and drive Disney's attendance down for 3 straight years or that Disney is paying the price for ever increasing prices and reduction in quality and services and value?

 

[d-r]

let me be a little more simple then. So far this year there are less visiters to Hawaii than there were this time last year, and considerably less than there were this time in 2000.

I really think that people not flying because terrorists flew jet aircrafts into buildings, combined with the country being at war with two countries, is absolutely as parsiminous an explanation than the one you suggest.

seriously.

Dr

 

[April76]

I applaud all of you who have researched and read all the resources listed in your posts.....

However, I will admit that all of my opinions are based solely on information I have gotten straight from real people.... and THEY are citing one or more of the 3 main reasons that I listed in my previous post for not visiting WDW. (Terrorism threat, fear of flying, family budget crunch)

Not a single person has ever mentioned to me "...increasing prices and reduction in quality and services and value"... as a reason for not going to WDW.

BTW -- the next "popular" reason given for not going to WDW is "my kids aren't old enough to appreciate it yet". (Which begins a whole different thread)

I also had at least one lady tell me that she was waiting for SARS to go away.....

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by April76
I applaud all of you who have researched and read all the resources listed in your posts.....

However, I will admit that all of my opinions are based solely on information I have gotten straight from real people.... and THEY are citing one or more of the 3 main reasons that I listed in my previous post for not visiting WDW. (Terrorism threat, fear of flying, family budget crunch)

Not a single person has ever mentioned to me "...increasing prices and reduction in quality and services and value"... as a reason for not going to WDW.

BTW -- the next "popular" reason given for not going to WDW is "my kids aren't old enough to appreciate it yet". (Which begins a whole different thread)

I also had at least one lady tell me that she was waiting for SARS to go away.....

All of that may very well be based on your limited sample.... but why was attendance already in a decline before the moons and the planets aligned to create the current blame for Disney's woes? What about your sample of people that maybe don't keep up with the current Disney as we do and go back to really find some serious issues at Disney regarding hours cut backs and limited schedules do you think that will affect where they chose to go for their next trip?

 

[April76]

Dunno...... so far I haven't had anyone mention that they had a problem with schedules, etc..... They just talk about having a great time. Never had anyone say they wouldn't go back.

Yes, I'm the first to admit that my "sampling" is limited as far as quantity goes..... however, I depend more on what I hear first-hand from the folks who are an actual part of the "statistical data" than the compiled data itself..... never had much faith in statistical info --- I can take any data and compile statisitical info to suit my argument -- but that doesn't mean that my interpretation of the data actually represents reality.

 

[luvmk]

I don't know why disney's attendance is declining. It wouldn't surprise me if it is largely due to the economy. Although, I'm sure there is plenty of data to say otherwise. For many people, disney is a vacation and not a daytrip. The vast majority of the U.S. has to plan to go to disney. They have to make the committment. It isn't a spur of the moment decision like some local theme parks can be. I think many of us will admit that when we first look at the total amount that a disney vacation is going to cost, it can look expensive. No, make that it is expensive. Then again, so is cruising, Europe, Hawaii and Las Vegas(if you have bad luck! )
In general, vacations aren't cheap.

We are going to MNSSHP is October as part of the FTP. When you break down ticket price and hotel price, I think disney is one of the best values around. We have the UHP's and they work out to around $49 per day for the adults and $39 for our kids. We can arrive at 9:00 and ride as many rides as we want. In the afternoon we can go back to AKL and enjoy the animals, the pool or any other activities they have going on. In the evening, we can go to MGM to ride some rides and see fantasmic. Now consider that this amount also includes seeing characters, parades, fireworks and just the enjoyment of being in the parks. There is nowhere else like MK(at least for me). I would gladly pay the $49 everyday if I could relive the moment my dd4 saw snow white for the first time. She wouldn't stop hugging her! I had tears streaming down my cheek watching her. I know countless others have had the same experience.

I don't like all of the decisions that disney management has made in the past few years and I think they are now starting to see the error of their ways. We can only hope that they start to correct things. It wasn't until reading this board that I realized closing the park at 7:00 was considered a cutback. I didn't realize that not having spectro and fireworks everynight was a cutback. There are many people who have no idea of the changes being made at disney. Therefore, they aren't basing their decision to go or not on the fact of park closing times and whether or not spectro will be showing.