New Al Lutz: Attendance Data, New DL E-Tickets

[HydroGuy]

Al Lutz of MiceAge has a new editorial today here: http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al073112a.htm

Highlights include:

• DCA attendance way up, DL attendance down
• DCA expanded hours to remain this fall
• CCR having issues
• DCA merchandise shortages
• Open door policy on BVS
• More on new E-Tickets at DL

Note: Al Lutz does not work for Disney. His posts are not Disney announcements. He has solid contacts inside Disney and is helpful in giving an indication of what Disney is planning and considering. People planning vacations should be very cautious about making plans based on Al's articles. That is not what they are intended for. Rather, Al tries to give an insider view of what Disney is thinking and planning for those interested in what the future may hold. This can and does change over time.

Here is the disclaimer that Al has at the end of his article.

Keep in mind updates only get posted when there is something to report on, and not before. It takes time to confirm things, and even then we can only offer a snapshot of a continually evolving story. (People do change their minds you know.) Just like the happiest place on earth, patience is a virtue; the queue may take a while before you can enjoy the attraction.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks again Trey, looks like you are on the mend.

Jack

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you Trey.

 

[limace]

Very interesting! And anyone know what the rumors are re the newE ticket ride in tomorrowland?

 

[PinkBudgie]

Park numbers- pretty amazing. We felt DL was very nice and not too packed, although we noticed that Thursday felt more crowded there for some reason than the rest of the week. Also I noticed that Thurs. seems to be the new day for day camps to visit. We saw none on Wed like we usually do and they were all there on Th. Maybe Disney offers a special group deal on Thursdays. Overall it was very nice, but still crowded in that narrow area by the river near Adventure and Orleans. DCA didn't feel that crowded either, but I do remember shuffling along past GRR and remembering the years that path was EMPTY. Even CL was not horrible. It was crowded, but still not packed like I remember New Year's Day was at DL. Anything less than that, I can handle.

CCR- we ate there for lunch and had a wonderful meal with wonderful service! DH wants to go back. We got the WOC tickets for the second show. We loved CCR!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Park numbers- pretty amazing. We felt DL was very nice and not too packed, although we noticed that Thursday felt more crowded there for some reason than the rest of the week. Also I noticed that Thurs. seems to be the new day for day camps to visit. We saw none on Wed like we usually do and they were all there on Th. Maybe Disney offers a special group deal on Thursdays.

We saw at least three day camps on Tuesday (7/24). We thought Tuesday felt fairly crowded, but, like you, we've seen worse.

 

[pixiewings71]

I skimmed most of the article but wanted to say that our second favorite meal (only second to Club 33) was at CCT, we LOVED it!! The food was amazingly delish, the service was spot on, I very much want to go back but not sure anyone else does.....

 

[DLR29]

Another solid article. I did notice that DLR seemed a bit more crowded on Sat 7/28 than on Sat 7/14...I wonder if that has anything to do with the unblocked CMs.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Frankenweenie!

 

[ArchOwl]

I very much enjoyed my lunch at Carthay, the food was great. But the service was very slow and it was hard to get a reservation time even calling three weeks in advance, I could not get my desired time.

 

[Priory]

My dining experience at CCT was terrible, so I am not surprised. I haven't really wanted to post about it because I love the potential of the restaurant and am forgiving of the issues due to its newness.

 

[HeyItsNickCA]

Thanks for the link, it was a good read.

 

[isisisme]

Frankenweenie!

My thoughts exactly!!!
It has been so very long since DCA has had anything for Halloween. I think this will make up for it. at least for me.

 

[toocherie]

I have had dinner twice and lunch once at Carthay. What impressed me was the enthusiasm of the staff. Especially at our first meal (a lunch) our waitress was SO excited to be working there. Even the busboy was happy to be there (he had previously been at Blue Bayou). Our second and third staffs were not as memorable--actually our third meal we were not impressed with our waiter (I don't want melty ice cream for dessert, thank you--wondered why it took so long). However, in all three cases the food was top notch (although I liked some more than others).

 

[DisneytheKid]

Glad to hear the attendance levels are lowered at DL

 

[Sherry E]

It will take more than just "Frankenweenie" to fill the Halloween Time void in DCA for this Halloween Time fan, but it's a step in the right direction! They have got to put up some kind of decorations in that park to make it feel included in the Halloween festivities.

Now, as for the holiday season, on the other hand... Bret and I have been talking a lot in our TR's and in the Christmas Superthread about the seasonal possibilities for DCA now that the makeover is complete. We were saying - even prior to this new Lutz piece - that we thought the main DCA tree would have to be moved to BVS or close to the DCA entrance. This new location sounds ideal, and the vintage decorations sound amazing.

Likewise for Cars Land - I wasn't sure if Disney would actually go all out with the decorations in Cars Land's very first year, but I have to admit that I am thrilled about it if it's true! Jackpot!

As long as Disney does not continue its bad habit of removing trees and decorations from certain areas to put them up in new places - in other words, as long as Disney doesn't take things away, but instead adds to the overall decor - I will be delighted and doing a happy dance when November 12 rolls around!

 

[bakerudall]

I wonder if the extension of the extended DCA hours will allow for Aladdin to be shown on weekdays, or at least Fridays, in October this year.

 

[DisneytheKid]

hmm, good point

I wonder if the extension of the extended DCA hours will allow for Aladdin to be shown on weekdays, or at least Fridays, in October this year.

 

[Argento]

AP blackouts and a nice hefty price increase has done literally nothing to dampen attendance. This post tells me that we may see the price hikes earlier this summer as a permanent thing and maybe even another notch up next summer.