Rain and crowded parks

[CarolynFH]

This phenomenon, which has gotten worse as Disney’s data gets better, has always bothered me.

I certainly get that it benefits Disney to put less wear and tear on the rides by running them at lower capacity when they can get away with it.

But it still feels like Disney is making guests stand in long lines even on less crowded days primarily just to save the cost of staffing a few extra cast members for the day. That seems incredibly short sighted. God forbid guests have an especially pleasant experience and Disney has to pay a few hundred extra dollars in salary! If the lines are miserable even on low crowd days, a lot of guests will be turned off and won’t come back.

LOL, even the 60-minute standby lines don’t seem excessive to me. We routinely waited 2+ hours in line for Space Mountain, in the old days before FP. Maybe Disney doesn’t want guests to get spoiled by short lines on low crowd days and expect them all the time!

 

[sponica]

LOL, even the 60-minute standby lines don’t seem excessive to me. We routinely waited 2+ hours in line for Space Mountain, in the old days before FP. Maybe Disney doesn’t want guests to get spoiled by short lines on low crowd days and expect them all the time!

I was there this weekend and didn't think the wait times were terrible, although Remy and Test Track being down at the same time probably skewed everything at Epcot on Saturday. Soaring was also down when my husband and older kiddo went to ride it.

Sunday was a party day and we did get LLMP and LLSP because we added on park days at the end of a 7 night cruise and my kids were not in the headspace to wait in line, sure the headliners might have had some waits, but outside of tron and mine train, everything else was practically a walk on.

 

[kylenne]

This phenomenon, which has gotten worse as Disney’s data gets better, has always bothered me.

I certainly get that it benefits Disney to put less wear and tear on the rides by running them at lower capacity when they can get away with it.

But it still feels like Disney is making guests stand in long lines even on less crowded days primarily just to save the cost of staffing a few extra cast members for the day. That seems incredibly short sighted. God forbid guests have an especially pleasant experience and Disney has to pay a few hundred extra dollars in salary! If the lines are miserable even on low crowd days, a lot of guests will be turned off and won’t come back.

I first noticed this pre covid. One January Touring Plans was severely off in their estimates for avg wait times and it was discussed on Testa's podcast iirc. It sucks but it is what it is. Disney is so analytics obsessed I'm sure the exact number of sugar packets on the table at the restaurants is probably driven by data.

But, that's the main reason why I don't really put stock into crowd calendars. My rule of thumb is to prepare for defcon 1 crowds at all times. Plan A, B, and C. Doesn't even have to be to the nth degree either, just as simple as "if the wait is too long at X, I'll hit up Y instead". It's always easier to adjust down when crowds don't materialize ime rather than scramble when you are caught off guard by them. I'm also never disappointed that way either. Wait times don't really impact me because the way I tour tends to minimize them. High crowd levels only really affect my enjoyment to the extent it can be unpleasant to walk around, do any shopping, get mobile food orders, etc. when it's busy.

 

[disneyseniors]

This phenomenon, which has gotten worse as Disney’s data gets better, has always bothered me.

I certainly get that it benefits Disney to put less wear and tear on the rides by running them at lower capacity when they can get away with it.

But it still feels like Disney is making guests stand in long lines even on less crowded days primarily just to save the cost of staffing a few extra cast members for the day. That seems incredibly short sighted. God forbid guests have an especially pleasant experience and Disney has to pay a few hundred extra dollars in salary! If the lines are miserable even on low crowd days, a lot of guests will be turned off and won’t come back.

But it still feels like Disney is making guests stand in long lines even on less crowded days primarily just to save the cost of staffing a few extra cast members for the day.

We noticed a change in 2019 in the staffing. We used to go every year so had something to base this on. We always went in "slow" times when there really were slow times. Disney started closing one side of a ride and decreasing staff at that time even though we never encountered that before in our many experiences at WDW. I remember mentioning it to my husband. I wondered why would they intentionally make the lines long for everyone. Now it is routine.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

I am disappointed with the August situation. I read about how the parks were less crowded in August, yet the top rides are usually 60-95 minute waits. It rains from 11-5 (not 15 mins as I already read). Just a warning if you plan to come in August…re think it! July is better weather and the park crowds are the same.

Did you actually visit the parks, or are you just making comments based on what you've read?

 

[ScarletFire]

Don’t forget, Disney can manipulate staffing, number of ride vehicles in use, and other operational factors that affect hourly ride capacity. I know BTMRR is closed, but for instance they can run two trains or three or four at a time.

If the data predicts if slow day, then staffing and ride capacity is less. I've also noticed this post pandemic. Does Disney have surge pricing since it cost more to operate on crowded days?

 

[CarolynFH]

If the data predicts if slow day, then staffing and ride capacity is less. I've also noticed this post pandemic. Does Disney have surge pricing since it cost more to operate on crowded days?

Well, I guess you could say they apply surge pricing in advance - date-based ticket prices are more expensive for days that are expected to be busier, such as Christmas week, and so are LL prices. But those prices are posted in advance, based on Disney’s expectations, and don’t change on the day-of.

 

[ScarletFire]

Do we 100% know the surge pricing never changes? I've never studied the ticket prices. If you buy a ticket 6 months in advance you're locked in but if you wait maybe it's more expensive.

My daughter and husband wanted to go to EPIC and I checked prices a while back including front of line pass and it was a little more than $300 per person in September. I remember thinking that was reasonable. I just checked and now it's $414.28 and I think that's more than the last time I checked. They're not going.

 

[Dave006]

Do we 100% know the surge pricing never changes? I've never studied the ticket prices. If you buy a ticket 6 months in advance you're locked in but if you wait maybe it's more expensive.

Yes 100%. Disney does not use surge pricing.

Future ticket pricing is going to be based on the latest price change that Disney makes. The most common time for price increases is October of each year. They adjust ticket prices (1) time per year. Yes if you purchase before a price increase your price is locked in.

Does that mean that they will never go to a 'Surge" pricing model, who knows.

ETA: add October as the most common time for price increases.

Dave