How is their higher attendance, when everyone keeps talking about the "millions" of people that are staying away?
Hours started shrinking at least by 1998. Attendance didn't drop until 2001.
More recently, attendance in the Oct-Dec quarter of '02 was higher than the same quarter in '01 (per Disney in their earnings call), yet hours were decreased.
The only difference is that when attendance is falling, the cuts to the hours are greater.
Regarding Universal.... Once again, Disney's primary competition are family resort destinations all over the globe, not just Universal. Using Universal as a benchmark for WDW is a big mistake.
But if you are, Hopemax makes an excellent point.
...don't you expect a 14 million people a year park to have longer hours than the 6 million people a year park?
People are set on being aggitated about the parks closing early.
No more than others seem to be set on justifying parks closing early.
I understand YOU don't care about hours, and really, nobody is saying you should. If you don't care, you don't care. But it should be easy to understand why some other people might care.
Some are late risers and don't want to arrive at the parks early. Others like to arrive early, take the kids back for a nap, then return for the evening. Some just want to avoid the afternoon heat, and still others want greater flexibility in park hopping. Some just like the nightime atmosphere in the parks.
Whatever, the point is, something these customers value is being reduced and/or taken away from them.
If some people feel they are getting less value for their dollar, they will do one of two things. (1)Speak out about it, like we are, or (2)Not go, like some here, as are others who don't care enough to post their opinions on the Internet.
As we are reminded so often, Disney is a business. Yet, for some reason, many seem to think Disney is immune from the law of business that says if you reduce the benefits guests receive from your product, demand for your product will decrease.
. I've stayed out of the fray on this one as I actually agree with those with whom I usually disagree 
. The hours situation sucks. The fact that I honestly believe the hours of old will never return, regardless of how high attendance gets, sucks even more. Indeed, I am of the opinion that what I believe were once justifiable reactions to outside events affects on attendance have become standard operating procedure, and Disney will have a harder time getting the attendance where they want it with this modus operendi. 
