Think Disney is busier now than 30 years ago?

[Schofie]

Last time I went to WDW was in 1991-I don’t remember waiting in really long lines-do you think Disney is busier now? I was a teen back in ‘91

 

[Tattylou]

Last time I went to WDW was in 1991-I don’t remember waiting in really long lines-do you think Disney is busier now? I was a teen back in ‘91

100%- it is definitely much busier (in non-covid regular times I mean).
We went all the time in the 90s and it was definitely less crowded. We can even see on the home videos we have from the 90s that it was less crowded. I remember waiting in an hour line at most in the 90s for main rides - meanwhile any recent non-covid trips you could see waits up to two hours for main attractions. I have heard that some think fast passes contributes to increased waits bc they stop the stand by line to let fast pass go, but even then it is still much more crowded in my experience.

 

[CanadianMerida]

In short, yes, WDW is much, much busier than in 1991. Of course, there are a ton more experiences (parks, rides, restaurants, shopping, hotels etc.) that have been added since that time, but I also feel like there has been a culture shift towards Disney.

Years ago, the Florida theme parks were seen as "cheesy" or "tacky". There now seems to be more of an acceptance around vacationing in WDW. We also have to remember that Disney has inserted itself into the childhoods of millions of people, especially millennials who are now adults and parents. Disney was a part of their childhoods, so they naturally bring their children to experience the same - plus they can feel like kids again too!

 

[Tattylou]

We also have to remember that Disney has inserted itself into the childhoods of millions of people, especially millennials who are now adults and parents. Disney was a part of their childhoods, so they naturally bring their children to experience the same - plus they can feel like kids again too!

So true - it’s why I’m obsessed with Disney! All those family trips in the 80s and 90s solidified it in my heart - so much nostalgia for lots and lots of people.
My family and I do often talk about how much less crowded and easier it was to do Disney back then - all you had to do was just show up and have a good time!

 

[Nabas]

Last time I went to WDW was in 1991-I don’t remember waiting in really long lines-do you think Disney is busier now? I was a teen back in ‘91

By the numbers, WDW attendance from 1991 to 2019 (i.e. the year before COVID) is up 110%.

This is somewhat misleading.

First, since 1991, Disney has added a 4th theme park.

Second, the growth in attendance is mostly in offseason. Disney has gotten better at attracting Guests in (for example) January and September to November.

Still, attendance is up pretty much year round at the other three theme parks.

However, I'm not 100% sure if attendance is up every month. The months I most wonder about are July and August. In the 1980s and 1990s, families commonly vacationed in these months. Now, I believe family vacations are more evenly spread out throughout the year.

 

[Tattylou]

By the numbers, WDW attendance from 1991 to 2019 (i.e. the year before COVID) is up 110%.

This is somewhat misleading.

First, since 1991, Disney has added a 4th theme park.

Second, the growth in attendance is mostly in offseason. Disney has gotten better at attracting Guests in (for example) January and September to November.

Still, attendance is up pretty much year round at the other three theme parks.

However, I'm not 100% sure if attendance is up every month. The months I most wonder about are July and August. In the 1980s and 1990s, families commonly vacationed in these months. Now, I believe family vacations are more evenly spread out throughout the year.

Good point on the additional park and getting people to attend alternative times of year.
I can speak for April. We always went the Massachusetts April school vacation week when I was growing up and we have gone that same week multiple times since 2014. Comparing the 90s version of that week to the 2010s version- it is definitely significantly busier.

 

[klmall]

Totally agree with busier now! From our first family vacation week before Thanksgiving in 1990 to several of the same time period vacations over the years it has become more and more congested. We've also tried October, early and mid December, late January, February, March, April, May and June. Our family pictures show the changes too! From the walk-right up to the afternoon MK parade and lines no longer than 30 minutes ever to what it is now.

Besides adding a 4th park Disney started endless room and "free dining" promotions, added rides at a relatively slow rate while closing some in the process. They built gigunda hotels like Pop Century with 2,880 rooms and the All Stars with 5,444 rooms.

Still love going though but that's at threat now with the loss of fireworks, shows, holiday events and now ME.

 

[scbruno]

I think so. long time DVC member and when we first bought in we went off season and never waited more than a 20 minutes in line for a ride.

 

[Disneyboy24]

What was the resort like back in 1991 before I was born because I was born in 95 and I went to the resort ten years after I was born with my grandma and brother and in 2012 with my mom and dad and brother again

 

[jpakstis]

I definitely think it’s busier now. Even by very basic logic, there are 2.2 billion more people now than in 1991 and WDW is the most visited tourist attraction in the world. It was hard to find attendance figures from 1991 but it looked like MK/EPCOT/DHS was 28M in 1991. In 2019 MK alone was just under 21M. DAK was 13.8M, EPCOT 12.4M, and DHS 11.4M, for a total of 58.5M, over double the 1991 attendance figure. That also well outpaces the increase in the world’s population.

Anecdotally, we visited WDW in 1993 and there were parts that seemed much busier (the line for Splash Mountain which had just opened in 1992 took FOREVER) and parts that were much less busy (when we went in 2013 I was surprised to learn about the huge waits for Peter Pan - I remember being able to walk on anytime you wanted). Back then there were big waits for the “big” rides but rides like POTC and HM had minimal waits. Nowadays every ride has some line. It seems that MK hasn’t added much more attractions in that time (they seem to take away almost as many as they add). So I think by the numbers and by my memory, it has grown much busier over time.

 

[person]

Good point on the additional park and getting people to attend alternative times of year.
I can speak for April. We always went the Massachusetts April school vacation week when I was growing up and we have gone that same week multiple times since 2014. Comparing the 90s version of that week to the 2010s version- it is definitely significantly busier.

Hard to tell sometimes whether something seems busy or busier or whether the statistics reflect what at times they may seem, I suppose...