Thoughts on why crowds are lower this summer so far??

[mickeyluv'r]

I would not want to be at a park where the goal is to pack as many guests as possible. Personally, I would rather serve 10 people spending $100 each than 1000 people spending $1 each. That's why high-end boutiques lock their doors when they have a big spender in the store. Disney is obviously not a high-end boutique, but they still need to maintain a decent park experience. Having too many guests would diminish the experience.

Didn't Disney did away with park reservations?

 

[RivShore]

Looking at Major League Baseball teams:

Orioles tickets can be had for under $20. Kids up to age 9 can get in w/paid adult.
Marlins' tickets can be had for $11-15. Sneiors can get 2 free tickets to some games!

That's just looking at 2 teams. Many of the above games also have free giveaways too, like get a free shirt. Or get 4 tix+4soft drinks+4 hot dogs+4popcorns for $44.

Again, supply and demand, there is a lot of supply for 80+ home games in MLB and they are trying to get people in the seats. Usually a much different story with a good NFL team that always sells out every game and/or has season ticket waiting lists.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Didn't Disney did away with park reservations?

Some non-date based tickets still require park reservations.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Is it that shocking when you compare it to other entertainment offerings?

Just trying to offer a different perspective. When I read your question, it occurred to me that some major League entertainment prices continue to be a great deal.

Baseball games are now about 165 minutes (2hrs+45min) for $15 that's about $5.50/hour.

Using the very cheapest WDW $99/day ticket, which is only the price in late August-September (peak hurricane season), works out to $8.25 per possible hour in Epcot and $11 per hour in MK on party days.

It is especially valid to compare baseball to Epcot because of the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Some non-date based tickets still require park reservations.

I'm an AP holder, so I know all about park reservations.

In the context of the post I quoted, they are not important, since most parkgoers do not need reservations. WDW is no longer using park reservations to keep general crowd levels down.

On the other hand, they were rather unpopular with parkgoers. When most people pay for a WDW vacation package, especially one that includes hopping, most want to be able to freely visit all 4 parks.

 

[Minnie1222]

Didn't Disney did away with park reservations?

Yes, park reservations are gone for certain guests. But if they lower the price, we would have an even bigger crowd.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yes, park reservations are gone for certain guests. But if they lower the price, we would have an even bigger crowd.

but the thread title is why do crowds seem off. You started out saying you didn't think crowds were any lower this year.

Do you think the high prices this year are having an impact on crowds? Or are crowds the same as always and not impacted by the current prices?

I'm trying to follow you here.

 

[Minnie1222]

State and National Parks? FL has quite a few that are well worth visiting!

Looking at Chicago:
Chicago Cultural Center, Lakefront Trail, walking the Riverwalk, Clarke house Museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, Jane Addams hull-house Museum

Looking at DC:
the Smithsonian Museums, tour of Kennedy Center (and the free Millennium Stage performances), Library of Congress, National Archives

Looking at Orlando
Cornell Fine Arts Museum, tour Orlando Brewing, visit Disney's Wildness Preserve (now has 3 miles of trails), see the ducks at the Peabody Hotel, Zora Neal Hurson Museum, Silver Springs glass bottom bout tour (this plus multiple other natural springs parks are close to free to enter), Fort Augustine, Harry P. Leu gardens, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum,

Looking at Oklahoma City
45th Infantry Division Musuem, Centennial Land Run Museum, Will rogers Park, Charles B. Hall Airpark

I believe the person you replied to was asking for destinations comparable to Disney in their respective categories. For art lovers like myself, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (renamed as Rollins Museum) is not considered to be on the same level as the Louvre or the Met. If given a choice of a free trip, the majority would choose to attend the Louvre over the Rollins. As far as I know, the Louvre had also increased their price in recent years. Like it or not, Disney parks are considered Louvres in the theme park category.

The Smithsonian relies on the generosity of the government, donors, volunteers, and others to remain free to the public. If Disney has the same resources, maybe they could be free as well.

 

[focusondisney]

The Smithsonian relies on the generosity of the government, donors, volunteers, and others to remain free to the public. If Disney has the same resources, maybe they could be free as well.

And I’ll add that the most popular Smithsonian museums require reservations to visit during much of the year to limit crowds. As do several other DC attractions, like Air & Space, National Archives, Washington Monument & Holocaust Museum. Something Disney was highly criticized for doing.

 

[VAtink]

And I’ll add that the most popular Smithsonian museums require reservations to visit during much of the year to limit crowds. As do several other DC attractions, like Air & Space, National Archives, Washington Monument & Holocaust Museum. Something Disney was highly criticized for doing.

To be fair, these are not the best examples. Air and Space is reservation now simple because a good portion of the museum is offline for renovation (which I've personally worked on for 7 years). When the full museum is open it doesn't typically require reservations. Yes the Washington Monument requires reservations, but its needed due to space/elevator capacity. Not sure where you are getting the National Archives needs a reservation, looking at their site now no reservations are needed.

The vast majority of Smithsonian museums and the zoo do not require reservations unless it's for a special event. Just last month I took out of town friends to most of them without having a reservation.

 

[tom1944]

Again, supply and demand, there is a lot of supply for 80+ home games in MLB and they are trying to get people in the seats. Usually a much different story with a good NFL team that always sells out every game and/or has season ticket waiting lists.

They also generate revenue from media contracts more than in person attendance

 

[focusondisney]

To be fair, these are not the best examples. Air and Space is reservation now simple because a good portion of the museum is offline for renovation (which I've personally worked on for 7 years). When the full museum is open it doesn't typically require reservations. Yes the Washington Monument requires reservations, but its needed due to space/elevator capacity. Not sure where you are getting the National Archives needs a reservation, looking at their site now no reservations are needed.

The vast majority of Smithsonian museums and the zoo do not require reservations unless it's for a special event. Just last month I took out of town friends to most of them without having a reservation.

You’re right, my mistake. National Archives doesn’t require them, they’re available to avoid waiting in long lines. The Smithsonian doesn’t call them “reservations”, they call them passes. The African American History, Air & Space & the Zoo require passes right now.

 

[Minnie1222]

You’re right, my mistake. National Archives doesn’t require them, they’re available to avoid waiting in long lines. The Smithsonian doesn’t call them “reservations”, they call them passes. The African American History, Air & Space & the Zoo require passes right now.

Yes, they are/were called Timed-Entry Passes, in essence still a reservation.

 

[Minnie1222]

but the thread title is why do crowds seem off. You started out saying you didn't think crowds were any lower this year.

I was replying to the posts that said people weren't going to WDW on Memorial. I was at Epcot and MK on Memorial Day and didn't think the crowds were smaller than my previous Memorials.

Do you think the high prices this year are having an impact on crowds?

Sorry, I don't think the prices are high at all.

Or are crowds the same as always and not impacted by the current prices?

I've only gone in March and May this year. The crowds appeared to be similar in size to the few years pre-Covid.

 

[lorileahb]

Father's Day was hot but extremely low crowds, though I didn't stay for fireworks. I like the new June, but miss the cooler temps of January!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I believe the person you replied to was asking for destinations comparable to Disney in their respective categories. For art lovers like myself, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (renamed as Rollins Museum) is not considered to be on the same level as the Louvre or the Met. If given a choice of a free trip, the majority would choose to attend the Louvre over the Rollins. As far as I know, the Louvre had also increased their price in recent years. Like it or not, Disney parks are considered Louvres in the theme park category.

The Smithsonian relies on the generosity of the government, donors, volunteers, and others to remain free to the public. If Disney has the same resources, maybe they could be free as well.

Okay, let's use the Louvre as our example!!!

The Louvre is still free for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m. (except in July and August).
It is also always free for many adults:
anyone under the age of 18
all 18-25 year-old residents of the European Economic Area
Disabled visitors and the person accompanying them
Art teachers
Artists affiliated to the AIAP
ICOM and ICOMOS members
Journalists
Job seekers
People on income support

The price for non-exempt adults was 17 Euros in 2017, and it is now just 22 Euros. The price has only gone up 29% over the past 7 years, and that is ONLY if you buy your ticket at the entrance, and only if you are an adult. It is still possible to get a discounted multi-museum pass.

In 2017 a 1-day WDW ticket cost a max of $124. this year they go as high as $189. that's a 52.5% increase over the same time period. At WDW, children as young as 10 pay the adult price, and children ages 3-9 cost almost the same as an adult: $184. No exemptions for disabled guests. Can you even imagine that?

The poster I quoted made a blanket statement that "major league sports" have gone up as much as WDW, but I debunked that as well. I only looked up two teams, and found adult MLB tickets for just $12. Seniors and children can even still attend some games for free!

It is very much still possible to find worthwhile, inexpensive entertainment values, including world class museums like the Smithsonian and the Louvre. I get tired of wild claims that the price of all entertainment has gone up in price as much as WDW. I've always mixed my WDW visits with less expensive options like FL's state and national parks, going back 50+ years. As much as I like WDW, I also love walking around St. Augustine and collecting shells on Honeymoon Island. Entertainment value is not = to cost.

 

[princessjilly]

Been obsessively checking wait times as I arrive on Tuesday.. Saturday and Sunday have seemed way lower than mon-fri this past week. Is that due to the lowest AP being blocked out at weekends?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Been obsessively checking wait times as I arrive on Tuesday.. Saturday and Sunday have seemed way lower than mon-fri this past week. Is that due to the lowest AP being blocked out at weekends?

Could be. Sundays also tend to be travel days. I've noticed low crowds on Sundays going back many years. The parks tend to be especially light on Sunday nights, IME.

On the other hand, Saturdays used to be the busiest day of the week, especially in MK. People tend to arrive at WDW on either a Friday night or Saturday morning. They also trend towards MK being their 1st park.

On the back end, they need to get back to work the following Monday- so they leave on Sunday. Now many people do not stay at WDW for a full 9 days, and some stay longer, but those tend to be the bookends.

Another big trend - for people who combine WDW and Universal- is that they tend to start the week at WDW, then go to Universal Thur, Fri and maybe Sat. There is a considerable uptick in crowds at Universal towards the end of the week.

Local visitors have also always been a factor at WDW, but I don't know the %.

 

[princessjilly]

Thank you! I’m considering changing some of my plans, we go on Tuesday for 2 weeks but the second weekend I have a shopping day planned on the Sunday so I’m thinking maybe hit the parks instead. Next Saturday I have MK planned as we’re going to ohana for a late breakfast but now thinking if it’s a bad idea due to Tiana opening my main intent is to watch the parade though so might just do that then head back for pool time.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thank you! I’m considering changing some of my plans, we go on Tuesday for 2 weeks but the second weekend I have a shopping day planned on the Sunday so I’m thinking maybe hit the parks instead. Next Saturday I have MK planned as we’re going to ohana for a late breakfast but now thinking if it’s a bad idea due to Tiana opening my main intent is to watch the parade though so might just do that then head back for pool time.

That sounds wise!

MK before Tiana opens will probably be less crowded than after. It is worth noting that the Tiana ride has had operational problems during the preview. If riding it is a priority for you, I would expect operations to be a bit unsteady at first. Even with a VQ, the queue wait might be significant. Still a worthwhile challenge, but it might cost a good chunk of time. Hopefully, you get lucky.

I was in HS the day Galaxy's Edge opened, and it was not that crowded. Many people go to see the new ride, but many people also aim to steer clear. People also cleared out of HS pretty quickly after they saw the new land.

Otherwise, the next two weeks probably won't be all that bad, except maybe July 4.

If it is easy to make a swap, then maybe do it. Generally though, as the thread reports, crowds seem to be down this summer/year.

in summer, I try to keep our days a bit flexible to allow for the weather. I esp try to save AK for nicer weather days. The animal attractions/outdoor coasters all close during thunderstorms.