When does Happiest Celebration End? Crowds down after?

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Back from Nov. 26-Dec. 4 trip. I have just now finally been able to come to these boards without tears of sadness (that it is over) and even now I think I'm about to start bawling. The trip was magical and awful (both kids got sick, dd had some severe meltdowns.) If you were in VWL at that time and heard non-stop screaming on Wednesday night of that week, that was dd. (This trip helped us get a special needs diagnosis, btw.) All in all, it was rather magical. The last day was simply divine. Pure heaven.

On to my question: I know this past year has been a more crowded one than years past and I personally think it has had a lot to do with the HCOE and the advertising that has gone with it. I don't recall this kind of advertising (with prices listed in the tv ads) in prior years.

I'm wondering when the HCOE ends and if that will possibly also see a drop in crowds? We had no problem with crowds, but this year just about every report says, "much more crowded than this time last year." I want to start planning our next trip as a sort of therapy to get me to stop thinking about this last one wistfully.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Shel

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

OMG, I feel closer to WDW just POSTING on here.

 

[Robo]

TV spots WORK.

But its not always the "message" that makes them work well.

Will YOU stop wanting to come after the "celebration" is over?
Was anybody "talked into coming" because there was a "celebration"?

Its not some artifical "celebration" that attracts people (in advertising, THAT is the kind of sales pitch that really only matters to the CLIENT, not the puiblic).

Now, the kind of ad that appeals to the general PUBLIC is the "Family of 4 for X days, for X dollars" that WDW is NOW running.
That takes a huge "unknown", that most people think is VERY EXPENSIVE (WDW) and puts an easy to understand (and generally affordable) PRICE on it.

Think: "Cadillacs from $21,997. This weekend only."

Its mainly the fact that WDW does advertise (any message will do) that keeps the resort in the front of people's minds.
It makes them THINK that maybe WDW is someplace its "OK" to try.

But regardless of the national ads (which DO work) is that WDW is a great place to visit.
It was wildly successful from its inception. And continues to deliver many of its promises.

Look for WDW to attract larger and larger crowds for the forseeable future.

(Excuse the "ad talk", but that's what I do.)

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

Disney will probably announce a new celebration before this one ends, or soon after.

Besides, in general, travel and tourism have been on the rise everywhere, not just WDW.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Look for WDW to attract larger and larger crowds for the forseeable future.

(Excuse the "ad talk", but that's what I do.)

Noooo!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, what is it that is making it more popular than ever NOW? People have said that it has been over the last 3 years that things have gotten busier each year. Is it really the "Family of 4" ads? Do you think those ads will stop when the celebration is over?

And btw, we had always planned on a trip, but the celebration DID make us speed it up. The castle, the buzz, we just wanted to be there at that time.

THanks again

Shel

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Noooo!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, what is it that is making it more popular than ever NOW? People have said that it has been over the last 3 years that things have gotten busier each year. Is it really the "Family of 4" ads? Do you think those ads will stop when the celebration is over?

And btw, we had always planned on a trip, but the celebration DID make us speed it up. The castle, the buzz, we just wanted to be there at that time.

THanks again

Shel

I think the real question you may want to ask- is it really busier NOW than it was pre-9/11? Because from what I gather- things were pretty good until then, then crowds took a nosedive and have worked their way up. The past few years higher and higher- the further we get from 9/11... the more people feel safer travelling to high-profile/high population areas like that... the more people that go.
Perhaps?
I guess I'm saying I'm not sure that it's busier now than it was pre 9/11.

Oh and btw- I agree with the person that the best advertisement it would seem is the price shown for family of 4. I even have friends who ask me -"wow, it's really that cheap to go? I had no idea.." There seems to be some mentality (perhaps from days past- I don't know why) that it's really expensive to take a WDW vacation- not necessarily so... depends on where you stay and how hard you work at getting discounts on various parts of the trip.
Now if only they'd remember that not all families are 4 or less... I bet they'd REALLY get busy if they had more rooms (especially some value) that accomodated 5 or 6 people and advertised vacations including 5 or 6 family groups instead of just 4... always with the 4. LOL Avg family is 2.5 children... you'd think they (and other companies too, not just them) would get a clue that if you only cater to families of 4- you're leaving about half of the families out of that equation... there's a reason it's avg family 2.5 children and not just avg family TWO. LOL

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Thanks. So does anyone know when the celebration officially ends?

Shel

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I'd probably say some of the earliest ads is was got the crowds even thicker than they were getting and the family of four ads continue to make the crowds grow. By earlier ads, I mean the ones with Goofy, Mickey, Donald, and Jiminy Cricket that advertised Soarin', Cinderellabration, and LMAX. Tied in with the whole "celebration" theme, it might have put some people in the mindset of "I have to go now! What if that's all gone when the celebration's over?" And from a financial standpoint, new/more stuff to see and do = a better value for your dollar.

Example: I'd just been in March 2004 and had no plans of goign back for a few years. This was before I was a Dis member or a reader of any Disney sites, so I had no idea about LMAX, the stage show, the castle decorations, or Soarin' (honestly didn't notice construction while at Epcot). Fast forward to post-March 2004 trip, and when I started reading the boards. By January 2005 I was bound and determined to go to WDW right after the celebration started to see the new things. And so, there I went in June. New rides/shows can be few and far between, so for there to be 3 things (plus Stitch, which wasn't open in March 04), and the castle decorations all debuting all at once (or thereabouts) made me want to go back pronto. I'd imagine it's the same for many people.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

The celebration is supposed to end in October of this year. I'm not sure if it is the beginning or end of it though.

 

[Shells9]

I think it's a combination of things, and I don't think attendance levels will drop all that much, for a number of reasons, many of which other people have already posted.

The pre/post 9-11 thing is a factor as are unbeatable airfares from discount carriers. Certainly increased marketing efforts and attractive "packaging" (dining options, Magical Express, Land/sea options with DCL) factor into it, too. I think we can expect numbers to stay pretty steady until the next drastic phase in the economy.

But, who am I?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

The economy also plays a part. If the economy continues to do well then consumer confidence will also get people in the parts.

Another factor is the dollars decline against the Euro, I was looking into a carribean vacation and when you convert to dollars.... That means less tourism into Europe and more tourists from Europe.

Just my opinion.

 

[Robo]

The economy also plays a part. If the economy continues to do well then consumer confidence will also get people in the parts.

Another factor is the dollars decline against the Euro, I was looking into a carribean vacation and when you convert to dollars.... That means less tourism into Europe and more tourists from Europe.

Just my opinion.

Why do you discount your stated facts and supported logic as "just" an opinion?

Its a logical point and you stated it well.

SPEAK UP!

 

[Ginamarie]

I think a big factor in the larger crowds is the way they're packaging things right now (and the advertising that goes along with that packaging). WDW has a lot of reasons not only to come to the parks (new attractions, etc), but also a lot of reasons to stay longer!!

Magic express makes it much cheaper to stay at WDW rather than rent a car and look into going to other places in the area. The new ticket packaging systems make it much cheaper per day the more days you spend in the parks. The new Disney Dining Plan gives people a prepaid meal option, which appeals to the ever-growing crowd who loves "all-inclusive" options.

Another reason I think that WDW has been so popular this year has been the low air rates to get to FL. Part of this is due to the ramification of 9-11, but there are several "discount" airlines that can fly you to Orlando MUCH cheaper than you used to be able to fly there. Once again, this can encourage a longer stay in WDW (with less travel time you can spend more days in the parks). I know this is true for a lot of people in my area (NYC/Long Island) who can fly to Orlando for $100-$150 roundtrip rather than worrying about spending 20-24 hours driving, being crammed together in a car, having to spend the night in a hotel along the way, etc.

I think the crowds will probably be higher for awhile now.