Why can't this be done?

[dbriggsq]

When we're at WDW and staying on site I'm always stressing about which would be the best park to go to on any one day i.e. which would be the least crowded.

Wouldn't it be great if information from the turnstiles of each park could be relayed to all the on-site hotels and displayed on an information board giving the appoximate numbers of people who are already in that particular park and so one could make a more informed decision. It would help to even out the numbers in each park and so increase everyone's enjoyment. It would be particularly helpful if, say, you had gone to the hotel pool for an afternoon rest and were then deciding which park to go to in the evening.

I presume the turnstiles do record how many people have entered on that day - how difficult would it be to relay this information electronically?

Just a thought!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Even if Disney did that (and it would probably be a logistical nightmare), I seriously doubt this information would do much to change anyone's plans. Some people are planners and by golly, if it's Tuesday, we're headed to MK regardless. Others are more spontaneous and wake up to say, gee, it's Thursday so let's go to Epcot. Then there are the park-hoppers who may switch parks 2 or more times in a single day.

With EMH a.m. and p.m. available, I don't think you'd see too many people standing in front of a board with numbers whizzing around like a display of the national debt -- trying to decide which park has the fewest people. I wouldn't give it the first, let alone a second, glance.

 

[Stitch Inside]

I think it's a good idea. They post wait times for rides. Why not some kind of posting at the resorts for which parks are the most and least full? Or maybe just a board at each resort with the current popular rides' wait times from each park. We can judge from that how crowded it may be. I agree that getting data from the turnstyles would be a logistical nightmare, but why not use data they already have?

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Disney has never published attendance numbers and probably never will.

The most I have ever seen is statistics that state if a parks attendance was a certain percentage higher or lower than the year before.

May a rating system such as provided by the UG, but I doubt many people would even pay attention.

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

I also think that posting the wait times for major rides at the hotels is a good idea. You can get a feel for what to expect.

 

[ducklite]

That's confidential business intelligence.

On top of that, 30,000 people in MGM is going to feel a lot different than 30,000 people in Epcot or the AK.

Anne

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm sure Disney has those numbers readily available, but as Ducklite mentioned, they would be considered confidential. If you check out some of the unofficial guide books, they will give you some information on which parks to avoid on which days. And I don't think that comes from any Disney input, strictly the authors own personal observations. I think that's the best your going to get though.

Not everyone would use that information to decide which "Disney" park to attend that day either. If someone had their heart set on experiencing some of the thrill rides at the MK or Epcot and those parks appear crowded, instead of settling for animal viewing at AK, they might just hop in their car and take their business to Universal. Plus, with internet service and message boards, those capacity numbers would be public knowledge to off site and day guests in a matter of seconds. They can do it, but in the long run, it doesn't make good business sense.

 

[sugermouse]

Better yet, wouldn't it be nice to know how many stalls are available in the bathroom before you walk in........?

 

[tone.def]

I saw on Allearsnet about attendance and what parks are historically busier on what days and I go by that... I don't know how accurate these stats are, but I always go in value season, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not. I bet now everyone will go check that list out and the dyas that are supposed to be quiter will now be busier...

 

[Mysteria]

That's confidential business intelligence.

On top of that, 30,000 people in MGM is going to feel a lot different than 30,000 people in Epcot or the AK.

Anne

ITA!

Further to that if Disney did post the amount of people in each park it is likely that the least full may become the most full in a hurry. Just like when Pal Mickey says the wait time for a ride is short. How many people just got that message?! lol Well by the time you get there it will have changed!

Just my .02

Myst

 

[golfgal]

Also, by the time you left your hotel, got into the park and to that ride, it would change. We saw wait times change from 10 minutes to 50 minutes in a matter of seconds. Epcot does have a board that shows what the wait times are for the most popular rides near the entrance, but that is about it.

 

[swilphil]

Also, by the time you left your hotel, got into the park and to that ride, it would change. We saw wait times change from 10 minutes to 50 minutes in a matter of seconds. Epcot does have a board that shows what the wait times are for the most popular rides near the entrance, but that is about it.

I think that's the main problem. People already complain about so many little things. I'm sure the CMs don't want to listen to, "When I left my resort, the board said there was no line."

I do think it would be fun if all the parks had more boards that showed what the wait times are on different rides so you don't have to always traipse across the park to see.