Attendance Tracker

[Galaxy Defender]

Rereading his words brought some new insight.

additional “margin expansion possibilities” by improving efficiency

Sounds like more budget cuts coming.

advanced bookings are relatively strong.

When you use the word relatively in front of strong you are hedging your bets. Relatively strong compared to what? It sounds good but is intentionally vague. When people in charge are vague there is usually a reason why.

 

[anihilnation]

When you use the word relatively in front of strong you are hedging your bets. Relatively strong compared to what? It sounds good but is intentionally vague. When people in charge are vague there is usually a reason why.

Good point, it adds confusion and takes away from what is meant by strong. In reality what he is saying is that they are ok with the advanced bookings even though they wish they were better.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah, same with his Zika response. Hidden meanings & double speak.

 

[Disneyhead]

I think it's more along the lines of the price hikes have worked towards their intentions, less people going but still making more money. The economy is getting stronger (not an opinion, just solid facts from economical reports), which means people will be able to afford higher prices to attend WDW; I think we can take his word about advanced bookings being relatively strong. Either way, I'm all for them investing more money in attractions.

At Disneyland's 3 hotels the pre bookings at fantastic. At WDW's 28 hotels it's not so great. Thus the "relatively".

 

[Galaxy Defender]

At Disneyland's 3 hotels the pre bookings at fantastic. At WDW's 28 hotels it's not so great. Thus the "relatively".

Great point. Iger is mixing the domestic parks together again to hide the weakness of WDW. Fortunately, DL is more than willing to tell us how well they are doing. We then do the math and know the situation at WDW.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

At Disneyland's 3 hotels the pre bookings at fantastic. At WDW's 28 hotels it's not so great. Thus the "relatively".

Before or after they close whole wings and sections of the resorts?

 

[darkridelover]

Have we considered price point when talking about attendance fluctuations? This new seasonal pricing really raised prices around the only times most Americans can travel. Part of the reasoning for the pricing structure is to spread out crowds from busy times to off season times. But that's just not how people plan vacations. For a majority of people, the whole family can get together for Spring Break, Summer, or Christmas and a few long weekend holidays a year. All of those times at WDW have the highest tier pricing and people look at it and decide they can't afford it and find an alternative. We could be seeing many middle class families priced out of a WDW vacation during the only periods they can take one.

 

[shiekra38]

Have we considered price point when talking about attendance fluctuations? This new seasonal pricing really raised prices around the only times most Americans can travel. Part of the reasoning for the pricing structure is to spread out crowds from busy times to off season times. But that's just not how people plan vacations. For a majority of people, the whole family can get together for Spring Break, Summer, or Christmas and a few long weekend holidays a year. All of those times at WDW have the highest tier pricing and people look at it and decide they can't afford it and find an alternative. We could be seeing many middle class families priced out of a WDW vacation during the only periods they can take one.

Everyone wondered when we'd hit the point where a vast majority simply couldn't afford going...Perhaps the time has finally reached us...Pair with that nothing new and no reason to really visit the 'same old, same old', I understand the attendance decline

 

[Mad Dog]

Have we considered price point when talking about attendance fluctuations? This new seasonal pricing really raised prices around the only times most Americans can travel. Part of the reasoning for the pricing structure is to spread out crowds from busy times to off season times. But that's just not how people plan vacations. For a majority of people, the whole family can get together for Spring Break, Summer, or Christmas and a few long weekend holidays a year. All of those times at WDW have the highest tier pricing and people look at it and decide they can't afford it and find an alternative. We could be seeing many middle class families priced out of a WDW vacation during the only periods they can take one.

I may be wrong but I thought that seasonal pricing was just for single day tickets. I would imagine the vast majority of tourists are buying multi day tickets, which I don't think have changed.

 

[jtsalien]

I may be wrong but I thought that seasonal pricing was just for single day tickets. I would imagine the vast majority of tourists are buying multi day tickets, which I don't think have changed.

That would be correct. IMO, price point is irrelevant anyway. It's whether or not it's a priority for families.

 

[IzzyB]

Have we considered price point when talking about attendance fluctuations? This new seasonal pricing really raised prices around the only times most Americans can travel. Part of the reasoning for the pricing structure is to spread out crowds from busy times to off season times. But that's just not how people plan vacations. For a majority of people, the whole family can get together for Spring Break, Summer, or Christmas and a few long weekend holidays a year. All of those times at WDW have the highest tier pricing and people look at it and decide they can't afford it and find an alternative. We could be seeing many middle class families priced out of a WDW vacation during the only periods they can take one.

This excuse of peak season pricing is just silly. They only peak season price 1 day tickets and passholders. The majority of guests in the park on any given day don't fall into either of these categories.

 

[SeventyOne]

This excuse of peak season pricing is just silly. They only peak season price 1 day tickets and passholders. The majority of guests in the park on any given day don't fall into either of these categories.

Again, I was shocked but I've learned first-hand the majority of WDW guests DO still buy 1-day tickets. Never confuse online expert world with the real world.

 

[IzzyB]

Does anyone know what is going on at Sea World today? It is so busy we can't get into the parking lot. Been here in the area since 11:10 and still not at parking booth.

 

[WAJAS]

Does anyone know what is going on at Sea World today? It is so busy we can't get into the parking lot. Been here in the area since 11:10 and still not at parking booth.

Is it the first weekend of their Halloween thing? That and their Christmas event get extremely popular. Otherwise, they host conventions there, so it might be that.

 

[IzzyB]

Is it the first weekend of their Halloween thing? That and their Christmas event get extremely popular. Otherwise, they host conventions there, so it might be that.

Nope, not until next week. So we finally got out of line and gave up. When driving past we discovered that even though half the parking lot was empty they were parking people across the street. Which is what was causing the delay since people had to stop while traffic crossed. Really bad plan and I don't know why they were doing this. We are trying again tomorrow.

Wanted to add we have been there during Christmas and Halloween and never have seen anything close to this issue.

 

[WAJAS]

Nope, not until next week. So we finally got out of line and gave up. When driving past we discovered that even though half the parking lot was empty they were parking people across the street. Which is what was causing the delay since people had to stop while traffic crossed. Really bad plan and I don't know why they were doing this. We are trying again tomorrow.

Wow... I don't even know how to describe how inefficient that is. I assume it was because the half of the lot you saw was preferred parking.

Wanted to add we have been there during Christmas and Halloween and never have seen anything close to this issue.

Same here.

 

[IzzyB]

Wow... I don't even know how to describe how inefficient that is. I assume it was because the half of the lot you saw was preferred parking.

Same here.

No it was not. I know where preferred parks. This was the side lot and the 5 or 6 rows before the side lot that were empty. Preferred had cars in it, but was not overflowing. The only thing we could think of was that port of calls was having a major evening event and wanted those parking spots for that. But still was odd the side lot was not being used. It seemed the empty rows started a little past port of calls going towards that side lot.

 

[IzzyB]

well went again today and this time we got in ok because they were parking normally, but wow, the park was crowded. 40 for manta, 40 for Mako, the walking part of Antarctica was 45 minutes, the ride 55. paths were pretty packed too. I was shocked for a Sunday with no special events other than bring a friend. So Sea world had an odd busy weekend and not everyone was passholders. lots of foreign people it seemed. Wonder what was up to make a random weekend in spetember so busy.

 

[WAJAS]

well went again today and this time we got in ok because they were parking normally, but wow, the park was crowded. 40 for manta, 40 for Mako, the walking part of Antarctica was 45 minutes, the ride 55. paths were pretty packed too. I was shocked for a Sunday with no special events other than bring a friend. So Sea world had an odd busy weekend and not everyone was passholders. lots of foreign people it seemed. Wonder what was up to make a random weekend in spetember so busy.

I'm pretty sure there must have been a convention at OCCC or Ports of Call visiting the park as I have heard about the long lines this weekend from multiple people. It's very odd for this time of year (before Halloween stuff and after Labor Day).

So Antarctica was open today, did you notice anything different about it at all? New effects? Fixed old effects? Anything?

 

[Teebin]

lots of foreign people it seemed. Wonder what was up to make a random weekend in spetember so busy.

It's all those folks from Scotland... damn their heinies...

And their demands for haggis... What's next, tatties and neeps? The cold war of food in the USA.