Attendance Tracker

[Scott W.]

When we exchange currency in a TA most of them give you a handy little printout to put in your wallet that has a conversion table showing $1=£0.80 $1.50=£1.20 etc etc

I asked for one before I travelled and they said they didn't have any because the exchange rate has been that unpredictable they didn't want to waste money printing something that would be outdated in a few days.

 

[Wolf359]

I asked for one before I travelled and they said they didn't have any because the exchange rate has been that unpredictable they didn't want to waste money printing something that would be outdated in a few days.

Really, Thomson just automatically print it as part of your receipt based on the exchange rate you had on the day

 

[Teebin]

I suppose a calculator would be in order these days.

 

[Wolf359]

I suppose a calculator would be in order these days.

Nah! An app for your phone

 

[Scott W.]

Really, Thomson just automatically print it as part of your receipt based on the exchange rate you had on the day

It was a smaller company I used, they helped me out a hole a few years ago and I always use them when I can. They use business cards with the table on the other side.

How did you find the exchange rate at Thomsons?

 

[Wolf359]

It was a smaller company I used, they helped me out a hole a few years ago and I always use them when I can. They use business cards with the table on the other side.

How did you find the exchange rate at Thomsons?

I usually take a stroll around the various bureaux and then get Thomson to beat the best. If I have time I'll order online instead as it's usually a better rate

 

[Galaxy Defender]

Been so busy lately haven't had a chance to post to this thread. I've seen some interesting attendance tidbits but might have to do some it by memory instead of links. Conference calls and financial reports will be out early next month for the July-September 4th quarter. The wild card in this will be the park closings for the hurricane. My guess is Universal will be up a bit. Things seemed to pick up once Hulk and Kong opened. Sea World Orlando was up 4% in July with the opening of Mako but no clue after that.

Factoring in shifting holidays and DL attendance WDW was down around 4% the past couple quarters compared to 3-4% up the previous year. They have basically been giving up the gains of 2015. July-Sept quarter last year they were up 7%. If the pattern holds true that would put them down 7% this past quarter. Not sure it will be that bad, but being up against such a strong quarter last year is going to make it look bad now. Fox News had a recent story about the attendance decline but I can't find a link.

WDW offered a couple of interesting deals. One was a discount on the dining plan. I think it was $5 off per day, but it was offered not just to resort/Disney Springs guests, but to anyone staying at a WDW Good Neighbor hotel. This includes the cheap hotels on 192. Never seen that before. Another is a free month with a 12 month annual pass. Last time I remember anything like that was three free months with AP back during the Great Recession. Passholders are getting additional discounts.

WDW is still being used as a Disney cash cow. None of the offers for WDW cost them much money. They have not offered the kind of deals that will move attendance much. Another quarter of attendance decline will definitely get the stories going, especially with the declines at the overseas Disney parks.

Here is a UK article about the falling pound making travel more expensive.
Pound value crash causes more exchange rate woes for holidaymakers as tourist attraction prices soar | The Independent

Anyone know how many dates for MNSSHP sold out? I know that HHN has done well.

 

[SeventyOne]

Passholders are getting additional discounts.

Feel like you glossed over that. Doubled AP discount on merch. And all but gutted the Tables in Wonderland program. Sure, not quite the same--not good on booze, no valet, a couple fave restaurants not included--but my friends who dropped $150 on TiW were not thrilled to hear about this. It definitely feels like a desperation move.

Anyone know how many dates for MNSSHP sold out? I know that HHN has done well.

I don't pay close attention, but at least two have, but sell-outs have been the exception, not the rule. Also one party was cancelled for Matthew, no make-up.

 

[MrRoamer]

Feel like you glossed over that. Doubled AP discount on merch. And all but gutted the Tables in Wonderland program. Sure, not quite the same--not good on booze, no valet, a couple fave restaurants not included--but my friends who dropped $150 on TiW were not thrilled to hear about this. It definitely feels like a desperation move.



I don't pay close attention, but at least two have, but sell-outs have been the exception, not the rule. Also one party was cancelled for Matthew, no make-up.

They seriously made TiW more expensive (again?!?!) and reduced the quality of it? I seriously don't get changing the structure, I am not a big eater and trying to get me to do a Disney buffet (not counting Ohana, Whispering Canyon, or Cape May's) is like pulling teeth. The only reason I let the wife talk me into it was because of that TiW card.

 

[SeventyOne]

They seriously made TiW more expensive (again?!?!) and reduced the quality of it? I seriously don't get changing the structure, I am not a big eater and trying to get me to do a Disney buffet (not counting Ohana, Whispering Canyon, or Cape May's) is like pulling teeth. The only reason I let the wife talk me into it was because of that TiW card.

Was still $150 last time I checked, but now APs--and what's the point of having TiW if you're not an AP--get 20% off a huge selection of restaurants. Essentially TiW for APs covers drinks and valet parking. Still potentially a good deal if you drink enough, but a lot of friends would have just stuck with the now "free" 20% discount.

Makes life tougher for servers, too--no auto-gratutity. I bet at least 80% tip on the discounted bill, not the full bill.

 

[Yabbadabba Doh]

I don't pay close attention, but at least two have, but sell-outs have been the exception, not the rule. Also one party was cancelled for Matthew, no make-up.

Actually there were two parties cancelled (Thursday and Friday nights)
I was originally scheduled for the Friday night party and had no trouble booking the following Monday night party. I was told it was extra crowded that night since they may have allowed the number of guests to exceed their target due to the 2 lost parties, but I have no confirmation if that was actually the case.

 

[MrRoamer]

Was still $150 last time I checked, but now APs--and what's the point of having TiW if you're not an AP--get 20% off a huge selection of restaurants. Essentially TiW for APs covers drinks and valet parking. Still potentially a good deal if you drink enough, but a lot of friends would have just stuck with the now "free" 20% discount.

Makes life tougher for servers, too--no auto-gratutity. I bet at least 80% tip on the discounted bill, not the full bill.

Ahh ok good to know, Thanks! I think last time I bought the TiW it was $100 or so. Good to know that AP gets you the 20% discount now, will end up saving me some money most likely.

 

[Galaxy Defender]

Disney stock chart for the past year.


Comcast stock chart for the past year


Disney bottomed in February. Comcast bottomed in January. Comcast rebounded nicely and is up for the year. Disney is close to its year low. Nuff said.

 

[DoubleJ]

Disney stock chart for the past year.
View attachment 3254

Comcast stock chart for the past year
View attachment 3256

Disney bottomed in February. Comcast bottomed in January. Comcast rebounded nicely and is up for the year. Disney is close to its year low. Nuff said.

And...the stock market is a rather pointless metric to judge the success of a company, and it certainly isn't representative of actual results. In case you don't follow DIS stock, analysts are worried about ESPN's future growth, a problem, that thus far hasn't presented itself. Secondly, Universal Parks represents such a small percent of Comcast's revenue, that even 50% growth would be a blip on the radar.

Not saying your conclusion is wrong, but the path taken is.

 

[Galaxy Defender]

And...the stock market is a rather pointless metric to judge the success of a company, and it certainly isn't representative of actual results. In case you don't follow DIS stock, analysts are worried about ESPN's future growth, a problem, that thus far hasn't presented itself. Secondly, Universal Parks represents such a small percent of Comcast's revenue, that even 50% growth would be a blip on the radar.

Not saying your conclusion is wrong, but the path taken is.

I just happened to run across the Disney chart then looked up the Comcast for comparison. No conclusion, just charts.



It does speak to a side issue. Walt Disney World has been seen as the Cash Cow of the Disney company for a while. In order for them to address the attendance problem they would need to sacrifice profit. Disney wants to boost its stock price so they need every bit of profit they can get from Walt Disney World. Therefore they are not doing nearly as much as they could to address the attendance decline.

 

[JoeCamel]

And...the stock market is a rather pointless metric to judge the success of a company, and it certainly isn't representative of actual results. In case you don't follow DIS stock, analysts are worried about ESPN's future growth, a problem, that thus far hasn't presented itself. Secondly, Universal Parks represents such a small percent of Comcast's revenue, that even 50% growth would be a blip on the radar.

Not saying your conclusion is wrong, but the path taken is.

Well $DIS is all the company and CMCSA is all the company so it is a fair comparison. In one company the parks are weighted more than the other but the companies as a whole seem to be diverging. Maybe all that spending on improvements is hitting $DIS bottom line but CMCSA is opening a new attraction every year along with building a new park.

Seems like apples to apples to me

 

[DoubleJ]

I just happened to run across the Disney chart then looked up the Comcast for comparison. No conclusion, just charts.



It does speak to a side issue. Walt Disney World has been seen as the Cash Cow of the Disney company for a while. In order for them to address the attendance problem they would need to sacrifice profit. Disney wants to boost its stock price so they need every bit of profit they can get from Walt Disney World. Therefore they are not doing nearly as much as they could to address the attendance decline.

Sorry, I mistook your meaning. In terms of WDW's future growth, the next 5 to 10 years is going be absolutely explosive. It appears that future WDW investment is looking quite handsome, to say the least. I can't say anything else, however.

Well $DIS is all the company and CMCSA is all the company so it is a fair comparison. In one company the parks are weighted more than the other but the companies as a whole seem to be diverging. Maybe all that spending on improvements is hitting $DIS bottom line but CMCSA is opening a new attraction every year along with building a new park.

Seems like apples to apples to me

It's completely fair to compare the stock prices, just don't draw any performance conclusions from it. The rise and fall of stock prices isn't indicative of actual company performance at all. That is particularly evident with Disney's stock. Looking at actual quarterly results, if the stock performance was based solely on company performance DIS stock shouldn't be sinking at all. But fears over ESPN's future-fears that thus far haven't come to fruition-have taken a toll on the stock this year. Disney is building far more than 1 attraction per year on average and just opened a brand new park. If you're going to compare the stock prices of global companies, you must compare their global output, not simply the Orlando market. Though Disney is stepping up their game big time in the domestic parks over the next 10 years. I think it is safe to say the giant has awakened. Again, won't say anything else.

 

[quinnmac000]

And...the stock market is a rather pointless metric to judge the success of a company, and it certainly isn't representative of actual results. In case you don't follow DIS stock, analysts are worried about ESPN's future growth, a problem, that thus far hasn't presented itself. Secondly, Universal Parks represents such a small percent of Comcast's revenue, that even 50% growth would be a blip on the radar.

Not saying your conclusion is wrong, but the path taken is.

The parks are part of the reasons the stock stays doing well. It doesn't matter the revenue they bring, its the growth of the parks that caused the spike even with the films being put out not doing so well this year. Every report Comcast has put out has always included a huge blurb about the theme parks being a huge growth area compared to others.

 

[DoubleJ]

The parks are part of the reasons the stock stays doing well. It doesn't matter the revenue they bring, its the growth of the parks that caused the spike even with the films being put out not doing so well this year. Every report Comcast has put out has always included a huge blurb about the theme parks being a huge growth area compared to others.

In every quarterly report, by any public company, they'll emphasize the strengths of the business. At present, the Universal Parks are big strengths in Comcast's business, so of course that's what they'll do. Disney has been quick, and thorough in pointing out the strength of their studio recently (Despite the fact that WDW alone generates more revenue than the studio does globally). Yet, all investors seem to care about is ESPN. Similarly, Comcast investors honestly don't give a rat's right now about theme park revenue and profit, they'd be far, far happier about a 2% net growth in cable subscribers, than they'd be by a 50% increase in theme park attendance.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I'm not sure how WDW does the restaurant discounts for APs now, but you might want to check the fine print when comparing it to TiW.

Back when we use to visit and they had a 10% off at some restaurants, I found out the hard way that the discount was only on entries. We went to a place that had the 10% discount for APs and my wife decided to have two appetizers instead of an entry, my daughter had a 'meal' off the kids menu, and I had a regular meal. We also had a desert to split.

Well, sodas cost a lot at restaurants as well and I was a little shocked that the 10% discount on a $100+ dinner was under $3 and that was when I learned that my entree was the only thing the discount was good for! (I know I can be cheap at times, but I totally misunderstood what the 10% discount was for back then).