News Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

[KingEric]

Attendance at Walt Disney World was down slightly for the year, but the turnout at Disneyland in California — which opened a "Cars"-themed attraction earlier this year — was strong enough to offset that decline and generate a 3 percent increase in domestic-park attendance, said Jay Rasulo, the company's senior executive vice president and chief financial officer. Domestic-hotel occupancy was down slightly for the year, to 78 percent, in part because of the opening this summer of Disney's Art of Animation Resort in Central Florida, which added almost 2,000 rooms to Disney World's inventory.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...ue-theme-parks

So is this the clear indicator that TDO needs to invest and invest heavily into WDW?

[wiigirl]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Maybe...Cars Land is a pretty strong draw imho.

[KingEric]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Or Avatarland will be our saving grace!

[Darth Goofy]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Or Avatarland will be our saving grace!

Still wish they would have planned Avatarland in DHS. DHS would have been a better home for this land since its a hodge podge of movie stuff. Bring Indyland to Animal Kingdom, Relocate the Indy stunt show and bring 2 attractions, one from DL and one from DLP and you got yourself a real Potter Swatter...

[KingEric]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

I am still crossing my fingers that they relocate the Festival of the Lion King and not simply close it. However I know contracts are not looking to get renewed by the cast there.

I really want WDW to be the place of Broadway Caliber shows.

[JCSkipr79]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

But Belle's Reading Rainbow and Mermaid was supposed to save us from DL AND Uni. Oh my...what EVER could have gone wrong. I thought guests LOVED 10yrs of marketing campaigns

[flynnibus]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

So is this the clear indicator that TDO needs to invest and invest heavily into WDW?

I think just the opposite actually.. when they have to make statements saying all their increases in revenue were offset by higher operating costs... there is pressure to shy away from increasing operating costs.

WDW already has several buns in the oven... I think we'll see a return of higher discounting and more marketing to try to boost things.

---------- Post added 11-09-2012 at 12:09 PM ----------

I am still crossing my fingers that they relocate the Festival of the Lion King and not simply close it. However I know contracts are not looking to get renewed by the cast there.

They are having casting calls for the show next week... its not going away. Moved.. sure, but autions are Nov 12

[almandot]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Seems unfair to use Art of Animation opening to effect the occupancy percentage for the year.. So unfair that I think they're using it as an excuse :P

[mess98]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

New FL should dramatically increase attendance. I know it doesn't seem like much... but people who haven't visited in 20+ years might find it a nice addition.

[Santana]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

But Belle's Reading Rainbow and Mermaid was supposed to save us from DL AND Uni. Oh my...what EVER could have gone wrong. I thought guests LOVED 10yrs of marketing campaigns

You're such a troll. Neither of those attractions are even open to the general public at this point. And these figures are for the fiscal year of 2012, which ended on September 29, almost two weeks before those attractions soft opened. Also, neither of those attractions were intended to "save us" from Universal. The only reason they were added were to increase capacity.

[Wild Ol' Dan]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Howdy Pards,

Well...this seems easy to see...there is a direct relation between decreased attendance and increased prices. Many families are staying away as long as they can now...because they simply cannot afford not to stay away. I.E. Disney costs too much! Pure and simple.

Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail.

Wild Ol' Dan

[KingEric]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

I agree that they have crossed the value proposition threshold

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Before the new Fantasyland expansion the last major addition to The Magic Kingdom was Splash Mountain in 1992. Back then a one day ticket was $34 which is roughly $54 in today money. In reality a one day ticket is $89. This doesn't even take into account that before 2005 tickets never expired by default instead of being an added extra that needed to be purchased at an additional cost.

I guess everything has gotten more expensive than just adjustment for inflation, but it's a little hard to justify such an increase without really adding anything. Even the new big Fantasyland adds exactly zero attractions. The other parks are even worse. Epcot and Hollywood Studios actually offer less than they used to. The maintenance issue also does the opposite of justify the regular price increases which themselves have even gotten larger.

[Bronco21]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Before the new Fantasyland expansion the last major addition to The Magic Kingdom was Splash Mountain in 1992. Back then a one day ticket was $34 which is roughly $54 in today money. In reality a one day ticket is $89. This doesn't even take into account that before 2005 tickets never expired by default instead of being an added extra that needed to be purchased at an additional cost.

I guess everything has gotten more expensive than just adjustment for inflation, but it's a little hard to justify such an increase without really adding anything. Even the new big Fantasyland adds exactly zero attractions. The other parks are even worse. Epcot and Hollywood Studios actually offer less than they used to. The maintenance issue also does the opposite of justify the regular price increases which themselves have even gotten larger.

This! They are offering less for the price of more. They have not added anything major to MK since I was 3! Ridiculous. Prices continue to rise and offerings continue to drop in both count and quality. I'm surprised they don't have a marketing campaign out touting their brand new e-ticket in future world... Aka the lipstick on a pig test track 2.0. It was just a matter of time until the masses started to realize the quality has declined while the prices have just continued to steadily climb.

[ORD84]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Before the new Fantasyland expansion the last major addition to The Magic Kingdom was Splash Mountain in 1992. Back then a one day ticket was $34 which is roughly $54 in today money. In reality a one day ticket is $89. This doesn't even take into account that before 2005 tickets never expired by default instead of being an added extra that needed to be purchased at an additional cost.

I guess everything has gotten more expensive than just adjustment for inflation, but it's a little hard to justify such an increase without really adding anything. Even the new big Fantasyland adds exactly zero attractions. The other parks are even worse. Epcot and Hollywood Studios actually offer less than they used to. The maintenance issue also does the opposite of justify the regular price increases which themselves have even gotten larger.

Yeah I think that the general public is jumping off of the bandwagon before it goes over the cliff..

Personally I know next July for our weekend trip we're staying on property but not going to any of the parks, just not worth it in our opinion this is the second time I've gone and used our DVC membership in Florida and haven't gone to the parks for any amount of time, it doesn't hold the same draw as it once did. We still have fun, but we can enjoy ourselves just as much playing a round of golf(and save a couple of hundred bucks as well)

[KingEric]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

May I recommend you spend a day at Universal Studios and Seaworld

[ORD84]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

May I recommend you spend a day at Universal Studios and Seaworld

Already paid for the golf :-( and it's alot more relaxing for us because July 4th weekend in a theme park always = lines longer than Rapunsel's hair...

[Witches of Morva]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

ORWEN: Well, I understand what you're saying, ORD84, duckling. But if you don't go to the Magic Kingdom you won't get to see Rapunzel's hair--and she's been washing and brushing it all this time just for you!!

[KingEric]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Already paid for the golf :-( and it's alot more relaxing for us because July 4th weekend in a theme park always = lines longer than Rapunsel's hair...

i agree that there are a lot of things outside the parks. Sally they keep reducing all those activities. So much of the resort specific entertainment has been cut in the past 10 years

[Wild Ol' Dan]

Re: Walt Disney World Attendance Down for 2012

Howdy Pards,

Current Disney management logic: Attendance in down so we must raise prices to offset the reduction in income caused by decreasing attendance.

Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail.

Wild Ol' Dan