Disney World Reports Flat Attendance

[The Interpreter]

Attendance at Walt Disney World remained largely unchanged this summer, Disney disclosed Friday, even as overall tourist traffic into Orlando began climbing with the opening of Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Disney said its Orlando theme-park attendance was "within a percentage point" of last year's total during the company's fiscal fourth quarter, after adjusting for the effect of an accounting quirk that left this year's fourth quarter with one less week than last year's.

The grudging disclosure came only after inquiries from the Orlando Sentinel about why the Walt Disney Co. did not report Disney World's attendance during a Nov. 11 conference call to discuss the company's quarterly earnings or in its year-end financial report, filed late Wednesday with federal regulators. In both instances, Disney reported year-over-year changes in attendance only for its two U.S. theme-park resorts combined.

It was the first quarter in at least five years that Disney had not disclosed separate attendance trends for Disney World in Central Florida and Disneyland in Southern California.

The move prompted speculation among many industry followers that Disney executives were attempting to avoid having Disney World's performance contrasted with results at Universal Orlando, where attendance has skyrocketed 36 percent since the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park. Wizarding World formally opened June 18, just before the beginning of Disney's fiscal fourth quarter, which ran from July 4 until Oct. 2....

Much more at:

http://articles.orla...oman-kim-prunty

[CoastersRZ]

Other than the renovations going on at Magic Kingdom, and the new Little Mermaid ride at Disney`s Hollywood Studios, are there any new E ticket attractions planned at Walt Disney World? Part of the problem, I think, is that Island`s of Adventure opened a big new project, and mos of the Disney parks down there are relying on their newest offerings being a couple years old. I mean, what was the newest thing that has been added to EPCOT, besides that new Italian restaurant? At Animal Kingdom, I`m pretty sure it was Expedition Everest, and that is a few years old now (I rode it back in September of 2008). It is hard to compete with a shiny new toy, when all of your newest toys are a few years old.

[bkroz]

Exactly! And Disney World faces the same issues that any destination park faces - how can you build new attractions in an order and to a given caliber that will require people to return more often? The fact of the matter is, no matter how fun it may be, I just don't think many people find Toy Story Mania as incentive enough to plan an entire Florida vacation. In all fairness I think for the most part, Disney World took last year off. Because there was flat out no way that anyone could construct anything that would be more of a draw than The Wizarding World. That was known and accepted. And truly, Disney World is at a disadvantage here. Can you think of another intellectual property that currently has as much draw, worth, and potential longevity as Harry Potter? Can you think of another film franchise in which all six sequels have opened at number one? Not Mickey Mouse, The Little Mermaid, Twilight, nor any other film franchise I can think of (regardless of how beloved) would I expect to boost a theme park's attendance by 36% - except Harry Potter.

I think Disney will be reeling from this for a few years. The Fantasyland expansion is a very nice thing, and I'm sure it will be beautiful. I don't doubt that, to a degree, it will fulfill its role of drawing in the young girls where Wizarding World draws in the young boys. The problem is, those young girls will almost certainly become pre-teen girls and will find themselves much more interested in wizard magic than princess magic... So it's not necessarily a long term fix. So who knows? Disney will come up with something. But to me, the Fantasyland effort feels weak. A new Little Mermaid ride? It would be a feat if it were a 4D hybrid like Spiderman (which is easily and creatively could've been) or a motion-base ride like Dinosaur. Instead, it's a black-light style, omnimover dark ride just like the other four dark rides in Fantasyland. It'll be charming and beautiful, I'm sure, but is that really their big retaliation against Harry Potter?

[muppetfan1999]

^Maybe something based of of Lord of the Rings? (Of course, the chances that Disney would ever acquire the rights to Lord of the Rings are very slim in my eyes)

[CoastersRZ]

And not everyone is a fan of Lord of the Rings. I was never really into LotR. I was far more into Harry Potter than Lord of the Rings. And I`m not going to lie, I read every single Harry Potter book. (Over one summer while also working 40+ hours a week). And I am also not going to lie when I say I would love to get down to Islands of Adventure and experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in person.

[Avatar]

OK I am going to come at this from another angle. Disney World markets itself as a destination vacation spot to be enjoyed every few years, while at the same time enjoy the luxury of having a very loyal fan base who choose to visit on a more regular basis. Back during the 2001 tourist destination collapse, Disney relied heavily on its very loyal fan base and offered deep discounts to those who came often through their annual pass. During the past couple years of economical challenges Disney did not offer as deep of discounts as they did percentage wise as they did several years back to either their loyal fans or to the General public. They announced they had learned from there past and knew how to control cost through cost saving measures, basically cutting out some of the back-up show, middle management positions and so forth while saying that the public will not notice. They even announced late last year that they would not need to offer as deep of discounts as they have the prior few years as it looked like the economy and room occupancy was improving. It was almost like they were wishing for a quicker turn around and thought that if they made a statement like that then everyone would run to the phones to book a great deal when in actuality they were just average discounts. I do not believe that scheme worked well for them as this article shows they are still flat. Add all that to a growing number of visitors who have noticed the cut backs and feel that some of the special Disney Magic is farther in between than it once was and that paying rates twice the amount with less services than their rival across town with a shinny new toy ( Harry Potter) then you have a Olio mix for loyal fans to run across town and enjoy something new. I Think Disney over played their hand and took their loyal fans for granted. I know without a doubt Disney World will realize their misfortune and will figure a way to win back their straying fans. I do believe that the new Fantsyland area in Magic Kingdom will be hard to avoid for any parent of a young princess as they will want their princess to have a fairytale day, if you doubt that just go read Railriders trip report to Disnyland.

To be honest at this moment I do not have a standing reservation to return to Disney and this is a first time in many years for that. I think Disney World is a great value compared to other other destinations parks but at this point a bit pricey if they are going to play it safe and not offer the Disney Magic moments as much to help save cost, because when they cut that back then they are just another amusement park and they will find they have others waiting for loyal customers to try what they have. I think Disney needs to understand guests did not mind paying more for their vacation at Disney just as long as they got the full experience. Basically give the people what they want and they will happily pay for it, even in a down economy.

CoastersRZ; I hear this time of year is a good time to go without the huge summer crowds. come to think about I suddenly have a craving for a frozen Butter Beer.

[The Interpreter]

In Avatar's very wise post, there is a lesson, or two or three, for seasonal operators, too...especially for, say, Mr. Kinzel, Mr. Reid-Anderson and Mr. Weber. The Herschends seem to have already attended the graduate level course...as has the SeaWorld organization, though a bit of backsliding can be noted at that last one...

[vortexfan]

I think Avatar's post is pretty much spot on. Also factor in that the Potter Island had huge national and worldwide attention, so it's possible that many tourists who usually patronize Disney perhaps tried out Universal for the first time.

CoastersRZ; I hear this time of year is a good time to go without the huge summer crowds. come to think about I suddenly have a craving for a frozen Butter Beer.

This is true, a few years ago I went to the Orlando parks in early December. Crowds were light, weather was beautiful, and the parks were wonderfully decorated for Christmas. It made for one of, if not the, best theme park visits I've ever had.

[CedarPointer]

I wonder if in-park pricing has anything to do with it. If so, it's interesting to note that the same drink that sets you back $3.93 or $4.25 at a certain other park would only cost $2.19 or $2.49 at WDW... and down south they might even give you a lid and straw.

(source: http://allears.net/menu/men_tspp.htm)

[The Interpreter]

$3.93 or $4.25? As of closing day at Cedar Point, it was possible to pay $5.99 plus tax for a soda. *A* soda in a paper cup. More than the sale price for a case of cans many places!

[CoastersRZ]

Well, I ate at Skyline today, and noticed that the price of a 3-way (at a company owned store) had increased from $4.99 (where it was in the summer) to $5.19. That actually matches the price that a franchise owned Skyline also near me had this summer, so they are now the same price. (I ate at the franchise one the other day, and they are still at the $5.19 price). Yes, it stinks that prices went up twenty cents, but at least it is still a reasonable price for the food. Its not like the $6 3 ways that Kings Island`s Skyline has for what equates to a small 3-way in a regular Skyline.

[The Interpreter]

Gold Star has also increased its pricing...but I'd happily pay far more for a four way from Gold Star than at Skyline. You see, for me, it's the taste that's taking over...

[CoastersRZ]

I actually ate at the Gold Star in New Richmond about a month ago. The first time I had eaten at Gold Star in probably 10+ years. It wasn`t by choice. I was on my way back from a design meeting out in Ripley, OH with several co-workers and the president of the firm I work at. That`s where the majority wanted to eat at. And, I cant complain that the president picked up the bill for lunch.

[The Interpreter]

Free food always tastes better!

Yet, "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" - Benjamin Franklin

[CoastersRZ]

Very true. Not to mention about poor quality with high prices, as is often the case at food establishments at KI!

[Delirium_Guy]

I think Avatar's post is pretty much spot on. Also factor in that the Potter Island had huge national and worldwide attention, so it's possible that many tourists who usually patronize Disney perhaps tried out Universal for the first time.

CoastersRZ; I hear this time of year is a good time to go without the huge summer crowds. come to think about I suddenly have a craving for a frozen Butter Beer.

This is true, a few years ago I went to the Orlando parks in early December. Crowds were light, weather was beautiful, and the parks were wonderfully decorated for Christmas. It made for one of, if not the, best theme park visits I've ever had.

Avatar made many valid points, but you are also correct about people trying out Universal instead of Disney....and Disney grossly under estimated this. I have friends who work in upper management positions at both, so its interesting to hear tales from both sides about what's been transpiring. Interestingly enough Universal's peak days have become Sunday through Tuesday now, where in the past they were the later days in the weak. With most people's vacations running Sunday through Sunday, it would seem that people are choosing Universal as their first stop. Depending on how many days they choose to spend at UO, its fewer days they have to spend at Disney. When you think about UO and the partnership with the Orlando Flex-Ticket, there are more incentives for people to spend time off Disney property by visiting SeaWorld, Wet n Wild, Busch Gardens, Aquatica.....and I can tell you that the second half of the year (post-Potter) has been a hell of a lot stronger than the first half of the year at SW.

While Disney was initially creating the Fantasyland Expansion with the princesses in mind.....those plans are a changing. Majority of what they initially released has been scrapped or changed in favor of developing new ideas that can try to appeal to the broad range of kids that Potter does. While not confirmed officially, one of the said ideas is the Seven Dwarfs gold mine themed coaster that is supposedly going to replace the current Snow White dark ride. There is also some talk about a possible new attraction going over on the Frontierland side of the Park. It shall be interesting to see what comes to light when it is all said and done.

[standbyme]

Jesse/Avatar,

Thanks for the very interesting/enlightening post. I always enjoy reading your thoughts on Disney. (I must say, you have me paranoid of the quality of my families upcoming WDW trip though.)

As for Universal, my family and I made our first trek back to it this past summer. It was our first visit to it in over 10 years, what got us down there...certainly Harry Potter was a drawing card...but another BIG plus was that they still had Spongebob!

[Avatar]

Hey Standbyme thanks and great to hear you guys are returning to Disney soon and you need not worry about going, Disney is still great and offers an abundance of activities as always. I certainly would not hesitate in returning but was just referring to the lack of great discounts while they cut back basically paying the same rates for less services. Many visitors will not notice a thing but the dedicated fans do notice and are very inclined to take Universal and Sea World up on their out reach right now. As you know we just returned from our annual trip and had a great time and enjoyed the food and concerts while there (we love the free dinning deal), I am in the process of writing a trip report to share here. J.D. I do not know if you have done Sea World or Busch Gardens Tampa lately or plan to go on this trip but I must say I was thoroughly impressed with Sea World so much so that we ended up going back to Sea World for a second time during the trip. It is a bit different type of park obviously but it was both a relaxing and thrilling. Sea World offers a luau in the evening, I have some great money saving tips for that if you want to go plus you get into the park a bit early and can sneak a ride on Manta.

Also Standbyme if you enjoy my Disney updates then you should make sure to keep a close eye-out for Delirium_Guy's post as he has great up-to the minute updates and gets to see things from a different perspective than what we tend to get through the press.I always make sure I read what he has to say on the subject in and around Central Florida.

[luff]

We are one of the families that did the IOA Harry potter vacation this year. Usually we do disney every other fall, but this year we spent 0 days at WDW. We stayed at a very nice orlando hotel, and Flex passed it to all the big parks. The kids still had a blast, and we saved some money on the deal.

[RingMaster]

While Disney was initially creating the Fantasyland Expansion with the princesses in mind.....those plans are a changing. Majority of what they initially released has been scrapped or changed in favor of developing new ideas that can try to appeal to the broad range of kids that Potter does. While not confirmed officially, one of the said ideas is the Seven Dwarfs gold mine themed coaster that is supposedly going to replace the current Snow White dark ride. There is also some talk about a possible new attraction going over on the Frontierland side of the Park. It shall be interesting to see what comes to light when it is all said and done.

From my understanding, the Seven Dwarfs coaster would replace the three major meet-and-greet areas that were originally planned for the expansion (Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Pixie Hollow), and that Snow White's Scary Adventures would be replaced with a smaller meet-and-greet area combining the three previous zones.

Although I really want to see them create attractions based off of TRON. Tomorrowland is in dire need of an upgrade (more so in California than in Florida), and I believe TRON Legacy could be the film that can jumpstart the long-awaited overhaul of Futureville (along with Star Tours II in 2011).