Lack of crowds and Disney's response

[TikiTroll]

But by 8 pm, Main Street and the parade route were packed 4-5 rows deep with people, which made me very glad that we weren't bothering with MSEP tonight.

I saw the crowds on the live stream. I’m imagining it was especially bad because if was the first night.

 

[DLgal]

Bets on DLR making a separate blockout calendar for each park EVER again...???

I recently looked at the calendar because our APs expire at the end of August and I was looking to see what next summer will look like....and it is the SAME BLACKOUT STRUCTURE as this year. LOL. Gonna reup those Signature APs and enjoy another slow summer next year! LOL!

 

[Mousefan mom]

We decided to book a last minute August trip while AP’s are still blocked out. I think my new general strategy will be to go when AP’s are blocked out. We didn’t have fun when we went in early December because of the insane crowds. Even less desirable rides had 40+ minute waits. The food booth lines had long waits. It just isn’t fun to deal with that with small children.

Newbie to DL here--thinking of a trip next summer and would love to take advantage of AP block outs, lower crowd potential--how can I find out when this is offered in the summer? We love to travel in July (and after a trip to WDW--where all the crowds can still be felt, lol--and full humidity) DL sounds so refreshing. We lost so much of our WDW vacation in transport from resort to park, park to park, etc...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Newbie to DL here--thinking of a trip next summer and would love to take advantage of AP block outs, lower crowd potential--how can I find out when this is offered in the summer? We love to travel in July (and after a trip to WDW--where all the crowds can still be felt, lol--and full humidity) DL sounds so refreshing. We lost so much of our WDW vacation in transport from resort to park, park to park, etc...

Blockout calendar: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

Just remember that while DLR in July will absolutely have better weather than WDW and you can stay at a hotel within walking distance and it’s like <1 min walk to park hop, the crowds are a crapshoot. (I’m remembering last summer when people came here complaining how they scheduled their trips for AP Blockout dates and the parks were still so full. Lol. Crowds will be, as always, unpredictable.)

 

[Mousefan mom]

Blockout calendar: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

Just remember that while DLR in July will absolutely have better weather than WDW and you can stay at a hotel within walking distance and it’s like <1 min walk to park hop, the crowds are a crapshoot. (I’m remembering last summer when people came here complaining how they scheduled their trips for AP Blockout dates and the parks were still so full. Lol. Crowds will be, as always, unpredictable.)

Absolutely! I don't think anything could top how bad the crowds were in July this year at WDW. I totally think it was due to limited park hours--but the whole theory of summer being the new slow time at WDW must have stopped this summer (and we've been the past 6 July's and I've also been at WDW over spring break and NY, so I have seen crowds). It was just insane. All of our FP lines were about 20 plus minutes each--and then once you used your pre scheduled 3, nothing else existed as a 4th option. Couple this with rain, humidity, etc. and we are ready to give California a try next year!

 

[FireflyTrance]

I've heard June is often better than July, especially early June. I would especially suggest avoiding around July 4. Although it wasn't that bad this year, it has been bad in past years.

Newbie to DL here--thinking of a trip next summer and would love to take advantage of AP block outs, lower crowd potential--how can I find out when this is offered in the summer? We love to travel in July (and after a trip to WDW--where all the crowds can still be felt, lol--and full humidity) DL sounds so refreshing. We lost so much of our WDW vacation in transport from resort to park, park to park, etc...

 

[DLgal]

I've heard June is often better than July, especially early June. I would especially suggest avoiding around July 4. Although it wasn't that bad this year, it has been bad in past years.

July 4 is never bad. We go almost every year. We were onsite July 4-7 and it was exceptionally uncrowded. I think early July is always, always better than early June. Early June still allows many AP holders in. By July, everyone but Signature and Signature + is blocked out, which makes a huge difference.

 

[midnight star]

I've heard June is often better than July, especially early June. I would especially suggest avoiding around July 4. Although it wasn't that bad this year, it has been bad in past years.

I went during 4th of july last year and it wasn't bad. This year while it was busy, it was totally manageable. I would call it busy, not crowded. What made it a little crazy was the earthquake and rides closing so everyone was in the walkways.

 

[poptart90]

I’ll second the 4th of July as a great time to go. Four years in a row of awesome trips around that time...however this year was exceptional! For reference, we go around the whole week of the 4th, not just the 4th itself.

 

[lovethesun12]

Absolutely! I don't think anything could top how bad the crowds were in July this year at WDW. I totally think it was due to limited park hours--but the whole theory of summer being the new slow time at WDW must have stopped this summer (and we've been the past 6 July's and I've also been at WDW over spring break and NY, so I have seen crowds). It was just insane. All of our FP lines were about 20 plus minutes each--and then once you used your pre scheduled 3, nothing else existed as a 4th option. Couple this with rain, humidity, etc. and we are ready to give California a try next year!

I was also at WDW July and felt the EXACT same way. We actually decided to go in July to take a break from the crowds we typically experience Easter - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That SO did not happen. EMH was absolutely pointless. While we found the afternoons much less crowded, we found the early mornings and "late" evenings much more crowded than Easter and I'm going to go ahead and join you in assuming it was because of the more limited hours (maybe using less ride vehicles as well? I have no idea if that's a thing).

That said we still had the most amazing trip! Loved every minute. But like you also ready to give DL a try =)

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I am kind of tempted to make a new thread for this... I know some people were speculating that the low crowds earlier this summer were somehow intentional or offset by the expensive souvenirs... nope. The real problem now is that the budget for so many things has been cut so much and now there are crowds. I know CMs who’ve been cut to like one shift a week! They have no parade planned until ACF (maybe the MSEP will stick around at least?) I’m worried that late summer/fall could be a real mess with all of the budget cuts coinciding with the masses finally rolling in... because there will continue to be cuts; there have to be. They have all these shareholders to answer to.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...rganic&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social ETA: Here’s the title since it didn’t carry over: Disney Falls Most Since 2015 as Star Wars Stumble Slams Results

“Disney’s profit, excluding some items, slumped to $1.35 a share in the quarter ended June 29, missing the $1.75 average of analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue missed forecasts by more than $1 billion, with the company saying the lower attendance led to reduced profit at its domestic parks.”

 

[TheZue]

We were there for five days starting July 30. It got steadily busier as the week went on, as it’s been all summer. Last weekend was downright busy. The parade certainly brought the crowds.

I think another issue may have been that people plan these trips way further in advance than they released the opening date. I booked last October. We would have got earlier but wanted to make sure Star Wars Land was open. I had a hunch it would be open in May/June but wasn’t going to risk making plans and being wrong so we were there in August. I’m sure we weren’t the only ones trying to time it to make sure it was open. Combine that with people trying to avoid it and AP blackouts and you have a really slow off the start opening.

 

[dieumeye]

I still say best summer ever!!!

Although I found this little bit from the article humorous...

"Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, acknowledged on a call Tuesday that fewer annual pass holders visited the company’s California resort."

As if that is some kind of surprise? Maybe it's because, I don't know, they were blocked the whole summer?

 

[Lumpy1106]

Looks like the other shoe has dropped;
SF Gate article on Disney Low Attendance and DIS stock price
Warning - the author only read the financials. If you read this expecting actual info about anything Disney you are going to be disappointed.

 

[midnight star]

I still say best summer ever!!!

Although I found this little bit from the article humorous...

"Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, acknowledged on a call Tuesday that fewer annual pass holders visited the company’s California resort."

As if that is some kind of surprise? Maybe it's because, I don't know, they were blocked the whole summer?

I agree. Best summer ever! Last year was my first time coming in summer after a few years and while there were some decent days it was packed mid-late July. This year it wasn’t nearly as bad. Even this past weekend was still manageable with the increased crowds with the parade. Where I feel bad is the CM’s and their hours getting cut

 

[midnight star]

I saw this article yesterday
https://www.pe.com/2019/08/06/disne...ntent=fb-ThePressEnterprise&utm_medium=social

 

[tarheelalum]

Newbie to DL here--thinking of a trip next summer and would love to take advantage of AP block outs, lower crowd potential--how can I find out when this is offered in the summer? We love to travel in July (and after a trip to WDW--where all the crowds can still be felt, lol--and full humidity) DL sounds so refreshing. We lost so much of our WDW vacation in transport from resort to park, park to park, etc...

The 4th of July is usually not very crowded so a vacation around that time would likely be pretty good.

 

[DLgal]

I saw this article yesterday
https://www.pe.com/2019/08/06/disne...ntent=fb-ThePressEnterprise&utm_medium=social

Shocking, I tell you.

I read a similar article by Bloomberg. The amount of denial from Iger was ridiculous. "We don't have a pricing issue at our parks and resorts." HA! Okay...

 

[Sue M]

Yeah.

I’m sad for the CMs, but I’m also bummed about what this all means for the parks going forward. They aren’t empty anymore (even though crowds are still very reasonable - spent 12 hours there yesterday, can confirm). Anyway, the unfortunate thing is that all of these reactionary budget cuts and cancellations are going to hit visitors going forward, when there ARE crowds. So at some point, there will be crowds AND less staff, and less entertainment, and less available in general... probably shorter hours and stuff not running at capacity and all of that...

June was a delight. But I think we’re all going to be paying for it on future visits. And for people like me who are there all the time, meh, we roll with it. But I always feel for the tourist crowd who unwittingly show up at a bad time, and I fear that time is coming.

If they want to increase crowds, they should look at their pricing, and not have had huge price hikes on everything from APs, tickets, food and rooms! They’ve done it to themselves, pricing many out. I think they’ve found the breaking point.

 

[midnight star]

If they want to increase crowds, they should look at their pricing, and not have had huge price hikes on everything from APs, tickets, food and rooms! They’ve done it to themselves, pricing many out. I think they’ve found the breaking point.

I am hoping this means going forward they slow down or stop with the increases on things. Before the summer began I am sure many people were scared of the crowds. I was one of them. I almost didn't renew my pass b/c I thought going to the parks wouldn't be worth it. But there are many people who just can't afford Disney anymore with the last increase. Since Disney has been advertising the lower the expected crowds, I've met a few former passholders who said they would love to get passes again, but just can't afford it. Some are also waiting until the next ride opens. They figure if they are going to drop thousands on a trip, they might as well wait until everything is complete.