Disney continues to keep peak attendance at 20 percent below pre-pandemic levels at Walt Disney World

Feb 10, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Posted: Friday February 10, 2023 12:19pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

During this week's quarterly earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Christine McCarthy spoke briefly about Walt Disney World's attendance capacity caps that are still in place in the parks.

Disney executives continue to support the strategy of having less guests in the parks with those there spending more

According to Disney, attendance during peak holiday weeks is now kept at nearly 20% below pre-pandemic levels, which the company says improves the guest experience.

Notably, Disney seems to have settled on the concept of having fewer guests in the parks than pre-pandemic, but having those guests in the parks spend more than they used to. Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products revenues for the quarter increased 21% to $8.7 billion. Disney says that guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue driven by Genie+ and Lightning Lane.

Disney's Genie+ service can cost as much as $29 per person, per day at Walt Disney World

Elaborating further on improving the guest experience, Disney executives referred to increasing flexibility and value at the theme parks. Disney has pointed to the increased availability of lowest-priced tickets at Disneyland, more access for annual passholders and park hopper tickets, more complimentary digital photo downloads, and eliminating the Walt Disney World Resort hotel parking fees.

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DCBaker5 days ago

Walt Disney World has added 4 more good-to-go days for Annual Passholders: May 2, 7, 8, 9.

Royal Purple Pigment9 days ago

It takes me just as much time and effort to log on and see it is good to go. This reservation system was one of the big differentiators in the AP tiers aside from blackout dates. We rarely even use our reservations and have 5 of 5 available. I understand everyone is different but this whole thing is lame. It is so annoying that they never could incorporate it into the app and you had to launch a different website and log in again. They need to dump this lame system or add something as a tier level replacement to the AP program (free Photopass, etc.)

wdisney90009 days ago

People have simply said its annoying, exactly like you yourself just stated in your post. I don't see anybody making mountains. Individually, the requirements you need to be on your phone for are not that frustrating, but when combined, it just gets ridiculous.

bmr15919 days ago

I mean, do you though? Unless you’re coming on a peak week, reservations are always available to make day of. Heck, my wife and I change ours the morning of often. I don’t disagree that making reservations is annoying, but some of y’all make mountains out of things that aren’t actually issues. It makes sense though, doesn’t it? CPs came from all over to work at Disney because they love Disney. Most don’t care to do anything on their off day except go enjoy the parks. With that said, man, what a scheme. “Come work for us! With the little you make, you’ll give us a portion back in rent. We also know you’ll spend a lot of what you make back with us in the parks.” It’s almost voluntary slave labor.

GhostHost10009 days ago

interesting I would also suspect they spend on average way less than annual passholders

wdwmagic9 days ago

It is way way more than that. CPers alone make up a good number on a daily basis.

Bullseye196710 days ago

The fact that CMs have to make a reservation is absolutely insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many CMs are in a park on any given day? 50 or 100?. This is nuts but at least they can go again.

Disstevefan110 days ago

May the force NOT be with APers.

Rich Brownn10 days ago

Star Wars day ("May the Fourth be with you") :D

hopemax10 days ago

So far the good to go days for CMs have matched the AP days. CMs can see them on the calendar when they go to make a reservation.

SingleRider10 days ago

Do good to go days apply to CMs as well? I thought it was only APs.

hopemax10 days ago

This one was surprising. I saw the news about the merchandise VQ on May 1st and my Dad wanted a reservation, but none were available (Main Entrance Pass). Then an hour later, it's a good to go day. Whatever, Disney. Why make this so annoying!

Brian10 days ago

Notable. They must not be expecting a big crowd for DHS's 35th anniversary day.

Fido Chuckwagon10 days ago

Wow, May 4th unavailable for AP reservations at HS. I know it's May 4th, but it can't possibly be that busy given how slow it is this time of year. They just want to push AP's to other parks and/or don't want to staff HS enough to cover the demand. Shameful.