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

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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twilight mitsukNov 19, 2024

right before blockout starts

SingleRiderNov 18, 2024

“Welcome back, unfavorables!”

DCBakerNov 18, 2024

An additional good-to-go day has been added this week - Wednesday, November 20.

wdwmagicNov 13, 2024

Good-to-Go Days Return for Disney World Annual Passholders Beginning November 19 2024 https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/ticket-annual-pass---disney-incredi-pass/news/13nov2024-good-to-go-days-return-for-disney-world-annual-passholders-beginning-november-19-2024.htm

SirwalterraleighOct 30, 2024

Right…prior to the last couple of years that week grew in magnitude by leaps and bounds. Literal foul on my part

BrianOct 30, 2024

Should be very quiet with the initial battles of the second civil war and whatnot. ;)

threvesterOct 30, 2024

Didnt you just say the parks havent been busy for 2 years? According to you, you are 100% wrong about the parks being busy for Jersey week...respectfully

SirwalterraleighOct 30, 2024

Jersey week. Been a thing for about 20 years… It falls on an election week often…it’s not slow People stay home for elections now?

SoFloMagicOct 30, 2024

Election day and the day after. Should be slow

SirwalterraleighOct 30, 2024

lol…jersey week? 🤪

SingleRiderOct 29, 2024

“Oh, welcome back, unfavorables! We have a few less busy days, so please come to our parks!”

DCBakerOct 29, 2024

November 5 and 6 have been added to the calendar as Annual Passholder good-to-go days. The last good-to-go days were September 29 and October 1.

SirwalterraleighOct 25, 2024

The hubris is what is shocking. I get that people were caged and Americans aren’t geared for that…so there was an artificial demand created…but that will subside and the cost will look insane. Disneyland has a totally different landscape. There is ZERO reason to have reservations for APs at wdw. They’re just trying to hold on to their desire to make you go where they want. I know of what I speak: those parks are NOT crowded and haven’t been for 2 years. Every “the parks are mobbed” is 100% wrong. You don’t know what you’re looking at and what to gauge. Respectfully 😎

SoFloMagicOct 25, 2024

That sucks. For sure. But they clearly advertise that it's subject to bookings. Now they don't make it known that 100k locals want to get in each weekend, but.... I don't think I'll even understand disneyland culture.