To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit.
Over the past few months, we’ve seen some health and safety changes in Disney World.
Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Health and safety protocols were diminishing around the property at the beginning of the summer, but the surge of the Delta variant caused Disney to reinstate masks indoors again a few months ago. Originally, Disney noted that the Delta variant didn’t have a very big impact on the parks, but now, CEO Bob Chapek has shared otherwise.
During the Q3 earnings call, Chapek shared that “in terms of Delta variant, we see strong demand for our parks continuing.” At that time, park reservations were at a higher level for Q4 than they had been for Q3, so the company was encouraged by projected attendance.
Low crowds at Magic Kingdom
However, during today’s Goldman Sachs 30th Annual Communacopia Conference, Chapek shared that they saw a drop in attendance after the earnings call on August 12th. He said “Well, the last time I commented on this, I believe was on our last earnings call and at that point, we hadn’t really seen much impact at all from Delta. And then the following few weeks we saw a bit of an impact in terms of a slow down of our guests coming to our parks.”
Crowds dropped after the earnings call.
Labor Day weekend was the turning point for the parks because, after that, crowds began to return. Chapek noted that during the holiday weekend “things started to recover quite nicely” and that “it was a very short sort of impact and we like the recovery we are seeing off that.”
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Line on Labor Day
We’ll continue to monitor the park attendance in the coming days and weeks, especially during the 50th Anniversary celebration. Based on resort and theme park reservation availability, we’re predicting very high crowd levels in the weeks to come!
Click Here to Check Out the Low Crowds We Saw in Late August!
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Did you visit Disney World in August? What were the crowds like? Let us know in the comments!
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Maybe reduced crowds are a result of poor management decisions, take aways and price increases ???????
Oof we booked a last minute baby moon to all 4 big parks for October 2nd-8th without realizing it was the 50th. Here I was thinking it’d be slow for the off season! My pregnant is gonna die in those lines 😂
I don’t think attendance dropped solely because of the delta variant. Know what else happened between August 12 and Labor Day? Back to school. I would guess BTS had more to do with lower attendance than delta alone. Perhaps a combination of the two.
Reduced crowds due to people waiting until after 10/1 anniversary. No one wants to go a month or a couple weeks before new fireworks and other enhanced experiences. The next 18 months will be record breaking demand and crowds – especially if more foreign tourists are welcomed.
High prices and reduced services will drive attendance drops in 2022
we were at disney world the last 4 days- inside the parks were pretty crowded and no social distancing- long lines…
Thinking, less disney magic, more money for everything across the board…sorry there may be a 50th anniversary bump but I am thinking the less people is a trend. Could be that is their plan less people who have to spend more to visit.
I was at WDW from 9/13 until 9/19. The crowds are back!!!!!
I don’t think it had anything to do with health. Kids had to go back to school. I agree with the comment above about poor management. As much as I love Disney, I don’t want to go because masks indoor aren’t optional. They don’t respect personal decisions.
Require vaccination for entry to the resort! Require social distancing and mask mandates indoors and out, except if stationary while eating or drinking! We need to have fun but be safe and save lives! Selfless not selfish!
I agree with the comment above from Mark. I canceled our trip this weekend for many reasons ~ none of which involve Covid. We had gone every year since 2010 ~ have family memories dating back to 1981 and what has been going on with Disney recently seems to increasingly neglect the magic of its past. The removing of the orchestra from the GF was the beginning of the end for us. Symbolic …cue the song, “American Pie”….
I agree with Mark. Everything that happens isn’t always due to COVID. Every time you turn around something goes up.
“the following few weeks we saw a bit of an impact in terms of a slow down of our guests coming to our parks.”
Probably because of all the Nickel and Diming that has been taking place of late and will probably continue until they price out the average working class families and just catering to the wealthy only.
Delta must be Chepak’s code word to describe his new poor policies.
People will return to the park (as they did over the summer) once Chepak is fired and the poor changes he made are reversed.
Any idiot can correlate the attendence drop with Chepak’s new policies.
I suspect Chepak is posturing himself for government work, as it is politically correct to blame COVID for everything.
DISNEY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS — We the prior loyal Disney customers are going to continue rejecting the new Disney. You can either suffer the stock loss or fire Chepak!
Kerri, the last two times I went to Walt Disney World, I was pregnant (once at 33 weeks!). Give yourself as many breaks as you need, drink fluids before you realize you’re thirsty, and enjoy the things you’re able to do. Chat with your doctor for additional tips (like maybe wearing compression socks if you think you’ll be on your feet a lot since the compression can help with circulation and ask for suggestions for attractions to avoid). I hope you have a fun babymoon!