Disney World’s theme park capacity is a hotly debated subject. Since the introduction of the park pass reservation system, Disney has been able, essentially, to control how many visitors are able to visit each park. While many believed that the park pass reservation system was a temporary change, we’ve since found out that it looks like park pass reservations are here to stay (at least through 2024).
Crowds have returned to Disney World
During Disney’s Q1 earnings call, we learned more information about Disney’s park capacity.
Disney has attempted to protect the health and safety of its guests since reopening the parks in 2020. Since then, the parks have slowly started to return to normal and more experiences have returned.
Disney’s health and safety policies follow the federal requirements
Disney tends to keep capacity data and information close to their chest. But recently, they shared a bit of an update on the current state of theme park capacity.
EPCOT crowds this February
During the Q1 earnings call, Disney stated, “In fiscal 2022, our domestic parks and experiences are generally operating without significant mandatory COVID-19-related capacity restrictions, such as those that were in place in the prior-year quarter; however, we continue to manage capacity to address ongoing COVID-19 considerations with respect to guest and cast health and safety.”
The language here is pretty vague
Recently, we’ve seen some MASSIVE crowds in the Disney parks, yet chief financial officer Christine McCarthy stated that only “18-22% of Disney World guests currently come from outside the U.S.”
International guests have yet to fully return to the parks
Further, McCarthy explained that the Disney parks have undergone several changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the implementation of mobile check-in and mobile ordering.
Mobile Dining Check-In
CEO Bob Chapek went on to explain that Disney’s “self-imposed capacity restraints” are due to a variety of reasons, including a need for more hospitality and food and beverage Cast Members.
Magic Kingdom
Chapek later stated, “Our ability to increase our guest experience through our reservation system…has been something that we really like.” For now, Disney intends to “self-manage the theme park capacity to optimize the guest experience.”
Disney is careful to control the park capacity
As more experiences return to the parks, such as live entertainment and nighttime shows like Fantasmic!, we’ll be interested to see if the crowd level increases!
We can’t wait to watch the Festival of Fantasy parade again!
We’ll continue to keep you updated as more information is shared, so stay tuned for more!
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Have you noticed an increase in park capacity? Let us know in the comments!
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Would it be logical to assume that perhaps some of the increase in “feels like” crowds could actually be due to things like mobile order? Lines for food used to absorb crowds, but now with mobile order people are able to be in line for a ride and order food at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I like mobile order but it’s probably not doing any favors for crowds.
Are you kidding me! Just go to the parks or check wait times during any given day! I think they say they have a capacity limit, say being the operative word, but there really isn’t one. The crowds are crazy! And this is supposed to be the slow season. I don’t think there is a slow season anymore. Try to get a reservation to a cool place, you can’t or you get extremely lucky. Or maybe I’m not doing it right……
Chapek later stated, “Our ability to increase our guest experience through our reservation system…has been something that we really like.” For now, Disney intends to “self-manage the theme park capacity to optimize the guest experience.”
How does this optimize guest experience? If they are not actually limiting park capacity then get rid of the reservation system and return park hopping to normal.
Going to orlando in April from what I have seen and heard apart from the constant price increases its the crowds that worry me most.
I will not return to o WDW Orlando as long as I have to make a reservation after I purchase my tickets!
Are we seriously expected to believe that the supposedly “temporary reservation system” is actually in place to protect guests… or to enhance the spontaneous aspect of the experience as previously stated! How gullible does Bob Chapek think people are? Going to Disney is now a nightmare, and not because of COVID. You spend MOST of your time on your PHONE trying to snag reservations. It’s a total mess and not relaxing at all. We are headed to Universal this year for our 10 day vacation. At least there we won’t feel as if we are an unappreciated consumer instead of a welcomed guest.
why are we still making reservations when the parks seem to be way more crowded than every. My last trip I spent so much time standing in lines and never got to do all that I used to do. I have reservations already for January, marathon weekend, I do not have tickets yet so I can not make my reservations. I should not have to buy my tickets so early.
We just got back from Disney yesterday, we spent 2 days, 1 at Magic Kingdom and 1 at Hollywood Studios. There was DEFINITELY more people there, then before the pandemic. It was a sea of people, you have to swim through people just to stand in line. Miserable!!
Disney’s magic is gone. My family and I have been pass holders for over 20 years, but we will be making the switch and become Universal Annual Pass Holders. Universal actually seems like they care and value their pass holders. We’ve been to Disney a few times over the past few months and it’s not fun anymore. Waiting hours for rides, feeling like a sardine while walking around all of the parks, spending a fortune on food that tastes horrible, and having to spend on so many things that were free up until a few months ago is not my Disney. Hello Universal, Sea World, and Legoland! 👋
I am a Florida resident now, but not always. We used to love to come to WDW and stay for a full week, on property and stay in the disney bubble. No more. The crowds are horrible, so dont tell me that is not at capacity, it is so crowded you cant move, and the wait times for rides are ridiculous. It never used to be this bad pre COVID. It is impossible to have a good time when you cant find food, cant walk with out bumping strollers,and dont get me started on Genie + That is a complete waste of money. When you purchase it in the early am, the good rides are gone in 2 minutes, so you get stuff you really dont want to do at 5pm. Then you cant schedule your 2nd ride until that first one is underway. We went to customer service for a refund. When our annual passes expire in October we will NOT be renewing. Bye Disney until you become friendly to your visitors again.
We got to the Animal Kingdom lodge on Valentines Day, went to the AK park on Tuesday. It was great, except Everest is closed. The rest of the week we fought crowds, didn’t get to ride our favorites, and then! The pool was closed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on Friday- it was hot! Poor disappointed kids and frustrated parents. We’ve been coming to WDW for 20 years, but we’re done. I’ve worn my last magic band. Until they limit the crowds, we won’t be spending any more money there.
I think it is all a marketing ploy to make you want to be that lucky family that is included in “limited capacity”. The statement of crowd control with the reservations is bull. We have been going to MK since 1974. It has never been this crowded, even in summer vacation time. Last went this past Christmas week and it was a nightmare. Food choices were limited and mediocre at best. No housekeeping to speak of, even in the highest priced hotels. Rides with enormous waits. Have plans to go in June, but it will probably be our last. It’s all just a money grab now and more and more things are being charged for, that I just can’t enjoy my time there.
Just back and won’t be back until they remove this reservation system. Rise of the Resistance was down for 8 hours the day we were in Hollywood Studios, which meant we had to go back the next day just to do this one ride. Then we were stuck there until 2pm when we could park hop so wasted most of our EPCOT day waiting for 2pm so we could actually get in.
Maybe its ok in theory, but in practice with temperamental rides like Rise and Test Track, it’s very restrictive if your plans have to change through no fault of your own.
We also didn’t see any good use of the park reservation system, with Hollywood Studios being ABSOLUTELY RAMMED both days we were there, and Animal Kingdom virtually deserted (early February trip)
Well, if they hadn’t laid off all those cast members…
I don’t buy that they are limiting capacity. I was at Epcot on a Monday in late January, and you would have thought it was a Saturday. Ridiculous wait times for EVERYTHING. Makes me second guess renewing my annual pass. Magic seems to be gone…only greed remains.
Stop going to WDW! We had originally planned to go twice in 2022, but not with these prices, these crowds, and Genie Plus. We live near Charlotte, NC, and have already gotten a season pass to The Biltmore inAsheville, will enjoy our local amusement park, Carowinds this summer as well as a couple of trips to the lovely NC beaches this year. ALL of our tourist dollars will be spent instate in 2022. I would encourage everyone to use their imagination, do a little research and plan some other fun trips BESIDES WDW.
As long as we all keep going there and spending our hard earned money on overpriced Disney World, they have no incentive to make any changes. It might take a year or two away, but hopefully if enough people stick to it, we will see some changes.
Well the real reason Chapek is doing this is to predict and control his labor and other costs; another sign the guy cares nothing about anyone but himself. He/they could care less about Covid. That smokescreen makes no sense at all. But you do notice when you read it he says THEY are really enjoying the park ready system, in other words, knowing how many people are going to be in those parks weeks ahead of time. This gives them incredibly useful data trends that can help them adjust their labor and other costs accordingly. This has nothing to do with us or our protection. It has all to do with Bob profiting every last penny so he can feel like he ‘s a great CEO too; not!
We have been going to Disney multiple times a year for many years; have spent enough there to buy a house. We are done. This guy is ruining everything.
I agree with cutting back on Disney and have started putting my plan in motion. Annual Passes at our local 6 Flags Great Adventure amusement park with free access to other Great Adventure Parks in other states is great! Planned beach getaways, State Park adventures, etc. With all the negative changes at Disney (no Disney Dining Plan, no Magical Express, no Fast Passes, the cut back of Disney Resort Guest “Magic Hours”, etc.) I stayed off property the last time I visited and got so much more than if I would have stayed on Disney property. I spent less days at Disney parks and added time at Universal Studios & Islands and Adventure.
My family used to love Disney World but we will not even consider going back until they get rid of the park reservation system and allow park hopping to start when the parks open in the morning. Even then, I’m not sure we would go back. There is nothing magical about a Disney World vacation anymore.
We just went for 15 days and it was pretty miserable. The crowds were terrible and we pretty much didn’t get to ride any of the rides. We used to go a couple times a year, but no more. We actually cut our vacation short and took our Disney days and spent them at Universal. It was so much better!
Luckily I am not a big park person and just hop around the Disney resorts the majority of the time I am there, so it makes going more enjoyable for me. They try to cram way too many people into the parks at once. I feel sorry for any annual season pass holders! The Magic on this trip was way less. Also, it seemed that a lot of the cast members seemed unhappy. Also, I have nothing against someone getting a tatoo, but when you are at Liberty square, which is supposed to recreate an atmosphere of the revolutionary period, and your server is tatooed all over their exposed arms, it kind of ruins the whole atmosphere for me.
I have a feeling it will get worse and worse.
And you are exactly right. It will. Coming from a CEO who had over 1000 employees, they’d better get a hold of this deal. They are messing with the very Pedegree of what Disney is known for. You cannot mess with the DNA balance. In other words, that lovely feeling that we all call Disney, or Disney magic, comes from all of us buying in and supporting such. This in turn causes the people who work there, their cast members, to want to work there and support such. This in turn makes it the happiest place in the whole wide world. Although cost is part of this equation, it is not the biggest part. That special symbiotic relationship it’s where the real value is.
When you tamper with this balance by doing what Bob is doing, you start this thing on a down hill slide that may not be recoverable. Think stall when you’re flying. How? Well when we go and have the most miserable trip we’ve ever had, especially after spending more than we ever have, we are not happy. And even though we do not want to spread this Distention, it just naturally happens. This in turn affects the cast members. Now they are tainted too. This is exactly what is going on as we speak. And it is so sad… when I ran my businesses, I was always terrified of messing with this balance. I did anything and everything to try and keep things moving forward in a positive fashion.
And ignorantly, the powers that be don’t get it. They, primarily Bob, think they are bigger than their customer; always the downfall of any company no matter what size… Well they are not bigger than their customer and they are fixing to prove it. And even though right now they are seeing a huge influx of guests due to everybody being pinned up during Covid, my prediction is they will see a tremendous downfall early next year. Simply put, you cannot alienate the hands, especially the original veteran hands, that feed you.
Their luck is and will run out.
We all go, or did go, to Disney because it makes us and our families happy. It is an escape;
A place where everybody gets along and just enjoys being happy. They’ve worked so hard and so long to create that bond between guest and company. In fact, they’re the only company that I know of that has ever done such a thing. As a previous CEO, I have always admired them for this. I am truly sad, almost depressed, from what I see going on now.
If I was that board, I would be thinking very quickly about what to do next. They need to make some major changes at the top, and they need to do it very quickly. It’s going to be very hard to repair the damage all the way around even if they do make such moves tomorrow. On the other hand, you got to know Universal is absolutely loving this.
My hopes and prayers are they get a hold of this before it’s too late. Guardians of the Galaxy and Tron are not going to save them; nor is DVC. They all need to take a big step backwards and realize where they came from and who brought them there…