Disney recently hosted its 3rd-quarter earnings call, in which it announced the current number of Disney+ subscribers, the pricing and release date for an ad-supported Disney+ tier, and the increase in revenue from the Disney parks. We also learned more about the current demand for Disney parks.
Crowds in Magic Kingdom
With the pandemic closures, Disney has seen some pent-up demand for its theme parks. People weren’t able to travel for a while, which meant that there was more demand once the parks finally did reopen. However, now the parks have been open for a long time, and we’ve still been seeing pretty big crowds in Disney World. Is this trend going to continue, or will we see demand level out? Disney CEO Bob Chapek and CFO Christine McCarthy commented on these questions.
During today’s earnings call, Bob Chapek commented favorably on the Park Pass Reservation system at Disney World and Disneyland more than once. He mentioned how it allows the company to predict demand and adjust operations accordingly. In case you’re not familiar with this system, park pass reservations are required in order to enter any Disney World or Disneyland park. If you don’t have a reservation, you will not be able to enter the park. Reservations are free to make if you have a park ticket, and reservations do sometimes sell out.
EPCOT entrance
Chapek said that the reservation system does “a great job at spreading demand” across the parks, and it also allows Disney to see how many people will be in the parks each day. Citing the information from this system, Chapek said that Disney sees “nothing in the future indicating anything to the contrary of what we’ve seen” in terms of guest demand for the theme parks. In other words, Disney expects demand to remain high.
Going into Hollywood Studios
Although many people have attributed the higher crowds in Disney World to pent-up demand from the pandemic, Disney claims that what they’re seeing is “more resilient and long-lasting.” The increase in people visiting is more a reflection of an increased “affinity for the parks” rather than a temporary trend, according to Disney.
Crowds in Animal Kingdom
Christine McCarthy commented on potential actions that Disney could take to keep demand high if the number of guests were to drop, stating that the company could reduce the number of blackout dates on certain annual passes, which would bring more people into the parks.
Hollywood Boulevard
However, McCarthy also noted that Disney “has not yet seen demand abate at all.” McCarthy cited the Park Pass Reservation system again as evidence: she said that Disney is seeing demand in excess of the available reservations. Park Pass Reservations do run out on some days, especially for Magic Kingdom.
©Disney
We recommend making your Park Pass Reservations early — as soon as you purchase your tickets. Currently, there are no parks sold out for any dates if you look even just a few weeks into the future.
©Disney
But if you wait until just a few days before your trip, you may be out of luck with some parks. If you’re visiting at a popular time — such as during the holidays or for a runDisney race — it’s even more important to book those reservations ASAP.
Halloween decorations in Magic Kingdom!
It looks like we’ll continue to see big crowds in Disney World, so check out these posts to help you manage the crowds during your upcoming trip:
- Learn how to use Mobile Order to beat the crowds at some restaurants here!
- Learn how to make a Park Pass Reservation here.
- Use Mobile Check-out to skip the line at some gift shops.
- Find secret walkways to beat the crowds here.
- See the SECRET to avoiding Disney Springs crowds here.
We’ll continue to watch the crowd levels in Disney World and let you know about any changes, so stay tuned with DFB for all the latest updates!
Click here for 10 tips for watching Disney World fireworks WITHOUT crowds.
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