Entertainment
“Disney World is Empty”: Attendance Numbers Plummet
Clear Facts:
- In recent months, reports have circulated regarding dwindling attendance numbers at Disney’s theme parks — particularly Disney World in Orlando.
- Data shows that wait times are down 30% compared to last year.
- CEO Bob Iger has downplayed the concerns, asserting that the parks are “very successful.”
Recent reports indicate that attendance is plummeting at Disney’s theme parks this summer — especially at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Even over Fourth of July weekend, park-goers described Hollywood Studios as “a ghost town” and Epcot as “empty”.
One Reddit user shared data showing that wait times at Magic Kingdom were down over 30 percent compared to 2022 and 2019.
Magic Kingdom wait times today were down over 30% this year compared to last year and 2019
by u/eth6113 in WaltDisneyWorld
“Normally we avoid 4th of July weekend like the plague, so I was surprised to see how low the wait times were at [Magic Kingdom] today,” the user wrote. “Especially considering it’s historically one of the busiest times of the year at [Walt Disney World].”
The trend continued later in the month as well, according to another Disney guest.
“Despite what [Disney CEO] Bob Iger wants us to believe, Walt Disney World is empty,” Twitter user @innoventioneast wrote alongside four images showing very sparse crowds.
The same user posted another four photos the following day, showing “EPCOT on a Saturday. Empty.”
Last month, Iger downplayed the parks’ dwindling numbers during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
“Florida opened up early during COVID and created huge demand, and didn’t have competition because there were a number of other places, states, that were not open yet,” Iger said.
“If you look at the numbers in Florida in 2023 … versus 2022, where not as much was open and Florida was the only game in town, there is a lot more competition today.”
The Disney CEO denied that the issue stems from either ticket prices or the company’s feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Iger said that Disney World “is where the Disney brand lives in its most sublime form,” and “it’s very successful.”
“We don’t have any long-term concerns about that business,” he added.
Phil Simpson
August 7, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Yep, you surely won’t see me there…
James Henderson
August 8, 2023 at 7:19 pm
I’ve been to both Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney World Orlando in the 70s and early 80s. The Disney of yesteryear and that of today is radically different. I’ll never be in either anytime soon, in fact, never again.
And Phil…. Don’t call me Shirley.
Patriot
August 8, 2023 at 7:29 pm
disney just raised their prices, again. When you are paying almost $200 a day just for a child (that doesn’t count any adults and any extra children) and wait in line for an hour or more, and end up being able to go on three or maybe four, if you are lucky rides, someone thinks this is a good value? Then of course the food. Expensive in one word. Regardless saying that after being caught actively grooming children, it is a wonder any sane parent would take their child to disney.
Ben
August 8, 2023 at 8:30 pm
I love those photos of desolate streets with only a handful of people. I won’t be happy until there bulldozers precede tumbleweeds!!!
Patriot_One
August 8, 2023 at 10:59 pm
In other words, Disney’s Iger is basically saying, “Who are you going to believe me or your lying eyes!?”
David Stempien
August 9, 2023 at 6:18 am
Perhaps Disney World should stop selling Bud Light!
Brian Heinz
August 9, 2023 at 8:01 am
Go woke and go Broke seems to be the theme for 2023
Sean Richman
August 11, 2023 at 7:46 pm
I wonder why,I can’t imagine that it’s because of their woke philosophy.Well I guess that I can,YOU GO WOKE,YOU GO BROKE.I boycott woke businesses,it is NOT what I believe in and I am too old to change thanks to my age.At eighty four years old I may still live longer than the REAL AMERICA,which is in its death throws.