BGW Attendance
- Thread starter pandorazboxx
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RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
It's simple. As Yogi Berra once said of his favorite New York restaurant:
"Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded."
Humorous as it is, I think this is one of the prime motivators. I know, for me, it seems like in recent years that the park has become almost overloaded with guests, and, while it doesn't affect how much I like the place, it does sometimes make me take into consideration how much I feel like dealing with the masses when thinking about going. I can honestly say it has kept me out of the park on more than one occasion, and I don't imagine that I'm the only one. Add to that the simple fact that there've not been a lot of killer new attractions driving people through the gates in the past year, and you've got your culprits, IMO.
It's simple. As Yogi Berra once said of his favorite New York restaurant:
"Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded."
Humorous as it is, I think this is one of the prime motivators. I know, for me, it seems like in recent years that the park has become almost overloaded with guests, and, while it doesn't affect how much I like the place, it does sometimes make me take into consideration how much I feel like dealing with the masses when thinking about going. I can honestly say it has kept me out of the park on more than one occasion, and I don't imagine that I'm the only one. Add to that the simple fact that there've not been a lot of killer new attractions driving people through the gates in the past year, and you've got your culprits, IMO.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
My thoughts exactly. I remember when my sister and I were 7 and 8 and our parents would take us up on Sunday nights during the summer and we'd just ride the flume all night without getting off, then just stroll around the park that was practically deserted. We've recently switched to mainly going early mornings or evenings. 12 o'clock is just miserable nowadays.
My thoughts exactly. I remember when my sister and I were 7 and 8 and our parents would take us up on Sunday nights during the summer and we'd just ride the flume all night without getting off, then just stroll around the park that was practically deserted. We've recently switched to mainly going early mornings or evenings. 12 o'clock is just miserable nowadays.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
We're there a minimum of 4 days a week, and I'd venture to say we have become experts at navigating the park on crowded days. We know when to get there, when shows will be crowded, when restaurants will be crowded, rides, etc. Still we almost NEVER go on Saturdays. It's just no fun.
I think the terrain of the park, the size and spacing of the hamlets, the size of the walkways etc, do not lend itself to big crowds. It's like a residential community that's seen an explosion in new home building and population, but has not done anything to add new roads or widen the existing ones to accommodate this increase in traffic. I think it puts an added sense of anxiety and claustrophobia to customers on crowded days and may lead to a lot of bad experiences.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather the park stay more intimate and just deal with the crowds, but if there are no new major attractions drawing people in, I could see where many might not think dealing with the crowds is worth the trip. Could be a factor.
We're there a minimum of 4 days a week, and I'd venture to say we have become experts at navigating the park on crowded days. We know when to get there, when shows will be crowded, when restaurants will be crowded, rides, etc. Still we almost NEVER go on Saturdays. It's just no fun.
I think the terrain of the park, the size and spacing of the hamlets, the size of the walkways etc, do not lend itself to big crowds. It's like a residential community that's seen an explosion in new home building and population, but has not done anything to add new roads or widen the existing ones to accommodate this increase in traffic. I think it puts an added sense of anxiety and claustrophobia to customers on crowded days and may lead to a lot of bad experiences.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather the park stay more intimate and just deal with the crowds, but if there are no new major attractions drawing people in, I could see where many might not think dealing with the crowds is worth the trip. Could be a factor.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
But then how does that apply with other parks? Both disney and universal have experienced a gain in attendance and those places are packed! They have gotten major attractions these last few years (WWOHP) and you feel like you're in a sardine can whenever you go there on any day of the year (mostly during the summer).
But then how does that apply with other parks? Both disney and universal have experienced a gain in attendance and those places are packed! They have gotten major attractions these last few years (WWOHP) and you feel like you're in a sardine can whenever you go there on any day of the year (mostly during the summer).
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
If they have major new attractions, then it's worth subjecting yourself to the crowds. If not, then it may not be worth it for many people.
If they have major new attractions, then it's worth subjecting yourself to the crowds. If not, then it may not be worth it for many people.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
What Shafor said, but also, Disney World and Universal are destinations, and they are also once-a-year to once-a-couple-of-years type places. People plan to spend a week at Disney World who have never even seen the place. I think crowding doesn't really factor into the decision. BG, however, is mostly for locals, and so it's a A or B thing. Do we want to A) go to BG and fight the crowds or B) go the movies, out to dinner, the local park, etc.
I think Shafor is DEAD ON about the exploding residential community, by the way. To me, it all started with that "Summer Fun Card." The park attendance has, in my subjective opinion, been blowing up ever since.
Gropplo said:
What Shafor said, but also, Disney World and Universal are destinations, and they are also once-a-year to once-a-couple-of-years type places. People plan to spend a week at Disney World who have never even seen the place. I think crowding doesn't really factor into the decision. BG, however, is mostly for locals, and so it's a A or B thing. Do we want to A) go to BG and fight the crowds or B) go the movies, out to dinner, the local park, etc.
I think Shafor is DEAD ON about the exploding residential community, by the way. To me, it all started with that "Summer Fun Card." The park attendance has, in my subjective opinion, been blowing up ever since.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
You are beyond wrong and that is beyond a baseless assumption. I visit there 3-4 times AT LEAST a year for 5-8 days at a time. Several other I know here and that I have met there visit Disney as well as Uni a few times a year as well. Look at how many AP's they sell to out of state residents. Do research.
doctormoneymd said:
You are beyond wrong and that is beyond a baseless assumption. I visit there 3-4 times AT LEAST a year for 5-8 days at a time. Several other I know here and that I have met there visit Disney as well as Uni a few times a year as well. Look at how many AP's they sell to out of state residents. Do research.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
well, I think you might be an exception Scout. Most people can't afford to get APs for their family and make a very long and expensive trip down to Disney multiple times a year. I don't know many people that plan on going to WDW more than once a year or every other year. It's just too far away and costs too much. I mean I guess I could do that, but I wouldn't have much else disposable income for around here.
well, I think you might be an exception Scout. Most people can't afford to get APs for their family and make a very long and expensive trip down to Disney multiple times a year. I don't know many people that plan on going to WDW more than once a year or every other year. It's just too far away and costs too much. I mean I guess I could do that, but I wouldn't have much else disposable income for around here.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
Some people have more money than others. I can plan For Disney all I want, It's still costing me an arm and a leg. Might not be an arm and a leg to others, but for me and the majority of the people I know it is. As Swift said, Those folks over at Disboards are the exceptions who go out of their way to make it to Disney. They'll pinch every penny they can if need be to make it happen.
Some people like me on the other hand are lucky if they get out to Orlando once a year. Im no Disney Fanatic, and Im not gonna go about cutting corners in my budget to make it out there as often as possible. HHN on the other hand...
Some people have more money than others. I can plan For Disney all I want, It's still costing me an arm and a leg. Might not be an arm and a leg to others, but for me and the majority of the people I know it is. As Swift said, Those folks over at Disboards are the exceptions who go out of their way to make it to Disney. They'll pinch every penny they can if need be to make it happen.
Some people like me on the other hand are lucky if they get out to Orlando once a year. Im no Disney Fanatic, and Im not gonna go about cutting corners in my budget to make it out there as often as possible. HHN on the other hand...
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
It not that people don't visit BG more than once a year, it's that they take shorter trips. People will drive 2-4 hours to go for one day on a Saturday 4-5 times a year sure. People fly to Disney for a week. BG is basically dead during the week and packed to near capacity on Saturdays. It's less of a "destination" spot than a "day trip" spot. I can't see how that can possibly be argued.
It not that people don't visit BG more than once a year, it's that they take shorter trips. People will drive 2-4 hours to go for one day on a Saturday 4-5 times a year sure. People fly to Disney for a week. BG is basically dead during the week and packed to near capacity on Saturdays. It's less of a "destination" spot than a "day trip" spot. I can't see how that can possibly be argued.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
That's an extremely huge stretch to say that. The majority of them are wise enough to know how to plan a trip. They don't buy into the big advertisements that are designed to grab the once ever five years crowd. This year will only be three visits for us but we plan it smart. There are ways to go about it without killing your pocket. Driving for a family of five that is under 13 hours away is over a grand in savings instantly.
Youhow2 said:
That's an extremely huge stretch to say that. The majority of them are wise enough to know how to plan a trip. They don't buy into the big advertisements that are designed to grab the once ever five years crowd. This year will only be three visits for us but we plan it smart. There are ways to go about it without killing your pocket. Driving for a family of five that is under 13 hours away is over a grand in savings instantly.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
Scout, if you believe it, then you believe it, but I'd be willing to bet you diamonds to donuts that, on any given day, less than 10% of park attendees are the kinds of guests you're talking about. Disney parks are destinations for most people. I used to live in Orlando, so yes, I know what the local crowd is like, and, before I joined the Navy, I used to go to Disney World once a year (from Richmond, VA).
Set foot in a Disney park and see how many people have the tourist look. The dumbfounded, lost-in-a-daze, "what time does this start", "how come HE gets to go to the front of the line" look. That's not the look of a seasoned Disney veteran. I'm not debating that the DVC crowd doesn't exist, but, like I said: diamonds to donuts, less than 10%.
Scout, if you believe it, then you believe it, but I'd be willing to bet you diamonds to donuts that, on any given day, less than 10% of park attendees are the kinds of guests you're talking about. Disney parks are destinations for most people. I used to live in Orlando, so yes, I know what the local crowd is like, and, before I joined the Navy, I used to go to Disney World once a year (from Richmond, VA).
Set foot in a Disney park and see how many people have the tourist look. The dumbfounded, lost-in-a-daze, "what time does this start", "how come HE gets to go to the front of the line" look. That's not the look of a seasoned Disney veteran. I'm not debating that the DVC crowd doesn't exist, but, like I said: diamonds to donuts, less than 10%.
RE: BGW Attendance Drops 3.4%
Take a good look at the number of AP's that the park has. The Florida season pass as well. The better part of stable families in Florida have one or the other. There are way more regulars than you seem to give credit to.
doctormoneymd said:
Take a good look at the number of AP's that the park has. The Florida season pass as well. The better part of stable families in Florida have one or the other. There are way more regulars than you seem to give credit to.