Disneylands MidLife Crisis (miceage.com)

[TP2000]

I noticed a couple weeks ago that the balcony in the Hyperion Theater doesn't seem to be used anymore. At least it's not when I have taken friends to see that show twice in the past month or so. The last time I went to Alladin in late June the balcony was closed, and the orchestra level seating remained only partially filled at show time. I sat in the mezzanine and that section was fairly full.

The XGames bleachers are the real proof that DCA is having a slow summer though! They only seat that middle section, and it hasn't even been filled when I've been there. (Santa Monica's bleacher picture above is very normal, and I've seen it even less crowded than that a few times.) And the most telling thing is the new fans they installed to help cool down the bleachers in that hot, dusty arena.... They only had to install fans for the middle section of bleachers. The side sections are so unused that they didn't even bother installing fans for those sections.

DCA is far less busy this summer than it was in '02 or '03. But if you remember, they were doing the whole "Adults 10 dollars off and kids get in FREE" at DCA only. Disneyland didn't offer those discounts or free kids tickets last summer, only DCA. Without those DCA specific discounts and free kids admissions, they are obviously having a slower summer.

There is the new "Play 4 Days" SoCal resident park hopper ticket this summer, but it has no rules that make a customer go to DCA. You can use it entirely at Disneyland.

Lutz definitely has a sharp editorial tone to his "updates". But the meat and potatoes of his last update seemed to be fairly accurate. All of the things he spoke of I have also observed/noticed in the last month or so.

And of course there's the cutbacks in operating hours for DCA only right in the middle of summer. A succesful park doesn't start closing earlier than originally planned right in the middle of summer. TDA obviously had higher expectations for what the XGames would do for DCA's summer attendance if they are cutting back the originally planned operational hours for DCA, but leaving Disneyland's hours alone.

[Nemo88]

I noticed a couple weeks ago that the balcony in the Hyperion Theater doesn't seem to be used anymore. At least it's not when I have taken friends to see that show twice in the past month or so. The last time I went to Alladin in late June the balcony was closed, and the orchestra level seating remained only partially filled at show time. I sat in the mezzanine and that section was fairly full.

The XGames bleachers are the real proof that DCA is having a slow summer though! They only seat that middle section, and it hasn't even been filled when I've been there. (Santa Monica's bleacher picture above is very normal, and I've seen it even less crowded than that a few times.) And the most telling thing is the new fans they installed to help cool down the bleachers in that hot, dusty arena.... They only had to install fans for the middle section of bleachers. The side sections are so unused that they didn't even bother installing fans for those sections.

DCA is far less busy this summer than it was in '02 or '03. But if you remember, they were doing the whole "Adults 10 dollars off and kids get in FREE" at DCA only. Disneyland didn't offer those discounts or free kids tickets last summer, only DCA. Without those DCA specific discounts and free kids admissions, they are obviously having a slower summer.

There is the new "Play 4 Days" SoCal resident park hopper ticket this summer, but it has no rules that make a customer go to DCA. You can use it entirely at Disneyland.

Lutz definitely has a sharp editorial tone to his "updates". But the meat and potatoes of his last update seemed to be fairly accurate. All of the things he spoke of I have also observed/noticed in the last month or so.

And of course there's the cutbacks in operating hours for DCA only right in the middle of summer. A succesful park doesn't start closing earlier than originally planned right in the middle of summer. TDA obviously had higher expectations for what the XGames would do for DCA's summer attendance if they are cutting back the originally planned operational hours for DCA, but leaving Disneyland's hours alone.

alot of parks (aside from Disneyland itself) seem to be struggling....Universal and Six Flags are also giving away huge discounts on thier parks.....

[TP2000]

alot of parks (aside from Disneyland itself) seem to be struggling....Universal and Six Flags are also giving away huge discounts on thier parks.....

Has Six Flags or Universal cut back it's operating hours for the rest of the summer? And did they pull that maneuver about a week after their big summer promotion kicked off on July 1st?

Those types of actions by TDA in regards to DCA's operation show me that there is something more going on with DCA's lackluster attendance than just the usual excuses of economy/terrorism/weather.

[dlport]

One person's "excuse" is another person's "explanation."

>>Has Six Flags or Universal cut back it's operating hours for the rest of the summer? And did they pull that maneuver about a week after their big summer promotion kicked off on July 1st?<<

I don't know, what are their hours? Does anyone out there know, because it is an interesting question?
I do know that SFMM is shutting down attractions during the week, and running much fewer trains on its coasters as a regular operating strategy. This in a year in which they added a big coaster (Scream)

None of these are "excuses" for any park, but just a wider look at the SoCal park scene. I have no question that Disney wanted more people at the X-Games events; from the parks to ESPN. This was a good year to try the event, with the X-Games in LA. If it does not drive attendance or help ESPN, then they know not to try it in the future.

[YellowMan]

I do know that SFMM is shutting down attractions during the week, and running much fewer trains on its coasters as a regular operating strategy. This in a year in which they added a big coaster (Scream)

Scream hasn't been the draw that they'd hoped for, but many of their coasters run below capacity all the time simply because maintanence is so underbudgeted and behind in that park so they can't run things at full capacity. But as of the last couple times I've been they've been the usual, very heavy summer crowds at SFMM.

[Michael]

Well, DCA was a lot busier yesterday than it was the last Saturday. It appears the marketing campaigns are starting to increase attendance.

[YellowMan]

Well, DCA was a lot busier yesterday than it was the last Saturday. It appears the marketing campaigns are starting to increase attendance.

Well I sure hope so. Believe me, I truly want to see DCA succeeding and if this is the case then I am happy that the promotion is working.

[woody]

If DCA attendance has increased due to marketing, why haven't the attendance at X-Games increased? Shouldn't both increase simultaneously?

[dlport]

Not if I was there. I think DCA is a fine park, but could care less about the X-Games. So the advertising for DCA might entice me to the park, but I might not visit the X-Games events.

Of course, that is just me, and hardly a representative sample.

[furbE95]

Not if I was there. I think DCA is a fine park, but could care less about the X-Games. So the advertising for DCA might entice me to the park, but I might not visit the X-Games events.

Of course, that is just me, and hardly a representative sample.

But I think Michael is referring to the X-Games advertising. Unless DCA is doing any other advertising?