DLR 2006 Attendance Drops?

[HydroGuy]

From this news item on Yahoo today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/...8ehwGUVY_MWM0F

Does anyone know what the numbers were for 2006? I believe the 2005 number was 14.5 million. What about the WDW parks?

The Walt Disney Co. blew past Wall Street expectations Wednesday, reporting strong first-quarter earnings on gains from the sale of its shares in US Weekly magazine and the E! Entertainment channel.

[Theme Park] Revenue for the quarter increased 4 percent to $2.5 billion and operating income increased 8 percent to $405 million, driven mainly by gains at Walt Disney World.

Attendance fell at the company's flagship Disneyland parks in California due to tough comparisons with last year's record-setting 50th anniversary celebration.

[kronos]

Well if Disney were to raise their wages, they wouldn't be making 405 million per quarter. That is ridiculous!! Maybe they are still trying to pay off Eisner?

[Darkbeer]

Check out the News Section, I posted that Disneyland Resort attendance dropped 5% for the October thru December 2006 period compared to the same 3 months in 2005.

It was down 7% for the July thru September 2006 compared to the 3 months in 2005.

[SpokkerJones]

They set records in 2005 because of the 50th. Of course it's going to drop in 2006. I don't think this is a bad thing at all.

[cellarhound]

Revinue is meaningless, because it doesn't register costs

Operating income is also meaningless because it doesn't account for taxes and interest... Most of this will likely get reinvested into the parks/resourts, some of it will go to shareholders... Anything that goes to Eisner is considered a cost, and is outside this number - but part of it does as he is a shareholder (as is Steve Jobs, Iger, Roy Disney, etc...).

[Wally]

It's expected. 2005 was a madhouse, it won't be like that again for a long time.

[themur]

Many would say that they welcome the drop in attendance!

In addition to the attendance change, I would like to know how the amount spent per visitor has changed. Castmember Matt understood that the park can be even more successful with an attendance reduction as long as the amount spent per person increased.

[barfownz]

Disney set a record for the 50th?

[Wally]

Disney set a record for the 50th?

Anyone know for sure? I thought it was the #2 year, only trumped by Electrical Light Parade's farewell season? Either way, it was an astounding year.

[JiminyCricketFan]

WDW is growing because there are so much to do there. There are four major parks with several smaller water parks. Disneyland is really trying to go it alone. DCA is a poor, weak cousin who does not drive attendance. This winter, Disney is giving away DCA to increase attendance numbers. WDW does not have to do that.

What Disney has to do is "fix" DCA so that it really is a second gate. Only then can Disneyland Resort numbers really grow. There is a limit on how many people can fit into Disneyland. For the attendance here to grow there has to be a second park to attract and hold guests.

[Mathius]

Disney set a record for the 50th?

Don't think so, although they came close. I searched around and found out that in 1996, Disney had 15 million guests pass through.

[Dustysage]

Don't think so, although they came close. I searched around and found out that in 1996, Disney had 15 million guests pass through.

Wasn't that the year that Indy opened?

[Mathius]

Wasn't that the year that Indy opened?

That's what I am guessing as well. I'll check.

Edit: Indiana Jones opened in 1995, surprisingly attendance wasn't as high as 1996.

[Redsix]

Indy opened in March of 1995

[DLForever]

That's what I am guessing as well. I'll check.

Edit: Indiana Jones opened in 1995, surprisingly attendance wasn't as high as 1996.

1996 was the last year of MSEP.... That probably caused the attendance gain.