Is Disney World attendance going down?

According to InsideTheMagic.com, “Disney's attendance has dropped substantially,” with some attendees reporting impacts at Disneyland and other parks, with Disney World appearing more like a “ghost town” than a thriving tourist destination.



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According to InsideTheMagic.com, “Disney's attendance has dropped substantially,” with some attendees reporting impacts at Disneyland and other parks, with Disney World appearing more like a “ghost town” than a thriving tourist destination.

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Disney World's crowds are getting smaller, signaling that the high entry costs to the theme park as well as competition from other destinations may be taking a toll on attendance, Wall Street Journal reporter Jacob Passy told CBS News.

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PUBLISHED: August 9, 2023 at 3:15 p.m. | UPDATED: August 11, 2023 at 10:51 a.m. Disneyland saw attendance rise during the spring and early summer months and visitor spending increase thanks in part to higher ticket prices, according to the latest Disney quarterly report.

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Meanwhile, travel agents have pointed to higher ticket prices as a major factor in declining theme park attendance. On top of that, trips to Europe appear to be cannibalizing demand for domestic theme parks this year — likely both contributing to the downturn.

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Typically, the least crowded times at Disney World tend to be:
  • Mid to Late January through early February: The holiday season has ended, and many families are not traveling because school is in session.
  • Mid-May: There aren't any holidays during this time, and not as many families travel in the final weeks of school.


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October 2023 The growing popularity of fall breaks in schools means that October is far busier than it used to be. Halloween entertainment continues at Magic Kingdom, including the very popular Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing over at Epcot.

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Nevertheless, wait times are an imperfect measure of Walt Disney World's crowds, especially if you're comparing current conditions to prior years. Walt Disney World attendance has increased by several million people over the course of the last decade-plus, so the vast majority of days in 2023 will be more crowded than ...

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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Disney does not release capacity limitations, but most estimates put Magic Kingdom capacity anywhere from 85,000 up to 100,000 guests at a time before the park is closed to all new guests. If you've been inside the Disney World theme parks when they've reached full, pre-pandemic capacity, you know how busy it can be.

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Worst Times to Visit Disney World Despite this, prices and crowd size both hit a peak in June, July, and August — so if you want to save money and avoid unpleasantly long lines, you may want to plan your trip for another season.

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When is Disney World the MOST crowded?
  • Easter (both the week before and the week after typically have increased crowds)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Indigenous Peoples' Day (2nd Monday in October)
  • Veterans' Day (November 11)
  • Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
  • Christmas week through January 1.


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GRAPHIC: The best times to visit Walt Disney World in 2023
  • January 17-31 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
  • February 1-9 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
  • May 1-5 (light to moderate crowds)
  • May 8-25 (light to moderate crowds)
  • August 14-18 (light crowds)
  • August 21-31 (light crowds)


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Crowds. With the exception of weekends at Epcot (for Food and Wine) and Columbus Day/Fall Break time, October has some really great options for reasonable crowd levels. Going early in the month still allows for some of the “slow September” season vibe.

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The Park Prodigy's Orlando park crowd calendar is the best tool to see how busy each theme park will be during a specific month, week, and day. It's the perfect resource for families to rely on as they begin to plan their 2023 and 2024 vacation at the Orlando theme parks.

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Guests often wonder if Disney World is free on their birthday. Disney does not give you free admission on your birthday but they do give you special treatment, free food, and other perks. Let's take a look at the benefits of celebrating a birthday at Walt Disney World Resort.

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As a general matter, Animal Kingdom is the park that requires the least strategy and is the easiest place to beat the crowds in all of Walt Disney World. It doesn't require Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes, and is pretty easy to knock out everything–and then some–if you stay for a full day.

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The Top 9 Ways to Avoid Crowds At Walt Disney World
  1. Be choosy (if you can) about what time of year you go. ...
  2. Plan to Arrive Early to the Parks. ...
  3. Take a Break in the Afternoon. ...
  4. Take Some Time to Visit Resorts. ...
  5. Stay Late in the Parks. ...
  6. Leave Do Not Linger at the End of the Nighttime Show. ...
  7. Take Advantage of the Weather.


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