Due to the current global situation, Walt Disney World is currently operating at a limited capacity.
Magic Kingdom
Capacity is somewhat naturally limited, however, because there are some guests who simply cannot travel to Walt Disney World right now. Like those from certain states or countries with travel restrictions or advisories for example.
Recently, we heard of a few predictions that suggest that it may take a considerable amount of time before international tourist spending in the United States returns to pre-coronavirus levels.
During a recent quarterly earnings call, where various members of The Walt Disney Company discussed the results of the Company’s third fiscal quarter of 2020, we learned approximately 50% of the guest base at Walt Disney World is currently made up of guests who are traveling to the resort from a distance. That leaves approximately 50% of the guest base to be composed of locals traveling from areas that are not too far away.
Tree of Life
It seems that Walt Disney World, and other locations in the United States, may continue to see reduced international tourist spending for quite some time. According to the Orlando Sentinel, one expert — Christopher Thompson, president, and CEO of Brand USA — has indicated that the United States may not see spending by international tourists within the U.S. return to pre-coronavirus levels until 2024.
Aerophile
A number of years ago, Christopher Thompson was the head of Visit Florida, which focuses on marketing tourism to Florida. Thompson indicated that the travel industry is not just in a recession, it is in a depression, with more than 50% of the hospitality industry facing unemployment.
Spaceship Earth
Thompson noted that even after a vaccine is developed and released, visitors will need to feel confident about their health as they travel and during their stays at their destinations. Disney has certainly implemented a number of safety and cleanliness policies and procedures during its reopening and has been monitoring guests’ experiences with these new policies.
Screenshot of video ©Port Canaveral on Facebook
With Disney Cruise Line and other cruise lines announcing an extended suspension on new departures, it will be interesting to see how the travel industry in Florida, throughout the United States, and around the world, adjusts and transforms as time goes on.
Perhaps we will see more park passes offered to Passholders as locals and those from closer areas continue to form a larger part of Walt Disney World’s visitors until international and even domestic travel returns to pre-coronavirus levels. We will keep you updated on the latest information!
Click here to read more about the new changes to Florida’s quarantine mandates for travelers from the New York Tri-State area.
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From Toronto we were scheduled to fly down September 2020. Now rescheduling go July 2021. However, really need for our U.S. friends to follow advice from health care leaders to reduce spread of covid 19. We’ve been following quarantine, distancing, mask rules since March up here and need everyone to respect these so we can all enjoy the magic.
International travelers cutting back on visiting WDW is a good thing as it was getting much too crowded. I really was concerned when i witnessed large groups of matching t-shirt groups overwhelm an area and begin chanting. This was disturbing to me as an American as i felt uncomfortable be swarmed. Most of these large touring groups were international young people which made me feel uncomfortable. I have been going to WDW For over 35 years every year, multiple times a year and am a DVC member and I cherish the early 90’s when the crowds were a lot smaller and Michael Eisner and Frank Wells were doing things right.
I think a lot of international tourists will be delaying holidays for value-for-money reasons as much as covid caution. With the reduced hours and shows, and no dates announced for when they’ll return, I think people will be waiting for “normality” to be confirmed. It’s not a cheap holiday.
Personally I have a trip booked in Feb 2021 and will be there come rain or shine assuming the US will allow us to travel from the UK.