“We expect to see some moderation in the demand at Disney World” -Josh D’Amaro
As we head into the unofficial start of summer, it looks like we’re in for a softer-than-normal Memorial Day weekend. According to the four Disney Park Pass theme park reservation calendars that we monitor, there isn’t a single sold-out theme park for any ticket type during a typically busy Memorial Day weekend. Theme park reservations remain wide open for regular ticket holders, resort guests, Annual Passholders, and Cast Members.
It’s unlikely that Disney has somehow increased capacity. According to thrill-data.com, wait times during May 2023 are down nearly 25% versus May 2022. Combine that with some caution from the Burbank C-suite, discounted ticket offers, and cheap(er) hotel rooms and we could be looking at a slow summer at Walt Disney World. For the year, average wait times are down about 18% when compared to the same timeframe in 2022.
So, what does this mean for you if you’re visiting this summer? Hopefully more manageable crowd levels and a more relaxed vacation experience. We plan on testing the Genie+ product again shortly to see what kind of value there is when using the product during a potentially softer summer at Disney World. We expect to see a strong touring strategy keep pace with a skip-the-line product, but we’ll have to see how that shakes out over the next few weeks and beyond. In general, we think a plan to arrive early, relax or even nap during the afternoons, and take advantage of late nights will still carry the day.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!