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One Guest took on Disney CEO Bob Iger, contradicting the latter’s claim that Disney World is doing well.
The subject of Walt Disney World and its current state of emptiness (or otherwise) has made national headlines, with the Wall Street Journal recently covering the Central Florida Disney Resort. For a while now, many fans and Guests have been insisting that the Walt Disney World Resort is not doing well when it comes to theme park attendance numbers.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort, in their 50th-anniversary outfits / Credit: Disney
Disney CEO Bob Iger Addresses Theme Park Numbers
Since his return, Bob Iger has been working hard to restore a sense of internal order to the Walt Disney Company. This massive undertaking has required a significant restructuring, which included the 7000-person layoffs we saw earlier this year. Part of his job has also included image management in order to reassure shareholders that Disney is doing just fine.
In a recent interview, Disney CEO Bob Iger laughed off the Wall Street Journal article that insinuated that Walt Disney World wasn’t doing well. He mentioned that the report hadn’t taken into account temperatures during the summer months, especially during the 4th of July weekend that WSJ had referenced. Mr. Iger reiterated that Disney World is a good product, and people are still incredibly excited about it.
Disney CEO Bob Iger / Credit: Loren Javier, Flickr
Guest Takes on Bob Iger, Shares Photos of an Empty Disney World
However, one Guest recently took to social media to share that despite Disney CEO Bob Iger’s claims, Walt Disney World was, in fact, empty. The Disney fan, Michael, shared photos at EPCOT of a virtually empty Disney Park, highlighting the implied falsehood in Bob Iger’s previous statements.
Despite what Bob Iger wants us to believe, Walt Disney World is empty pic.twitter.com/C5k3g1m9Ap
— Michael (@innoventioneast) July 21, 2023
Fellow Fans Speak Out in Defense of Disney World
However, the story doesn’t end there. Many fans challenged the OP, Michael, and brought some nuance to the conversation.
When Michael shared a photo of an empty Magic Kingdom around 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., one fan pointed out, “Some of the stores, booths, and shows don’t even open or start until 11 or after back there! There’s a reason for it. That’s normal for the time.”
— Michael (@innoventioneast) July 21, 2023
Many fans pointed out these photos were in EPCOT, which is currently between festivals. They added it was the best time to go to the Disney Theme Park.
Another fan also brought up the temperature:
Honestly I’m thinking it’s a mix of some things… but it’s also EXTREMELY hot as well and the parks are not fun to visit with grouchy hot family. My family will not enter a park in the summer. Our last three visits ended in near court battles within the house.
Tusker House, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park / Credit: Disney
Fans also mentioned that attraction wait times indicated differently regarding Disney World’s ostensible emptiness, and posited the empty walkways were due to Guests escaping from the heat while still enjoying the rides.
While this Guest isn’t the only person to point out Walt Disney World being empty this summer, fans were largely more sympathetic towards the theme park. At this time, the only official word from Disney on these assertions is what Mr. Iger has already shared.
