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Disney’s Q2 FY22 Earnings Call took place this afternoon, giving fans insight into earnings for the Walt Disney Company, with a focus on tiered pricing coming to Disney+ and the financial recovery of both domestic and international Disney theme parks. During a discussion on theme park earnings and capacity, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Walt Disney Company Christine McCarthy commented on the theme park reservation system and reaffirmed that it is here to stay.
Credit: Disney
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While responding to a question on whether or not the company foresees any decreases or leveling out in earnings at domestic parks as any financial statements coming out currently are still largely being compared to numbers from earlier in the pandemic, McCarthy began to discuss how Disney has been, and continues to use the park reservation system.
“We’re choosing to limit attendance,” McCarthy said, “That goes back to us trying to balance demand and attendance throughout the year…Attendance is something we’re controlling to create a better consumer experience.”
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Later during the call, McCarthy continued to focus on Disney’s decision to continue using the park reservations system, noting its positive outcomes on both business and consumer ends while confirming that there are currently no plans to do away with the system, much to the disappointment of those Guests who are not fans of it.
As McCarthy then pointed out, capacity in Disney theme parks can be increased without necessarily allowing more people into the parks. “We’ve brought back character meet and greets, nighttime spectaculars in Disneyland, and the new attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will continue to increase capacity in EPCOT.”
The Disney Park Pass Reservation system, while helpful from a business standpoint, and perhaps to a Guest standpoint to the end that McCarthy explains, has not been wildly popular among fans. There are certainly pros and cons to the system, however for Guests, many feel frustrated by it.
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Whether it is the occasional instance of a Guest arriving at a Disney park without knowing that they needed a reservation or the frustrations felt by Guests who ‘check in’ at their first park only to Park Hop to the one they actually wanted to go to when it was out of reservations, some fans surely believe the system could use some improvements where it is sticking around.
Where Disney fans have speculated that Park Hopping may soon return to normal, and where Disney has shown the capability to make changes to the My Disney Experience app and virtual queue systems based on changes in Guest demand, it is possible that the reservation system will continue but eventually improve.
If any changes do come to the system, we will be back with the latest updates here on Disney Fanatic. For now, though, remember to check for reservations online as you purchase your tickets to theme parks at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
