Theme Park Bookings Down

[Isaac]

Even Mickey Mouse is feeling the economic pinch

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Walt Disney Co on Thursday said bookings at its theme parks have declined "considerably" in the last month as the global economy has soured, and its shares slid 9 percent in extended trade.

The news came as the No. 2 U.S. entertainment company reported a 13 percent decline in quarterly net income due in part to a bad debt charge. Revenue for the period, however, topped Wall Street analysts' estimates.
Disney said the advertising climate had softened the performance of its cable and broadcast networks, and that its U.S. theme parks and resorts suffered under higher labor and fuel costs.

In addition, on a conference call with analysts, executives said attendance at its U.S. theme parks is down 1 percent so far in the current quarter and that bookings for the first two quarters of fiscal 2009 are down "a little under 10 percent" from last year.

"We are seeing a marketplace that is clearly tougher than it was in fiscal year 2008 and our ability to predict is very limited." Chief Executive Bob Iger said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081106/media_nm/us_disney

[madmonkeygirl]

Gee i'm not surprised with the economy the way it is. I mean times are tough. If i were planning a family vacation would rather do something less expensive with the whole family than theme parks. My parents used to drag us kids camping in the summer for an entire week of roughing it. That was our vacation. No theme parks.

[wolfy999]

It sure doesn't seem like it at Disneyland...I've heard WDW is slow though.. We have been having some very large crowds during the weekends, more than normal.

They could all be pass holders, so that wouldn't help the bottom line of course.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by wolfy999

They could all be pass holders, so that wouldn't help the bottom line of course.

If Annual Passes didn't help Disney's bottom line, they wouldn't sell them.

[wolfy999]

I agree of course, I'm one of those people that spend a lot at the Parks. But as far as bookings are concerned....the individual Ticket Sales & Hotel Occupancies may not be happening.

[CoasterMatt]

Annual Passes do help the bottom line, but in the theme park industry; main gate tickets and hotel bookings are the main source of revenue.

[NickO'Time]

Possibly more state taxes on Theme parks in the works at the state capital, might not help this either.(part of the bailout for the state deficit.)

[belleh5]

Priceline is offering $35 Hotel rooms. They keep sending me e-mails. I wonder where the hotels are?

[Stan4dSteph]

I have certainly gotten more emails from WDW about travel offers over the past few months than I recall getting at any other time.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by belleh5

Priceline is offering $35 Hotel rooms. They keep sending me e-mails. I wonder where the hotels are?

I think those are the one's where the girls cost extra