Disney Cuts Theme Park Hours Due To Smaller Than Expected Covid Crowds

Self preservation beats self-satisfaction. JL

Nicholas Reimann reports in Forbes:

Disney World will soon cut back visiting hours for all four of its theme parks. The Magic Kingdom will lose one hour for visitation, as will Hollywood Studios, while Epcot and Animal Kingdom will both have two hours cut.Crowds have been smaller than expected since the parks reopened last month.Disney CEO Bob Chapek blamed the drop in visitors on a decline in long-distance travel, limiting out of state guests.
Disney World will soon cut back visiting hours for all four of its theme parks, with the announcement coming just days after the Walt Disney Company said it lost $2 billion because of coronavirus shutdowns at the company's parks, including the Florida resort.

KEY FACTS

Magic Kingdom will lose one hour for visitation, as will Hollywood Studios, while Epcot and Animal Kingdom will both have two hours cut.

The changes take effect Sept. 8, which is the day after Labor Day.

Crowds have been smaller than expected since the parks reopened last month after being closed as part of Disney’s longest shutdown in history.

On an earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek blamed the drop in visitors on a decline in long-distance travel, limiting out of state guests.

But some relief might arrive, since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week he was lifting travel restrictions for visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The hour changes are as follows: 

Magic Kingdom will move from a 9 a.m.-7 p.m. schedule to 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Epcot will move from an 11 a.m.-9 p.m. schedule to 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Hollywood Studios will move from a 10 a.m.-8 p.m. schedule to 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Animal Kingdom will move from an 8 a.m.-6 p.m. schedule to 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

KEY BACKGROUND

Disney World is one of the most visited resorts in the world, with its theme parks providing massive portions of the Walt Disney Company’s overall revenue. Its parks are also major employers, and the months-long closure of the Florida resort led to the furloughs of around 100,000 workers.

BIG NUMBER

58 million — According to Disney World, that’s how many visitors go to the resort each year.