Visitors to Walt Disney World are experiencing something that hasn’t been seen since the post-pandemic revenge travel boom: short wait times and thinner crowds.
Photos and videos of the parks circulating around social media show much smaller crowds than are typical for this time of year. A reprieve parkgoers haven’t experienced in a while.
Magic Kingdom on a Saturday evening in summer. 🤷 pic.twitter.com/xhfyZKBleM
— Ben (@pieps86) July 9, 2023
But what is the reason behind the slowdown? It’s hard to say, but it seems like the post-pandemic travel boom has slowed since more places have opened up, like travel to Europe. During the peak of COVID-19, Florida’s restrictions were some of the most lax.
“Florida opened up early during Covid and created huge demand, and didn’t have competition because there were a number of other places, states, that were not open yet,” CEO Bob Iger said during a recent interview with CNBC.
Additionally, travel experts warn that extreme weather and heat are a factor. Some groups have also issued travel warnings amid the state’s political turmoil with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
High ticket prices could also be a contributing factor. The company had faced such backlash over ballooning prices that Iger reinstated some of the free services guests previously enjoyed. Those perks had been taken away under embattled CEO Bob Chapek.
Whatever the reason, if you’ve been thinking about a Disney trip, now is the time. Thrill Data reports that the average wait time for rides in July is 33 minutes, according to CNN.
And Disney is not alone. Universal Studios Orlando is also experiencing a slump, with ride wait times averaging just 25 minutes.
