Disney Is Increasing Park Capacity “Aggressively,” But In A “Measured” Manner

When Walt Disney World began phased reopening last summer, it was almost eerie spending a day in the Park as there were oddly wide-open spaces and many, many fewer people than we have ever experienced before in the Parks. Walt Disney World is still operating at a reduced capacity, but we are now learning that Disney hopes to increase that steadily by the end of the year.

Yesterday, we learned that the Walt Disney Company made a HUGE comeback with third-quarter solid earnings. After the release of the profits, Disney held a third-quarter earnings call where Disney officials discussed Park capacity. 

As reported by OrlandoSentinel: “During a third-quarter earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said while Disney leaders are monitoring the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus — considered more contagious than other variants — they are increasing Disney parks’ capacities as demand grows. “We’re expecting to have our parks, domestically, be fully staffed up by the end of this calendar year,” she said. “And we’re going to be increasing capacities as we have the demand and we’re also being able to train, thoroughly train, our employees as they come back in.” She added capacity would be brought back “aggressively,” but in a “measured” manner while considering the health and safety of park guests and employees.”

The Park capacity increase does not surprise us, despite the current state of emergency in Orange County due to the rise of COVID cases. Walt Disney World is preparing for the big “World’s Most Magical Celebration,” honoring their 50th Anniversary. Plus, with Halloween well underway in the parks, it is clear that the Guest demand is still very present. 

We are eager to see what the Park will feel and look like in the near future with an “aggressive” increase in capacity. However, this makes us even more hopeful that Disney returns some form of FastPass system (hopefully complimentary still unlike Disneyland Paris) very soon.