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When you visit Walt Disney World Resort, lines are expected. And traditionally, the July 4 holiday is one of the busiest times of the year. But for some reason…this year saw the lowest attendance for the holiday weekend in a decade.
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Credit: Zach Riddley
Peak seasons at the theme parks are typically around holidays, with Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July leading to Walt Disney World’s busiest times.
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A Slump Year
Walt Disney World has seen a little bit of a decline in 2023. Although the Magic Kingdom still ranks as the most visited theme Park in the world, it has yet to reach the heights it once did. In May, Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Josh D’Amaro confirmed that Walt Disney World is currently witnessing a “moderation” in demand.
Credit: Disney
The evidence of this drop in attendance was painfully clear on July 4. Thrill Data reported average wait times far below those of every Fourth of July dating back to 2014 – making it Walt Disney World’s slowest Fourth of July in a decade.
Wait times across #DisneyWorld today, black, compared to each 4th of July going back to 2014. pic.twitter.com/Qd5shUlG7C
— Thrill Data (@ThrillData) July 4, 2023
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July 4th Disney Decline
At around 5 p.m., the Disney World theme parks’ average wait time was just over 20 minutes. According to the wait times listed on the My Disney Experience app, some of Disney World’s most popular rides – including Expedition Everest and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – had wait times under 20 minutes.
Credit: Disney
In the past, wait times at the Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT (typically the busiest Parks on July 4) have pushed nearly three hours. This year, however, the average wait time at the Magic Kingdom was only 26.9 minutes, while EPCOT’s was just 17 minutes. The longest wait in any of the four theme parks was for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride at 79 minutes.
Credit: Disney
There could be many reasons why Park attendance is down this year, including Guests exhausted by price increases, dissatisfaction with Genie+ and the lightning lane system, the weather, and even the battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
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Regardless of the reason, there’s no denying that Walt Disney World crowds are low this summer season. So if there was ever a chance to enjoy a low-crowd vacation at the theme Park Resort, now is it!
