Disney draws record traffic - Holiday attendance was strong, Chief Financial Officer

[Kellie19891992]

Disney draws record traffic

Holiday attendance was strong, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs said.



From Wire and Staff Reports |
Posted January 11, 2006

Walt Disney Co., the world's largest theme-park operator, set a holiday-season attendance record at its Walt Disney World resort in Florida.

"Parks had a great holiday season," Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs, 45, said Tuesday at a Citigroup media conference in Phoenix. In attendance, "we actually set a record at Walt Disney World."

A marketing campaign to promote the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., boosted attendance throughout Disney's parks and resorts unit, Staggs said. Walt Disney World overcame disruptions and closures caused by hurricanes.

"We really had a nice end to the quarter," Staggs said. "We had a little bit of a slow start due to the hurricanes."

Staggs didn't disclose attendance figures or first-quarter sales at the parks and resorts division, which had revenue of $9.02 billion in the fiscal year ended Oct. 1.

Central Florida's big three theme parks -- Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando -- all reported brisk business over the winter holidays.

Crowds were so heavy at Disney World the week after Christmas that the Magic Kingdom parking lot was closed briefly one day as it reached capacity in the early afternoon.

The parks generally consider the holiday season to start two weeks before Christmas and to stretch through New Year's Day.

Overall, 2005 was a strong year for attendance at Disney World's four theme parks, with the Magic Kingdom coming in again as the most-visited park in North America and the world.

More than 16 million people visited the park, a 6.5 percent increase, according to figures from Amusement Business, a trade publication

[Big Cheese]

[QUOTE=devkxl]Disney draws record traffic

I'll agree with that! We were there from the 16-26 and the difference between xmas eve & xmas day were night & day. Just packed on xmas day! I'm convinced 2/3 of the people in Florida drive there that day alone just to be there with the family. They may have even gotten in 2 rides!