What does the first-quarter performance of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts mean for Disney theme park guests?
Disney officials indicated they will eventually reduce the number of discounts and promotions, but stopped short of setting a timeline or establishing numbers. “Advertisers and customers are making their buying decisions at the last minute,” said Senior Executive VP and CFO Jay Rasulo, which creates challenges with regards to long-term planning. Rasulo noted Disney will likely alter discounts and promotions slowly and that current policies concerning offers would not undergo significant changes. “We look at every quarter as we can, gauge the response to the consumer, and act accordingly.” Disney referenced a change to an earlier Walt Disney World Resort promotion that offered seven nights’ stay of the price of four. Now the promotion offers seven nights for the price of five for about half those rooms. To encourage guests to continue traveling to the U.S. theme parks, with or without heavy discounts and promotions, Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Resort’s Califo
