Orlando parks find local tourists a mixed blessing

Isn't some money better than no money? We (Fla. residents) may spend less but we go more often. The parks are going to be open whether there is a small crowd or a big crowd so my $500 is 500 more than they would have earned.

I'll never understand this. It is like hotel rooms or airline seats. Better to make $100 on an airline seat than let it go empty, right?

But Wahoo, if you notice they are not complaining about locals, what they're saying is that local tourist numbers are up while as a whole park visits are down. So parks such as WDW and USF are losing sales on the high markup items - souvenirs, restaurants and hotel stays.

So yes, rest assured they want your $500, but they would prefer those of us who stay at their hotels, eat their food, buy their souvenirs and go "all out".

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

Well then George....come on down...:)

We love tourists! But seriously, when I travel out-of-state, THAT is when we $pend like tourists....if I'm taking in a few hours at the home park, I'm not as likely to stay as long, or to pick up the kind of merchadise I would at a park "far from home".

The parks really want the *destination tourists*, that's understandable...even if us Floridians packed the places like sardines, we still don't yield the profitability of out-of-towners....and never will....

My *guess* is that those of you who live within an hour of parks up North don't spend the night at a hotel when visiting YOUR home parks either...;)

Exactly...

As far as coming down (or going to any distant park) for the time being my trips have been curtailed (except when I can add them onto the ends of business trip).

While having a child is a wonderful thing, the ability to take trips is limited - until you can get them hooked on the rides that is. And with Katie only being nine months old tomorrow, I have a ways to go before I can get her hooked. ;)

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

Hi all,

I'd have to say that there is one thing that spoils Orlando: the international tourists! ;-) I'm from the UK and I have to admit, we're the worst culprits! So, I extend profound apologies to all the locals who have to put up with us!

As you may have guessed, I'm joking, but there are some types of people that I'd like to see barred from Orlando (Many of whom were on the same coach as me to all the major themeparks :-( ) Don't ask me to name them, as though it'll be funny.....they'll be angry responses!! :-)

Best wishes

Gator said: "My *guess* is that those of you who live within an hour of parks up North don't spend the night at a hotel when visiting YOUR home parks either... "

If I lived an hour from Orlando, and I had four people, I would get a discounted room at one of the Universal hotels just to get the Express Lane on the hotel key. I'd say it would be worth it for unlimited Express Lane!

BTW, nice to see you while I was down there spending money, Gator! :-)