Attendance was down nearly 83 percent at the Tokyo Disney theme parks for the six months ending September 30 compared to the same period last year, owner Oriental Land Co. reported today.
Tokyo Disney's theme parks — Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea – welcomed 2.69 million visitors between April 1 and September 30 in 2020, compared to 15.74 million during the same period in 2019. The two theme parks were closed due to the pandemic from February 29 through June 30 this year and have operated at reduced capacity from July 1 onward.
The good news is that average guest spending was up for those visitors who did return to the parks once they reopened. Tokyo Disney reported a 14.1 percent increase in net sales per guest, up to ¥13,125 (US$125.34) for the period, with increases in ticket, merchandise, and food and beverage sales.
Tokyo Disney restricted its annual passholders from visiting the parks during its phased reopening, holding a lottery to determine when passholders would be able to enter. The resort recently announced that it would be discontinuing its annual pass program. Reservations are required for daily ticket use, and the number of available admissions remains limited due to the need for safe physical distancing inside the parks.
Nevertheless, Tokyo Disneyland last month opened its long-awaited expansion project, highlighted by the new Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast trackless dark ride. Other enhancements include a Big Hero 6-themed spinner and a Minnie's Style Studio meet-and-greet walk-through. A new Broadway-style theater for a live musical production will open at a later date.
The Oriental Land Co. owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort under license from The Walt Disney Company.
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