Looking back in the forums at last year's attendance for comparable numbers but only seeing Sept 14-16, 2018 weekend for Fall Festival 2018. It was opening weekend for 2018 Fall Festival
"9500 people today, sunday the 16th...
total opening fall festival weekend almost 23000"
Looking at this past weekend, if you include Friday's 7100, there was 53,727 in the park this weekend. As long as those numbers continue with the Pumpkin Nights, I don't know what kind of traction negative letters will bring. Attendance will be interesting to watch when comparing total numbers from past years. I'm guessing that with the PN appealing to younger families, that middle-of-the-week attendance numbers will probably continue to be lower.
Playing devil's advocate here, we were there Friday and the numbers of young families with young kids is a good thing for SDC. Bringing new blood into the park and new memories being made can't be a bad thing can it? I'd be real interested to know the average age of season pass holders each year for the past 15 years. Do you think the average has stayed the same or gone up? I would venture that it has gone up and that isn't a trend that can be sustainable, IMO.
I was disappointed when I looked at the vendor list for the crafters this year too and missed quite a few that I always enjoyed seeing in the past, but for SDC to be viable they have to do things to appeal to this current generation. I'm sure it's a tough position to be in for PTB to try to bring new and exciting things for younger fans, but to try and keep the old traditions for those of us that have been going for many years and enjoy the traditions of the past.
I'm with most in this forum, that I hope the traditions that we are used to (rides, shops, festivals, shows) are fought for and held close to the hearts that are involved in decision making. And I am disappointed to hear of these stories from vendors about how they are being treated. That CAN'T happen.
I struggle with change, but I know that for SDC to survive, it's inevitable; and either I accept it and continue to make new memories while remembering old ones or sit home, be angry and be left with only the old memories.
We were on the tram to the parking lot by 7:30, so we weren't in the PN area after dark. We did walk through it twice after it opened. After we returned to our condo we were discussing the day and we mentioned the missing vendors and cowboy themed demonstration/shows, the new areas and new cirque show. But one thing we all mentioned was how we enjoyed the excitement on some of the kids faces as they were walking the paths and the number of families with young kids in attendance.
Oh well, cheers to old memories and new things! Looking forward to returning in a month for Christmas.