I wouldn't say they're on hiatus. I think they're trying to do something a bit different, at least for a few times, beyond the same-old-same-old NY-LA-NY-LA-NY-LA year-in-year-out. It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that the old formula drew the same people over and over again, even if the numbers were high, because they live close to one of the locales (and some will fly from one coast to the other), making it worth the time and money. But for those of us DS fans left in the nether-regions where time or finances don't allow such a weekend excursion, we're left out. If they had a DS fest in, say, Chicago, I might have the remote chance to go. But in NY or LA? Impossible. I was lucky to have attended my only one in NY in 2003 because, ironically, I was returning from a cruise to Bermuda and had that entire Saturday free. It was just the luck of the draw.
It's good that the old formula of NY/LA can draw so many, but as I opined, it seems to be the same ones. A franchise can't grow if it doesn't attract new numbers. It would be interesting to see how many of the people on this past cruise, even though the numbers were far lower than what would've attended a big, massive, splashy NY/LA festival, were - percentage wise - "newbies" to the fest as compared with the percentage of those attending the NY/LA formula.
No, not all of us (as a matter of fact, most of us) don't have the time or ability to take off for a week as opposed to a weekend. And while the cost of cruise seems insurmountable, dollar for dolllar it's cheaper than a NY/LA weekend (or a Chicago weekend). DS needs "fresh blood" to keep it going. The devotion of "old" fans is undoudtedly appreciated, especially the ones who have made and will continue to make the NY/LA pilgrimage. I'm just glad they're trying new things. This is, after all, the twenty-teens. We need to keep up with the times. If a TV remake was done again, I'm sure it would show members of Collinwood using downloads to listen to music and not a record player. And when someone would need to dial Sheriff Patterson, they'd use a hand-held "smartphone" instead of a rotary dial.
Gerard