Walt Disney Company Sees Higher Guest Spending and Attendance at Theme Parks in Q1 2026

Disney Parks Q1 2026 Earnings: Record Revenue Driven by Guest Spending and New Ships

The Walt Disney Company has officially released its earnings report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, showcasing a powerful performance for the Experiences segment. Despite some near-term hurdles, the theme parks and cruise line continue to be a primary growth engine for the company, hitting record-breaking financial milestones.

Experiences Segment Hits $10 Billion Milestone

In Q1 of 2026, Disney’s Experiences segment—which includes domestic and international theme parks, consumer products, and the Disney Cruise Line—generated a record $10 billion in quarterly revenue. Operating income for the segment rose to $3.3 billion, with domestic parks specifically seeing an 8% increase in operating income.

Domestic Parks: Spending Outpaces Attendance Growth

While attendance at domestic parks saw a modest 1% increase, per-capita guest spending grew by 4%. This indicates that while the total volume of guests remains steady, those visiting are spending more on food, beverages, merchandise, and premium experiences.

Key factors contributing to the domestic success include:

• Recovery from Weather Impacts: The 1% attendance gain represents a solid recovery from the previous year, which was negatively impacted by Hurricane Milton.
• Cruise Line Expansion: The launches of the Disney Treasure (December 2024) and the Disney Destiny (November 2025) significantly increased passenger cruise days and overall revenue.
• Hotel Steady at 87%: Occupancy at domestic Disney resorts reached 87%, up from 85% in the prior year quarter.

International Parks See Strong Demand

International parks outpaced domestic growth in terms of volume, posting a 6% increase in attendance. While guest spending at international properties grew by a more modest 2%, the strong attendance suggests high demand for Disney’s global destinations.

The Road Ahead: Future Projects and Outlook

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston noted that while the company expects “modest” operating income growth in Q2 due to pre-launch costs for the Disney Adventure cruise ship and the World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris, the long-term outlook is positive.

Forward-looking indicators, such as room bookings at Walt Disney World, are currently pacing 5% higher than the previous year, particularly weighted toward the second half of fiscal 2026.

With massive projects like the Tropical Americas expansion at Animal Kingdom and Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios on the horizon, Disney is positioning itself for a significant multi-year growth phase.

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