Overview
- Disney reported a fiscal Q2 record of about $9.5 billion in Experiences revenue with $2.62 billion in operating income, even as domestic park attendance slipped roughly 1%.
- Per‑guest spending jumped as visitors paid for Lightning Lane line‑skipping, VIP tours, premium dining, and stays at higher‑priced on‑site hotels.
- Streaming income rose about 88% and turned solidly profitable, which helped management lift this year’s share buyback goal to $8 billion and back stronger profit guidance.
- Executives said the attendance softness reflected weaker international visitation and new competition from Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando, with forward bookings trending higher later this year.
- Under Josh D’Amaro, the parks have shifted from packing turnstiles to maximizing spend per visitor, with deluxe‑guest perks and planned projects like Beyond Big Thunder and Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas likely to favor wealthier travelers over budget families.