Overview
- The resort posted a 19-minute average wait on July 5, the slowest day of 2026, with many headline attractions reporting walk-on or under-15-minute waits.
- National travel was strong over the holiday period, with TSA and AAA projections showing high volumes of travelers, but many chose cruises, beaches, or off-peak dates instead of Orlando.
- Extreme heat in Central Florida and the high cost of holiday travel — pricier flights, rental cars, and hotels — are widely cited by guests as reasons to delay or re-schedule Disney trips.
- Operational factors that reduced usual local attendance included Annual Pass blockouts over the holiday and a recent restriction on bus access to Disney Springs for non-resort guests.
- Disney and competitors have responded with more aggressive summer promotions, while analysts note the change fits a longer trend since about 2016 even as some forward bookings remain healthy.