Disney Experiences Weathers Storm Thanks to Overseas Parks Growth
Back in August, The Walt Disney Co. reported a rare decline in operating income for the usually money-printing machine that is its Experiences sector. At the time, the company pointed to a “moderation of consumer demand … that exceeded our previous expectations” as the culprit and noted the downturn will likely impact its domestic theme parks for “the next few quarters.”
Two quarters later, and that gloomy outlook isn’t totally coming to bear thanks to a relatively solid holiday season, but high ticket prices and costs continue to impact the company’s iconic U.S. parks.
Disney’s Q1 2025 report shared that Experiences’ revenue totaled $9.4 billion, making for a 3% year-over-year increase. In context, theme parks brought in the most quarterly revenue to date, restarting an upward trajectory after a stagnant latter half of 2024.
Operating income, meanwhile, broke even with the previous Q1 at $3.1 billion, which at least prevented negative YoY growth for a third quarter in a row. That total was impacted by domestic parks’ 5% decline, which Disney attributed to the roughly $120 million hit caused by the hurricanes Helene and Milton late last year and another $75 million for the launch of a new cruise ship. International parks’ operating income, meanwhile, saw a nearly 30% YoY jump.
While the reasons behind Disney’s U.S. parks’ sluggish Q1 were no doubt valid, the larger truth is that, for Disney and the theme park industry in general, international parks have enjoyed faster growth rates than domestic parks for quite some time.
Disney’s 2024 year-end report shows that while its U.S. parks overall generated more money than international, the latter drew 13% more in revenue and 23% more operating income compared with 2023, while the former saw only a 4% revenue gain and no change to operating income.
This growth for Disney’s overseas parks in 2024 is especially noteworthy, as 2023 was also a gangbuster year. Although Disneyland and Disney World are still the most visited parks in the world, the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM Economics & Advisory’s “2023 Theme Index Report” noted that attendance for non-U.S. parks, particularly in China and Japan, saw increases by double- and even triple-digit percentages.
One of the most likely key reasons behind this trend is that the budget for visiting Disneyland or Disney World is now on par with traveling abroad (and visiting a park) thanks to increased ticket prices and charging for formerly free services. A single-day adult ticket to Disney World, for instance, will cost between $119 and $189 — a 32.22% and 90.91% increase, respectively, from the $90 to $99 range in 2014.
Over in Anaheim, Disneyland’s lowest-priced ticket of $104 is technically cheaper than a 2014 single-day ticket when adjusted for inflation ($96 then, $127 now), but the park’s tiered-day system means tickets at that price are only available for around 34 days in 2025. The rest of the time, visitors will pay anywhere between $126 and $206, depending on the date, which adds up when features such as park transportation and the Lighting Lane (fka FastPass) system aren’t included with admission.
Single-day tickets for Disneylands Paris ($62-$102), Shanghai ($67-$84) and Tokyo ($52-$72), meanwhile, are all vastly cheaper than their American counterparts. Budget-savvy U.S. families may even be able to travel abroad and visit these parks for around the same cost as staying stateside.
In response to rising prices, a Disney spokesperson previously told VIP+ that the parks offer more price choices and value deals for guests than ever before, such as local resident discounts and annual passes. Several services have also been reintroduced due to guest demand in recent years, including free parking for resort guests and dining plans.
Disney’s multibillion-dollar parks investment is still in its early stages, but until its gamble on the new attractions justifying the price of admission plays out, we may continue to see theme park lovers looking overseas for their next trip.
Two quarters later, and that gloomy outlook isn’t totally coming to bear thanks to a relatively solid holiday season, but high ticket prices and costs continue to impact the company’s iconic U.S. parks.
Disney’s Q1 2025 report shared that Experiences’ revenue totaled $9.4 billion, making for a 3% year-over-year increase. In context, theme parks brought in the most quarterly revenue to date, restarting an upward trajectory after a stagnant latter half of 2024.
Operating income, meanwhile, broke even with the previous Q1 at $3.1 billion, which at least prevented negative YoY growth for a third quarter in a row. That total was impacted by domestic parks’ 5% decline, which Disney attributed to the roughly $120 million hit caused by the hurricanes Helene and Milton late last year and another $75 million for the launch of a new cruise ship. International parks’ operating income, meanwhile, saw a nearly 30% YoY jump.
While the reasons behind Disney’s U.S. parks’ sluggish Q1 were no doubt valid, the larger truth is that, for Disney and the theme park industry in general, international parks have enjoyed faster growth rates than domestic parks for quite some time.
Disney’s 2024 year-end report shows that while its U.S. parks overall generated more money than international, the latter drew 13% more in revenue and 23% more operating income compared with 2023, while the former saw only a 4% revenue gain and no change to operating income.
This growth for Disney’s overseas parks in 2024 is especially noteworthy, as 2023 was also a gangbuster year. Although Disneyland and Disney World are still the most visited parks in the world, the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM Economics & Advisory’s “2023 Theme Index Report” noted that attendance for non-U.S. parks, particularly in China and Japan, saw increases by double- and even triple-digit percentages.
One of the most likely key reasons behind this trend is that the budget for visiting Disneyland or Disney World is now on par with traveling abroad (and visiting a park) thanks to increased ticket prices and charging for formerly free services. A single-day adult ticket to Disney World, for instance, will cost between $119 and $189 — a 32.22% and 90.91% increase, respectively, from the $90 to $99 range in 2014.
Over in Anaheim, Disneyland’s lowest-priced ticket of $104 is technically cheaper than a 2014 single-day ticket when adjusted for inflation ($96 then, $127 now), but the park’s tiered-day system means tickets at that price are only available for around 34 days in 2025. The rest of the time, visitors will pay anywhere between $126 and $206, depending on the date, which adds up when features such as park transportation and the Lighting Lane (fka FastPass) system aren’t included with admission.
Single-day tickets for Disneylands Paris ($62-$102), Shanghai ($67-$84) and Tokyo ($52-$72), meanwhile, are all vastly cheaper than their American counterparts. Budget-savvy U.S. families may even be able to travel abroad and visit these parks for around the same cost as staying stateside.
In response to rising prices, a Disney spokesperson previously told VIP+ that the parks offer more price choices and value deals for guests than ever before, such as local resident discounts and annual passes. Several services have also been reintroduced due to guest demand in recent years, including free parking for resort guests and dining plans.
Disney’s multibillion-dollar parks investment is still in its early stages, but until its gamble on the new attractions justifying the price of admission plays out, we may continue to see theme park lovers looking overseas for their next trip.