Seasonal Revenue Variation
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Disney's Theme Park Claims In Doubt As Summer Season Revenue Repeatedly Hits Year-Long Low
Forbesยท 2025-11-19 20:10
Core Insights - Disney's theme park revenues have been among the weakest in recent years, with summer revenues hitting the lowest levels for two consecutive years despite claims of growth during this period [2][19] - The company's recent quarterly results revealed a revenue of $22.5 billion, missing analysts' expectations and reflecting ongoing declines in the linear TV business, although streaming and theme parks showed strength [3][5] - Attendance at Disney's domestic theme parks decreased by 1% in 2025, resulting in a loss of approximately 783,000 visitors, while international attendance increased by only 1% compared to a previous 9% growth [5][7] Financial Performance - The Experiences segment's revenue rose 6% to $36.2 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, achieving an all-time high operating income of $10 billion [4][5] - Despite the overall increase in the Experiences segment, domestic Parks & Experiences revenue dropped by 8.5% quarter-on-quarter, reaching the lowest level of the year [13][15] - The operating income for the Experiences segment fell by 25% from the third to the fourth quarter, with a more significant revenue drop of 3.5% in 2025 compared to 1.7% in 2024 [10][13] Attendance Trends - The decline in domestic attendance suggests challenges for Disney, particularly in light of competition from Universal's Epic Universe park, which may be drawing visitors away [14][15] - The annual report's claims of increased revenues during the fourth quarter are contradicted by actual performance data, indicating that this period has often seen the lowest revenues [16][19] - Forward bookings for Disney World are reportedly up 3% for the first quarter, indicating potential recovery in demand [20] Market Dynamics - The revenue from Disney's domestic Parks & Experiences has been significantly impacted by seasonal variations, with the summer period traditionally not yielding the expected revenue increases [9][19] - The company's CFO downplayed the impact of new competition, suggesting that demand has aligned with expectations, although the revenue drop indicates otherwise [15][19] - The overall performance of Disney's Experiences segment is influenced by various factors, including attendance fluctuations and seasonal consumer behavior, which have not aligned with the company's previous claims [17][19]