Disney parks and cruises saw their best growth in two years despite a travel slowdown. Here’s how they did it | CNN Bu

Influencers have been flooding social media this summer with videos of short wait times at Disney parks. In June, one content creator recorded a relatively empty Disneyland while noting the absent daytime crowd. “It’s the middle of summer, the weather is perfect and the park is not crowded,” said Kel Warner, who posts at @themeparkmomlife. Then came the twist: Revenue for Disney parks and cruises in the most recent quarter rose 10% from the year before, the strongest increase in two years. Global parks attendance grew 4% from last year, per-guest spending increased and even the occupancy of the company’s domestic resort hotels hit a whopping 91%. The short wait times, it seems, were a red herring. Disney pulled a series of strategic levers to get people through their park gates at a time when many are being choosy about how to spend their dollars, according to industry analysts. The company offered a slew of aggressive, targeted discounts; expanded programming and shows for young children; retooled some existing attractions to entice repeat visits; and got to a “sweet spot” in operational efficiency with its skip-the-line service. That allowed Disney to pull off a great

Aug 13, 2026 → Aug 18, 2026