Appears to be like like even “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is not sufficient to entice overseas vacationers who’re skipping the US.
Disney is going through some “worldwide visitation headwinds” at its parks within the US, which embody Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, the Walt Disney Company mentioned in its first-quarter earnings report on Monday.
Regardless of the slowdown in international visitors, the corporate reported development in its experiences section, with visitation at its home parks up 1% in the newest quarter.
Hugh Johnston, Disney CFO, informed analysts on a name that the corporate has much less visibility into worldwide customer tendencies than home as a result of foreign travelers have a tendency to remain in non-Disney inns, however that there have been different indicators worldwide visitation was down.
“On account of that, we pivoted our advertising and marketing and gross sales efforts, promotional in addition to advertising and marketing efforts to a extra home viewers, and we’re capable of preserve attendance charges excessive from that perspective,” he mentioned.
Disney’s simply the newest American firm to really feel the slowdown in foreigners touring to the US.
International visitation was down for the eighth straight month in December, in keeping with knowledge from the Nationwide Journey and Tourism Workplace. As of October, the variety of worldwide guests to the US was down 5.5% in 2025 in comparison with a 12 months prior.
Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods Worldwide, a market analysis consultancy that focuses on the journey tourism trade, mentioned visits from Canada particularly declined, however that there have been additionally vital declines in visits from international locations like Germany, France, and India.
Canadian visits to the US had been down 22% year-to-date as of October in comparison with a 12 months prior, in keeping with NTTO knowledge.
“We have now a picture drawback proper now with our Canadian neighbors to the North and, as evidenced with another international locations, we’ve a picture drawback in a few of our key worldwide feeder markets as nicely,” Eylon informed Enterprise Insider.
His agency’s analysis has discovered a majority of Canadians say American commerce insurance policies and political rhetoric are deterring them from visiting the US within the subsequent 12 months. Many additionally say they don’t really feel just like the US is a protected place to go to.
Canadians additionally sometimes make up a good portion of worldwide journey to Florida, so Eylon mentioned Disney doubtless is not the one vacation spot within the Sunshine State feeling the slowdown.
Vacationers looking for to keep away from the US additionally produce other choices in the case of experiencing Disney. Disneyland Paris is absolutely owned by the Walt Disney Firm, whereas the corporate has minority possession within the Disney resorts in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Disney has no possession in Tokyo Disneyland, which operates beneath a licensing settlement.
Disney additionally benefited from constant demand in home leisure journey, with People persevering with to prioritize journey, Eylon mentioned.
Are you a world traveler who had or has plans to go to a Disney park in america? If that’s the case, take our quiz beneath.
Have a narrative to share about journey to the US? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.
