The Fall of Disney: Company Confirms Park Attendance Drop in 2025

The Walt Disney Company has officially acknowledged a decline in attendance at its U.S. theme parks for 2025, confirming what many Disney Parks fans have been observing for months. The update was included in Disney’s fourth-quarter earnings report, released on Thursday, November 13, which also revealed record-setting profits for the company’s Experiences division despite the drop in domestic crowds.

Disney Experiences Reports Historic Profits

Disney Experiences—which includes the theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and related offerings—reported an unprecedented $10 billion in profit for fiscal 2025. Both domestic and international markets contributed to that success. The Domestic Parks & Experiences segment saw a 9% increase in operating income ($920 million) compared to 2024, while international parks experienced an even stronger 25% increase ($375 million).

Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger, emphasized that while Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort remain the primary revenue drivers, global expansions continue to play an increasingly significant role. Projects like the new World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris Resort are expected to help shift the division’s financial performance more evenly across international markets.

Decline in U.S. Attendance, Growth Overseas

According to the report, Disney’s international destinations saw a 1% increase in attendance from 2024 to 2025—a modest rise following the 9% increase seen the previous year. Much of that success was attributed to Disneyland Paris Resort.

The earnings report outlines the reasons for the international growth:

“International parks and experiences’ operating results increased compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to growth at Disneyland Paris. The increase at international parks and experiences was attributable to… volume growth due to an increase in attendance…, an increase in guest spending…, [and] higher costs attributable to new guest offerings.”

The story was different stateside. Disney confirmed that domestic parks experienced a 1% drop in attendance for 2025, following a 1% increase between 2023 and 2024.

Attendance at U.S. parks was down 1% in 2025 after rising 1% in 2024.

Over the summer, guests across social media had already been documenting quiet afternoons, low wait times, and unusually short lines at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, making this confirmation unsurprising to frequent Walt Disney World Resort visitors.

Revenue Climbs Despite Fewer Visitors

Even as domestic attendance fell, Disney’s financial performance continued to strengthen. Merchandise, food, and beverage revenue rose 6%, primarily driven by a 3% increase in average spending per guest—a factor that helped make up for lower ticket-based revenue. Resorts and vacation offerings saw a 5% increase, thanks in part to the continued expansion and popularity of Disney Cruise Line, whose newer ships contributed significantly to the division’s success.

Despite fewer guests walking through the turnstiles, Disney Experiences continued to outperform expectations and remains one of the most profitable segments of the company heading into 2026.

Have you noticed fewer crowds at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, or the international Disney parks? Let us know in the comments!