Ever been to Disney World, taken a look around you at the crowds, and thought to yourself, “HOW are there THIS MANY people in one place at one time?!?!?!” Yeah, we know the feeling. Crowds in Disney’s theme parks can be INTENSE. That’s why today’s update is particularly interesting.
On May 6th, 2026, Disney held its earnings call and shared its earnings report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 (Q2 FY 26). Through that, we got all kinds of financial updates about the Company as a whole, ESPN, Disney+, and more. But perhaps most interestingly, Disney shared some key information about just how things are looking at the Disney theme parks and how that relates to attendance.
First, let’s quickly recap what Disney said during its previous earnings call (the one for Q1 FY 26). During the Q1 call, Disney said that attendance at the domestic parks was up 1% in the quarter, and per capita spending was up 4% in the domestic parks.
Now, let’s get to the present. During the Q2 earnings call, Disney shared that domestic theme park attendance declined 1% for this quarter. However, this could be because more guests are opting for international Disney experiences instead. Their global theme parks and cruise attendance grew 2% after the launch of the Disney Adventure cruise ship and theme park expansion, Disney Adventure World, in Disneyland Paris.
Crowds might only get more intense at Disney World, particularly as we get into the second half of the year. The next few months will bring us things like Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT, a Bluey experience in Animal Kingdom, and the revamped Muppet-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios. Plus, we’ll get the start of the Halloween season with the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party a little later in the year, and the return of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. It will definitely be interesting to see how these impact park attendance and financial numbers.
If you’re heading to Disney World soon and trying to AVOID some of the crowds, we’ve got some TIPS for you! First, you may want to consider looking into Lightning Lanes to help skip the standby lines. Second, see whether staying at a Disney World hotel (or another participating hotel) is worth the cost to get benefits like Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours (note that Extended Evening Hours is only available to those at Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villas, or other specific participating resorts). After Hours events (which are a separately ticketed event) might be something worth looking into, too!
We’ve got all kinds of strategies to help you make the most of your trip, and we’re constantly sharing new ones, so be sure to check back with us for all the latest!
Click HERE to See the Common Tips You Should AVOID in Disney World
What is your best tip for avoiding the crowds in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
Soarin’ Across America, the Muppets reskin, and Bluey are not attractions that will be attendance drivers this summer. Sure, they will be popular, but that just means they will be taking away those from other attractions. The park attendance will remain the same.
The first attendance driving attractions won’t be until next year when Tropical Americas open. Encanto is a HUGE IP for Disney and the first time since the revenge travel year of 2022 that there will be a significant increase in attendance. Even then, it’s unlikely that Encanto opens until late 2027 (if Len Testa says so, then it is so).