All articles tagged with #theme parks
Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro told shareholders that Disney Parks pricing will emphasize a range of options to balance value, guest satisfaction and attendance, citing a $50 kids ticket offer for ages 3–9 and promotions like free dining, as the company pursues a $60 billion, 10-year investment plan that includes new developments such as a park in Abu Dhabi and ongoing efforts to manage daily attendance and guest experience.
Josh D’Amaro officially becomes Disney’s CEO at the annual shareholder meeting, succeeding Bob Iger and signaling a renewed focus on the company’s core growth engines—theme parks and streaming. The former Disney Experiences chair will also serve as Iger’s successor while Iger remains as a senior advisor through year-end, as Disney continues park investments and works to maintain profitability in streaming amid ongoing corporate reshuffling.
Disney World unveils a broad Summer 2026 lineup across Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, with Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin overhauled and reopening in April, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refreshed and reopening in early May, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster reimagined as a Muppets-themed ride featuring The Electric Mayhem, a new Walt Disney Studios Courtyard at Hollywood Studios with Drawn to Wonderland and Olaf drawing classes, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, a Mandalorian/Grogu storyline on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT, Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom, plus limited-time summer experiences (Jessie’s Roundup, GoofyCore, Disney Springs Dance Party, Disney Friends at the water parks, H2O Glow After Hours), 30 minutes of early park entry for resort guests, extended resort perks, and a slate of deals including 4-Day/4-Park Magic Tickets from $109/day, Free Disney Dining Plan with a qualifying package, and hotel discounts up to 30–40% for select groups.
Six Flags has agreed to sell seven of its theme parks—four in the Midwest—for $331 million to EPR Properties. The parks include Worlds of Fun (Kansas City), Valleyfair (Minneapolis), Six Flags St. Louis, Schlitterbahn Galveston, Michigan's Adventure (Grand Rapids), Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, NY), and Six Flags La Ronde (Montreal). Six Flags Great America in the Chicago area is not included. After the sale, the U.S. parks will be leased to Enchanted Parks and the Canadian park to La Ronde Operations, with regular operations continuing through the 2026 season.
Six Flags is selling The Great Escape and six other parks to EPR Properties. Officials say guest experience will not be affected, with parks continuing regular hours, 2026 pass honors, and brand rights retained by Six Flags through 2026.
Hollywood Reporter profiles Josh D’Amaro, tracing his 30-year Disney ascent—from Disneyland strategy roles to leading Experiences and, ultimately, to being tapped as CEO. The piece stresses his rare mix of creativity and quantitative business sense, his close relationships with top creatives (Feige, Docter, Lee) and his openness to risk-taking, and notes the board-led succession following Iger’s return. It also covers a roughly $38 million pay package and relocation prospects, and frames his plan to steer Disney across parks, films, streaming, gaming (including Fortnite) and emerging OpenAI partnerships, all while listening to fans and keeping senior executives engaged.
Disney names theme parks chief Josh D’Amaro as its next chief executive, replacing Bob Iger who will become a senior adviser; Dana Walden is named president and chief creative officer. D’Amaro will lead Disney’s 230,000-strong workforce, overseeing parks, studios and streaming strategy, with a pay package around $38.5 million and a board seat to follow after the March shareholder meeting.
Disney posted about $26 billion in Q1 revenue (up 5%), led by strong theme-park performance and streaming growth, helped by the Disney Destiny cruise launch, but a 15-day YouTube TV blackout and higher marketing and production costs trimmed operating income. Investor focus also centers on CEO succession, with Josh D’Amaro seen as a leading contender as Bob Iger contemplates next steps.
Disney warned its U.S. theme parks will be affected by weaker international visitation, even as it pivots to marketing to U.S. customers and still expects modest growth. International arrivals to the U.S. fell last year, with Canada dropping sharply, and potential policy moves like social-media history checks could further dampen travel. In the latest quarter, park attendance rose modestly and parks revenue surpassed $10 billion, but company profits declined due to higher costs, and Disney’s stock slipped about 4%. Despite headwinds, executives said U.S. park bookings are tracking toward roughly 5% growth this year.
Disney reported fiscal Q1 2026 revenue of about $26B and adjusted EPS of $1.63, beating expectations. The Experiences segment topped $10B in quarterly revenue, led by domestic parks ($6.91B) and international parks ($1.75B), though international visitation was softer. Streaming revenue rose 11% to $5.35B as ESPN was separated into its own sports unit. Entertainment revenue was $11.61B with operating income down about 35% due to higher costs and weaker traditional TV networks. Disney lifted its FY2026 outlook, targeting a $7B share repurchase, double-digit adjusted EPS growth, and about $19B in operating cash flow; Q2 projections call for roughly $500M in streaming operating income amid headwinds for the Experiences segment. Board discussions on CEO succession are underway, with Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden among frontrunners.
A 70-year-old woman died after riding the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster at Universal Orlando in November; the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says she became unresponsive on the ride and died later in a hospital, per its quarterly theme-park injuries report, which notes the ride's high-speed features and safety requirements. The report also references a September death on Stardust Racers and an August Revenge of the Mummy injury, marking the second Universal fatality in 2025; Universal has not commented.
The article reveals Hollywood's favorite guilty pleasures in 2025, including binge-watching 'Love Island USA', listening to Australian podcasts, exploring theme parks like Epic Universe, revisiting Nancy Drew computer games, and enjoying celebrity cocktail kits, highlighting a preference for lowbrow, nostalgic, and experiential entertainment despite the push for prestige content.
The article discusses how rising prices at Disney theme parks have made it increasingly difficult for middle-income Americans to afford visits, shifting the company's focus towards wealthier guests and potentially reducing shared cultural experiences among Americans.
Disney World has introduced a $499 yearlong ticket for U.S. military members and their families for 2026, offering unlimited access to all four parks with some blackout dates, along with traditional military discounts and special offers at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line to honor Veterans Day and U.S. celebrations.
Disney's newest cruise ship, the Disney Destiny, is set to debut with themed dining, immersive entertainment, and character experiences, expanding Disney's cruise fleet and global theme park offerings amid record growth in its experiences division.