Disney Hit by Slowdown in International Travel to the US

Looks like even “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is not sufficient to entice international vacationers who’re skipping the US.

Disney is going through some “international 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.

Despite the slowdown in worldwide guests, the corporate reported development in its experiences phase, with visitation at its home parks up 1% in the newest quarter.

Hugh Johnston, Disney CFO, advised analysts on a name that the corporate has much less visibility into worldwide customer tendencies than home as a result of international vacationers have a tendency to remain in non-Disney lodges, however that there have been different indicators worldwide visitation was down.

“As a result of that, we pivoted our marketing and sales efforts, promotional as well as marketing efforts to a more domestic audience, and we’re able to keep attendance rates high from that perspective,” he mentioned.

Disney’s simply the most recent 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 line with knowledge from the National Travel and Tourism Office. 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 International, a market analysis consultancy that makes a speciality of the journey tourism business, 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 line with NTTO knowledge.

“We have an image problem right now with our Canadian neighbors to the North and, as evidenced with some other countries, we have an image problem in some of our key international feeder markets as well,” Eylon advised Business 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 usually 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.

Travelers in search of to keep away from the US additionally produce other choices on the subject of experiencing Disney. Disneyland Paris is totally owned by the Walt Disney Company, whereas the corporate has minority possession within the Disney resorts in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Disney has no possession in Tokyo Disneyland, which operates below a licensing settlement.

Disney additionally benefited from constant demand in home leisure journey, with Americans persevering with to prioritize journey, Eylon mentioned.

Anna Abelson, an adjunct professor at New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, mentioned the slowdown in worldwide guests to Disney underscored a broader business shift.

“Even ‘bucket list’ icons are navigating significant macroeconomic volatility, ranging from currency fluctuations to shifting geopolitical sentiments,” Abelson advised Business Insider.

Are you a world traveler who had or has plans to go to a Disney park within the United States? If so, take our quiz under.

Have a narrative to share about journey to the US? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.