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Walt Disney World’s latest bit of magic? Making more money off fewer visitors.

Domestic park attendance was down 1% in the latest quarter due to softer international visitation and competition from Epic Universe in Florida. But that didn’t stop Disney from reporting record second quarter revenues from its parks, cruise, and consumer products segment. Per capita spending at U.S. parks was up 5% as guests dropped more money on admissions, food, and merch. 

While the company is keeping an eye on potential headwinds from higher fuel prices and the Iran war, new CEO Josh D’Amaro said he’s encouraged by current demand and expects year-over-year attendance to improve in the second half of the year. CFO Hugh Johnston said the company isn’t seeing “any macro weakness to point to,” including at international parks.  

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MSC Group Expands Private Island Portfolio to Capture Luxury Demand

MSC Cruises + SKIFT

Private islands are no longer just a stop on the itinerary. They're becoming cruise lines' most strategic asset, and MSC Cruises just doubled down with a second one in the Bahamas.

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EDITOR’S PICKS

Disney’s U.S. Park Spending Up Despite Drop in Visitors

May 6, 2026

In his first earnings call as CEO, Josh D’Amaro laid out a vision for Disney theme parks that leans more heavily on emerging technologies like AI.

D.C. Tourism Flatlines as Foreign Visitors Fall and Hotel Tax Funds Get Redirected

May 6, 2026

Washington, D.C.'s 2025 visitor count barely crept past 2024's level, exposing a flat market, driven by fewer foreign tourists.

Dubai Hotel Occupancy to Plummet to 10% in Q2 — Moody’s

May 6, 2026

It's a grim forecast for Dubai’s hotels as missiles return to the Emirate.

Charge Foreigners More: Japan to Expand Two-Tiered Pricing at Tourist Sites 

May 6, 2026

Japan is moving slowly but surely toward two-tier pricing, as the Himeji Castle model has shown that what was once a politically fraught idea can now be measured in revenue.

Turkey’s Tourism Held Up in March Despite Sharp Drop in Gulf Travel

May 5, 2026

Q2 will determine whether this is a temporary shock or a structural reset for one of Turkey’s most valuable visitor segments.

What 7,000 Travelers Reveal About Loyalty, Pricing, and Where Demand Is Really Heading

May 4, 2026

Travelers do not make their decisions in one step. The smartest travel companies have started focusing on the stage where they can actually make a difference.

Dubai International Airport Passenger Traffic Plunged 66% in March as Iran War Closed Airspace

May 4, 2026

Dubai spent years chasing the 100 million passenger milestone — the war pushed it back a year in a single month.

The Neither Economy: Travel’s Big Blind Spot

May 1, 2026

Call it the WhatsApp travel economy: like the messages, the travelers are invisible to everyone outside the conversation.

The States Most Exposed to the Inbound Travel Slump

April 30, 2026

A new report shows which states stand to lose the most when overseas visitors pull back on U.S. travel.

UAE’s AI Push Could Reshape How Hotels and Holiday Homes Operate

April 30, 2026

The biggest win for the hospitality sector will be the elimination of manual licensing and compliance checks that quietly drain operator time and margin.

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Skift Data + AI Summit

The travel industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution, with real impact across distribution, operations, and customer experience. The Skift Data + AI Summit returns June 3 in New York City, bringing industry leaders together to share the next wave of AI applications and data strategies shaping travel.

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SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK

Fuel costs hammer airlines, Kayak’s founders launch a new AI travel startup, and Disney proves fewer guests can still mean bigger profits.

On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the staggering rise in airline fuel spending tied to the Iran war, why the creators of Kayak are betting on conversational AI travel booking with a new venture called Lola, and how Disney’s parks are making more money despite lower attendance.

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SKIFT TRAVEL 200

How are public travel tech companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to know to understand the market. Paid subscribers get full access here.

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