Though theme park attendance was down in Q2 FY26, Disney remains unconcerned about impacts from Universal Epic Universe on Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World, Epic Universe, and International Visitation

In answer to a question about U.S. park trends on the Q2 earnings call, Disney’s chief financial officer Hugh Johnston addressed Epic Universe-related headwinds and the slow in international travelers to domestic parks.

“We expect international visitation and Epic-related headwinds to ease in the coming quarters as we begin to lap both of those impacts,” Johnston said.

Disney’s domestic theme park attendance was down 1% in Q2 but Johnston noted that if international visitation was excluded from the numbers, domestic park attendance would have grown.

“Despite this, our revenue growth for the quarter was 7% in Experiences,” Johnston explained, “and the lack of flowthrough to operating income this quarter was driven primarily by pre-opening costs for World of Frozen and Disney Adventure, which we won’t be incurring, obviously, in the second half of the year.”

Johnston continued, “We recognize that domestic attendance is an important metric for investors, and we’re focused on it as well. However, as you know, we’re investing to grow our global footprint.” He cited plans to expand Disney Cruise Line from eight ships to 13 by 2031.

Global guests — aggregating domestic and international park attendance, along with passenger cruise days — grew more than 2% in Q2.

“The good news is, as we look forward, we expect growth to improve in the back half, and our forward bookings are very encouraging as we look to the rest of the year,” Johnston concluded.

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