News Disney World Hits All-Time High Revenue in Q3 2025, Strong Bookings Continue into Q4

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No it wouldn’t, you can’t book those rooms unless that’s your home resort.

What rooms? What hotels?

I think you got some bad impressions/info…

 

[Touchdown]

What rooms? What hotels?

I think you got some bad impressions/info…

GCH books immediately per everything I’ve read. GCH is far preferable to DLH, there is only one US resort that borders a park that’s huge, not to mention I prefer the craftsman vibe to mid century kitch.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

GCH books immediately per everything I’ve read. GCH is far preferable to DLH, there is only one US resort that borders a park that’s huge, not to mention I prefer the craftsman vibe to mid century kitch.

Stayed at both…the difference is negligible…there’s 40 rooms wedged behind grizzly peak at GCH…I think the tower next to ole trader Sam’s has like 180?
Hence the booking discrepancy. But you can buy at either and eliminate most of that hassle. And didn’t “own” at either…right down the street in Orlando though.

Actually…I just remembered we did a conversion and stayed at paradise (which sucked at the time…but whatever) with points as well…went all wild and crazy and went off the map

But I might be off…I thought we were talking the old O-town mostly…where it takes some effort but you have a ton of flex…for trips planned both far and wide and increasingly near in.

 

[Touchdown]

Stayed at both…the difference is negligible…there’s 40 rooms wedged behind grizzly peak at GCH…I think the tower next to ole trader Sam’s has like 180?
Hence the booking discrepancy. But you can buy at either and eliminate most of that hassle. And didn’t “own” at either…right down the street in Orlando though.

Actually…I just remembered we did a conversion and stayed at paradise (which sucked at the time…but whatever) with points as well…went all wild and crazy and went off the map

But I might be off…I thought we were talking the old O-town mostly…where it takes some effort but you have a ton of flex…for trips planned both far and wide and increasingly near in.

I’ve stayed at both, there’s enough of a difference for me. Walking out of MSUSA (because DL always closes later) it is so much nicer to only walk halfway through DD, and nothing can beat riding the raft ride leaving and getting into the shower in your room in less then 5 min. There’s also the added stress that I like going at Halloween and Christmas which is the same time all you DVC people go (reservations for dining are always harder those trips because you guys are also uber planners) and these times are the hardest to book DVC rooms. I hardly ever pay rack anyways as I’m always waiting for the sales to drop, in fact for the first time in CA I got a discount on my Oct trip this year, and I had one for my 4th trip, Feb trip and Christmas trip as well. That’s before factoring in the opportunity cost of that purchase, much rather have that five-six figure sum in the market. Pretty sure it’s still beating even Disney inflation.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’ve stayed at both, there’s enough of a difference for me. Walking out of MSUSA (because DL always closes later) it is so much nicer to only walk halfway through DD, and nothing can beat riding the raft ride leaving and getting into the shower in your room in less then 5 min. There’s also the added stress that I like going at Halloween and Christmas which is the same time all you DVC people go (reservations for dining are always harder those trips because you guys are also uber planners) and these times are the hardest to book DVC rooms. I hardly ever pay rack anyways as I’m always waiting for the sales to drop, in fact for the first time in CA I got a discount on my Oct trip this year, and I had one for my 4th trip, Feb trip and Christmas trip as well. That’s before factoring in the opportunity cost of that purchase, much rather have that five-six figure sum in the market. Pretty sure it’s still beating even Disney inflation.

No offense…but if walking is the issue…how do you make it from spaceship earth to Mexico?

All we dvc people go Halloween and Christmas?

No no…we’re the vets…we kinda know better

If there’s any “glut”…it’s really centered around food and wine (same vacinity) and increasingly January and February. Don’t have a problem too much around the holidays anymore just got wilderness (the arguably best spot for Christmas) during the biggest week of the year (traditionally) with just a bit of patience. The beauty of a waitlist is you can “set it and forget it”…like Ron popeil.

You might be a tad too picky for dvc? Or in the tank. Let’s assume picky.

Cause if you need the closet corner room in the grand Floridian or contemporary to the magic kingdom…ya just might be falling for the faux luxury?

I assume that’s not it…cause at the end you are getting to an amusement park.

 

[easyrowrdw]

I’ve stayed at both, there’s enough of a difference for me. Walking out of MSUSA (because DL always closes later) it is so much nicer to only walk halfway through DD, and nothing can beat riding the raft ride leaving and getting into the shower in your room in less then 5 min. There’s also the added stress that I like going at Halloween and Christmas which is the same time all you DVC people go (reservations for dining are always harder those trips because you guys are also uber planners) and these times are the hardest to book DVC rooms. I hardly ever pay rack anyways as I’m always waiting for the sales to drop, in fact for the first time in CA I got a discount on my Oct trip this year, and I had one for my 4th trip, Feb trip and Christmas trip as well. That’s before factoring in the opportunity cost of that purchase, much rather have that five-six figure sum in the market. Pretty sure it’s still beating even Disney inflation.

Haven’t done DL DVC, but we’ve done plenty of Christmas WDW trips and have never had an issue getting a room at our home resort. And the equivalent price is a nice savings. Other resorts have been trickier but split-stays have worked. Not trying to sell you on anything, just sharing our experience.

 

[Touchdown]

Location is a factor it’s not the only factor, I like the Grand’s theme much more, it’s the only resort that feels in the bubble at DL, its the only hotel at DL exhibiting that peak Disney theming touch the company had around the turn of the century, its home to the best restaurants and in the morning has that private entrance to DCA.

I sacrifice not staying at my favorite themed hotel at WDW (Wilderness) for the convince of the monorail (and easy access to Epcot) by staying at the Contemporary (in its ghetto, aka the Garden Wing because the cost savings staying there just can’t justify me going to the tower.) If I spent more time at DHS I would be a Crescent Lake guy, but my two most visited parks are MK and Epcot so monorail for me and I’ll book the cheapest regular room I can get there, which 9 times out of 10 is Garden Wing Contemporary.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Location is a factor it’s not the only factor, I like the Grand’s theme much more, it’s the only resort that feels in the bubble at DL, its the only hotel at DL exhibiting that peak Disney theming touch the company had around the turn of the century, its home to the best restaurants and in the morning has that private entrance to DCA.

I sacrifice not staying at my favorite themed hotel at WDW (Wilderness) for the convince of the monorail (and easy access to Epcot) by staying at the Contemporary (in its ghetto, aka the Garden Wing because the cost savings staying there just can’t justify me going to the tower.) If I spent more time at DHS I would be a Crescent Lake guy, but my two most visited parks are MK and Epcot so monorail for me and I’ll book the cheapest regular room I can get there, which 9 times out of 10 is Garden Wing Contemporary.

You know…grand Californian was Pete Dominick (who tragically died young)…commissioned by Eisner who DIDN’T suck at hotels (just other stuff)…so you love the fruits of wilderness lodge and animal kingdom lodge…mostly…

Both dvc now and available

And god no…I’m not telling people to buy dvc. The shark went through winklers skis thanks to Bob not getting “it” (like most things parks)…I just hate to see someone overspend and believe it to be “smarter”…objectively that’s not a good idea

(And I like you…some of the other stiffs around here? Sure…go dump $40 on riviera…with its “identity crisis” lack of theme…concrete mansurd accents…ft Lauderdale 95 vibe…and prime location on the gravesite of the Caribbean check in desk

…but I do like you)

 

[Touchdown]

You know…grand Californian was Pete Dominick (who tragically died young)…commissioned by Eisner who DIDN’T suck at hotels (just other stuff)…so you love the fruits of wilderness lodge and animal kingdom lodge…mostly…

Both dvc now and available

And god no…I’m not telling people to buy dvc. The shark went through winklers skis thanks to Bob not getting “it” (like most things parks)…I just hate to see someone overspend and believe it to be “smarter”…objectively that’s not a good idea

(And I like you…some of the other stiffs around here? Sure…go dump $40 on riviera…with its “identity crisis” lack of theme…concrete mansurd accents…ft Lauderdale 95 vibe…and prime location on the gravesite of the Caribbean check in desk

…but I do like you)

About 5-6 years ago I did a deep dive into the costs and the delta wasn’t all that much. Who knows what the next 20 years will bring, I might not be around, I might change the way I vacation, I may start renting half the year down in Florida, you just don’t know. What I do know is that dues will go up, perks will get taken away, they will build more DVCs making it harder to book anything but your home resort and the product will become worse ie in*crap*ifcation. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my housekeeping every day, and the flexibility to skip Disney for a year every once in a while (Oct 2025-Oct 2026 is a Universal Year outside of the holiday parties I’ll attend one night, the mouse won’t see me for a year.)

 

[Nubs70]

Lie is strong…trying to downplay difficulties is not illegal

Nope.

Again…this is a plea for a “fan defender” that doesn’t not nor ever will exist.

They can’t fake financial data (enroning) that is true…but those things you just listed are not financial data…on the bottomline - regardless of how you get there.

Buried under the silly “everything is great” each posting is “cost cuts and price increases…attendance flat or even down”
Check it…

Then they call it “growth”…that’s not business growth…is “efficiency growth” which are not the same.

Didn’t you wonder why they kept “consolidating” departments that didn’t make sense for years…to where it’s “parks resorts, Walmarts, and anything else we can think of…”?

On the surface…to cut staff. No big deal there. But it also gives immense LEGAL maneuvering for numbers that shouldn’t be together.

It’s hard to have a good discussion when a faction is living in fairy land.

There is efficiency growth and organic growth.

Efficiency growth is through increasing price and/or reducing costs... Both increase margin%

Organic growth is by increasing sales volume.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There is efficiency growth and organic growth.

Efficiency growth is through increasing price and/or reducing costs... Both increase margin%

Organic growth is by increasing sales volume.

Yeah…

But to say one is better is a bridge too far…especially for this company.

Travel has been on high octane for 5 years…because of COVID…and they never got back to precovid level.

Without a major correction/recession…but rather the money presses running on afterburners.
Check your history…Disney park attendance has always grown “organically” on a 30-45 degree arc over time…only dipping for large scale economic downswings.

They can’t do it…it’s not that they don’t want the people…they can’t get them. Big ole hole in Orlando…Anaheim is “roughly” were it was? Which scans. Both aren’t growth.

This was Always the danger in parks. If you chase quarterlies…you push past the price level that’s appropriate. And when you do that, the more you blunt the increases. Diminishing returns. Every day…that’s where we are.

But I know some won’t accept that…thinking with the wrong body part…until they see a huge dip in what they say they gross or they shutter the gates. Get ya popcorn

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

As a Vegas resident I’m curious about this also, I see a ton of similarities between recent Vegas and recent Disney, they’ve both nickel and dimed their guests for the last half decade, they’ve both rapidly increased prices, they’ve both gone after the more affluent clientele over the middle class, they’ve both cut back on perks and freebies…

The primary thing that seems to be different is Vegas posted record breaking profits 3 quarters ago and Disney did it last quarter, makes me wonder if Disney will see their downturn 6 months from now.

I’m also finding a lot of the reporting overly dramatic concerning Vegas, we’re definitely experiencing declines but it’ll be interesting to see if the counter measures influence that, we’re already seeing room rates coming down and several resorts eliminating ridiculously unpopular things like parking fees, offsetting resort fees with credits, etc.

I suspect Disney will resort to similar measures if/when their unpopular nickel and diming catches up to them.

It feels like we’re in a correction phase.

Just a comment on Las Vegas. Where I live we have several nice casinos within driving distance. Two are within 30 minutes, other's within an hour. They are every where. We used to go to Vegas to gamble occasionally, but not any more. The convenience of these casinos is the pull for us.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Just a comment on Las Vegas. Where I live we have several nice casinos within driving distance. Two are within 30 minutes, other's within an hour. They are every where. We used to go to Vegas to gamble occasionally, but not any more. The convenience of these casinos is the pull for us.

I know nothing about Vegas, but just watching on YouTube, these local casinos off the main strip are better values.

 

[CoastalElite64]

There's only 2 Disney parks in the US, but there are many, many casinos across the country.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

There's only 2 Disney parks in the US, but there are many, many casinos across the country.

There’s only 1 Vegas. “Many casinos” would = “many amusement parks”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There's only 2 Disney parks in the US, but there are many, many casinos across the country.

And?

 

[Disstevefan1]

There's only 2 Disney parks in the US, but there are many, many casinos across the country.

Not the same customer base either.

 

[HauntedPirate]

The Vegas Strip is killing itself with their past pricing decisions. Whether or not it can pull itself out of that death spiral without significant, long-term damage remains to be seen. WDW is a far cry from being in that same death spiral, but they are not far from the same road that lead to Vegas's situation.

We own a bunch of DVC points. We've been to the parks more times than I honestly can count. Our kids have no desire to return anymore, because in their eyes it has become too expensive. They have seen what things cost there, and it's been eye-opening for them. The wife and I have one DCL cruise (which has zero WDW days attached to it at this time) booked for September 2026. Beyond that? Tokyo a few years after. Maybe a DLP or UK trip in-between, if good fortune and good health smiles on us, plus the proper stars align. I have zero desire to pay what Bob and Josh are charging for the current experience. I was the biggest consumer of WDW nostalgia... right up to the point when they started removing things for no good reason other than "I need NEW things to push to make more money and leave my mark on these amusement park things!", and also started strip-mining my wallet. Both Bob's shoulder the blame there, with Josh receiving an Honorable Mention. DCL pricing has taken up a similar place to WDW - They have way out-kicked their coverage with pricing, and other options have become far more enticing. But who cares, as long as "it has value to MEEEEEEE!!!!1!!!"...

 

[HauntedPirate]

And?

Duh!!! The 2 US Disney parks (wait... where did the other 4 go?) are far more unique and deserve ... nay, COMMAND... the exorbitant prices Bob and Josh charge these days. Because they are obviously superior to casinos. And NFL games. And Taylor Swift concerts. And Broadway shows.

 

[rogerrabbitfan9]

Yeah…

But to say one is better is a bridge too far…especially for this company.

Travel has been on high octane for 5 years…because of COVID…and they never got back to precovid level.

Without a major correction/recession…but rather the money presses running on afterburners.
Check your history…Disney park attendance has always grown “organically” on a 30-45% arc over time…only dipping for large scale economic downswings.

They can’t do it…it’s not that they don’t want the people…they can’t get them. Big ole hole in Orlando…Anaheim is “roughly” were it was? Which scans. Both aren’t growth.

This was Always the danger in parks. If you chase quarterlies…you push past the price level that’s appropriate. And when you do that, the more you blunt the increases. Diminishing returns. Every day…that’s where we are.

But I know some won’t accept that…thinking with the wrong body part…until they see a huge dip in what they say they gross or they shutter the gates. Get ya popcorn

Do you think Disney really was able to effectively serve all the people that were coming pre COVID? Having been right before COVID and then right after, but switching to Universal the last few years, I don’t think Disney really was able to actually serve all the people they were having.

We went in the “off season” and the whole thing felt very borderline too rushed and too crowded, which is part of why we’ve stopped going. Universal feels way more relaxed.