Litany of 2026 parks / resorts deals - is this unprecedented?

[Tha Realest]

We all know that Parks’ demand has been unprecedented for awhile now … but is that still the case? Over the last week theres been an embarrassment of deals and promotions throughout 2026. I think theres about a half dozen separate threads weighing the pros and cons of each individually, but nowhere to discuss them collectively. Some of you have said that one of these promotions - the 2 free days promotion - hasn’t been seen since the Great Recession days.

Anyhow, what are we to make of these rollouts, and - are they finished? Or are there more to come?

 

[wdwmagic]

Here is a quick rundown if anyone needs it.

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book​

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free​

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026​

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days​

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[monothingie]

The term "Unprecedented Demand" was a misnomer used by an idiot CEO. Organic demand has not existed at WDW since 2019, it has been the intentional limitation of capacity coupled with massive price increases and monetization of almost everything that has created the perception of demand. The number of bodies in parks and hotels has not recovered from peak levels if 2019. Disney Parks in 2024-2025 are at the same attendance levels they were at in 2013-2014.

The problem Disney has, is that they've reached and blown through the upper limit of consumer spending on almost everything (tickets, food, hotel, merch, etc.) Add in upcharges like LL and top it off with using WDW as the ATM for the company to beat earnings on the quarterlies and you have an entirely unsustainable cycle.

Disney will never admit a mistake. They are incapable of that. They are also run by people who have had no problems destroying decades of good customer will by doing almost everything possible to destroy that customer will. Until they fundamentally understand and balance the value equation with guests, they'll continue to have this problem.

 

[Disstevefan1]

With walls everywhere in WDW except in EPCOT where the destruction was already completed, combined with Universal's EPIC sucking guests from WDW, Disney has to run specials to get folks to show up at WDW in 2026.

The timing of WDW's work in 2026. 2027, 2028 is very good, as Disney can blame WDW lower attendance because of all the construction and not because of EPIC.

I know there are WDW diehards who hate anything that is not Disney, but I think there are a lot of regular folk who will skip WDW for EPIC in 2026.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s not “unprecedented”…it’s just they overpriced their ceiling…

And that’s something that even the devil (Michael Eisner) never would allow to be entertained

Tell me how great Bob is Again?

He’s like obi wan…his failure is almost complete.

 

[LSLS]

I think this is further evidence of what we have discussed here for maybe 3 years now, the summer time has really become the low time for the parks. I don't think I'd read too much into it unless you see them in the fall or spring as well.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Is it a recession indicator? A realization that international travel will remain down?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Is it a recession indicator?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Is it a recession indicator? A realization that intentional travel will remain down?

Recession indicators are across the board and have been for about 18 months

The big one is the housing market…which is more debt laden and imbalanced than it was in 2008…but the banks just assume there is a bailout coming…

And they’re probably right…because it will only take “patronage” that is inconsequential to them

Fire up the mint!!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think this is further evidence of what we have discussed here for maybe 3 years now, the summer time has really become the low time for the parks. I don't think I'd read too much into it unless you see them in the fall or spring as well.

They’re losing attendance and never recovered 15% of the pre-plague traffic

But sure…let’s blame that damn

The place is overpriced…they’re shrinking their customer pool and can’t pull out of it because there promised Wall Street they have no price ceiling

This is like 6th grade level economics

 

[Disstevefan1]

Recession indicators are across the board and have been for about 18 months

The big one is the housing market…which is more debt laden and imbalanced than it was in 2008…but the banks just assume there is a bailout coming…

And they’re probably right…because it will only take “patronage” that is inconsequential to them

Fire up the mint!!

Look on the bright side. Disney can blame WDW's lower revenue on "the recession" ?

 

[monothingie]

Recession indicators are across the board and have been for about 18 months

The big one is the housing market…which is more debt laden and imbalanced than it was in 2008…but the banks just assume there is a bailout coming…

And they’re probably right…because it will only take “patronage” that is inconsequential to them

Fire up the mint!!

People are still traveling and still spending/going into debt for leisure travel in not insignificant numbers.

Maybe there's something else....hmmmmmm......

 

[Disstevefan1]

People are still traveling and still spending/going into debt for leisure travel in not insignificant numbers.

Maybe there's something else....hmmmmmm......

The something else is Iger's Disney

 

[Epcotfan21]

Only one man can truly tell us the answer to this question...What say you @lentesta?

 

[easyrowrdw]

Here is a quick rundown if anyone needs it.

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book​

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book

Disney World Has 4 Different Summer Hotel Discounts - Here's Which One You Should Book

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free​

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free

Disney World's New Park Ticket Deal Gives You 2 Extra Days Free

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026​

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026

Disney Offers $95 Per Day Florida Resident Ticket Deal for 2 Parks Through April 2026

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days​

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days

Disney World Launches 2026 Discover Disney Florida Resident Ticket Deal: $255 for 4 Days

www.wdwmagic.com

This is a great resource. The Spring package discount is still available too. When I looked for a short summer stay, the Spring deal actually came out as the cheapest.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

People are still traveling and still spending/going into debt for leisure travel in not insignificant numbers.

Maybe there's something else....hmmmmmm......

It’s just where we are…when you’re in over your head…you don’t get scared and try to trim like our forebearers

The mentality now is to say “&@&! It” and ride the train until you run out of track

 

[Disney Analyst]

Just to clarify I edited my post… International was autocorrected to Intentional and I only noticed now.

A sign of International travel remaining down? **

 

[monothingie]

Is it a recession indicator? A realization that international travel will remain down?

The Disney Adult, who seemingly is the target customer these days is more or less immune to external economic effects. The latest popcorn bucket or Kiosk offering will quickly override any sense of responsibility or common sense.

Average families that are no longer going on the other hand...

 

[wdwmagic]

Just looking into the competition, and Universal has done similar things in the past.

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal​

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[HauntedPirate]

Just looking into the competition, and Universal has done similar things in the past.

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal​

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal

Universal Orlando Unveils Summer 'Buy 2, Get 2 Free' Ticket Deal

www.wdwmagic.com

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is curious to see if Universal does a similar deal this summer.