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New: Hurricanes Toll on Walt Disney World Resort Made Known

The new information was just made public.

Prince Charming's Royal Carousel at Magic Kingdom Park in the rain.
Credit: Inside the Magic

While Florida may be known as the Sunshine State, it’s no stranger to turbulent weather. Late 2024 saw Hurricane Helene and the devastating Hurricane Milton slam into Florida and its neighboring states, forcing closures at major theme park resorts, including Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. With The Walt Disney Company’s latest financial results now public, the real cost of these storms has been revealed.

Disney’s Q1 fiscal report shows a 5% revenue increase overall, climbing to $24.7 billion compared to Q1 2024. However, its domestic theme park division took a hit, dropping by the same percentage.

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom after Hurricane Milton
Credit: Inside the Magic

As reported by The Los Angeles Times, “Disney’s experiences division, which includes its lucrative theme parks, cruise line and specialty travel experiences like the Aulani resort in Hawaii, reported revenue of $9.4 billion, up 3% compared to last year. The segment’s operating income was essentially flat for the quarter at $3.1 billion. Domestically, Disney’s parks and experiences reported $2 billion in operating income, a decrease of 5% compared to the previous year.”

The financial statement directly attributes the decline in domestic operating income to the disruptions caused by Hurricane Milton and, to a lesser extent, Hurricane Helene, alongside pre-opening expenses tied to the Disney Treasure cruise ship.

Entrance archway to Walt Disney World Resort
Credit: Inside the Magic

“Domestic parks and experiences’ operating results for the current quarter were unfavorably impacted by Hurricane Milton and, to a lesser extent, Hurricane Helene,” Disney’s Q1 report states. As a result of Hurricane Milton, Walt Disney World Resort was closed for a day and we canceled a cruise itinerary.

Further analysis of the report reveals that theme park attendance suffered a noticeable dip due to the hurricanes’ impact on Central Florida and surrounding areas. The estimated financial toll of the storms sits at around $120 million. Despite this setback, Disney’s executive summary remains optimistic, calling Q1 a “strong start to the fiscal year” and expressing confidence in what’s ahead.

Guests in DinoLand, U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom
Credit: Andrew Dupont, Flickr

Meanwhile, Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing a series of sweeping transformations, which could be another reason some guests are postponing their 2025 visits. Major refurbishments, renovations, and closures are currently affecting all four parks—Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

One of the most significant developments is the overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A., which is being reimagined as the Tropical Americas-themed Pueblo Esperanza. This new immersive land will bring both Encanto and Indiana Jones experiences to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with construction already well underway.

Will you be heading to Walt Disney World Resort this year, or are you waiting for the dust to settle? Let us know in the comments below!

Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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