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Disney really said MORE, MORE, MORE! Recently, Disney held their earnings call and released its earnings report for the second quarter of 2026.

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Magic Kingdom

Throughout the call, Disney revealed some big news, and they discussed lots of hints at the future. One big takeaway? They’re focused on doing more and more.

Planning guide for the ultimate Disney vacation

 

On May 6th, 2026, Disney held its earnings call, which was the first earnings call held under the leadership of Disney’s NEW CEO, Josh D’Amaro. During the call, Disney gave some updates on their financial position, how the theme parks are doing, how the film studio is doing, and more. One way to summarize the hour-long call? Disney is saying “more”! 

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Josh D’Amaro at Destination D23, 2023 ©Disney

They aren’t just talking about one aspect of the company either; they’re talking about doing more across all silos! When it comes to Disney Cruise Line, they reiterated the continued growth of the fleet from 8 ships now to 13 by 2031. This is after launching several new ships over the last 4 years, including Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Adventure. They’ve also already confirmed the next ship will be called Disney Believe, which is debuting in late 2027.

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The Disney Adventure

In the world of theme parks, what is the company NOT doing to grow? It’s no secret that there are several theme park expansions going on at the time of writing. They are currently developing tons of projects, including Monsters Inc. Land, Villains Land, Piston Peak, The Walt Disney Studios, Pueblo Esperanza, the Disneyland Forward Project, the expansion of Disney Adventure World, and more. That’s just scratching the surface! They’re also developing Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which will be a brand-new theme park.

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©Disney

They also discussed that these changes are to drive MORE attendance too! In the report, Disney confirmed that global guests grew 2% compared to the prior-year quarter. They also revealed that attendance at the domestic parks declined 1% when compared to the prior-year quarter. Disney partly attributed that to “continued softness in international visitation.” Attendance might be down at the domestic parks, but we would argue that all of these additions to the parks will lead to more attendance in the coming years.

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Main Street crowds

It’s not just about vacation experiences. Disney is also focusing on more content. From short form to sports to Disney+ to movies and more, they are focused on creating more content across all platforms. When discussing ESPN, Disney reported that revenue was at $4.6 billion for the quarter, up 2% from the same time last year. Despite that, operating income was reported at $652 million, which was down 5%.

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©ESPN

In terms of streaming, Disney reported revenues of $11.7 billion, up 10% from the same time last year, along with an operating income of $1.3 billion, up 6%. This includes Hulu, Disney+, and films in theaters, as well as their other entertainment options. How are they going to capitalize on this and do more? There are lots already in the works. In 2026 alone, new films are coming out, including The Mandalorian & Grogu on May 22nd, Toy Story 5 on June 19th, the live-action Moana on July 10th, Hexed on November 25th, and Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th.

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@MarvelStudios Instagram

They’re also aiming to be even more efficient. The company has focused heavily on technology implementation, specifically AI, within the company. They’ve made it clear that they’re going all in with AI by fiscussing its commitment to embracing technology more aggressively. In the earnings call, Disney discussed how they aim to use AI as a long-term opportunity that can be used in a way that still respects human creativity.

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©Disney

They shared that they believe AI can make their production process more efficient and increase the amount of content the company can put out. They have stressed that they don’t want to replace human creativity, but they want to give human creatives better tools to help them do what they do best. They have also shared that they want to use AI within the streaming platforms to give better recommendations to users. The theme parks and experiences will also see the impact of AI.

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©Disney

Disney also detailed their desire to use AI to make planning trips and optimize their time in the theme parks. They have also said that AI could be used to predict labor demands by forecasting how many Cast Members might be needed in the parks on any given day. It was also recently revealed that Disney is attempting to streamline internal operations by requiring Cast Members to use AI.

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EPCOT

The overall goal is to make it easier to do more while spending the same amount in a way that benefits guests and Cast Members. So in other words, doing more! In the same earnings call, Disney also detailed their long-term strategy by sharing their “three pillars”:

  1. Investing in IP and creativity that breaks through, builds connections, and endures
  2. Reaching more consumers in more seamless, engaging ways around the world
  3. Using advanced technologies to power our storytelling and increase monetization and returns
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©Disney

Disney certainly has a lot in the works, and we think they’re just getting started. We’re eager to see what details they will release about all of their projects at the D23 Expo in August 2026, which is where they typically reveal big company news each year. We’re also eager to see how these numbers and goals will fluctuate in the Q3 and Q4 reports. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, ideas, and more.

4 MAJOR Changes Coming to Disney World in 2027

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.


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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

 

What do you think is ahead for the Disney Company? Tell us in the comments!

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