Income in its Parks, Experiences and Products division, which includes cruise ships, increased to $7.2 billion compared to $3.6 billion. Disney said most of this was from increased attendance at parks and experiences, and “to a lesser extent”, increased guest spending.
It added: “Cruise ships operated at reduced capacities in the current quarter while sailings were suspended in the prior-year quarter. Guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue, higher average daily hotel room rates and an increase in food, beverage and merchandise spending.”
Disney said the increase in average ticket revenue per head was due to “attendance mix” and the introduction of the Genie+ app, offered from £6.99 a day, which allows access to the Lightning Lane queuing system.
It said non-US parks had also increased operating income, with Disneyland Paris seeing increases in attendance and occupied room nights, partially offset by higher operating costs.
Growth at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was driven by higher attendance.
Contributions from theme parks and cruise helped offset a drop in Disney’s consumer products business due to the closure of a substantial number of Disney-branded retail stores in North America and Europe.
Disney added US parks and experiences “are generally operating without significant mandatory Covid-19-related capacity restrictions, such as those that were in place in the prior-year quarter; however, we continue to manage capacity to address ongoing Covid-19 considerations with respect to guest and cast health and safety.”
