The travel industry is bracing for a rough summer due to the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Theme parks already were expecting a tough year in 2026, as the industry continues to work through the disruption caused by the pandemic. Neither Walt Disney World nor Disneyland had any major new construction set to open this year. Universal has its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster opening in Hollywood, with a second installation opening in Florida in 2027. But for 2026, the company\u2019s major construction is a new child-focused park in Texas.<\/p>\n
Regional parks are offering fewer new rides this year, too, with the Six Flags chain offering only a couple of new coasters. SeaWorld has a new family coaster in San Antonio and a new dark ride in Orlando. But everyone in the industry now is wondering if they need to reduce their attendance forecasts \u2014 and investments \u2014 as gas prices and airfares rise in response to the war\u2019s threat to oil supplies.<\/p>\n
Disney just last year announced plans for a new theme park in Abu Dhabi. So far, Disney\u2019s partner Miral has remained steadfast in the face of Iranian attacks, keeping its theme parks and resorts open safely for visitors and residents. But the industry\u2019s trade association, IAAPA, canceled its planned Middle East expo in the emirate that was scheduled for later this month.<\/p>\n
Among all the companies in the industry, Disney is best positioned to ride out a tough 2026, as so many of its fans already have booked their summer travel plans. Still, in Orlando, Walt Disney World and rival Universal Orlando have announced new ticket deals as they try to entice fans to make the trip down to Florida despite rising gas prices. Yet I have heard from contractors in Florida that some parks there are looking at scaling down projects now in the works, due to lower than expected guest counts and spending in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n
In California, Disneyland enjoys a massive local fan base that might actually be more likely to visit the parks when travel costs rise. With flights and road trips to far-flung locations off the table due to higher costs, a staycation at Disneyland will become an attractive option for many Southern California families this summer.<\/p>\n
But even Disney will suffer if fuel prices remain high through 2026, and fans turn away from local as well as long-distance travel. It\u2019s a rough welcome for Disney\u2019s new chairman of its Experiences segment, Thomas Mazloum. The current President of the Disneyland Resort will take over from Josh D\u2019Amaro once D\u2019Amaro moves up to become Disney CEO next week.<\/p>\n
But rough beginnings have become tradition for the Disney Experiences chairman. Remember, D\u2019Amaro walked into that job in early 2020, after Bob Chapek stepped up for his brief run as Disney CEO. His immediate task was to deal with a pandemic that had closed Disney\u2019s theme parks worldwide.<\/p>\n
Disney\u2019s parks are open for business again, but that won\u2019t help the company if its fans cannot afford to travel to visit them.<\/p>\n
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