Overview

• Overall theme-park spending was down about 5% this summer even as top destination parks grew, according to a Forbes analysis cited by industry outlets.
• From May through July, spending at Disney rose roughly 8% and at Universal about 22%, outpacing the broader market.
• Regional operators reported declines, with United Parks and Destinations (SeaWorld/Busch Gardens) down around 4% and Six Flags down about 8%.
• Families earning under $100,000—about 61% of U.S. households—are increasingly skipping park vacations due to costs, the reports say.
• The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Expectations fell roughly 21% year over year, signaling weaker appetite for discretionary trips and intensifying pressure on smaller parks.