LOS ANGELES – In April last year I took a stroll down an empty Main Street in Disneyland with the head of Walt DisneyJosh D’Amaro – theme parks

After more than a decade of closure due to Covid-19 restrictions in California, the California park opened just one week after being closed. Cast members worked hard to put the final touches before guests arrived. 

The cobblestone path was strangely familiar. The park was serene, which is a term that probably has never been used. It was quiet, with no music playing, children clamoring to get a Mickey balloon, soft pretzel or soft pretzel. There were no colorful characters waiting for autographs or photos.

D’Amaro shared his optimism and practical thoughts about Walt Disney’s future as we walked along the trolley tracks to the statue. He noted that the road ahead was not going to be easy. The cost of opening was incurred through mandatory temperature and attendance checks, as well as masking requirements. Five quarters of Disney’s parks division reported an operating loss. This would persist if they did not reopen. D’Amaro didn’t seem to be worried if he was. 

Disney’s earnings have been dominated by Disney+ and its streaming services over the last two year. However, it is vital that the Disney theme parks industry be revived to improve their bottom line. When it reports fiscal second-quarter results, Disney will provide updates to shareholders regarding its recent trends and results. Disney shares have fallen by 30% in January.

This segment (which includes hotels and cruises) accounted to 37% of company’s $69.6 million in revenue for 2019. This revenue is typically dominated by the theme parks.

Guest have been drawn to Disney’s amusement parks by the addition of Avengers Campus and Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. But there is more to come, including expansions at Disney World’s Epcot.

Disney’s parks rebounded strongly a year following that walk with D’Amaro. In the first fiscal quarter of 2018, the division which includes Disney experiences as well as consumer products saw revenues surpass $7.2 Billion, more than double what was generated during the preceding-year quarter. Operating results for the segment jumped to $2.5 Billion, compared with a loss in revenue of $100 M during last year’s same period.

According to the company, domestic tourists are still not returning to their parks. In fact, they accounted for only 18% to 20% of all visitors in February. Not all international parks are open 24/7 during the past quarter. Paris Disneyland celebrates its 30th Anniversary, but Shanghai Disneyland was temporarily closed due to Covid spikes.

Mobile ordering and payment, which existed before the pandemics, is becoming more popular among guests. The adoption rate of the mobile ordering system by Disney was only 1% before the pandemic. Now there are around nine out of 10 guests opt to use it.

The bonus? Consumers tend to spend more when they order and pay via mobile payment methods than traditional cash purchases or credit cards.

Genie is an innovative digital concierge that Disney recently added to its suite of technological innovations. Genie was announced for the first time at Disney’s D23 Expo in 2019. The service allows guests to create custom itineraries based upon the places they are most interested in and what restaurants they prefer to dine at.

The paid version is called Disney Genie+It replaces FastPass+, MaxPass+ and FastPass+ domestic park offerings that were discontinued in the wake of the pandemic.

The new Lightning Lane can be used at selected attractions for $15 per ticket at Walt Disney World, Florida or $20 per Disney Day ticket. To bypass the main queue at scheduled times for attractions such as Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain or Millennium Falcon: Smugglers RUN, visitors can only make one selection.

D’Amaro stated that Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane adoptions have exceeded all expectations.

D’Amaro stated that “We didn’t take our foot off of the gas pedal when it comes to investments.” We had the opportunity to see our future clearly and lay the foundations for a future not limited by what was done 10 or 20 years ago.

Avengers Campus opened in June 2021. A Bug’s Land was replaced by the new section in Disneyland’s California Adventure. This area includes the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout ride located at the Hollywood Land edge.

The new Spider-Man attraction is located there, as well as a Pym Test Kitchen restaurant and portal to Doctor Strange’s sanctuary. It is home to Marvel’s greatest heroes, the Avengers compound. The rooftop launchpad houses a large quinjet, which lights up for guests.

Disneyland guests love Avengers Campus, where they can interact with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s heroes, villains, and antiheroes.

Disney has recently launched its new theme park, which is more than just a place to take photos. new Star Wars experience the Galactic Starcruiser.The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is described as “immersive Adventure” and combines elements from the resorts, cruise lines, theme parks to create a 24-hour adventure in space.

The experience comes with a steep price tag — around $1,200 per person per day — but has been generally well-received by guests since its opening in March.

These voyages will be included in the fiscal second quarter results. This information gives shareholders an insight into future revenue projections for this attraction. Disney spent approximately $2 billion on the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge expansions, though it is not clear what they have invested in other upgrades to their parks.

The end of May will see Disney expand its park. Disney World’s Epcot has the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion. This is the latest part of Disney’s huge transformation of the park that dates back nearly 40 years. The park is well-known for its special food and festivals.

Wonders of Xandar Pavilion was inspired by Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and includes a new rollercoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind.

CNBC’s Kartika Rodriguez (Vice President of Epcot), stated that “We have lots of going on here at Epcot” during an April media tour.

Epcot already has Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure added to its French Pavilion. This trackless ride takes you through an animated version of France. Epcot has added Space 220 to its space-themed restaurant, which transports diners thousands of miles above the park so they can eat under the stars. Journey of Water, a Moana-inspired attraction that walks through the park is still to be built.

“I believe our [Walt Disney Imagineering]Rodriguez stated that Epcot partners found a unique way to ensure Epcot remains true to its core values. “It’s all about growth, it is about being connected.” Rodriguez added. That’s Epcot. It is dreaming about the future.

Disney parks can be refreshed to keep park visitors coming back and improve its storytelling and experiences. D’Amaro indicated that Disney is not done with innovation.

Disney Wish, its latest cruise ship, will be launched this summer. The company also plans to finish Tron Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.

Perhaps even more exciting, however is the possibility of something else in the future. Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser can be easily applied to other franchises. innovations in animatronics and AI could bring fan-favorite characters big and small to the parks.

He said, “There are many things that we can do and many places that we can visit.”