Walt Disney Reveals 2025 Disney+ and Theme Park Expansion—Everything You Need to Know

Industry eyes turn to Burbank this week as The Walt Disney Company prepares to release its fiscal-third-quarter 2025 results before the opening bell on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Analysts project earnings per share near $1.45–$1.50 on revenue just under $23 billion, but the real story is whether CEO Bob Iger’s turnaround blueprint is gaining traction fast enough to satisfy Wall Street and the nearly 200 million Disney+ subscribers looking for fresh content. Streaming at an inflection point • Disney+ price hikes and the spring rollout of the ad-supported tier are expected to push the direct-to-consumer division to its first quarterly operating profit—a milestone Iger flagged as critical when he returned to the helm in late 2022. • Investors will scrutinize average revenue per user (ARPU) after the company bundled Disney+, Hulu and ESPN + at a discounted annual rate. Strong ARPU growth could offset a likely slowdown in net subscriber adds as global rollouts mature. • Management commentary on Hulu’s integration and the 2026 launch of a combined ESPN streaming super-app could set the tone for DIS stock through year-end. Parks and experiences still the cash engine • Domestic park attendance cooled slightly in early summer, but international resorts—from Shanghai to Paris—have reported double-digit growth, helped by record-breaking travel demand. • Operating margins should benefit from dynamic pricing on Genie+ and Lightning Lane add-ons, reinforcing the narrative that Disney’s physical experiences remain resilient even in a high-rate environment. Content pipeline and box-office reset • Studio Entertainment faces its lightest theatrical slate in a decade as Marvel takes a strategic pause. However, expectations are building for an Avatar 3 teaser drop during the earnings webcast, which could reignite enthusiasm for the 2026 film calendar. • Cost discipline—trimming the number of franchise sequels and shelving under-performing projects—has already cut studio spending by an estimated $2 billion this fiscal year. What to watch on the call 1. Guidance: Will Disney stick to its full-year adjusted EPS target of $5.75, or raise the bar on improved streaming profitability? 2. Capital returns: With leverage now under 2x EBITDA, analysts are pressing for a dividend hike or accelerated share buybacks in FY 2026. 3. ESPN strategy: Any hint of a direct-to-consumer launch date or a rumored tech-company partner could move both DIS and rival sports-rights holders. Bottom line If Disney delivers a clean beat and bullish commentary, the stock could break above the $120 resistance level and reclaim its 52-week high. A miss—especially on streaming profitability—risks reviving questions about long-term growth in a saturated direct-to-consumer market. Either way, Wednesday’s numbers are poised to be the defining catalyst for Disney’s comeback narrative in 2025.