Canadian Disney demand shifts to Paris & cruises as U.S. travel drops

More Canadians are chasing Disney experiences outside the United States this year, as international visitation to the U.S. softens even while global travel demand remains strong.

Travel agencies and companies that specialize in Disney vacations — and other types of travel — are noting Canadians’ decisions to hold steadfast in promises to boycott travel to the United States. 

For 2025, total foreign travel to the United States was down 5.4 per cent through November, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), led by 4 million fewer visits from Canadian travellers, a 22 per cent drop from the previous year.

Reuters reported that Walt Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said on the company’s latest earnings call that it had less visibility into international bookings for the second quarter, and has shifted its marketing and sales efforts to domestic travellers.

In 2024, Canada was the top market for visitors to Orlando, home of Walt Disney World, with a record 1.2 million visitors, according to Visit Orlando, the city’s destination marketing firm. 

Visit Orlando has not released 2025 figures. The outlook could shift, however, with the World Cup soccer tournament set to start in June.

Hotel operator Hilton Worldwide’s full-year results showed per-room revenue and occupancy rates fell in the United States in 2025 despite rising in every other region. 

At a conference in January, Marriott International’s CEO said the company was working to convince government officials to be more welcoming to international visitors, according to a report by CoStar, a hotel analytics firm.

Flight analytics data firm Cirium said bookings by Canadians to the U.S.  between October 7 and January 31 were down 17 per cent year-over-year.

Sandra Pappas, owner of Ontario-based agency ClickTheMouse Travel, which specializes in Disney vacations, says some Canadia clients are widening their plans rather than dropping Disney travel altogether.

“We are seeing huge demand for Disneyland Paris along with European Disney Cruises and Alaskan cruises out of Vancouver, B.C. There are Disney families out there that still want the magic and are willing to travel further to vacation with a brand they trust," she said.

She added that interest is also growing in one of Disney’s less-promoted trip types in Canada.

“Another product that many do not know about is Adventures By Disney," she noted. 

"Adventures By Disney can take you and your family around the world with Disney service and front of the line access to things like the Vatican or Machu Picchu.”

The Disney trip is not disappearing. It is simply shifting to other markets.

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