Many Americans are toning down their discretionary spending and turning up their “revenge saving”, which may cause problems for Disney World.
The site of an empty Magic Kingdom may become a bit more common.
The concept of “revenge saving” is the idea of putting more money aside for savings than they were previously. According to CNBC, the “The U.S. personal saving rate — the percentage of disposable income that U.S. households save, after they pay taxes and spend money — has risen sharply this year, reaching 4.5% in May, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data released Friday. That is slightly down from 4.9% in April, but up significantly from 3.5% in December.”
Experts speculate that there are several factors influencing this change in behavior, including “fluid tariff negotiations, the prospect of higher inflation and interest rates lingering at higher levels longer than some expected.” In addition, concerns about the world’s geopolitical state and potential social unrest likely also play a role.
“Revenge Saving” stands in direct opposition to the concept of “revenge spending,” which took root for the initial period following the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, there was a large uptick in discretionary spending, including on travel, as many who had built up a backlog of disposable income during lockdown spent with a bit of abandon.
Past crowds at Cosmic Rewind
As someone who visited Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the near-immediate aftermath of the end of lockdown policies and the height of “revenge spending”, I can attest to just how busy both parks were during that period. However, as much as that spending ballooned guest members and revenue, it seems that trends like “revenge saving” may have the opposite effect.
Earlier this year, Disney executives claimed during the company’s Q1 earnings call that bookings for the summer of 2025 are up and that the “outlook is good and the company is feeling positive.” However, there are some indications that things may not be as rosy.
TRON Lightcycle/Run
Currently, Disney is offering a slew of discounts on everything from theme park tickets, hotel stays, and dining, more than we’ve seen at the same time in years. While these savings are obviously welcome to many guests, their presence also indicates that Disney is likely not selling out rooms at the clip they anticipated, perhaps because potential guests are putting more money aside for savings.
Southwest Airlines
The growing “revenge saving” financial trend could potentially lead to dwindling crowds and lower profits for the theme park industry. Stay tuned to DFB for more.
Here’s When Disney World Could Be Empty in 2025
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you engaged in “revenge saving”? Let us know in the comments below.
The post People Are Ditching Disney World. Could “Revenge Saving” Be Behind This Trend? first appeared on the disney food blog.
