Attendance and revenue at United Parks & Resorts attractions declined in the first quarter, the Orlando-based company reported Monday. Some of its properties include SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Theme Park.
United Airlines’ total revenue for the January-March period was $278.3 million, down 3% from the same period last year, the airline reported. Attendance for the quarter was 3.2 million, down 171,000 from the first quarter of 2025.
“First-quarter results were lower than our expectations primarily due to adverse weather conditions (including severe weather in San Diego and Florida in January and February, and severe weather in Florida and Texas during the peak spring break period) and lower international attendance,” United Parks CEO Mark Swanson said in a report.
“First quarter attendance was negatively impacted by approximately 140,000 guests due to weather and approximately 80,000 guests due to a decrease in international visitors,” Swanson said. Without these factors, attendance would have increased by more than 1% in the quarter, he said.
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The company does not tally visitor numbers for individual parks.
Per capita in-park spending in the quarter increased 5.3% to a record high of $40.52.
“Pass sales performance was also strong during the quarter, with paid pass sales increasing approximately 10% during the quarter and approximately 12% through April 30, 2026,” Swanson said.
Advance bookings for SeaWorld Orlando’s day resort, Discovery Cove, are above 2025 levels by a “double-digit percentage,” he said.
United Parks operates 13 parks in seven markets in the United States and Abu Dhabi. Future additions to SeaWorld Orlando include the renovated Expedition Odyssey, a new fire and ice theme, and SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, a submarine-themed attraction. No opening date has been announced for either.
Other expansions include Lion & Hyena Ridge at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the Barracuda Strike roller coaster at SeaWorld San Antonio. A new Shark Encounter is set to open at SeaWorld San Diego this month.
Swanson also talked about ongoing technology initiatives, including automated front gate turnstiles and parking toll booths, AI-powered camera technology, autonomous cleaning robots, and the addition of ordering kiosks at restaurants. These “will help bring in more revenue, reduce costs and improve the guest experience,” he said.
In addition, a national SeaWorld brand advertising campaign is underway in key markets for the second half of this year, he said. This will be “our first meaningful national campaign in years,” he said.
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