Buoyed by burgeoning domestic theme park attendance and the accretion of over a million subscribers to its streaming services, Disney posted robust earnings and revenue figures for the second fiscal quarter, which precipitated an 11% surge in its stock price on Wednesday after the company also elevated its profit outlook for the year. Further augmenting its global footprint, Disney divulged plans for its seventh theme park, slated for construction in Abu Dhabi. For the quarter ending March 30th, Disney reported a net income of $3.28 billion, or $1.81 per share, a marked reversal from the $20 million loss, or 1 cent per share, incurred during the corresponding period in the preceding year by the Burbank, California-based entertainment conglomerate. Excluding ephemeral expenses and benefits, earnings per share stood at $1.45, substantively exceeding the $1.18 projected by Wall Street analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research. Revenue witnessed a 7% uptick, reaching $23.62 billion, also surpassing forecasts. The Disney Entertainment division, encompassing film studios and streaming operations, saw a 9% revenue increase, whilst the Experiences division, which includes theme parks, registered a 6% revenue increment. Recent cinematic triumphs include "Moana 2" and "Mufasa: The Lion King," with the latest release, "Thunderbolts," currently reigning atop the box office. In prepared remarks, CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston conveyed sanguine expectations for the year's cinematic slate, featuring titles such as "Lilo & Stitch," "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," and "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Nevertheless, Disney also grapples with the potential repercussions of trade disputes initiated by President Donald Trump. Other U.S. companies have cited consumer backlash in overseas markets, and on Monday, Trump inaugurated a fresh offensive in the tariff wars targeting films produced outside the United States. At present, Disney’s streaming arm continues its trajectory of growth. Operating income for direct-to-consumer endeavors, including Disney+ and Hulu, amounted to $336 million for the quarter, a significant escalation from $47 million in the prior year's equivalent period, alongside an 8% increase in revenue. Domestic (encompassing the U.S. and Canada) paid subscribers for Disney+ grew by 2%, while international (excluding Disney+ HotStar) subscribers experienced a 1% uptick. Total global paid subscribers for Disney+ in the quarter reached 126 million, a 1% rise from the 124.6 million in the first quarter. Previously, The Walt Disney Company had anticipated a slight dip in Disney+ subscriber numbers in the second quarter compared to the initial three months of the year. The aggregate subscriber base for Disney+ and Hulu reached 180.7 million, an augmentation of 2.5 million from the first quarter. "The perfect confluence of content has yielded an over-performing quarter for Disney, resulting in their streaming business continuing its path to profitability," observed Mike Proulx, a vice president and research director at Forrester, in an email. "Disney's focus on investing in international local content may be a sign that they're looking to go head-to-head with Netflix, which is known for their strong international lineup." Disney benefits from a dual advantage: successful theatrical releases segue into content for its burgeoning streaming services. According to Iger and Johnston, "Moana 2" has been viewed for over 139 million hours since its debut on Disney+ on March 12th, marking the largest premiere for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film on the platform since "Encanto." The original "Moana" stands as the most-watched film on Disney+, having accrued over 1.4 billion hours viewed. Operating income for the Experiences division, encompassing Disney's six global theme parks, cruise lines, merchandise sales, and video game licensing, saw a 9% increase, reaching $2.5 billion. Domestic parks experienced a 13% rise in operating income, though sluggish performance at the Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks resulted in a 23% decline in operating income for international parks and experiences. Concomitantly with adeptly managing disparate facets of its operations, Disney is also engaged in the search for a successor to Iger, who has been the face of the company for over two decades. Disney established a succession planning committee in 2023, but the substantive search for a successor gained momentum last year, with James Gorman, the executive chairman at Morgan Stanley, appointed to lead the endeavor. Compounding this, Iger has assented to an extension of his contract, thereby remaining with the company through the end of 2026, affording Disney ample time. The company is evaluating both internal and external candidates, with prominent internal contenders widely cited as Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of Disney's ESPN unit, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, and Dana Walden, also a co-chairman. Disney now forecasts adjusted full-year earnings of $5.75 per share, exceeding the $5.43 per share consensus estimate among analysts surveyed by FactSet, in contrast to previous guidance which had anticipated high-single-digit adjusted earnings per share growth for the 2025 fiscal year.