May 6 (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co., the world's largest theme-park operator, reported second-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates as the early Easter spurred resort visitors and the film ``National Treasure 2'' scored with fans.

Net income rose 22 percent to $1.13 billion, or 58 cents a share, Burbank, California-based Disney said today in a statement. Profit beat the 51-cent average of 20 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales gained 9.5 percent to $8.71 billion. The shares rose in extended trading.

Theme parks weathered the slowing economy as more families visited Disney's U.S. resorts and international travelers took advantage of the drop in the dollar. ``National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets,'' took in most of its $456.4 million in global sales in the period, according to Box Office Mojo LLC. The ``Hannah Montana'' concert film registered sales of $69.6 million.

``The numbers look very flush,'' David Miller, an analyst at SMH Capital in Los Angeles, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. ``Particularly surprising is the parks and resorts number,'' he said, adding ``11 percent revenue growth is absolutely outstanding.''

Total sales in the quarter ended March 29 beat the $8.51 billion average of 17 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg, rising from $7.95 billion a year earlier. In last year's second quarter, profit totaled $931 million, or 44 cents a share.

Disney rose as much as 92 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $34.65 in after-hours trading. The shares gained 44 cents to $33.73 in regular New York Stock Exchange composite trading and have advanced 4.5 percent this year.

Theme Parks

Profit at the parks and resorts division increased 33 percent to $339 million on the higher attendance. Revenue gained 11 percent to $2.73 billion, the company said.

``Given the economic environment, we're pleased with the performance last quarter of our parks and resorts,'' Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said on a conference call. ``Our parks have been resilient to-date.''

The company may be less susceptible to the effects of a flagging economy than in previous periods of slow growth or recession. Last year, theme parks contributed 22 percent of operating profit, compared with 39 percent in 2001 and 53 percent in 1991.

Studio profit rose 61 percent to $377 million, buoyed by sales from ``National Treasure 2,'' starring Nicolas Cage in a modern-day investigation of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The 3-D film ``Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour'' set a record for ticket sales per screen when it opened Feb. 1. The movie is a offshoot of a Disney Channel show about a teen pop star who tries to lead a normal life.

Studio Revenue

The quarter's films ``handily eclipsed last year's offerings,'' Janna Sampson, co-chief investment officer at Lisle, Illinois-based Oakbrook Investments LLC, said in an interview. The holdings include 259,000 Disney shares.

Sales at the studios rose 18 percent to $1.82 billion. Disney is releasing ``The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'' on May 16 and Pixar Animation's ``Wall-E'' on June 27.

Broadcast profit increased 17 percent to $223 million even as lower ratings from a 100-day writers strike reduced the unit's revenue, halted the production of shows and forced the company's ABC network to air reruns. Overseas sales of ABC programs including ``Lost'' and ``Grey's Anatomy'' increased.

Overall broadcast revenue fell 1.5 percent to $1.5 billion.

ABC plans to seek higher advertising rates when it introduces new shows to clients this month in New York, Iger said on a conference call.

``We feel very positive,'' Iger said. ``We're going into the upfront presentations very well positioned.''

Operating profit at the cable division that includes ESPN and the Disney Channel rose 14 percent to $1.09 billion as pay- television operators paid higher fees to the company to carry its channels. Sales gained 9.3 percent to $2.11 billion.

Profit from consumer products fell 14 percent to $107 million on sales of $551 million, a 10 percent increase.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 6, 2008 18:18 EDT