News Cost Cutting Measures Coming Early 2025

[Disstevefan1]

They know. Their additions outside of EU have been profoundly underwhelming since the pandemic and all indications are they will continue to be so. They also have multiple areas that need to be addressed with new construction immediately but will be left to fester for the foreseeable future.

Outside of EU, Uni is not doing better then WDW.

Well lets hope EPIC Universe helps Uni. Iger is positive EPIC will help WDW

 

[Andrew25]

They know. Their additions outside of EU have been profoundly underwhelming since the pandemic and all indications are they will continue to be so. They also have multiple areas that need to be addressed with new construction immediately but will be left to fester for the foreseeable future.

Outside of EU, Uni is not doing better then WDW.

I agree that Universal went through an unfortunate period of poor choices, but there's hope for the two current parks. USF is receiving a new coaster, and Universal's recent coaster lineup is solid. They've been working through small updates across the park (renovated restrooms, improved food quality, etc.) and freshening up the park a bit.

 

[BrianLo]

Another good reminder that there are contractual obligations to carry through with half of the capex. About 27-30B they can’t really get out of now. 12 for DCL, 8 for WDW, 2 for DLR, what has already been spent (particularly Paris) and then their partner resorts have signed agreements as well.

WDW can certainly have a worse spending decade than 2014-2023 (because it has deflated), but they can’t really do a 2004-2013 at their current required spend.

 

[Tha Realest]

Oh if only...... What I am more afraid of is them beginning the project and tearing out the ROA, Riverboat and TSI, and then run out of money and it becomes a gigantic "Event Lawn"...for another 7-12 years.... Shades of what they did whe 20k Leagues was finally bulldozed and was replaced with a kiddie playground and play structure for many years before the Fantasyland Forest expansion was announced....

And then people will come along and say, “Look, we’re increasing capacity!” like they’re doing win DAK by ignoring the previous baseline when Primeval Whirl was operating.

 

[Tha Realest]

Another good reminder that there are contractual obligations to carry through with half of the capex. About 27-30B they can’t really get out of now. 12 for DCL, 8 for WDW, 2 for DLR, what has already been spent (particularly Paris) and then their partner resorts have signed agreements as well.

WDW can certainly have a worse spending decade than 2014-2023 (because it has deflated), but they can’t really do a 2004-2013 at their current required spend.

Who are these contractual obligations with?

 

[JoeCamel]

I agree that Universal went through an unfortunate period of poor choices, but there's hope for the two current parks. USF is receiving a new coaster, and Universal's recent coaster lineup is solid. They've been working through small updates across the park (renovated restrooms, improved food quality, etc.) and freshening up the park a bit.

Recent lagoon show upgrade as well

 

[BrianLo]

Who are these contractual obligations with?

Florida (CFTOD), Anaheim, LEGCO, Shendi and Meyer Werft.

There’s no real Paris obligation apart from being deep into a current project and the very distant third gate agreement.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I agree that Universal went through an unfortunate period of poor choices, but there's hope for the two current parks. USF is receiving a new coaster, and Universal's recent coaster lineup is solid. They've been working through small updates across the park (renovated restrooms, improved food quality, etc.) and freshening up the park a bit.

Universal doesn't need another bare coaster. That should be at the absolute bottom of their list of priorities.

Minions Blast and Dreamworks Land are really bad. Worse, they feel incredibly cheap in a way additions to Disney, for all their faults, have not. The parade is fun because of the inclusion of the 80s films, but despite being longer most of the floats are less impressive and, yes, feel cheaper then the parade it replaced.

Uni has slashed entertainment with a machete. They killed streetmosphere, one of the things that made them feel more guest-friendly then Disney. They have been going mad with cost cutting, staggering openings, neglecting maintenance and upkeep, etc. 3D has been removed from rides that depend on it. Attractions are run for years in secondary mode to save on maintenance. The entrance arch to Seuss has been broken for years.

An entire land is closed at IOA and there is no movement on a replacement - that's an eighth of the park. There are three massive theaters sitting empty at IOA, one of which has been abandoned for decades.

Studios is my favorite park in Orlando, but it needs significant additions. Dreamworks Land is unacceptable. The Simpsons Ride needs to be replaced immediately. Family-friendly headliners are desperately needed.

EU looks great but its underbuilt.

Hotel prices just SKYROCKETED with the new year.

I'll still take Uni over Disney any day of the week, but the golden age of Universal seemingly ended with the pandemic and a management change. It's falling into all the same traps as the Mouse. It's a glaring reminder that Disney's problems are much, much more profound then Iger or his ilk - the problem is the entire business culture of the US.

 

[BrianLo]

Studios is my favorite park in Orlando

Honest question for you: why?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

The cost cutting referred to here is to cut Operational Expenses, right now. The funds for Tropical Americas are from CapEx.

 

[coffeefan]

Will domestic tourism be able to makeup the difference for the anticipated decline in international tourism at WDW? The California parks have a strong local market that can carry the parks as we've seen in recent years.

 

[Jrb1979]

Universal doesn't need another bare coaster. That should be at the absolute bottom of their list of priorities.

Minions Blast and Dreamworks Land are really bad. Worse, they feel incredibly cheap in a way additions to Disney, for all their faults, have not. The parade is fun because of the inclusion of the 80s films, but despite being longer most of the floats are less impressive and, yes, feel cheaper then the parade it replaced.

Uni has slashed entertainment with a machete. They killed streetmosphere, one of the things that made them feel more guest-friendly then Disney. They have been going mad with cost cutting, staggering openings, neglecting maintenance and upkeep, etc. 3D has been removed from rides that depend on it. Attractions are run for years in secondary mode to save on maintenance. The entrance arch to Seuss has been broken for years.

An entire land is closed at IOA and there is no movement on a replacement - that's an eighth of the park. There are three massive theaters sitting empty at IOA, one of which has been abandoned for decades.

Studios is my favorite park in Orlando, but it needs significant additions. Dreamworks Land is unacceptable. The Simpsons Ride needs to be replaced immediately. Family-friendly headliners are desperately needed.

EU looks great but its underbuilt.

Hotel prices just SKYROCKETED with the new year.

I'll still take Uni over Disney any day of the week, but the golden age of Universal seemingly ended with the pandemic and a management change. It's falling into all the same traps as the Mouse. It's a glaring reminder that Disney's problems are much, much more profound then Iger or his ilk - the problem is the entire business culture of the US.

It's fascinating the opinions between those here and the coaster enthusiast community. Most are looking forward to Epic and what's replacing Rip Ride Rockit.

Many here want Universal to be more Disney like.

 

[Casper Gutman]

It's fascinating the opinions between those here and the coaster enthusiast community. Most are looking forward to Epic and what's replacing Rip Ride Rockit.

Many here want Universal to be more Disney like.

I'm looking forward to the opening of Epic tremendously. I also don't mind bare coasters at Uni, especially when they're well done like Veloci or, particularly, Hagrid's.

But what Uni really needs are family-friendly indoor rides and it needs a lot of them. Those are the rides on which theme parks like Disney and Uni build reputations. Coaster aficionados (and I used to be one) have places like Cedar Point, Kennywood, Six Flags... heck, even Dollywood. Disney and Uni will never be able to compete with those for coasters, nor should they try.

Uni doesn't want Disney's scraps anymore. They want to compete head on. They want to fill 11 hotels every night. You do that by appealing to entire families, not by peeling off a few teens for the afternoon.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Honest question for you: why?

As a general matter, Uni's parks appeal to me more then Disney's simply because I don't need to plan 6 months ahead of time to enjoy them. They let me relax, wander around, eat where I want when I want, etc.

I love the mock Hollywood theming of Uni Studios. It has two strong, goofy dark rides in ET and MiB. Diagon, when it isn't too crowded, is the most visually impressive land in Orlando. Even rides that should probably be replaced like Fallon and F&F are fun.

Uni Studios also features the two most rewatchable shows at either resort, the Horror show and Animal Actors. Both offer improv and unpredictability which keeps them fresh, something that is immensely appealing to me as someone who visits fairly often. The tribute stores (and the lamented prop store) also help make sure there's something new to look at on each visit.

I wouldn't argue Studios is the best park in Orlando - if AK had, say, four more attractions, I'd give that the nod. Frankly, every park in the city has such deep flaws that choosing a "best" is difficult. At the end of the day, Uni Studios lets me do a theme park the way I like to, the way I used to do Disney. WDW simply doesn't offer that experience anymore. It's stressful. Studios is relaxing.