News Destination D23 2023

[James Alucobond]

I still fundamentally disagree that a counter-plan is necessary; nothing that they could do would match the first new Orlando park in quite some time. Better to ride whatever attendance increase they can siphon off of the boost in traffic and devise a follow-up plan instead. Regardless, time is not on their side at this point in terms of having follow-up plans either.

 

[TTA94]

I can’t imagine it’s anything more than maybe a retheme or two with some new entertainment.

Yeah no way can any new land or attraction be built in time. At least at Disneys usual pace.

For entertainment I’m guessing a nighttime parade, which I’m getting the vibe we are looking at 2025 for that. I don’t think they will consider touching HEA, but who knows. Maybe a nighttime show at DAK. Not to sure about DHS.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I still fundamentally disagree that a counter-plan is necessary; nothing that they could do would match the first new Orlando park in quite some time. Better to ride whatever attendance increase they can siphon off of the boost in traffic and devise a follow-up plan instead. Regardless, time is not on their side at this point in terms of having follow-up plans either.

This. Your going to see the opening of a brand new park. Other than countering with something of a similar size/scope, you are not going to match the buzz/publicity that Epic is going to generate when it opens. And anything smaller is basically going to be drowned out.

If anything I think the plan is to set up something for after Epic opens and some of the newness has warn off. Then hit with some new offerings in an effort to capture attendance after the peak of Epic comes down a bit.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I can’t imagine it’s anything more than maybe a retheme or two with some new entertainment.

WDI are/were trying to get some major new additions to Magic Kingdom approved recently. I don't know if it's the Beyond Big Thunder stuff or not, but that would be my guess. I also doubt it would be remotely enough to counter Epic.

 

[JustInTime]

So far what I’ve seen of Epic hasn’t been quite enough to pull me away from Disney. But we have a long way and I am curious. But also Disney World IS getting a bit stale for us so anything is on the table.

 

[J4546]

If you havent been to Universal Islands of Adventure park, def go. Its one of the best parks in Orlando by far. EU is looking pretty cool imo I love the celestial theme and the lands look pretty cool, some more than others.

I think Disney will be preparing for something big to open in 2027 after the buzz of EU has died a bit. but thats just imo

 

[EricsBiscuit]

WDI are/were trying to get some major new additions to Magic Kingdom approved recently. I don't know if it's the Beyond Big Thunder stuff or not, but that would be my guess. I also doubt it would be remotely enough to counter Epic.

They’re still so far behind if anything was approved I doubt it would open earlier than 2027, at least a year and a half behind EU.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

They’re still so far behind if anything was approved I doubt it would open earlier than 2027, at least a year and a half behind EU.

2027 was indeed the alleged target date, assuming they greenlight now and get a move on it. That said, despite the brisk pace Epic is going, 2025 is also tight and perhaps overly optimistic. Some insiders think it will be 2026 instead.

 

[jrhwdw]

2027 was indeed the alleged target date, assuming they greenlight now and get a move on it. That said, despite the brisk pace Epic is going, 2025 is also tight and perhaps overly optimistic. Some insiders think it will be 2026 instead.

For Disney Attractions? Or is Epic delayed?

 

[Bocabear]

It's all funny when we are talking 4 years to open any sort of attraction and they built the entire resort and theme park in less time than that... I think the Polynesian resort was put up in 6 months time...theming waterfalls, marina and all....
Something is fundamentally broken when any sort of attraction takes 3-5 years to build....and the competition can build an entire new theme park in that time.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

For Disney Attractions? Or is Epic delayed?

2027 for the Disney stuff maybe if they greenlight and start immediately. 2026 for Epic if they don't meet their claimed 2025 deadline (a lot of Uni insiders don't think they'll make it).

 

[neo999955]

I still fundamentally disagree that a counter-plan is necessary; nothing that they could do would match the first new Orlando park in quite some time. Better to ride whatever attendance increase they can siphon off of the boost in traffic and devise a follow-up plan instead. Regardless, time is not on their side at this point in terms of having follow-up plans either.

Completely agree. 2025 is going to be owned by Universal in Orlando and there's almost nothing Disney could do to topple it. Plus, there's no real reason to either. If anything, it might cause a slight increase in Disney visits as people who fly in (non AP) for Epic are still quite likely to mix Disney in too.

I think they can wait out EU and launch a new land in the second half of 2026 or 2027 as Merlin is suggesting above. I could see the launching AK Moana in 2026 and then then Encanto/Coco in 2027/2028 and the bigger Villains land in 2030 - assuming they put the amount of effort into it that they should.

And I'm still thinking Simpsons will come to HS in the early 2030s, but that's really speculative on my part, I know.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

“Only” at Destination D, see a hallmark of our retail stores, oh wait, we closed all of them.

 

[UNCgolf]

Even with Epic Universe including two kid friendly lands -- although only How to Train Your Dragon is really kid targeted, because Mario/Donkey Kong has as much if not more appeal to people in their 30s and 40s as it does to kids -- I still don't think Universal really has the same market/target audience as Disney. There's obviously overlap, but I'm not sure Disney is wrong to think Epic Universe isn't a major threat to their theme park business for multiple reasons.

 

[jrhwdw]

It's all funny when we are talking 4 years to open any sort of attraction and they built the entire resort and theme park in less time than that... I think the Polynesian resort was put up in 6 months time...theming waterfalls, marina and all....
Something is fundamentally broken when any sort of attraction takes 3-5 years to build....and the competition can build an entire new theme park in that time.

IDK...USF is taking at least a year to replace their Nighttime Spectacular And they don't have an EF type Show...

Also if it's confirmed that EU is not till 2026. That's concerning.......

 

[MJL92]

I'm not sure Disney is wrong to think Epic Universe isn't a major threat to their theme park business for multiple reasons.

Everything they've shown us is that they don't feel it's a threat. They don't care about losing market share as long as the whole pie keeps getting larger. And if EU brings XX million more people to Orlando in 2025/2026, Disney will see a bump from that too without spending their own dime to bring them there.

 

[FutureCEO]

Completely agree. 2025 is going to be owned by Universal in Orlando and there's almost nothing Disney could do to topple it. Plus, there's no real reason to either. If anything, it might cause a slight increase in Disney visits as people who fly in (non AP) for Epic are still quite likely to mix Disney in too.

I think they can wait out EU and launch a new land in the second half of 2026 or 2027 as Merlin is suggesting above. I could see the launching AK Moana in 2026 and then then Encanto/Coco in 2027/2028 and the bigger Villains land in 2030 - assuming they put the amount of effort into it that they should.

And I'm still thinking Simpsons will come to HS in the early 2030s, but that's really speculative on my part, I know.

Speaking of Merlin: Disney is going the announce the parks are being sold to Merlin Entertainments

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

It was extremely stupid to close their retail stores!

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Even with Epic Universe including two kid friendly lands -- although only How to Train Your Dragon is really kid targeted, because Mario/Donkey Kong has as much if not more appeal to people in their 30s and 40s as it does to kids -- I still don't think Universal really has the same market/target audience as Disney. There's obviously overlap, but I'm not sure Disney is wrong to think Epic Universe isn't a major threat to their theme park business for multiple reasons.

Everything they've shown us is that they don't feel it's a threat. They don't care about losing market share as long as the whole pie keeps getting larger. And if EU brings XX million more people to Orlando in 2025/2026, Disney will see a bump from that too without spending their own dime to bring them there.

According to what I was told, Disney is actually quite scared about Epic. I guess we'll see how scared over the next couple of years. Keep in mind that Disney has been targeting an older demographic as well with major attractions such as Tron, Cosmic Rewind and the Star Wars content.

 

[Purduevian]

MK will feed off of EPIC, I think DHS will as well.

However, I think EPCOT and AK might actually see a dip. Vacation time is limited and instead of the 4-5 days at Disney, 1-2 days at USO for a vacation, I think people will shift to 3-4 Disney, 2-3 days USO.