News Disney hints at more changes to come at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

[HauntedPirate]

What your saying makes total sense for the attraction and when to announce more info but my patience is really starting to wear thin on Disney announcing new large projects.

Tiana, Country Bears, and Zootopia is not insignificant but where is the passion from Disney to dream BIGGER?

It's located up I-4 now.

 

[Purduevian]

Anyone else notice the youtube video says "2025" not "Summer 2025". Wonder if the timeline has shifted for opening... Apparently some rides have already started testing.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Anyone else notice the youtube video says "2025" not "Summer 2025". Wonder if the timeline has shifted for opening... Apparently some rides have already started testing.

I noticed that too. Perhaps a Spring soft-opening?

 

[Splash4eva]

I noticed that too. Perhaps a Spring soft-opening?

Wait. Projects can open up on time and early?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Wait. Projects can open up on time and early?

When they’re not being delayed by the incessant desire to spread the cost of the project between as many fiscal quarters as possible.

 

[Ayla]

Even if Disney had a bunch of stuff to announce, doing it in response to Universal would look pathetic.

IF they had a bunch of stuff to announce, it would have already been announced...and then take 5-6 years to come to completion.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

If I were Disney, I'd legitimately be frightened. Epic Universe does indeed look like it's going to live up to its name and ambitions.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Wait. Projects can open up on time and early?

I mean technically Epic Universe is behind schedule, as it was meant to open this year I believe. So if they can get it earlier in 2025 than hoped, I am sure they would be happy.

 

[Jrb1979]

Even if Disney had a bunch of stuff to announce, doing it in response to Universal would look pathetic.

If that response was right now I would agree. They have known about this park for a long time now and have nothing but Blue Sly ideas. I would have thought they would have something coming to combat the market share they will be losing

 

[James Alucobond]

It’s absurd to expect Disney to make any announcements to directly respond to Epic Universe. Regardless of how troubling the new park may be, doing so only serves to make them look reactionary and desperate.

 

[AKL2003]

They are sitting 2025 out obviously…only thing that can compete with a new park is a new park and Disney knows it…now sprucing up their current offerings and adding new/updated entertainment should be a no brainer

 

[denyuntilcaught]

It’s absurd to expect Disney to make any announcements to directly respond to Epic Universe. Regardless of how troubling the new park may be, doing so only serves to make them look reactionary and desperate.

I would argue that they are reactionary and desperate at the moment, ha. The problem is, Disney's reactions are inexplicably more abstract than concrete.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Disney World's response to this announcement-

 

[pigglewiggle]

Epic Universe is looking good. While I still wouldn't play a long vacation just at Universal, I would consider going there before a cruise. Especially with the Brightline from Orlando to Miami. We just may book 4 nights at Universal as an add on.

 

[JD80]

The only way to combat a new park is with a new park, which Disney won't do. Universal is attempting to get a full week out of a guest on property. What Disney needs to do is attempt to syphon as many days from a guest that are going to Universal for a week or keep guests on property during their WDW vacation.

They won't do it with parades and shows and characters. They are going to have to start offering deals, probably ticket packages of some sort.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s absurd to expect Disney to make any announcements to directly respond to Epic Universe. Regardless of how troubling the new park may be, doing so only serves to make them look reactionary and desperate.

Instead they should have been proactive and had things announced that were coming 2025 and beyond. Instead we get a bunch of blue sky ideas that most likely will not happen.

 

[Indy_UK]

Universal head of resorts said the key thing about the opening of Epic Universe in that video. It makes the universal resort a week long destination and he is spot on.

It’s not just a day or 2 to universal during a Disney trip, they’re going to take people away for much longer soon.

 

[JohnD]

The only way to combat a new park is with a new park, which Disney won't do. Universal is attempting to get a full week out of a guest on property. What Disney needs to do is attempt to syphon as many days from a guest that are going to Universal for a week or keep guests on property during their WDW vacation.

They won't do it with parades and shows and characters. They are going to have to start offering deals, probably ticket packages of some sort.

WDW already has four parks. This will be Uni's 3rd. (I know, I know, they count Volcano Bay as a "park" too, but for apples-apples, I'm not counting that.) So Disney's counter would be delivering on what they have teased already -- Tropical Americas area to replace Dinoland in AK and expansion behind Big Thunder in MK. Maybe even another pavilion in Epcot. Not just re-working Splash and a new show for CBJ, for example.

 

[JohnD]

Universal head of resorts said the key thing about the opening of Epic Universe in that video. It makes the universal resort a week long destination and he is spot on.

It’s not just a day or 2 to universal during a Disney trip, they’re going to take people away for much longer soon.

I definitely picked up on that. That was no accident. He took direct aim at Disney with that line.

 

[mlayton144]

Then you hit Country Bears and Splash Mountain. Neither are "The Frontier." They're "The South." And Frontierland constantly confuses The South with The Old West

Then you should have told Walt Disney that, Davey Crocket appeared in Frontierland early on, last time I checked that setting was Tennessee