How will Universal's Epic Universe effect Disney?

[Jrb1979]

Out of all the arguments I've read, this is the one that is closest to a reason why Disney would worry. At the end of the day, I suspect the percentage of people who leads with a Universal vacation and squeezes Disney in that the reverse proves to be less than 5 percent of tourists -- 1 out of 20 guests at most -- and less than 1 percent wouldn't surprise me. I see the popularity gap as that dramatic.

Universal deserves all the credit in the world for trying to get better and monetizing Halloween so well, but I believe it's a bug on Disney's windshield in the greater scheme.

Right now it is but if things don't change at Disney I do see that happening. The biggest complaint about Disney right now is price of hotels with no perks. I know it's anecdotal but I have seen many Disney loyalists opting for Universal instead.

I'm not saying Universal will take the number 1 spot but I do think the gap will be much closer then many are willing to think it's going to be.

 

[Lilofan]

Right now it is but if things don't change at Disney I do see that happening. The biggest complaint about Disney right now is price of hotels with no perks. I know it's anecdotal but I have seen many Disney loyalists opting for Universal instead.

I'm not saying Universal will take the number 1 spot but I do think the gap will be much closer then many are willing to think it's going to be.

Universal while it has some amazing rides and attractions will always play second fiddle to WDW. We went to Busch Gardens , what a joke , and Sea World which was OK.

 

[yensid67]

Universal is great and I love their parks and EPIC is gonna be, well EPIC, but Universal resorts do not have enough beds to put a dent in Disney’s business.

Even if someone stays at a WDW resort and goes to Universal parks and never sets foot in a WDW park, Disney wins.

In this case, why would anyone stay at a Disney resort hotel and go to Universal? When Universal has hotel rooms like the Value Resorts for about the same price or a little more and a lot nicer? If I were going to Universal ONLY< I would not stay on Disney property!!!! I would stay on I-Drive at least! I hope Universal DOES put a dent into Disney's complacency! Disney takes TOO LONG to build anything...it has taken 5 YEARS for Tron to be built, but it will take Universal less than 5 years to build a new park! Disney takes their guests for granted and thus, does not build anything new. all they know how to do is to retheme and refurb and feel that is enough to keep guests happy...ITS NOT! If Disney doesn't wake up and start getting back into being the best theme park, Universal WILL taake over...MARK MY WORDS!!

 

[Jrb1979]

Universal while it has some amazing rides and attractions will always play second fiddle to WDW. We went to Busch Gardens , what a joke , and Sea World which was OK.

I never said it wouldn't be. I said the gap will be much closer then many people think it will.

We went to Busch Gardens as well and loved it. They many not have the theming like Disney or Universal but their rides are really good.

 

[Disstevefan1]

In this case, why would anyone stay at a Disney resort hotel and go to Universal? When Universal has hotel rooms like the Value Resorts for about the same price or a little more and a lot nicer? If I were going to Universal ONLY< I would not stay on Disney property!!!! I would stay on I-Drive at least! I hope Universal DOES put a dent into Disney's complacency! Disney takes TOO LONG to build anything...it has taken 5 YEARS for Tron to be built, but it will take Universal less than 5 years to build a new park! Disney takes their guests for granted and thus, does not build anything new. all they know how to do is to retheme and refurb and feel that is enough to keep guests happy...ITS NOT! If Disney doesn't wake up and start getting back into being the best theme park, Universal WILL taake over...MARK MY WORDS!!

For the longest time, I was always in the mindset that WDW has too many beds to lose business to Universal Orlando.

I am beginning to change my mind.

We will have to wait and see.

Once EPIC is fully open, and a year or two passes, it will be interesting to look at the numbers.

Will the magic kingdom ever be knocked off the top position? Right now, I am saying NO, but who knows.

 

[Jrb1979]

For the longest time, I was always in the mindset that WDW has too many beds to lose business to Universal Orlando.

I am beginning to change my mind.

We will have to wait and see.

Once EPIC is fully open, and a year or two passes, it will be interesting to look at the numbers.

Will the magic kingdom ever be knocked off the top position, right now I am saying NO, but who knows.

I think MK will always be number 1 for many reasons and the biggest is the amount of rides the whole family can ride. I know many here disagree but if Universal keeps going the way they are and Epic Universe is a major success then I do see the day Disney's secondary parks take a major hit in attendance

 

[Andrew25]

MK will remain the #1 park in Orlando, not because of quality, but because it's "the" park to go to while in Orlando as a tourist. There will be lots of people who will be visiting Orlando because of Nintendo/Epic Universe, and a lot will also attend the Magic Kingdom and maybe another Disney park.

Best anecdote I have: Did you really go to New York City without visiting Times Square? It's not the best thing in NYC, but it's the "must-do" thing for all tourists. Same with the Mona Lisa in Paris, Coliseum in Rome, etc.

No matter how strong the IPs are, there's no touching the nostalgic factor of taking a picture of Cinderella Castle.

The days, for most people, of visiting all of the Orlando parks will soon be gone, now it's a "pick your option" type of visit between Universal & Disney.

 

[Disstevefan1]

MK will remain the #1 park in Orlando, not because of quality, but because it's "the" park to go to while in Orlando as a tourist. There will be lots of people who will be visiting Orlando because of Nintendo/Epic Universe, and a lot will also attend the Magic Kingdom and maybe another Disney park.

Best anecdote I have: Did you really go to New York City without visiting Times Square? It's not the best thing in NYC, but it's the "must-do" thing for all tourists. Same with the Mona Lisa in Paris, Coliseum in Rome, etc.

No matter how strong the IPs are, there's no touching the nostalgic factor of taking a picture of Cinderella Castle.

The days, for most people, of visiting all of the Orlando parks will soon be gone, now it's a "pick your option" type of visit between Universal & Disney.

The Magic Kingdom is truly resting on its laurels.

Only some sort of EPIC change will have to happen to change things

 

[Lilofan]

MK will remain the #1 park in Orlando, not because of quality, but because it's "the" park to go to while in Orlando as a tourist. There will be lots of people who will be visiting Orlando because of Nintendo/Epic Universe, and a lot will also attend the Magic Kingdom and maybe another Disney park.

Best anecdote I have: Did you really go to New York City without visiting Times Square? It's not the best thing in NYC, but it's the "must-do" thing for all tourists. Same with the Mona Lisa in Paris, Coliseum in Rome, etc.

No matter how strong the IPs are, there's no touching the nostalgic factor of taking a picture of Cinderella Castle.

The days, for most people, of visiting all of the Orlando parks will soon be gone, now it's a "pick your option" type of visit between Universal & Disney.

Out of all the tourist landmarks to promote FL and USA tourism for more foreigners to visit FL and the USA , guess where President Obama at the last minute picked to speak in 2012 ?- right in front of the Castle at MK and the park was closed to the public that morning . Only invited guests and cast were present including Iger and Tom Staggs who flew from CA to at the speech.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It’ll be interesting to see if Epic poaches its guests from the WDW parks or the other USF parks.

Our last trip to Uni was 2 days, my guess is once Epic opens our trips to Uni will still be 2 days, 1 for the current parks and 1 at Epic. It’ll be easier to combine the 2 existing Uni parks into a one day hopper than to sacrifice one of the WDW parks days or try to hop at WDW.

 

[MisterPenguin]

For sure a park full of 11 rides can attract more guests than one with only 27!!

 

[Andrew25]

It’ll be interesting to see if Epic poaches its guests from the WDW parks or the other USF parks.

Our last trip to Uni was 2 days, my guess is once Epic opens our trips to Uni will still be 2 days, 1 for the current parks and 1 at Epic. It’ll be easier to combine the 2 existing Uni parks into a one day hopper than to sacrifice one of the WDW parks days or try to hop at WDW.

I think USF will be impacted the most, but I'm confident that Universal knows that and there are plans in the work for future upgrades to that park. The park itself is pulling an Epcot at the moment relying on special events to keep it interesting.

 

[TalkToEthan]

The park(USF) itself is pulling an Epcot at the moment relying on special events to keep it interesting

As for attendance I'm thinking more like relying on the name itself "Universal" / "Universal Studios".

IOA is noticeably better but yet is less appreciated, less known.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think USF will be impacted the most, but I'm confident that Universal knows that and there are plans in the work for future upgrades to that park. The park itself is pulling an Epcot at the moment relying on special events to keep it interesting.

Well, and it has Diagon Alley.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Well, and it has Diagon Alley.

Which alone is enough for us to splurge for the hoppers, that’s the only real draw for us at USF though, we’ll spend the day at IOA, ride Hogwarts express over to spend an hour or 2 in Diagon Alley, grab a ride on Mummy and Maybe hit RRR if the line is short, and then Hogwarts express back to IOA.

For those who need to sacrifice something it’s still the easiest park to skip, or combine into another park day, in WDW or Uni.

 

[JusticeDisney]

The Magic Kingdom is truly resting on its laurels.

Only some sort of EPIC change will have to happen to change things

I agree that MK should do more and, who knows, maybe the blue sky ideas will come to fruition at some point. That said, adding TRON hardly constitutes “resting on its laurels.”

 

[Lil Copter Cap]

We also don't know if the park experience of EU is going to be worth repeat visitation. It'll be new and sparkly, but year after year visiting? We'll have to stay tuned!

 

[TalkToEthan]

That said, adding TRON hardly constitutes “resting on its laurels.”

I feel you need more than that to counter Disstevenfan1

There is nothing monumental or original about TRON. Nothing earthshaking and nothing worthy of a Disney brag.

I'm scheduled to ride in about 2 weeks and it will be fun, for sure.....all 3 minutes or less of it but it certainly ain't no Hagrid motorbike nor Groot Rewind.

 

[JusticeDisney]

I feel you need more than that to counter Disstevenfan1

There is nothing monumental or original about TRON. Nothing earthshaking and nothing worthy of a Disney brag.

I'm scheduled to ride in about 2 weeks and it will be fun, for sure.....all 3 minutes or less of it but it certainly ain't no Hagrid motorbike nor Groot Rewind.

Maybe go back and reread what I wrote and then let me know where I said it was any of those things.

I simply said it wasn’t “resting on its laurels.”

As for everything else that you said, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion. Of course, I do get quite a kick out of you proclaiming as if it is some sort of fact what TRON is or is not and how it stacks up against other attractions when you haven’t even ridden it yet. LOL!

 

[celluloid]

For sure a park full of 11 rides can attract more guests than one with only 27!!

The thing is all 11 are ones people will want to ride.

The other park has like 7 people actually want to do and the rest look like Bob Iger's diapers.


But you know, people are really dying to see the garbage state and excitement of Carousel of Progress, PeopleMover, Jungle Cruise and one of three spinners that are mostly the same or the Fantasyland dark rides that are not well taken care of and ever so charming to wait in a queue for.


Gosh a 120 bucks per person for that or 40 per person that many will be tacking on to make it a third Universal Day? Decsisions descisions.