How will Universal's Epic Universe effect Disney?

[MisterPenguin]

Market grows due to modern day Malthusian effects, too.

Long-term projections indicate that the growth rate of the human population of this planet will continue to decline and that before the end of the 21st century, it will reach zero.[2]​

Population decline - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Fair assessment. Those who are too old, too young, impaired or too scared (I don't mean this negatively, of course) to ride Universal's attractions will find more reason to go to Disney. In that respect, all else equal I think Disney is pulling from a larger population of potential guests.

As far as whether Disney guests are thrill seekers or if they want to ride every ride, I think Disney guests are pretty diverse. Some of them like thrill rides, others do not. In terms of quality though, at similar thrill levels, Universal seems to boast the superior attractions right now. Per park at least. So for guests who can do all the rides at both, even if they only get around to a few then Universal is probably the better option.

LOL, I am 2 our of the three mentioned - older and scared somewhat to ride certain thrill rides. I dont' like roller coasters at all, just a preference. But I feel there is a lot to keep me busy at Universal. They have wonderful, fun shows in the Animal Actors, Bourne Experience, and the Horror Makeup show, just to name a few. There are the shows at HP lands too, and the little shows like the Blues Brothers, etc, plus the many characters who are roaming. I enjoy the various stores around Universal. There are a lot of places to sit and enjoy yourself and people watch. So, the comparison for us is not true.

 

[MisterPenguin]

That sure looks attractive to those troubled by inflation.

Indeed, Uni is rather obviously targeting the less affluent, and teens/young adults (often the same!).

As long as their rides are a bit more thrilling and their prices are a bit less expensive than WDW, they will have large attendance.

They're also mimicking WDW as much as possible to erase any perceived differences in quality. So that time spent at Uni, is like time spent at WDW. It's good enough at the right price. (Tho, Uni is certainly picking up WDW's nickel-and-diming habits, too.)

The back bench of IP is growing and they're doubling down on that (tho, why they keep comics-land and mythos-land around, I don't know).

I hope EU is successful, at the same time, even if successful, I highly doubt it will affect WDW past year one. New rides always draw crowds... and then they subside. There is no eight hour line to get into a Potter-land any more. There is no six hour line for FoP any more.

Uni parks function like adjuncts to WDW parks. Barring a *major* recession, all the parks will do well.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Well keep hugging those TEA reports like they are a trophy... because I'm sure Mickey doesn't feel the same. All that money spent at UNI is money not in their pockets and that amount continues to grow.

Part of Disney's problem will be Epic being 'all new' where the majority of Disney is 'we've already seen that'. As long as Epic opens to good press, it's impact on Disney in the short term is going to be exaggerated even more as people goto discover what UNI is offering at the expense of repeating their past trips with Disney.

I'm also of the belief the generational hold Disney has held in prior generations has finally weakened. UNI is building an empire to compete. It will be interesting to see if they can deliver and sustain.

The "generational hold" disney has had on families is definitely over for our large family, and future kids/grandkids. Our family won't have an impact on Disney, but when many others don't have the nostalgia anymore, that might affect them in the long run.

 

[TalkToEthan]

Long-term projections indicate that the growth rate of the human population of this planet will continue to decline and that before the end of the 21st century, it will reach zero.[2]

but this aint likeJapan and places like it

We are talking US, no?

 

[MisterPenguin]

but this aint likeJapan and places like it

We are talking US, no?

U.S. birth rate is below replacement level. Without immigration, the U.S. population will decline.

But immigration more than makes up for that.

On the whole this is just shifting a portion of the declining population of the whole world to the U.S.

Demographics of the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aging of the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TalkToEthan]

Nice work

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Stop treating TEA numbers like the be all end all. Does your casino treat door clicks as the only measure to compare?

A more interesting stat for this conversation would be avg length of stay and how that is trending.

Our priorities are guest traffic and guest spend, which is why my comment mentioned attendance and skyrocketing prices. Both are up at Disney, both are up at Uni.

Casinos in Vegas love it when a new casino opens up on the Strip, it encourages people who haven’t visited for a while to come check out the new place, it results in national media exposure (free advertising for the whole city), it’s also why the casinos have worked so hard to bring in a pro hockey team, pro football team, Indy races, nascar races, rodeo, clubs, etc etc. Every one of those things is in direct competition for gaming and room dollars but the risk of losing a few dollars at the tables is more than offset by more people coming to town with wallets full of cash.

10 years ago Disney got 84% of 60 million yearly visits, now they get 75% of 80 million visits. Their percentage is down but they’re still getting more people through the door and those people are spending far more.

I could add average ticket price, average room price, and average food price over the last decade to further argue my point but we all know they’re all way up so it seems redundant.

The Disney and Universal parks are swimming in cash right now.

 

[Andrew25]

The Disney and Universal parks are swimming in cash right now.

But only one of them is actually returning the favor and spending on improving the parks.

 

[Magenta Panther]

But only one of them is actually returning the favor and spending on improving the parks.

Yep. I've been watching the Youtube travel vloggers who have visited the new Mario parks in Japan and California. Man, those parks look spectacular. The level of theming is beyond anything Iger would do right now. I want to eat at that Toadstool Cafe so bad. The presentation of every dish is amazing. Reportedly, the food is very good too. I can't wait for Univeral's Epic Universe to be complete. I'm looking forward to every reported attraction in it. Meanwhile, there is nothing upcoming at Disneyland or WDW that I give a crap about. Universal, and Universal alone, is getting my money in the near future.

 

[TalkToEthan]

The level of theming(Nintendo lands)is beyond anything Iger would do right now.

If you count the last 6 years as a loose meaning of “now” then I have to disagree.

But if you mean now as in say 2023’s first 2 months then yes, agreed.

 

[JusticeDisney]

But only one of them is actually returning the favor and spending on improving the parks.

I guess GOTG, TRON, Remy's, Moana and SWGE didn't cost anything.

 

[Big T 1963]

I expect major delays on I-4 when Universal's Epic Universe opens be prepared and pack your patience's everyone it's gonna be fun in a few years in the meantime I'll visit my SIL in Sarasota and see you on Lido Beach ta ta for now

 

[Andrew25]

I guess GOTG, TRON, Remy's, Moana and SWGE didn't cost anything.

Those projects should have been worked on anyway since they decided not to do any major projects in the 2000s.

The parks are in desperate need of capacity enhancements to improve the guest experience.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Those projects should have been worked on anyway since they decided not to do any major projects in the 2000s.

The parks are in desperate need of capacity enhancements to improve the guest experience.

Maybe they should have, but your claim that WDW isn’t spending any money to improve the parks is simply untrue.

As for the need to expand capacity further to make the guest experience better, I could not agree with you more on that.

 

[Jrb1979]

Maybe they should have, but your claim that WDW isn’t spending any money to improve the parks is simply untrue.

As for the need to expand capacity further to make the guest experience better, I could not agree with you more on that.

The lack of anything coming after Tiana which is just a replacement does bode well for the future.

 

[erasure fan1]

but your claim that WDW isn’t spending any money to improve the parks is simply untrue.

Of course they are spending money. Now is it to improve the park? Sure, because they let the parks stagnate for so long the had to spend the money. Personally I don't give them much credit for what they've been doing/spending because they are the ones that ran it into the ground in the first place. So I wouldn't say improving but getting back to where you once were.

 

[JusticeDisney]

The lack of anything coming after Tiana which is just a replacement does bode well for the future.

Well, if that’s what actually happens, I agree that it is a mistake. Of course, none of us really have any idea what will or will not take place in that regard. Again, though, I agree that it would be problematic for WDW to just do nothing in the face of Epic Universe, which I believe is going to be spectacular.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Of course they are spending money. Now is it to improve the park? Sure, because they let the parks stagnate for so long the had to spend the money. Personally I don't give them much credit for what they've been doing/spending because they are the ones that ran it into the ground in the first place. So I wouldn't say improving but getting back to where you once were.

Run into the ground.

 

[erasure fan1]

Run into the ground.

You must not have ridden splash, space, mansion... The shape these rides were/ are in, yes run into the ground.