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Screamscape: Possible Buy Out of Universal for Marvel Theme Park Rights?
- Thread starter IWant2GoNow
- Start date
Studios Fan
Active Member
_Scar
Active Member
That would create such HORRIBLE publicity.
With a company like Disney, that would be so beyond foolish. It just wouldn't make sense at all. Not one bit.
The ends just do not justify what could happen. Uni would convert to Transformers, Hulk to whatever.
No, no, no.
I just don't see it happening.
With a company like Disney, that would be so beyond foolish. It just wouldn't make sense at all. Not one bit.
The ends just do not justify what could happen. Uni would convert to Transformers, Hulk to whatever.
No, no, no.
I just don't see it happening.
Lee
Adventurer
Sure they'll get made. Just not in Orlando.
Like I said...Marvel is going to have a major presence in Shanghai, perhaps in Paris as well.
GLaDOS
Well-Known Member
Yes, because it means the second best ride in the world get's to stay as what it was designed to be.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
It is probably sitting right there in the SEC's archives like the Harry Potter deal I posted earlier. Somebody just needs to go digging through the fillings for whoever owned Universal Orlando (Universal City Development Partners Ltd today) at the time and whatever was Marvel's legal name at the time. The agreement was probably made sometime in 1995, so that should be a good starting point.
One has to wonder just how much Disney can try to raise Universal's costs. From all accounts that deal is very indicative of just how desperate Marvel was for any revenue.
T-1MILLION
New Member
I would think they would be stupid to raise it too much to where Universal does not want it Honestly. They would make more money instantly by a new negotiation on cost vs Universal saying "well no deal then" and then losing out on all that money..and then actually have to build stuff marvel in WDW in order to see any money attendance boost wise to happen.
I have a feeling Disney would be just as happy getting more money out of Uni and keeping royalties from their merch...and being able to sell that same merch in WDW.
Look at the EPCOT giftshops and Hollywood Studios selling Marvle merch. A toy store in downtown disney is one thing (since they were selling toys of all kinds before Disney bought Marvel) but seeing tons of Marvel themed merch at theme parks like Hollywood Studios and EPCOT who have no theming representation at all in the parks....furthers the tacky shopping mall atmosphere that I think Disney is happy/content with between that and the films as far as the states goes.
As far as I can tell, the contract was in place before 1995. Because the online databases (at least the ones I could find) only go back as far as Jan 1995, and those filings mention the licensing deal as already in place. Around that time, Marvel had filed for bankruptcy and the documentation mentions the deal with Universal - not just Orlando, but Japan and Los Angeles.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
I don't know if it's still there, but around 2005ish, Universal Hollywood had a Marvel Comics Store in the park with a gigantic Hulk statue in front of it. I don't remember seeing any walk-around characters or anything else Marvel in the park, though.
EDIT: Here's Paris Hilton molesting the Hulk in 2003.
disneyrcks
Well-Known Member
Here is the latest rumor that I have heard from a reliable source on another Disney site. Disney is buying out the contract for the remaining Marvel characters at Universal. The name of the 5th theme park is - World of Marvel. Reportedly, this is in some level of development for WDW.
I don't usually get too worked up over park additions or subtractions but I am not too crazy about a World of Marvel park.....I feel it would lack that Disney flair. Marvel added to DHS (not it's own park) would be great!
Studios Fan
Active Member
Here ya go. I found it while looking at Universal info a couple months ago...
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262449/000119312510008732/dex1057.htm
There's also this...
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262449/000119312510008732/dex1058.htm
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Brilliant! Thank you my kind sir.
Bravo. It will make for very interesting reading.
EDIT: The language in this contract makes my head spin (whoever had their hands in it must have been old-school lawyers who legal-eased unnecessarily for maximum effect, imho), but the one thing that is clear to me after two run-throughs is that Disney isn't building anything in Florida that has anything to do with Marvel until the lease no longer exists. No themed stores, no restaurants, no entertainment complexes, no advertising of Marvel whatsoever. And the contract runs for as long as Universal wants it. Universal has Disney by the stones regarding these Marvel characters in Florida.
With the popularity of the recent Marvel films (Spiderman, Iron Man) and with many upcoming films (Captain America, Thor, Avengers) - not to mention Disney's stated goal of proliferating the characters through television - I have to believe this 1994 contract gave Universal use of the characters at way below current market value. If Disney tries to buy out the lease, I bet it would cost them a bundle - I don't see any reason whatsoever why Universal would want to let Disney/Marvel out of the deal.
Of note, west of the Mississippi, Disney can use specific Marvel characters in their parks, but may not build or market a "Marvel-land". In other words, they could have an Iron Man ride at DCA or a Spiderman Meet & Greet, but no use of the word "Marvel" anywhere.
flavious27
Well-Known Member
The 4th gate was being planned when the 3rd gate was half finished.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The difference is that people extended their stays for the second and third gates. They did not for the fourth.
And they had an even worse experience with their second half-gate in Californa (resulting in a billion dollar makeover). You have to believe even people as dense as Disney have learned their lesson (although, somebody was hellbent on pushing that Night Kingdom money pit - so who knows?).
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
It really had nothing to do with the amount of offerings. Americans do not tend to vacation for more than a week. People were just not willing to break their cultural norms for Disney.