Universal Studios has some potential for some great shows, Disney better watch out

[JIMINYCR]

Disney has nothing to worry about. Uni has done some great things but Disney remains the top FL tourist site and thats not going to change as long as they continue to add attractions and not remain stagnant. Uni will be that park that Disney guests go to to fill in a couple of extra days on their trip or add an additional park after they've had their Disney thrill. No matter what Uni does it will never overcome Disneys reputation or guest appeal.

 

[Bairstow]

Disney has nothing to worry about. Uni has done some great things but Disney remains the top FL tourist site and thats not going to change as long as they continue to add attractions and not remain stagnant. Uni will be that park that Disney guests go to to fill in a couple of extra days on their trip or add an additional park after they've had their Disney thrill. No matter what Uni does it will never overcome Disneys reputation or guest appeal.

Universal doesn't need to overcome Disney's reputation or guest appeal- they just have to offer a viable alternative.
The current model, as you say, is for Universal to offer an alternative day or two to families booking a mostly-Disney vacation.
With the addition of the water park, that changes fundamentally.
Universal will now have two 1.5 day parks, a waterpark, and a nighttime dining/entertainment district to justify families making a 4-day stay at one of Universal's four, soon to be five resorts, and never having to leave Universal property. That's the real game-changer, because Universal is about to go from having a mutually-beneficial relationship* with Disney to truly competing with them for full family resort stays.

*when I say "mutually-beneficial" what I mean is that I believe that Disney benefited from the opening of Wizarding World almost as much as Universal did; Disney opened almost nothing in terms of new attractions during the great recession while Universal closed out the recession by opening the most impressive themed lands America had ever seen. As a result, both Universal and Disney attendance grew during the same time period, again, likely because families were using the prospect of a day seeing Universal's new IOA offerings as a reason to book a return trip see the old stuff at Disney.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Universal doesn't need to overcome Disney's reputation or guest appeal- they just have to offer a viable alternative.
The current model, as you say, is for Universal to offer an alternative day or two to families booking a mostly-Disney vacation.
With the addition of the water park, that changes fundamentally.
Universal will now have two 1.5 day parks, a waterpark, and a nighttime dining/entertainment district to justify families making a 4-day stay at one of Universal's four, soon to be five resorts, and never having to leave Universal property. That's the real game-changer, because Universal is about to go from having a mutually-beneficial relationship* with Disney to truly competing with them for full family resort stays.

*when I say "mutually-beneficial" what I mean is that I believe that Disney benefited from the opening of Wizarding World almost as much as Universal did; Disney opened almost nothing in terms of new attractions during the great recession while Universal closed out the recession by opening the most impressive themed lands America had ever seen. As a result, both Universal and Disney attendance grew during the same time period, again, likely because families were using the prospect of a day seeing Universal's new IOA offerings as a reason to book a return trip see the old stuff at Disney.

Agree with your points... I was addressing OP's concern that Disney has to watch out. Mutually beneficial also works out with Uni's added resorts.... Uni guests will tend to add Disney days into their Uni stay as well. Disney still remains a stronger competitor, remain first in profits and they aren't nervous with Uni added attractions.

 

[Bairstow]

Agree with your points... I was addressing OP's concern that Disney has to watch out. Mutually beneficial also works out with Uni's added resorts.... Uni guests will tend to add Disney days into their Uni stay as well. Disney still remains a stronger competitor, remain first in profits and they aren't nervous with Uni added attractions.

That would be an interesting reversal-
A family staying at Portofino for 4 days and tacking on an extra day to see the Pandora expansion at Disney?

 

[networkpro]

Uni has some good shows like Blues and Marilyn and the much missed Bill and Ted. They currently lack substantial theater based attractions.

 

[Kylo Ken]

Universal Studios Cinema spectacular show (the fireworks) aren't that great because they just don't care, they know people will spend money on dining packages, ect even though it's not good.

Sounds like a certain other company in the swamps....

 

[Raineman]

Disney has nothing to worry about. Uni has done some great things but Disney remains the top FL tourist site and thats not going to change as long as they continue to add attractions and not remain stagnant. Uni will be that park that Disney guests go to to fill in a couple of extra days on their trip or add an additional park after they've had their Disney thrill. No matter what Uni does it will never overcome Disneys reputation or guest appeal.

I think Disney has a couple more areas where they should keep surpassing Uni, for many more years at least-brand recognition and brand loyalty. When most people think "theme park", they think Disney. People who grew up loving Disney movies and TV shows would pick WDW or DLR over Uni alot of the time. There are probably alot of lifetime Disney theme park fans that do not like what Disney has been doing recently with their theme parks, but keep coming back to WDW or DLR for the relived memories and strong sense of nostalgia, something that Uni can't offer at the same level.