What will Disney’s response be to Universals 4th gate?

[Trekkie101]

Nothing! Why should they Disney already as 6 parks, including the two water parks. Universal is at 4 including a water park. They have no reason to overextend themselves just because Universal is spending more. They aren't able to fill the 6 that they have already, MK excluded from that statement and I think the water parks are doing well too. Universal is competition, but, Disney is already 1 theme park and 1 water park ahead. It's Universal that has to catch up.

Universal is one deal from owning SeaWorld and Aquatica to bring it even.

All 4 Disney theme parks are busy, every single one is in the top 10 for attendance world wide, they absolutely do fill what they have. Every other company would love to have this.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Universal is one deal from owning SeaWorld and Aquatica to bring it even.

All 4 Disney theme parks are busy, every single one is in the top 10 for attendance world wide, they absolutely do fill what they have. Every other company would love to have this.

What would owning Sea World or Aquatica do for them. Sea World is just barely hanging on and Universal has no experience in that thing that involves living creatures. I don't ever go to Sea World now, why would I be enticed to do it once Universal Owns it. And btw, I am really just responding to what you said about the transaction. How do we know about what Uni is buying.

Also, what makes you think that Epcot, DHS or DAK is at capacity?

 

[xdan0920]

No response. They don’t care. The response will be more of the same.

They are locked into a strategy of meeting declining attendance growth with price increases to fluff profits. Will it come back to bite them?

 

[Trekkie101]

What would owning Sea World or Aquatica do for them. Sea World is just barely hanging on and Universal has no experience in that thing that involves living creatures. I don't ever go to Sea World now, why would I be enticed to do it once Universal Owns it. And btw, I am really just responding to what you said about the transaction. How do we know about what Uni is buying.

Also, what makes you thing that Epcot, DHS or DAK is at capacity?

SeaWorld being in the situation they are in, makes them ripe for acquisition. The stigma comes from the animals, easily removed by a corporation the size of Comcast, some theming and some more work and you’d have the park with the largest coasters in Orlando under the Universal ownership.

While I’ve no knowledge of any concrete sequencing - there’s no way Universal haven’t considered it. It’s in the right place, it’s struggling, and buying it’s two Orlando parks - well then for gate count, they’d compete with Disney.

Epcot, HS and AK may not be at capacity but consider September is “quiet time” - most of the parks ran high waits above an hour for the headliners.

AK got Pandora
Epcot is getting the Rat, Poppins, GotG
HS got Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story and Runaway rail

The parks are running pretty busy these days, once the number tips, that makes it worth more to have another park and bump up resort stays or ticket length - it’s what they’ll do.

The international resort expansion has never really dented US parks like it was supposed to. DLP was supposed to redirect the European crowds and that didn’t happen. Shanghai/Hong Kong/Tokyo don’t dent the Asian crowds.

More parks, more premium resorts, more dvc.

 

[The Pho]

What would owning Sea World or Aquatica do for them. Sea World is just barely hanging on and Universal has no experience in that thing that involves living creatures. I don't ever go to Sea World now, why would I be enticed to do it once Universal Owns it. And btw, I am really just responding to what you said about the transaction. How do we know about what Uni is buying.

SeaWorld has the most thrill coasters of any park in Orlando, and some of the best shows. It would also push them into becoming the second largest park operator in the world. SeaWorld is also the fastest growing park by attendance in Orlando right now (16% growth last year, their San Diego park grew 20%). Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Universal have all considered purchasing SeaWorld/Busch. It’s certainly not a ridiculous idea, they’re far from some failing park chain. Blackfish certainly hurt them, but they’ve been recovering quite well.

 

[Orangeanna]

Does anyone else think it is a massive inconvenience that unis 4th gate is way the heck over by the convention center? How long is going to take to get there and doesn't that break the spell that Disney is able to cast keeping you away from the outside world? Uni will never be able to provide that bubble experience and that to me is a big problem. It means that they will always be a collection of parks and not an immersive experience. Uni should build a time machine instead of a 4th park and buy more land.

 

[RustySpork]

Nothing! Why should they Disney already as 6 parks, including the two water parks. Universal is at 4 including a water park. They have no reason to overextend themselves just because Universal is spending more. They aren't able to fill the 6 that they have already, MK excluded from that statement and I think the water parks are doing well too. Universal is competition, but, Disney is already 1 theme park and 1 water park ahead. It's Universal that has to catch up.

Universal is doing quite well with what they have, adding this new park is gravy. They don’t need a one to one match.

 

[Demarke]

I am not in the never 5th gate camp, but I agree that it will be quite sometime (unless Universal comes out with plans for a real fourth). Sea World is ripe for acquisition but not necessarily in either other park’s specialty, plus Sea World has started to bounce back some in the past 2-3 years (although I think they are playing too far in the anti-zoo contingent with some of their moves, meaning short term PR win costs them with long term viability due to losing their main draws).

I think Disney could open a fifth gate based on Fox properties without much cannibalization of their main draw because it is different enough. They could design it to appeal directly against Universal’s crowd with more impact on Uni than on current WDW.

Doubtful to me a fifth would be based on Disney IP, they need to be more focused on “plus-ing” current Parks and adding rather than shutting down and eventually maybe replacing (as they have been). Plus, Disney is making way more on adding hotels. As much as we all lament daily tickets going toward $100/day for a standard trip (I know single day tix are already over, I’m talking 4-5+ tix), they are still selling out a couple dozen hotels at an average price of probably at least $275-300 a night, which is making way more than those people’s tickets. It’s a hotel company that has parks.

Heck, I usually don’t pay top dollar (normally stay offseason except for running Disney), but just paid about $250 per night for two day’s in late February at the All Star Sports just to get a Princess Challenge bib. Similar or more prices currently for marathon weekend even with my AP discount, (but already have a Dopey bib for that and will likely stay offsite). I didn’t have to pay remotely that for Star Wars races this April (about $120 per night at AoA) or for upcoming Wine and Dine races (about $115 per night at AS Movies).

Enough people don’t go that regularly and will pay whatever to stay onsite just for early FP’s and extra magic hours, so whatever sells more hotel rooms is likely their goal. Disney’s route to more money is a more adult Fox park with several hotels.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Universal is not buying SeaWorld. There is enough land with the new property to build 2 theme parks and another water park along with resorts and a 2nd CityWalk-like entertainment district.

Does anyone else think it is a massive inconvenience that unis 4th gate is way the heck over by the convention center? How long is going to take to get there and doesn't that break the spell that Disney is able to cast keeping you away from the outside world? Uni will never be able to provide that bubble experience and that to me is a big problem. It means that they will always be a collection of parks and not an immersive experience. Uni should build a time machine instead of a 4th park and buy more land.

Universal's 4th gate is considerably closer to the existing campus than Epcot is to the MK and we won't even talk about the distance from MK to DAK.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Does anyone else think it is a massive inconvenience that unis 4th gate is way the heck over by the convention center? How long is going to take to get there and doesn't that break the spell that Disney is able to cast keeping you away from the outside world? Uni will never be able to provide that bubble experience and that to me is a big problem. It means that they will always be a collection of parks and not an immersive experience. Uni should build a time machine instead of a 4th park and buy more land.

That bubble of sprawl and highways that is better than sprawl and highways?

 

[Dead2009]

More threads about it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Universal is doing quite well with what they have, adding this new park is gravy. They don’t need a one to one match.

I agree and if Uni doesn't need to add anything Disney sure as hell doesn't. The truth of the matter is if they add much more then they have to increase visitors by huge amounts by drawing them away from an almost historically established guest list already at Disney. I didn't know about having the 4th gate by the convention center. The next thing you know they will have an even bigger gondola setup then Disney. It will be more thrilling though because it will be heading across I-4.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Does anyone else think it is a massive inconvenience that unis 4th gate is way the heck over by the convention center? How long is going to take to get there and doesn't that break the spell that Disney is able to cast keeping you away from the outside world? Uni will never be able to provide that bubble experience and that to me is a big problem. It means that they will always be a collection of parks and not an immersive experience. Uni should build a time machine instead of a 4th park and buy more land.

There will be dedicated bus lanes to get to each part of the resort.

Certainly faster than taking a bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to MK. Or Disney Springs to Pioneer Hall.

 

[Minthorne]

5th Main gate will be a gift shop/restaurant park called Disney Creek. Or maybe springs...

 

[ppete1975]

What would owning Sea World or Aquatica do for them. Sea World is just barely hanging on and Universal has no experience in that thing that involves living creatures. I don't ever go to Sea World now, why would I be enticed to do it once Universal Owns it. And btw, I am really just responding to what you said about the transaction. How do we know about what Uni is buying.

Also, what makes you thing that Epcot, DHS or DAK is at capacity?

Sesame Street is well done

 

[Animaniac93-98]

5th Main gate will be a gift shop/restaurant park called Disney Creek. Or maybe springs...

What about an Island you could Discover in Bay Lake?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I personally think a fifth gate is coming to Disney.

Universal may be behind, but Disney would be stupid to let them catch up, they'd be stupid to allow them to build near their turf. When you dominate a market, you need to continue to do so, or you risk falling behind.

We're only one deal away from Comcast/Universal doing a deal with SeaWorld and being equal on gates for both parks and waterparks. Resort count is flying up now too. Aggressive resort pricing.

Disney has four gates that struggle on capacity. They're all very busy places, another gate can make more money faster than extra attractions around the resort can.

I imagine the plan exists, I think it'll be an early call for Iger's replacement, Disney have the know how, they have the cash, they never rest on competition.

I expect 2027.

No offense...but all of this is pretty much wrong. A well articulated opinion...but incorrect.

 

[thomas998]

Disney is too arrogant to do anything simply because Universal increases anything be it parks, rides, hotels or whatever. Disney still behaves as if they are on a level beyond touch by other parks and what other parks do is of little importance to them. The only way Disney will ever build another gate is if they have so many resorts that their existing parks are all forced to cut off entry to resort guests. When that happens they will consider a new gate, but they will likely still have to double the number of resort rooms before they get to that point and before it happens they will start closing the parks to any non-resort guests which is what they would like to do right now but they haven't got enough resort rooms to actually allow them to do that without impacting the total park guests.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

As much as Universal states Volcano Bay is their 3rd theme park...It's not...It's a water park first.. If it consisted of coasters or dark rides of the sort then you can call it a theme park....

 

[European1992]

Well, I hope that Universal's new park has so many great and groundbreaking rides, that it puts most of the rides from 30+ years ago to shame. That might spark attendance and a great word of mouth and just then Disney might be concrned. Since that is higly unlikely, everything will remain pretty much the same as it has been this millennium so far for Disney.