Why Disney Should Be WORRIED About Universal's Epic Universe
Why Universals Epic Universe Should Have Disney WORRIED
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were exploring why Walt Disney World should be worried about Universals Epic Universe.
The history of theme parks can be broken into two eras: Before and After Disneyland. While Disney didnt invent the concept of amusement parks, the Happiest Place on Earth set a gold standard that has loomed over rivals for nearly 70 years. Even Disneys most formidable competitor, Universal, has always been eclipsed by the Mouse. The Universal Studios Lot traces back to 1915. It wasnt until Disneyland found success that Universal converted the site into a theme park. Universal Studios Hollywood evolved with the addition of the King Kong encounter marking a turning point in 1986. Universal had abandoned plans to open another park in Florida where Disney World has reigned since 1971. With the Kong attraction going gangbusters in California, Universal revisited their Florida project.
Several former Disney Imagineers worked on the giant Kong animatronic, including Peter Alexander, whod serve as executive producer on Universals first park entirely built from the ground up. Alexander teamed with Steven Spielberg, his college roommate, to develop Back to the Future: The Ride, a simulator akin to Disneys Star Tours. Alexander oversaw the development of other attractions like E.T. Adventure and the Jaws ride, but Disney wasnt taking this lying down. Before getting his mouse ears, Disney CEO Michael Eisner was the president of Paramount, which had once been in talks to build a theme park with Universal. Around the same time Universal pushed forward with their Florida park, Eisner suspiciously announced the similarly themed Disney-MGM Studios, now Disney Hollywood Studios.
Disney-MGM Studios opened first in 1989 with Universal Studios Florida breaking ground the following year. In addition to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the MGM Studios, Universal would have to compete with Disneys Animal Kingdom by 1998. As Disney expanded, so did Universal, opening Islands of Adventure in 1999. With attractions like Jurassic Park River Adventure, Universals second Florida park was expected to give Disney World a run for its money. Islands of Adventure underperformed upon opening, however. Many attributed this to marketing, initially leaving some confused whether Islands of Adventure was an expansion or a separate park. Universal took a huge leap forward in 2007 when they officially beat out Disney in a tug of war over Harry Potter.
Opening at Islands of Adventure in 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter saw Universals attendance rise by 1.7 million guests that year. Since then, Universals two Florida parks have seen an uptick in attendance almost every year, the pandemic notwithstanding. In 2023, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida each saw an attendance of roughly 10,000,000, almost 4,000,000 more than a decade earlier. Universal has shown they can compete with Epcot, Disneys Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, which attract similar annual numbers. The Magic Kingdom remains almost untouchable, however. With more than 17,000,000 guests in 2023, its not just the most attended theme park in Florida or North America, but the world! Disneyland ranks second, although Universal Studios Japan isnt far behind at third with 16,000,000 guests in 2023.
If Universal Japan can sneak up on Disney, perhaps their Florida parks can pull off a similar feat. That said, Universal has two Florida parks (three if you count Volcano Bay, which opened in 2017). Disney has four (six if you count Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). As International Theme Park Services President Dennis Speigel puts it, Disney is still No. 1. They have more gates. They have more everything. However, Universal is getting another gate. In 2019, Universal Orlando announced Epic Universe, which Comcast CEO Brian Roberts describes as the largest investment weve ever made in a park. Concerning Disney, Roberts said, Its a boxing match. The gloves have been taken off, and its a bare-knuckle match now.
Celestial Park serves as a hub for Epic Universe, providing portals to four more unique experiences. The Wizarding World continues to grow with the Ministry of Magic, a land modeled after the 1920s Paris seen in the Fantastic Beasts films. The highlight is the elevator dark ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Super Nintendo World finally comes to Florida with Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge, Yoshis Adventure, and the Donkey Kong coaster Mine-Cart Madness. How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk is the largest of the four lands, although the Dark Universe has arguably attracted the most buzz. Putting a fresh spin on Universal Classic Monsters, the animatronics are expected to reach unprecedented levels of realism and terror.
While Epic Universe has seen its share of setbacks on the road to completion, now is an ideal time for Universal to challenge Disneys theme park supremacy. Just because Disney Experiences is on top doesnt mean the brand hasnt taken some major missteps. Its debatable how successful Star Wars: Galaxys Edge has been for Disney, but theres no denying the Galactic Starcruiser hotel was a colossal money pit, closing after barely a year with hundreds of millions out the airlock. Disney has also angered long-time, loyal patrons with the retirement of FastPass in favor of more inconvenient - and expensive - virtual queue systems. Retiring fan-favorite attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D hasnt helped Disneys image either. Disney isnt rolling over while Universal steals the spotlight, however.
Over the next ten years, Disney is planning a $60 billion global theme park investment. Cars Land is heading to the Magic Kingdom, which will also introduce the anticipated Villains Land. Along with a Magic Kingdom expansion, lands based on Encanto and Indiana Jones are reportedly coming to Animal Kingdom. As much as well miss Muppet*Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios, its replacement - Monstropolis - shows promise. Dennis Speigel has even suspected Disney might announce a fifth Florida park, saying, its necessary. Conversely, Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog believes that absolutely will not happen. Whether or not Disney builds another park, itd be years (maybe more than a decade) down the line, giving Epic Universe room to claim a significant piece of the pie. That said, Disney is continuing global expansion to Saudi Arabia.
Universal has other theme parks in the works, including Universal Kids Resort in Texas and Universal Studios United Kingdom. They have the most riding on Epic Universe, which supposedly cost around $7 billion. Its expected to bring $2 billion to Florida within its first year. The research institute MoffettNathanson believes Epic Universe can pull guests away from Disney, with the new park estimated to see 10 million visitors over twelve months. In some respects, Disneys been good for Universals business. Lets face it, Disney World is the dream destination for most families. If they have the time and money to spare, though, they might dedicate a day to Universal while visiting Florida. After all, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. They want to see as much as possible.
Universal isnt content with being a detour, however. Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury says, We want people to think of us first. Disney CFO Hugh Johnston actually thinks Epic Universe could benefit Disney World. Another park means more tourists flocking to Florida, potentially driving up business statewide. For those with limited funds and vacation days, though, a choice will have to be made. Well see how many choose Universal when Epic Universe opens its portals on May 22, 2025. To once again quote Dennis Speigel, Is [Epic Universe] going to put Disney out of business? Absolutely not. Is it going to put a chink in their armor? Yes, it will. We think thats reason enough for Disney to be worried, at least a little.
Are you excited for Epic Universe, or are you saving up for a Disney vacation? Let us know in the comments.
