The theme park industry’s biggest feud is about to get even more epic.
Epic Universe, the highly-anticipated third full theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort is scheduled to open in May of next year. The technologically advanced park, and the three hotels opening with it, are expected by many to elevate Universal further into a singular vacation destination. You’d think that that would worry Disney right? Well, not quite.
During the Walt Disney Company’s Q4 earnings call on November 14th, 2024, company executives including CEO Bob Iger were asked about Epic Universe and gave an answer that was much rosier than many would expect.
Specifically, they claimed that bookings for Disney World are actually strong and overall positive for next summer, indicating that the scheduled opening of Epic Universe has not negatively affected Disney World so far.
In fact, the executives pointed to the historical precedent that when other major attractions have opened in the Orlando area in the past (such as Universal Studios Florida in 1990 and Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999) they have actually been beneficial for Disney’s bookings and overall numbers, with many travelers extending Disney vacations to add time to visit another attraction as opposed to skipping Disney entirely. Whether that’s the case long-term for Epic Universe remains to be seen.
Of course, this isn’t the first time a Disney executive has spoken dismissively about Epic Universe. When asked about potential competition from the new park and how Disney would respond earlier this year, Bob Iger said that Disney had been aware of Universal’s plans for years, and had built attractions including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Toy Story Land, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and the “reimagining “ of EPCOT as a staggered way to beef the parks in preparation.
Furthermore, in response to an article about Epic Universe earlier this year, a Disney spokesperson released a statement to the Wall Street Journal, which read simply, “Epic [Universe] is Universal playing catch-up on a decade of nonstop development at Walt Disney World.”
Is Disney right that their parks are prepared for Epic Universe, and that the new park will — if anything — only be a benefit to Disney World? That question will be answered once Epic opens in 2025. Stay tuned to AllEars for more coverage.
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What are your thoughts on Disney’s response to Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments below.
But this time is different. With the addition of a third park at Universal (not counting Volcano Bay which I know Universal counts as a theme park), Universal have become a full-week resort whereas before you might add a day or two at Universal on top of a Disney vacation.