What can Disney do to steal the thunder from Epic Universe?
With Universal’s Epic Universe gaining steam, the big question is how Disney is going to respond to a new shot fired in the theme park wars. Can it be a new attraction, shifting up their business, or is this the opportunity for Disney to finally announce a fifth gate for Florida?
We’ve talked before of the Disney-Universal theme park battles, mostly centering around Florida. It doesn’t really happen in California as Universal Studios is still mostly the tram tour and both it and Disneyland compete with other parks. Orlando is the center of this conflict which has been waged since 1990.
Universal has taken the lead in many ways, which is impressive given it has two parks against Disney’s four. Their attractions from Harry Potter to Marvel rides have gotten huge attention and acclaim while Disney was a bit stagnant. Universal is now hitting again with the announcement of their Epic Universe park, expected to open next year. The question now is how Disney responds.
Disney itself has had more than its share of issues in the last few years. The COVID-19 pandemic did a number on the parks, ending work on several announced attractions. That’s combined with the behind-the-scenes messes of Bob Chapek leaving, Bob Iger returning and complaints of fans about cost-cutting in creativity while upping the prices. Disney seems more focused on a planned expansion of Disneyland than putting in work in Orlando.
It’s the old mantra that “the best way to win is not to play the game.” It’s what Disney did when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, boosting overall tourism in Orlando and getting some extra guests. They regrouped to hit back with Pandora and Galaxy’s Edge while Universal was lower in its creative output. Disney seems to think that letting Universal spend so much now for a huge rush is better than trying to openly compete.
That’s different than in 1999 when Disney countered the opening of Islands of Adventure with scores of new attractions across Walt Disney World. Some can complain this is due to Disney pinching pennies more and their reliance on IP. Yet there are some ways Disney could rob Universal of some attention.
What Disney can do to fight Universal
The logistics are important as it’s very unlikely Disney can get anything big seriously going by 2026. They’ll have to cede Epic Universe’s opening to Universal and no doubt see them enjoy a boon of guests and money while still making plans to compete down the line.
For one thing, Disney is likely to invest more in drone shows such as Dreams That Soar and a few more festivals. Sure, they may be too many for some guests but they bring in more tourists and make a visit feel special.
There’s also Disney bringing back several shows and performances that were canceled during the pandemic. From the Hollywood Studios street performers to Jedi Academy to other of those little performances guests love, bringing those back is some old Disney park magic that guests can enjoy. Of course, there’s still bigger stuff to do.
Reuse Star Wars Cruiser
The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser may have been a noble failure as the price was too high for some guests. Yet a massive spaceship-designed building themed to Star Wars should not be going to waste. Rumors abound Disney may rework it from a hotel to a dinner/theater show which would be a much better fit for fans. They’d get the Star Wars experience at a shorter time and cheaper price and mix it with some great elements for the movies.
There’s also the chance of shifting up Galaxy’s Edge a bit, if not a new ride, maybe sparking up the Falcon Smuggler’s Run with a new storyline timed for the original films. Star Wars remains a major franchise to utilize, and Disney has the potential to redeem past mistakes and offer new experiences to guests.
Ride rethemes
A hot new attraction for the Magic Kingdom is the redo of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Test Track is also going to see a makeover with better technology for a cooler ride. It shows that a retheme of a ride can be just as huge as a brand new attraction and there are a few around Disney World that can use that.
Retheming Rock n Roller Coaster for a more current music act (like, say, Taylor Swift) can be a good idea. There’s also the beloved Journey Into Imagination, an Epcot classic that never recovered from its horrible 1999 redo but could use a new spark. The massive box office of Inside Out could work although most would prefer bringing back Figment.
Likewise, Disney might finally get around to the planned shift for Spaceship Earth made years back to give Epcot’s signature ride a fresh face. There are a few Fantasyland rides that could use a boost in technology, as well as Big Thunder Mountain with better effects. While something canceled, like the Mary Poppins ride for Epcot could be fun, giving a tired ride a new look could be as welcomed. A good makeover can be just as compelling to guests as something brand new.
The fifth gate
Obviously, the biggest thing Disney could do to draw attention away from Universal would be the long-rumored fifth gate. Just what it can be is up in the air, whether it is an overall theme of some sort or mixing various attractions in. It could be home to the Zootopia and World of Frozen lands from overseas and give Imagineers room to unleash some rides long sitting on the drawing boards.
True, it would take years for such a place to be opened so it’s a long-term wait and investment. Then again, so was Epic Universe when it was announced a few years ago. The fact is, a brand new Disney World park will get everyone buzzing far more than one from Universal and the expectations and discussions on it would rob Epic Universe of hype.
Bring Back Quality
At the end of the day, the best thing Disney can do to compete with Universal is bring back the quality the parks used to have. Longer hours, the Magical Express bus from the airport, making Lightning Lane a lot more manageable, not hitting surcharges on every other thing, and just lowering prices on food would be a good start.
The penny-pinching of Disney has taken its toll on consumer confidence, which is never a good thing for a company. They need to win back guest trust before they can move forward with huge plans and bringing back the quality that made them so beloved is a huge first step to that. Making Disney fun and more affordable than Universal would let them steal attention away from their rival.
Thus, while Universal is getting the big press on Epic Universe, Disney might find some ways to steal away attention and in the long run, still prove their dominance in the Orlando theme park wars so don’t bet against the Mouse just yet.