The theme park rivalry in Orlando, Florida, is heating up like never before.
This week, Universal Orlando Resort officially opened Epic Universe, a massive $7 billion investment that marks the biggest expansion in Universal’s history and the latest move in its ongoing battle to challenge Walt Disney World’s longstanding dominance in the region.
Epic Universe: Universal’s Bold Bet
Spanning 750 acres, Epic Universe is Universal’s most ambitious project since the launch of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 15 years ago. The new park features five immersive themed areas, four based on well-known franchises:
- Harry Potter
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Universal’s Dark Universe — a realm of classic movie monsters
- Nintendo video game properties
At the heart of the park lies a cosmic central hub known as Celestial Park.
The resort also includes three on-site hotels and boasts cutting-edge technology, including advanced animatronics and detailed rides such as Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Early reviews praise the park for its immersive and innovative attractions.
“Comcast has come on so strong with what they’ve developed and brought forth in the Orlando market,” said Dennis Speigel, founder and CEO of International Theme Park Services Inc. “Over the last 15 years, they have brought that distance between Universal and Disney much closer, and it has really become a prize fight. It’s the most intense and competitive situation in the industry.”
Disney’s Legacy and Response
Disney entered the Orlando market first, opening the Magic Kingdom in 1971. It enjoyed nearly two decades of near-monopoly before Universal opened its first Orlando park in 1990. By then, Disney had already established several parks, including Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios).
Today, Disney World features four theme parks and two water parks, while Universal Orlando boasts three theme parks — including the new Epic Universe — and one water park, Volcano Bay.
Universal’s game-changer came in 2010 with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park land centered entirely on a specific intellectual property. This innovative approach drew huge crowds and set a new standard, prompting Disney to develop similar lands like Cars Land and the Star Wars areas in California and Florida.
“The ‘Harry Potter’ land was a new world order,” Speigel said. “They’ve just kept the pedal to the metal on everything they’ve done in terms of growth and internal experience.”
Theme Parks as a Business Powerhouse
Both Universal and Disney recognize theme parks as a reliable and profitable pillar in their businesses, especially as traditional media face volatility from shifting consumer habits.
Disney’s experiences division, which includes parks and cruise lines, generates a significant portion of company profits. But Universal is rapidly expanding its footprint, investing heavily to keep pace.
“They’re highly encouraging their theme park sector right now,” said Carissa Baker, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
Beyond Florida, both companies are launching new ventures worldwide — Disney is expanding in Abu Dhabi, while Universal is developing parks in Texas, Britain, and a year-round Halloween-themed experience in Las Vegas.
The Competition Intensifies
Universal’s president, Mike Cavanagh, recently highlighted strong advance sales and hotel bookings for Epic Universe, signaling robust demand. One-day tickets start at $139.
Analysts are closely watching how the new Universal park will impact Disney, especially amid broader economic uncertainties such as potential recessions or tariff-related slowdowns in travel.
Yet Disney shows confidence. CFO Hugh Johnston reported recent hotel bookings up 4% to 7% year-over-year across upcoming quarters, with solid occupancy rates.
“Experiences are obviously a critical business for Disney and also an important growth platform,” CEO Bob Iger said. “Despite questions around any macro-economic uncertainty or the impact of competition, I’m encouraged by the strength and resilience of our business.”
Disney is investing $30 billion in its parks across Florida and California, with new attractions in the pipeline including a “Monsters Inc.”-themed land and a villains-themed area. Recent additions also include the revamped Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride.
What This Means for Orlando
Orlando drew over 75 million visitors in 2024, up nearly 2% from the previous year. Disney executives believe new visitors attracted by Epic Universe will ultimately benefit all local parks.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, explained, “If something is built new in Central Florida, like Epic Universe, and if it brings in additional tourists, I can almost guarantee you that new tourist coming into the market is going to have to visit the Magic Kingdom.”
This competition marks what some are calling the most intense rivalry in theme park history — a true “prize fight” for Orlando’s tourism crown.
