Disney World might be in for a bit of a rough year by the time 2025 rolls around.
©Disney
Sure, the EPCOT Transformation will be complete by then and we may even know more about the theme park expansions Disney has planned. But, Universal’s Epic Universe is opening in 2025 and the hype has already been building for quite a while now. Disney has been criticized for not responding to Epic Universe in any significant way, but recent comments from CEO Bob Iger promise that Disney isn’t worried.
Bob Iger recently participated in a Q&A session at the MoffettNathanson Media, Internet & Communications Conference, and gave some insight into just how Disney is responding to the upcoming opening of Universal’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe.
©Universal | Epic Universe Concept Art
We’ve been keeping up with the latest announcements about Epic Universe and all its themed lands: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. We’re not the only ones, either, as fans seem to be ready to ditch their Disney World annual passes for Universal ones instead.
©Universal
But, Iger doesn’t seem to be worried at all — at least, that’s certainly what he’s trying to convey. When asked about Epic Universe, the second-time CEO said, “We’ve had competition for a long time. I’m mindful of what they’re doing, but I’m confident in what we’ve built and will continue to grow.”
He also made a point to mention that Disney had built projects like Tron Lightcycle / Run, Galaxy’s Edge, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Florida over the past few years and that in the past, anytime Universal has opened a major new project in the state it’s increased tourism overall in Orlando, which has benefited Disney.
©Disney
When it comes to Disney World, Iger said they’re looking “to place some pretty big bets on” those parks and the expansion plans already in the works.
He continued and said, “We should just continue on the path we’ve been on, mind the great IP [Intellectual Property],” which is something Disney is making a major push toward in the parks.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
In a new update, Disney outlined its push to go “beyond storytelling” in parks across the globe and outlined examples of how it has already done so. Frozen, Toy Story, Avatar, and The Avengers franchises were named as ways Disney has taken successful IP and turned them into even bigger successes in the parks.
With Disney World expansion plans in the works, we could see new IP come sooner rather than later, too. Either way, we’ll keep you updated!
Cinderella Castle
Stay tuned to DFB as we continue to bring you the latest Disney news and more.
Bob Iger CONFIRMED All Future Disney Parks Projects Will Be IP-Based
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Remember when the parks themselves were the IP? Yeah, I miss those days. Could Everest be the last non-IP attraction we ever see at a DIsney park?
And of course he’s going to say he isn’t worried, what else could he do?
These critics are comparing Apples to Oranges. Disney and Universal are two different parks and experiences by design on behalf of both parks. Why some people expepect (or demand) they be the same is beyound me. They also expect the pricing to be the same. They are both in the theme aprk business to make more money, so why people complain that prices go up every year, or a few times a year, I just don’t get.
I get some people have a tighter budget and may have to have to make a decision. But with our family, it is not a hard decision, beacuse when we vacationin Orlando, we visit both parks. Same here back home. We have annual passes for Disenyland Resort and Universal Hollywood. My point is, is that they are two different park, so there is no need to compare them.
Just because one park does something, doesen’t menthe other has to follow it up with something bigger and better. I perefer the compition, because in the ned, it is the guest who benefit from expansions and and new parks. So all you critics, stop comparing and enjoy what they both have to offer.
Disney World and Universal should not be compared as they are not that similar as far as theme parks go. There is no doubt that Epic Universe will draw people away from Disney for a while, but in the long run both parks will go back to business as usual. There are those Disney guests, who are very loyal, no matter the cost, and then there are Universal guests, who prefer thrill rides. In the end, it will all balance out.
We are Disney fans , I haven’t been to U.S for over 10yrs, since they opted to shut down IMHO, some of the best attractions they ever had, then rpl with attractions like RRR, universal simply can’t provide the package that Disney can , and it’s all to do with 30,000 acres of land they own, and Mario doesn’t interest me one bit , Harry potters is ok, but I’m not a big fan , but I’m sure the new park will be a hit.
I’m not a fan of roller coasters and fast rides so we won’t be going to Universal
I look forward to see Disneys Day of Reckoning over their Money Grubbing business model especially true of WDW
Disney made a big mistake when they discontinued Disney’s Magical Express. With the Magical Express you checked in your luggage at the airport on the flight to Orlando and you didn’t have to worry about your luggage when you landed at Orlando – because Disney’s Magical Express would collect your luggage for you at the carousel and deliver it to your Disney World Resort. You land in Orlando, walk pass baggage claim and board the bus to your Disney Resort, it was that easy and it was included in the price of your resort stay.
Now traveling to Disney World is different. There is no Magical Express, you have to make your own arrangements (taxi, bus service, ride-share service, car rental, etc.). I usually choose to rent a car, which affords me the convenience of traveling outside of Disney – often times to Universal Parks. In the past, when Disney’s Magical Express was a thing, I didn’t think about visiting the other Orlando attractions because I was happy within the “Disney Bubble” – where you are surrounded by Disney from the start of your vacation (Magical Express) and where you are swept away by free and diverse Disney’s Transportation Options (Disney Park Buses, Disney’s Water Taxis, Disney’s Skyliner, etc.) that would take you anywhere on Disney.
But now with my rental car I occasionally stay off property, avoiding the “cold” Disney Buses and their long lines at the end of a busy park day. With my rental car I am not trapped on property, subjected to the high cost of dining (when I did not splurge for the Disney Dining Plan). I have more flexibility in my dining options (i.e. I can eat on property or choose another dining option in Orlando, even City Walk at Universal). My entertainment options are no longer restricted to Disney but to all of what Orlando has to offer (i.e. SeaWorld, Ripley’s believe it or Not Museum, Wonder Works, and of course Universal Parks, etc).
Disney made a huge mistake by taking away its Magical Express. Now I see that there is so much more to Orlando than just Disney. I mean I new this before but never bothered to stay at other resorts because we enjoyed Disney so much and the convenience of the Magical Express made it all worth it. Now me and my family love to explore Orlando and spent less time at Disney. We even enjoyed a vacation home rental with a private pool and other amenities, something we probably would have never considered if Disney’s Magical Express was still an option.
At the present time I have little confidence in MR Iger or the board of directors
So Disney is content with sitting back and living off of the tourism that Universal creates 🤣 Walt is spinning.
Diz shouldn’t be worried about Uni’s new park. Rather,Uni should be worried about Sea World! After all, SW has NINE COASTERS, while EU will only have about FOUR.
We love WDW and we love Harry Potter. I agree the parks are very different, and in the end, probably provide only marginal competition for each other. But, we would love to see both experience more competition for demand and price. It’s clear that neither organization is worried about the other on either count.
Yeah taking M.E away was a strange thing to do, I mean it made no sense, it broke the bubble for sure, Mears is fine actually, but they simply do not give you the DISNEY magic that cast members used to do, even at the coach station pick ups , the real issue is the parks are busy, so the leaders don’t feel they have to change anything . Mr igor is not Disney fan, he’s an entertainment fan, but not Disney, cos if he was , he’d get it ! And he simply doesn’t get what us fans are screaming for . , bring back the magic !
The Magic is gone at Disney. It left when Michael Eisner left and Bob Iger has never had it. That is the reality…it is a very large money machine and navigating 100,000 plus direct employees on 3 continents is a daunting task for anyone.
I’m so tired of Iger. It would be nice to get a CEO who loves the parks and what Disney is again…
Universal is starting to take lead over disney. The latest rollout of the changes to DAS has shown universal to be the better park. Disney is a money grab. Universal is trying to build an experience like disney used to try to do!