Disney and Iger Should Feel Angsty Over Universal’s Epic Universe

 by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 21, 2024

 

Should Disney and CEO Bob Iger feel angsty about Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe opening in 2025? Bob says “no,” but the answer is “yes.” 

 

And it has been a “yes” for a while now, but after seeing Universal’s video introducing its Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, now it’s a BIG “YES.” 

 

Watch the following video, and decide for yourself. But especially as a fan of the Universal monster movies, this looks, well, epic.

When asked about Epic Universe at the MoffetNathanson’s Media, Internet & Communications Conference in mid-May, Iger did what any good CEO should. He sounded reasonable and confident. As noted by CinemaBlend, Iger reportedly said, “As we’ve seen in the past, when Universal’s expanded it does bring more visitation to Orlando. That’s fine. We've had competition from them for a long time. I'm mindful of what they're doing. But I’m confident. I like our hand. I’m confident in what we’ve built and I’m confident in what we’ll continue to build. It's not something that should be distracting to us or anxiety-provoking.” 

 

Well, okay. But given the creative lull – to be generous – that Disney clearly is currently suffering, I’m not sure Iger would say the same thing a few drinks in at a bar and the conversation off the record. (I’m buying, Bob.)

 

While that’s pure, tongue-in-cheek speculation, the reality is that Universal Epic Universe looks like a formidable challenge for Disney – more so than what it’s faced before from Universal Orlando – with five lands opening in 2025. Consider what’s coming. 

Courtesy of Universal

First, Dark Universe, according to Universal, “will envelop guests in monstrous adventures across various attractions, shops, restaurants and character meet and greets that will thrill everyone from families to classic Monster fans alike.” Dark Universe will bring together legends like Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Bride of Frankenstein, with a new generation of monsters and characters. And this promises to be family-friendly, but also pushing the boundaries of such friendliness with greater “intensity.”

Courtesy of Universal

Darkmoor is the “ravaged village within Dark Universe,” and among its features will be:

 

• “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – Universal Orlando’s most terrifying attraction yet, this state-of-the-art dark ride takes guests deep into the catacombs of Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein conducts her twisted experiments. In a vain display of her genius, she invites guests into her laboratory to witness a demonstration of her ability to control monsters – but her plans go awry when her attempts to control the most dangerous of monsters, Dracula, fails, unleashing a horde of enraged monsters. Guests are then thrust into an intense ride through the darkness as they try to evade the grasps of The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Brides of Dracula and others.”

 

• “Curse of the Werewolf – Deep in the woods that sit on the edge of Darkmoor, guests will find Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning family coaster inspired by ‘The Wolf Man.’ Guests will enter the encampment of The Guild of Mystics where they’ll be greeted by the Maleva, the guild’s all-knowing seer and leader, who warns them that they bear the mark of the werewolf. Guests then board a wagon and venture into the forest – racing to escape the werewolves before they become one themselves.”

 

• “Das Stakehaus – Darkmoor’s most ominous restaurant, this establishment is a dining hall run by vampire ‘familiars’ who size up unsuspecting patrons to be part of the vampires’ feast. Surrounded by artwork and artifacts detailing the history of the village’s creatures of the night, guests can enjoy a menu of kebabs, burgers, sandwiches and more.”

 

• “The Burning Blade Tavern – Despite the blades of the windmill still smoldering and flaming periodically, Darkmoor’s monster hunters have transformed this old fiery mill into their favorite hangout. While enjoying a menu of burgers, wings, bratwurst, pretzels and specialty beverages, guests will hear stories of the infamous ‘Hounds’ – boastful hunters from beyond Darkmoor – all while surrounded by an impressive display of the monster heads they consider their ‘trophies.’”

 

And there’s more. Yes, Iger should feel anxious.

 

Courtesy of Universal

Consider some choice features for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Universal explains, “Inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, guests will be able to explore Super Mario Land – where they’ll enjoy adventures alongside Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and other characters; and Donkey Kong Country – where they’ll encounter thrills featuring Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong and other members of the Kong family.” Among the experiences will be:

 

• “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge: Guests are invited to join Team Mario and battle Team Bowser for the Golden Cup in this groundbreaking attraction that fuses augmented reality, projection mapping technology and elaborate environments to bring the fun of the Mario Kart video game series to life in a compelling ride-through experience. Guests up for the challenge will enter through Bowser’s Castle – where they’ll wind its corridors and get a glimpse of Bowser’s deceptive plans to stack the odds in his favor – before boarding their kart and heading to the starting line. Then, guests steer through a variety of Mario Kart courses – collecting coins, tossing shells at Team Bowser, dodging obstacles, and more – as they join their favorite characters and compete to help Team Mario win the race.”

 

• “Yoshi’s Adventure: The delightful Yoshi’s Adventure attraction will make its U.S. debut when SUPER NINTENDO WORLD opens at Universal Epic Universe. On this family-friendly ride, guests of all ages will enjoy breathtaking views of Super Mario Land as they join Yoshis and travel through Mushroom Kingdom landscapes in search of glowing eggs – encountering many familiar characters along the way.”

 

• “Mine-Cart Madness: Guests will hop into a mine cart and careen through the jungle to help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong protect the coveted golden banana on this first-of-its-kind family coaster. Utilizing an unprecedented ride system, innovative technology and a unique coaster design, Mine-Cart Madness will send riders on a thrilling adventure where they will experience the jaw-dropping maneuvers that they’ve seen Donkey Kong and the mine carts perform in the video games – including getting blasted out of a barrel, seemingly jumping over gaps as they speed along a rickety track, and so much more.”

 

Hey, Bob, still no angst? Well, there’s still more. How about “dragons in a colorful, fully-alive world filled with Viking adventures in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk”? Among the experiences in this land will be:

 

• “Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – On this family thrill coaster, Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption – a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk. Guests will fly alongside Hiccup and Toothless and reach speeds up to 45 mph as they soar around the perimeter of Berk – and even through the lagoon – while experiencing firsthand what it’s like to fly on a dragon.”

 

• “The Untrainable Dragon – Inspired by Universal Beijing Resort’s wildly successful ‘Untrainable’ show, this dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on an unforgettable journey with beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. This heartwarming story comes to life with captivating musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons soaring overhead.”

 

• “Fyre Drill – Mischievous Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut invite teams of Vikings to compete to out score and out-soak each other on this wet-and-wild boat battle. Guests will board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires – a crucial skill to master when living with dragons.”

 

• “Dragon Racer’s Rally – Berk’s new Vikings racers can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air. Guests can control how ‘wild’ or ‘mild’ their experience will be as they perform high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills that are necessary to earn the accolades worthy of a true champion dragon racer.”

 

• “Mead Hall – The beating heart of Berk and the village’s main gathering hall, Mead Hall is where guests can feast like a Viking and enjoy a savory menu featuring a variety of meats, fish, sandwiches and more along with a collection of meads and ciders.”

 

And what about Celestial Park, which is referred to as “the heart of Universal Epic Universe and the first world guests will encounter at the new theme park.” What could possibly be included there that would warrant noting? Well…

Courtesy of Universal

• “Stardust Racers, a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. Reaching speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track, Stardust Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the ‘Celestial Spin,’ in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air – creating an ‘out-of-this-world’ adrenaline rush.”

 

• “Constellation Carousel – the grand centerpiece of Celestial Park. Here, explorers of all ages will take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward – and even make 360-degree rotations – through the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight.”

 

• ‘Astronomica, an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass rose to the many wonders of Epic Universe, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests.”

 

• “An array of unique dining experiences” will include “Atlantic – a full-service restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park.”

 

• Located “inside Epic Universe at the end of Celestial Park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite – complete with 500 rooms, one-of-a-kind views and its very own dedicated entrance into the theme park.”

 

I admit that one word comes to mind: Wow! And we’re still waiting on key details for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic” land. 

 

Courtesy of Universal

Finally, while there is some truth in what Iger said about Universal’s expansion bringing more people to Orlando, and that can be good for everyone, including Disney, that effect only goes so far. Why? Because individuals and family budgets only go so far, especially given our inflation challenges over the past two-and-a-half years. 

 

And it needs to be understood that Epic Universe will have, as Universal puts it, “more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences.” Yes, given the size of Disney World, Universal is still playing catch up. But catch-up also can lead to leaping ahead in key areas. 

 

As an economist, I understand the benefits of competition, and having businesses vying to better serve consumers. And Walt Disney World apparently is going to see a major step up by its chief competitor, and that’s good news for theme park lovers. Whether it will be good news for Disney depends on how it responds.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.

 

Never miss any new book by Ray Keating by joining the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship with Ray Keating at

https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship.

 

Various books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon. 

 

• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, and The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

“The Wonder Awaits You!”: Virtual Travel Experience Offered by Visit Orlando

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 16, 2021

 

Planning a summer vacation, but not quite ready to go out and about in public yet? You can take advantage of Visit Orlando’s Virtual Travel Show later this month to start planning your getaway.

On Thursday, March 25, 2021, Visit Orlando will be debuting a one-of-a-kind virtual experience from 6-8 p.m. (EDT). This free, online live show, “The Wonder Awaits You!” An Orlando Virtual Travel Experience, will also make its content available for three days after the conference, but guests must be registered for the live event in advance in order to participate.

 

If you’ve ever ventured into a convention center packed with dozens of booths to explore your favorite topic (comic-con, anyone?), plan a wedding, or visit a car or boat show, you’ve no doubt navigated the crowds meandering from vendor to vendor. Visit Orlando is using that concept, but allowing you to visit the venues from the comfort of your own home.  Wear your PJs if you wish!

 

Attendees can win trips and vacation package prizes, access exclusive show offers, and explore different options, including theme parks, hotels, dining and other entertainment hot spots.

 

The live show will run for two hours, and registrants can also visit virtual booths at Experience Village, where they can interact with representatives from various attractions and accommodations. In the Main Stage presentations, guests can hear about the newest offerings and changes at Orlando’s theme parks and attractions.

 

Among the more than 40 destinations and attractions participating will be Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida, Gatorland, Icon Park, NASA, and the Kennedy Space Center. 

 

You can register for free at the Visit Orlando website, where more information is also available.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks! 

Disneynomics: Both Universal and Disney Are Suffering

by Ray Keating

Disneynomics Column

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 23, 2020

The headlines and even the content of a few news reports seem to indicate that Universal Orlando is experiencing a bounce back in attendance, while the Disney parks continue to suffer. In reality, both Universal and Disney continue to be hit hard in this pandemic economy.

Reporting based on an analyst note from Deutsche Bank published on August 20 seems to strike a rather cheery note on Universal attendance, and a grimmer tone on Disney’s. Yet, each company’s park attendance is down dramatically from last year. It’s really a matter of which is suffering a bit more.

Based on Deutsche’s proprietary geolocation data, Universal Orlando’s attendance is down by 68 percent compared to last year, while the analysts’ estimates on attendance for Walt Disney World and Disney’s international parks point to the number of Disney guests being down by 80 percent. So, -68 percent vs. -80 percent? It's not happening for anyone here.

The continued ills being faced by Universal was summed up last week by Blooloop.com: “Comcast announced that its Universal Studios theme park division saw a 94% decrease in second-quarter revenue due to COVID-19 closures. Revenue dropped from $1.5 billion in 2019 to $87 million this year. Two rounds of layoffs have also forced Universal Orlando to close several attractions. These are Fast & Furious: Supercharged, Fear Factor Live, Poseidon’s Fury, Storm Force Accelatron and Kang & Kudos Twirl ‘n’ Hurl.”

Among a few other specifics widely noted, Deutsche pointed out that attendance numbers at Animal Kingdom and Epcot are running head of crowds at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Also, Universal Orlando’s recent improvement in attendance – again, still down markedly from last year – is being seen most notably on Saturdays.

In the end, though, there’s really no good news here, other than a hopeful quote from the Deutsche report pointing ahead: “Given this ongoing improvement in Universal’s attendance and declining new daily COVID cases in Florida, we believe that Disney World will also soon see some benefit.” And at another point, it was stated: “While Disney World appears to be lagging the COVID case reduction, we would expect the data to relieve some of the admissions pressure in the near future.”

Of course, that’s the key for Disney, Universal and all other theme park operators – along with businesses in all other industries – that is, declining coronavirus cases, and most important, vaccines and therapeutics coming to market addressing the pandemic.

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Disneynomics: Universal Orlando Ticket Offer – Come for a Day, Stay Through Christmas Eve

by Ray Keating

Disneynomics Column

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 20, 2020

How do you get people to come to your theme parks during a pandemic? 

That’s obviously a difficult question that companies like Disney and Comcast (owner of the Universal parks) wrestle with on a daily basis.

Before the pandemic, theme park pricing actually was focused on “date-based tickets.” We economists call this peak-load pricing or congestion pricing. That is, adjust pricing according to dates and times of the day in order to control crowds, enhance the guest experience, and maximize profits. This pricing model is used by hotels, movie theaters, utility companies, toll roads, and so on. It’s straightforward economics in that consumers react to price changes, so businesses can better manage resources by adjusting prices to reallocate consumption from periods of high demand to times of low demand.

In fact, even in the current period of COVID-19 and a brutal economy, date-based pricing made an appearance in the news in recent days with Universal Orlando announcing that it was following Disney’s lead in implementing this model. Disney went in on date-based pricing starting in 2018. Universal now will vary ticket prices based on when people visit their parks.

Fair enough. Makes sense. 

But far more interesting was a pricing option Universal Orlando served up to Florida residents earlier this month. Actually, I’m not sure if you can really call this a pricing option; it’s more like a giveaway.

What’s the deal? Florida residents can purchase a 2-Park, 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket, and come back every day through December 24 with no blockout dates. That’s right, for $164, a Universal guest gets to visit both parks – Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure – each and every day, if they choose to do so, through Christmas Eve. That one-time, $164 payment covers it all. And you can toss in Volcano Bay for another $29. Florida residents have this option through September 30. If you love Universal, this is an awesome deal. Heck, if you just like Universal, it’s a great deal.

The question in coming days and weeks is: Will this incredible offer for Florida residents by Universal affect Disney’s pricing decisions? Well, don’t be surprised if Disney follows suit in some way. But in the end that will depend, of course, on multiple factors, especially the direction of the pandemic, the economy, and therefore, park attendance. 

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 21, 2020

While the overall economy is not a light switch that can just be flipped back on, the switch on news about plans to reopen theme parks – or related to reopening at some point – has been flipped. The big news is about Universal Orlando moving to reopen on June 5.

After Disney Springs started its partial reopening on Wednesday, May 20, now news arrives that Universal Orlando received approval on May 21 from the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force to reopen the theme park at reduced capacity on June 5, after having employees do a kind of dry run on June 1 and bringing in invited guests on June 3 and 4, according to The Hollywood Reporter and other news reports.

In terms of how things would operate, the Reporter noted:

“Masks and temperature checks will be required for both visitors and employees. If a guest does not have a mask, one will be provided for them, officials said. Interactive play areas have been closed. There will be no more valet parking. Mist areas will be closed. There will be no more post-show meet-and-greets. All menus will be paper single-use in restaurants. Cash will still be accepted, but the park is trying to minimize it. Employees will self-check at home and then be checked again once they arrive to work. Signage will be placed throughout the park to remind visitors of social distancing, with at least six feet of separation required for ride and food lines.”

Universal’s plan also must be approved by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. CNN noted: “Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday regarding theme park reopening proposals, ‘Obviously I want to get to yes, so I think if you work with your local [officials], you'll be in pretty good shape.’”

Universal Orlando’s CityWalk was partially re-opened on May 14.

Meanwhile, over at Disneyland’s website, the company provided an update on how things would look upon reopening (whenever that might be) Disney’s California parks. The key part of the statement was:

“Upon reopening, certain Disneyland Resort theme parks, hotels, restaurants and other locations may be limited in capacity and subject to restricted availability or even closure based on guidance from health experts and government officials. Furthermore, certain attractions, experiences, services and amenities will be modified, have limited availability or remain closed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.”

So, Disney is keeping its powder dry for now on when its U.S. parks – for that matter, each of its parks other than Shanghai – will be reopening.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Walt Disney World Closed Until at Least April 9

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 24, 2020

Due to an executive order ordering all non-essential businesses to close in Orange County, Florida, it’s clear that Walt Disney World will remain closed until at least April 9.

Today, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings not only ordered that all non-essential retail and commercial businesses close from 11:00 PM on Thursday, March 26, to 11:00 PM, April 9, but also ordered residents to limit travel to essential trips and to stay at home otherwise. This is all being done, of course, to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Most of Walt Disney World is located within Orange County.

The order could be extended if deemed necessary.

The executive order defines non-essential businesses as follows: “All non-essential retail and commercial businesses are hereby ordered temporarily closed, including but not limited to, whether indoors or outdoors, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, water parks, pools, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children's play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, bowling alleys, pool halls, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, country clubs, social clubs and fraternal organizations.”

In addition, Universal announced that it would be extending the closure of both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood from the end of this month, as first announced, to April 19. It’s reasonable to expect that Disney would follow suit, although the Walt Disney Company has made no announcement updating its original statement that its U.S. parks would be closed until April 1.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney Expanding, Not Limiting, Epic Competition and Choices

by Ray Keating

Analysis/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 7, 2019

After the recent Fox merger, the Walt Disney Company has been called (for example, in an IGN.com article) “the most powerful movie studio that has ever existed.” Wow. 

That phrase, of course, strikes fear into the hearts of many, including people who assume that consumers and creators will suffer under a “monopoly” or some kind of tremendous economic power, with competition and choice being lost. Nothing could be further from the truth.

First, a little history. Big does not guarantee success in the competitive marketplace. The history of business are strewn with companies that once dominated or were major players in their respective industries, and went on to be wiped out. Think Sears, Pan Am, Kodak, Borders, Blockbuster, Burger Chef – the list goes on and on. 

Second, a little economics. The term “monopoly” means a single seller of a product for which there are few good substitutes, and the industry has high barriers to entry. The Walt Disney Company stands as a major player – but far from the only player – in the broad entertainment industry. Consumers have seemingly countless and multiplying entertainment products and services on which they can spend their hard earned dollars. High barriers to entry, especially when considering the dramatic advancements in technology in terms of producing and distributing content, certainly don’t exist. 

For good measure, monopolies in the free market are more about the over-active imaginations of politicians, the media and assorted economists, rather than economic reality. Monopolies usually come about due to government (for example, public schools) or government protection (for example, back in the day, Ma Bell), not market competition. Sure, significant market share can be gained in the market. But that is accomplished by serving customers well, and that market share can and often does disappear due to competition and innovation. 

Talk of Disney being a monopoly or wielding some kind of overwhelming economic power amounts to economic fiction. In fact, Disney’s products, services and investments serve to expand rather than limit competition and choice.

Consider Disney’s announcement on August 6^ththat it’s going to bundle three streaming services – Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu – into one affordable package of $12.99 per month. The bundle will be available on November 12 with Disney+ coming online that day.

In the company’s August 6^thearnings call, CEO Bob Iger spoke about the long-term value of the Fox acquisition; the volume and variety of content scheduled for Disney+; flexibility among platforms; the need to maintain a flow of quality for its more traditional television networks like ABC, FX and Freeform; and the need “to be more resilient than any of our competitors.”

Low prices, and emphasis on investment in platforms and content are not signs of monopoly, but instead, they signal a company fighting for profits and market share in a competitive arena. Disney is taking on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and others in the online video market.

In addition, a recent announcement points to the competitive nature of another major part of the overall entertainment industry where Disney is a leading player, i.e., theme parks. But it wasn’t an announcement from Disney, but rather from a major competitor – Comcast.

On August 1, Comcast’s Universal Orlando Resorts announced that it would be opening a new park – its fourth – called “Universal’s Epic Universe.” The details are pretty vague at this point, except that this promises to be a major investment by a major competitor to Walt Disney World in Orlando. 

In the Comcast statement, it was noted, “Universal’s Epic Universe will take guests on a journey where beloved stories expand into vibrant lands – and where that journey is as much a part of their adventure as the ultimate destination.” Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, said, “Our new park represents the single-largest investment Comcast NBCUniversal has made in its theme park business and in Florida overall.”

According to Universal Orlando:

“Universal’s Epic Universe will offer an entirely new level of experiences that will forever redefine theme park entertainment. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the destination. The new location will feature a theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Ultimately, this expansion will create more space and freedom to let loose and create lasting memories with the people you love.”

Universal’s Epic Universe sends a clear signal that Disney both faces and spurs competition from rivals. It certainly is not the case of other businesses throwing up their arms in a surrender to a monopoly. 

Of course, a new theme park coming from Universal, along with Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge, or the Disney streaming package taking on Netflix and Amazon, serve as examples of competition that can be easily seen. But there’s much more going on among entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors that is hidden from the public, if you will, because it’s just getting started or in early development stages. These entrepreneurs are working to come up with the next big leap forward, whether it be related to content, technology or simply improved service. 

In the end, a company like Disney spurs competition, and must itself invest and innovate in the face of current and future competitors. The real economic power lies with consumers, and entrepreneurs and businesses must work and compete to provide new and/or improved products and services in order to succeed – and remain successful.

For consumers, such competition is, to borrow a word, epic.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.