Epic Universe is the theme park opening in 2025 at Common Orlando. It seems superb and is certain to be massively fashionable due to lands primarily based on Nintendo, Harry Potter, The way to Practice Your Dragon, and Monsters. Unsurprisingly, this has brought about many followers to marvel how Walt Disney World will compete with that new third gate. This submit makes an attempt to reply the titular query, with life like prospects as to what WDW will do.
Let’s begin with what Walt Disney World will not do. Many followers need an equal “reply” to Epic Universe, and the one factor that may actually compete with a brand new theme park is a brand new theme park. That completely won’t occur. Actually not in 2025 and virtually actually not by 2035. (Right here’s Why a fifth Theme Park Will NOT Be Constructed at Walt Disney World within the Subsequent Decade.)
On a smaller scale, we are able to additionally rule out new lands or rides. That ship has sailed–there isn’t sufficient time. The one factor even formally introduced on that entrance is Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, which is a mixture of reimaginings and enlargement. In all probability, Tropical Americas is the following main challenge on the horizon (exterior of trip reimaginings) and it’ll begin in late 2024 and be performed in 2026 or 2027.
Formally, Disney received’t have any official reply to Epic Universe. CEO Bob Iger claims that Epic Universe is definitely Common’s reply to Disney, taking part in catch-up on a decade of nonstop growth at Walt Disney World and that the corporate doesn’t have anxiousness about Common’s third theme park.
That’s posturing. Disney received’t acknowledge the challenge as a menace or Common as a bona fide competitor. Disney has possible concluded that the one technique to “win” is to not play the sport–to fall again on the “rising tide lifts all boats” mantra that they used again when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened and Walt Disney World had no instant reply to that.
Actually, sitting out this spherical of the theme park wars and conceding the highlight for 2025 could be the very best hand that Disney can play. Disney followers don’t need to hear this, however nothing Disney can do will prime Epic Universe or steal Common’s thunder, so why even attempt going tit for tat?
Therefore Iger’s reply. Past that…what else is he going to say? That behind closed doorways, Disney’s c-suite is deeply involved about Common gaining marketshare, shedding attendance and–extra importantly–resort occupancy? That the corporate sat on its fingers for too lengthy resulting from streaming and different points, and it’s too late for an sufficient response? I’m certain that may play very well with Wall Road! After all Iger is just not going to be sincere; don’t be naive.
That brings us to the excellent news. Unofficially, Walt Disney World will do one thing as an try at counterprogramming to Epic Universe. Clearly not on the identical scale–it can not conceivably be a brand new theme park, land, and even trip in 2025. However there are however issues that could possibly be performed to peel days–and even resort stays–away from Common when guests come to Orlando for Epic Universe.
That is the record of life like smaller scale ways in which Walt Disney World may be aggressive in 2025 even when they’re not on the identical stage as Epic Universe…
Drones – I refuse to imagine Disney Goals That Soar is the top recreation for drone shows at Walt Disney World. There’s no means that the corporate spent all of that cash creating nighttime leisure for a present at Disney Springs. It’s simply too good to be the ultimate fruits of drone exhibits at Walt Disney World. It’s gotta be proof of idea–a take a look at of the expertise for one thing larger and higher in 2025. C’mon, does anybody actually assume Disney would purposefully situated its greatest new summer season leisure exterior of a park in a spot that’s free to see?!
I do know the considerations and counterpoints. That drone exhibits require giant staging areas and Disney Springs has an appropriate space. That the authorized division has legal responsibility considerations about drones flying over visitor areas. Neither of those are insurmountable obstacles. The visitor response to Disney Goals That Soar has been so resoundingly constructive and crowds are colossal. That has to have executives salivating, figuring out the sort of shot within the arm {that a} drone show may give Animal Kingdom.
There are a number of causes for Walt Disney World lastly getting a drone present, however in a nutshell, attendance is considerably decrease at Animal Kingdom than some other park at Walt Disney World. The park is in pressing want for additions, and there’s a very good likelihood that the opposite parks begin cannibalizing Animal Kingdom attendance till that occurs. If Epic Universe goes to “steal” park days from Walt Disney World, the primary place individuals will minimize is Animal Kingdom.
That is exactly why Tropical Americas was formally introduced for Animal Kingdom. That’ll give DAK a shot within the arm, and assist revitalize the flailing park. Within the meantime, Animal Kingdom wants one thing to attract friends to the park–and hold them there in afternoons and evenings.
A drone present at Animal Kingdom would clear up numerous issues. It could possibly be the ace up Disney’s sleeve that provides them majorly marketable leisure for 2025 that additionally doesn’t require pricey (in Disney’s eyes) performers. Though they’re turning into more and more widespread, drone exhibits nonetheless have a sure wow-factor not present in fireworks or fountain exhibits on a lagoon. A Walt Disney World drone present could possibly be the key sauce to by some means competing with Common for eyeballs in 2025–the sort of factor that resonates on social media virtually as a lot as Mario.
Summer season Celebration – My hope is that Walt Disney World pulls out the entire Summer season Nightastic playbook to “compete” with Epic Universe. Make it a summer season of spectaculars, with quite a lot of new and returning leisure. For these unfamiliar with Summer season Nightastic, it was a particular occasion held in Summer season 2010 and was, basically, Walt Disney World’s “reply” to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Throughout Summer season Nightastic, Major Road Electrical Parade got here to Magic Kingdom from DCA; Magic, Music & Mayhem fireworks returned to the skies over Cinderella Fort; minor leisure was added; rides obtained enhancements. It was a extremely enjoyable occasion, and though it didn’t even come near stealing Common’s thunder, it gave Walt Disney World a marketable draw that attracted vacationers. It was as a lot a “success” as probably may’ve been anticipated given the circumstances.
By the point Summer season 2025 rolls round, Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary might be a distant reminiscence–the center of it over for a number of years. Disney100 by no means actually was all that a lot of a celebration at Walt Disney World. Level being, simply the correct amount of time can have handed for one more large-scale occasion with out followers and informal friends getting “celebration fatigue.”
This method would make full sense, as leisure and celebrations are the tried and true response to attendance woes, stopgaps between new large-scale additions, or counterprogramming to new choices at Common. All three of these eventualities will apply in 2025, so a twist on Summer season Nightastic simply is smart. Right here’s hoping that Walt Disney World goals larger than only a Summer season Nightastic–perhaps that blended with 12 months of a Million Goals 2.0?!
Different Leisure – Talking of further leisure, right here’s an inventory of what’s nonetheless lacking from Walt Disney World:
- Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
- As soon as Upon a Time
- Rivers of Gentle
- Residents of Hollywood
- Jedi Coaching Academy
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid (returns in late 2024)
- Residents of Major Road
- Major Road Trolley Present
- Pandora Rangers & Drummers
Not less than half of that stuff is rarely coming again, in all probability extra. However bringing again a few of it may assist spherical out the advertising and marketing for 2025. Or Walt Disney World may introduce new projections exhibits, cavalcades, character appearances, and so forth.
Despite the fact that Competition of Fantasy is now a decade outdated, it nonetheless feels too new (and beloved) for Walt Disney World to interchange outright. A few new models from latest movies may give it renewed life, although. A brand-new daytime parade at DHS may be a welcome addition that rounds out the leisure slate there. Bringing again Jedi Coaching Academy appears like low-hanging fruit and an apparent win with mother and father.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mushy Reboot – Imagineering has launched various little teases that appear to recommend they’ve a giant image plan to do a delicate reboot and relaunch of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There are a selection of causes for this, from Galactic Starcruiser closing to the strengths of Avengers Campus being evident to R&D assessments within the parks.
Talking of Starcruiser, there have been an increasing number of rumblings revolving round a future dinner present. All the latest chatter we’ve heard means that Walt Disney World is actively exploring concepts for a Star Wars dinner present (and perhaps extra). Once more, this might be one thing that was initially meant for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The area was put aside for it.
With the advantage of zero inside data, our guess is a dinner present held inside Starcruiser that ‘departs’ from Galaxy’s Edge is launched in some unspecified time in the future at Walt Disney World. Ought to that go nicely, we’d anticipate development to start on a correct venue inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for a dinner present to open in 2025 or 2026 at each Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s not troublesome to examine a delicate reboot of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to launch the land to thrilling new time intervals and locations–breaking the sacred timeline (however tastefully!) and utilizing the setting of the land as a leaping off level for brand spanking new adventures. (We’ve advocated for this for some time–see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Must Break the Guidelines for my tackle all of that.)
A delicate reboot of the Star Wars land can be a chance to introduce beloved characters, use the catwalks within the land for mini-shows, and make the land extra lived-in due to droids and extra performers. All of this might breathe new life into the land, and supply renewed advertising and marketing potential. Heck, they might take issues a step additional and provides the Star Wars land a brand new subtitle, changing “Galaxy’s Edge.”
Return of Disney’s Magical Categorical – It is a longshot and I don’t need to give a false sense of hope. It’s unlikely that Disney’s Magical Categorical is ever coming again. Nevertheless, if ever there was a time to deliver again the airport transportation that gave Walt Disney World a quasi-captive viewers and helped improve occupancy, it’s when the competitor throughout city is opening a brand new theme park and has a glut of resort stock awaiting the event.
For the reason that determination to finish Disney’s Magical Categorical was made, we’ve been saying it is senseless even from a enterprise perspective–that there have to be extra to the story. It’s because, not like different on-site visitor perks, the “free” service was extremely precious to Walt Disney World. It made vacationers a captive viewers who had been much less prone to go and spend cash elsewhere.
Way back, Walt Disney World decided that the rise in common per visitor spending with Disney’s Magical Categorical plus the perceived comfort and goodwill obtained from providing the service outweighs the typical per visitor value of providing the service. It’s attainable that calculus modified through the period of pent-up demand, particularly as rideshare companies grew to become extra widespread and simpler to burst the Disney bubble, so to talk.
However the opening of Epic Universe could be event for revisiting the choice. We’ve additionally been saying for some time that the largest menace Common poses to Disney comes through resort occupancy numbers. If Epic Universe can peel away even ~10% of on-site friends from Walt Disney World, that’s a giant drawback.
Disney’s Magical Categorical may assist tackle that, whereas additionally maintaining some friends fully on-site. The bubble isn’t as sturdy because it as soon as was and there’s actually no means to stop WDW friends from taking day journeys to Common, however there are methods to maintain them staying on-site at Walt Disney World. Perks is certainly one of them, and there’s no higher perk than DME! (That is in all probability one of many huge causes for Lightning Lane Multi Cross changing Genie, given the numerous on-site benefit the brand new service will supply.)
Cinderella Fort Dream Lights – You’ve in all probability heard this one earlier than, however I’ll by no means cross up the chance to sing the praises of the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights. These icicle lights had been certainly one of our favourite issues about Christmas at Walt Disney World for the decade-plus previous to them being cancelled in 2020. We spent many a late night time on Major Road, merely gazing down at these resplendent lights, savoring the scene. I misplaced depend of what number of instances we did this over time–in all probability over 100.
No projections can match the greater than 200,000 tiny white lights that illuminate Cinderella Fort and remodel it right into a veritable ice palace. The Dream Lights would cease you in your tracks, with the resplendent bodily show being an absolute jaw-dropper. Phrases, pictures, and video completely can not do it justice. No matter reward you’ve heard concerning the Dream Lights, it’s true. All of it.
Dream Lights returning wouldn’t assist Walt Disney World compete with Common through the summer season, clearly, however followers would–indubitably–e-book journeys for Christmas to see them once more, serving to prop up the final two months of the calendar 12 months. I refuse to imagine that the terrible Frozen projections are actually the long-term plan for decking Cinderella Fort out for Christmas.
Check Monitor 3.0 – This one is a certain factor on condition that Check Monitor 2.0 already closed final month to make means for Check Monitor 3.0. If I needed to guess, this challenge is extra concerned than the final trip reimagining and can basically reboot the attraction with all new present scenes and extra. It’ll nonetheless use the identical trip system and monitor format.
The marketability of Check Monitor 3.0 relies upon largely on Common Motors, the price range and parameters they’ve given Imagineering. Thrill rides can have numerous drawing energy, even reimagined ones. So this must rise to that stage, and never merely be a light-weight aesthetic refresh together with bringing again “It’s Enjoyable to Be Free” to throw old style EPCOT Middle followers a bone. There must be extra there there. If the price range, timeline, scale and scope are all giant/lengthy sufficient, there could possibly be Check Monitor 3.0 billboards and advertisements when it debuts–my guess is someday in Spring 2025.
Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster – Just lately reopened after its second multi-month refurbishment in as a few years, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster was not reimagined…throughout this closure. There’s nothing to say these two closures weren’t laying the groundwork for a reimagining, and doing needed work to the trip system to increase the curler coaster’s life.
We’ve lined all of this earlier than, however I can not think about Aerosmith nonetheless being connected to this trip in 5 years. The time for the reimagining is now (2025), earlier than the large, brand-new capex investments. Once more, thrill rides are marketable, so if that is reimagined right into a Marvel trip, it could possibly be large with minimal funding (comparatively talking) and a good turnaround time. My cash is on this being the large “new” trip for 2025.
The Taylor Swift Card – Disney spent a reported $75 million to amass the unique streaming rights to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. I’m no math whiz, however that appears like some huge cash to me. And you recognize what? It was in all probability price each penny for the brand new Disney+ subs it added.
As for what this could possibly be–your guess is pretty much as good as mine. The final time the world had this huge of a pop star, Disney introduced in George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola and made Captain EO with him and a bunch of area Muppet kinda critters. So yeah, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster may look like the plain alternative for a Taylor Swift attraction, however there are means weirder choices.
Oh, and George Lucas appears to have loads of free time and Francis Ford Coppola is gonna want some cash as soon as Megalopolis bombs, so perhaps we are able to get Captain ShE-O out of this. May I humbly recommend that, as a substitute of a 3D film (that’s so performed out), they follow a RnRC reimagining and do one thing bizarre with it?! Followers have been clamoring for a Muppet takeover of RnRC…so how about area Muppets plus Taylor Swift plus a curler coaster plus ample weirdness. Taylor Swift with Rizzo the Rat, Hooter and Fuzzball as her sidekicks is Disney’s profitable lottery ticket.
Joking apart, there are few extra apparent reimaginings than a simple Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster: Taylor’s Model. Love or hate her, there’s no denying Taylor Swift’s recognition–she transcends pop stardom at a stage in all probability not seen since Michael Jackson. That is one attraction overlay that may deliver a wholly new viewers to Walt Disney World and would have larger drawing energy than a Black Panther (or different Marvel) redo of RnRC. This reimagining alone could possibly be a legit reply to Epic Universe by way of drawing energy, which is sorta miserable…but additionally correct.
Night time Parade – Major Road Electrical Parade has been the McRib of Disney Dwell Leisure–the “break glass in case of emergency” leisure when attendance urgently wanted a lift. You realize the scenario is dire when there’s a last-minute announcement of MSEP returning and Disney is scrambling.
For the final decade or so, Walt Disney World has held out on breaking that cup. I believe 2025 is lastly the 12 months after they’ll don’t have any different choice. I additionally assume that wheeling out the traditional Major Road Electrical Parade (may it even survive one other journey from California?!) isn’t going to chop it. And that Walt Disney World management is aware of this.
That leaves a few precise prospects: importing Paint the Night time from California or getting a brand-new night time parade, lastly fulfilling fan wishes for SpectroMagic 2.0. There have already been rumblings concerning the latter and it appears to make sense–however I’ll imagine it once I see it. I’ve been burned too many instances by the rumor mill, even through credible sources claiming an evening parade at Walt Disney World was a “performed deal.”
Like Mulder, I need to imagine. I additionally assume it makes full sense for a brand-new night time parade to lastly debut at Walt Disney World in 2025. Given how a lot they’ve resisted prior to now decade, the announcement of a brand new night time parade is the surest signal that Disney management truly is nervous about Epic Universe, regardless of what they are saying.
2024 D23 Expo – The upcoming D23 occasion is make or break. This would be the occasion the place we discover out whether or not Disney CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro are literally severe concerning the $60 billion of funding in theme parks ($17 billion of which is supposedly earmarked for Walt Disney World), or if it’s all empty guarantees.
Regardless, none of that’s coming to fruition till 2027 or later. It received’t truly be an “reply” to Epic Universe, even when it does reassure followers. My further hope and expectation is that the 2024 D23 Expo is well-rounded, with near-term singles and doubles along with swinging for the fences with the brand new rides and lands (however nonetheless no new parks) within the long-term. I’m optimistic that we’ll get really-for-real information, and numerous it, and never simply blue sky bluster. However I’m additionally ready to be improper.
A few of these singles and doubles could possibly be further trip reimaginings or plussings of current points of interest. Something from our record of High 10 Trip Reimaginings Wanted at Walt Disney World can be a very good choice, though I doubt that a few of these may realistically be completed inside the subsequent 12 months. They’ll in all probability must do lesser enhancements, alongside the strains of inserting Hatbox Ghost into Haunted Mansion (however good ones this time, please).
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YOUR THOUGHTS
How do you assume Walt Disney World will (unofficially) reply to Epic Universe? Play the tried and true ‘leisure celebration’ card? Much more trip reimaginings? Or is “do nothing in any respect” turning into a extra distinct risk in your thoughts? Assume Disney has trigger for concern, or do you usually agree {that a} rising tide lifts all boats? Assume rising the marketplace for Central Florida theme parks is an ‘everyone-wins’ greatest case state of affairs? Some other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
