Common Orlando versus Walt Disney World is nothing new. It’s a debate that has performed out between the 2 fandoms for many years. The latest twist is how Common is “successful” or “consuming Disney’s lunch” or going to “destroy” Walt Disney World as soon as Epic Universe opens. Maybe most apparently, this sentiment is more and more coming from diehard–albeit disenchanted–Disney followers and never completely Common loyalists.
Let’s begin with our acquainted chorus: this debate is dumb. This isn’t conflict or faith or politics or sports activities or no matter. You wouldn’t have to take a blood oath to 1 theme park advanced and swear off visiting the opposite. This ‘rivalry’ is generally a man-made creation of theme park followers, and there’s completely no should be loyal to 1 on the expense of the opposite. Take pleasure in each. Comcast is not going to be upset; the Walt Disney Firm gained’t really feel betrayed. We promise.
In fact, as we speak’s everything-as-team-sports mentality isn’t simple to shake, so a few of you may be reflexively anti-Common or anti-Disney. If that’s your perspective, take a look at the talk selfishly. Competitors is nice for shoppers. Even when we had been Walt Disney World diehards with zero curiosity in Common’s Epic Universe and by no means deliberate to go to, we might selfishly need it to be as superior as attainable. Common being higher and having extra drawing energy incentivizes Disney to likewise enhance.
To be clear, that’s not our private perspective. We can not await Epic Universe, and plan to be there for day one. You don’t get many large-scale theme park grand openings anymore, and we wouldn’t miss it. There’s one thing concerning the spectacle, fanfare, and communal power that we love.
For us, Common Studios Florida, Islands of Journey, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are all like youngsters. We’d secretly have private favorites, however we roughly love all of them. We’ve been Annual Passholders at a number of Common parks (Orlando, Hollywood, Japan) and each Disney parks & resort advanced (besides Shanghai). Clearly, we take pleasure in all of them so much.
Nevertheless, we’ll even be the primary to confess that we spend way more time at Disney. Simply wish to get all of that out of the best way earlier than the inevitable accusations of bias. We most likely are biased–everyone seems to be to some extent–however we very a lot wish to see Epic Universe and the whole lot else at Common Orlando be an enormous success.
In the event you’re a theme park fan, it’s in your finest pursuits for all of those parks–even those you don’t go to–to proceed getting stronger. A greater and extra resilient business means future investments, expertise coming into the sphere, theme parks being taken extra critically by traders and their company overlords, and a lot extra.
We’ve already talked about Common’s Epic Universe, which is actually the elephant within the room and what impressed this text within the first place. Epic Universe is the third theme park being in-built Central Florida by Comcast (assuming you don’t really depend Volcano Bay as a theme park, which we don’t–it’s a water park).
On earnings calls over the course of the final year-plus, Comcast executives have praised the success of their parks of their post-reopening restoration. This can be a massive cause why Epic Universe is full steam forward, and slated to open by Summer time 2025. Many followers need Walt Disney World to have an “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 is not going to occur. (Right here’s Why a fifth Theme Park Will NOT Be Constructed at Walt Disney World within the Subsequent Decade.) Even when Disney wished to construct a brand new theme park and introduced one as we speak (they don’t, see above) there’s a 0.000% probability the corporate might have it open by Summer time 2025.
If Walt Disney World began work on Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom tomorrow (they gained’t) that land most likely wouldn’t be performed by Summer time 2025. In all probability, Tropical Americas is the subsequent main venture on the horizon (outdoors of journey reimaginings) and it’ll begin in late 2024 and be performed in 2026.
It seems more and more seemingly that Walt Disney World goes to “sit out” 2025 and never attempt to compete with Epic Universe. (I stay of the idea {that a} reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster would be the tentpole addition of 2025. That plus perhaps a few redone issues in EPCOT. Sufficient to be marketable, however to not really compete with Common.) In actuality, Disney gained’t have any official reply to Epic Universe. They gained’t acknowledge the venture as a risk or Common as a bona fide competitor.
This lack of an “reply” to Common’s Epic Universe might be a giant a part of why disillusioned Walt Disney World diehards at the moment are claiming that Common is “successful,” “going to destroy,” or “beat” Disney. Followers are annoyed at Walt Disney World’s seeming complacency or vanity, and wish to see them “punished” for it because of this.
There’s additionally the fact of how Walt Disney World has alienated its most loyal supporters over the past a number of years, with cutbacks and the elimination of on-site perks. Followers are nonetheless indignant concerning the lack of Disney’s Magical Specific, free FastPass, the underwhelming fiftieth Anniversary, nickel and diming, catering to the prosperous, crowds and lengthy strains, and a laundry listing of different complaints about Walt Disney World. (To not point out Disney’s falling repute, which relies on all the above plus different points.) We’ve mentioned all of this at size–no sense in belaboring the purpose right here.
The underside line is that visitors really feel taken as a right, and wish to see Walt Disney World “taken down a notch” because of this. I believe that is the crux of why so many present and former followers wish to Epic Universe to be a “Disney killer.” (By the best way, all of those quotes are issues we’ve really heard followers say about Common and Disney within the final 12 months.)
It’s not a lot as a result of followers consider all of this to be true–it’s as a result of they wish to consider. After being mistreated by Disney and having their loyalty taken as a right, there’s a powerful need for schadenfreude. A minimum of, that’s my concept. There has undoubtedly been a sea-change in attitudes in the direction of Common amongst Disney followers. There was a few of this sentiment, however principally dismissiveness in the direction of no matter Common was doing. Not anymore. Now followers are actively rooting for Common’s success and Disney’s demise.
I’ll preface this subsequent part by saying that I can perceive the place many disenchanted Walt Disney World followers are coming from and agree with loads of that sentiment. As a longtime fan, one among my fears for some time has been that Disney is inflicting long-term model harm for short-term acquire.
I don’t agree with all the complaints. Citing excessive crowds as a cause for Disney’s downfall is principally a Yogi Berra quote, expressed unironically. I additionally don’t agree with the amount or depth of the frustration. Nonetheless, there’s a cause visitor satisfaction scores have been down, and in addition why Bob Iger is working to undo harm and lure again former followers.
With that stated–and that is most likely the place I’m going to lose lots of you–I believe quite a lot of the above could be very a lot wishful considering on the a part of disillusioned Disney followers. We’ve been down this street earlier than, and these kinds of predictions or sentiment have been fallacious time and time once more.
This time is totally different. Besides, it by no means is.
Previous to the Epic Universe pleasure, this occurred most not too long ago when the phased reopening started just a few years in the past. In case you don’t bear in mind, Common made an aggressive play to lure locals and followers to its parks–offers on tickets and Annual Passes, seasonal choices, rapidly restored leisure, even Halloween Horror Nights homes open to day visitors. In the meantime, Walt Disney World made a bunch of guest-unfriendly modifications, suspended the sale of latest Annual Passes, and so on.
Admittedly, we thought it was a superb method that will pay dividends for Common–and on the expense of Walt Disney World’s standing among the many rising inhabitants in Central Florida. We had been fallacious, no less than concerning the final half.
In the long run, it didn’t impression Walt Disney World negatively in any respect. When Annual Passes returned for the primary time after a prolonged absence–costlier than ever–they rapidly bought out. Each parks soared in the course of the interval of pent-up demand, doing report income and per-guest spending numbers.
Apart from weekends (seemingly an artifact of suspended AP gross sales and blockouts), the group developments at Walt Disney World and Common pretty carefully mirror each other. There’s completely no cause to consider Common’s success has come on the expense of Disney. All the effort Common put into attracting visitors and the whole lot Disney did to alienate them didn’t matter in the long run. Truthfully, not the end result I hoped to see.
There are most likely methods to clarify that away or contend that it’s nonetheless too early to make a judgment about the long run impression of the disparate approaches. That on account of pent-up demand, folks made up for misplaced time however now that’s performed and phrase of mouth has soured on Disney. Possibly there’s some fact to that, but when so, it hasn’t occurred but–and that’s even regardless of all of Disney’s controversies outdoors of what’s occurred with modifications on the parks.
Trying again even additional to the final time Common Orlando debuted a game-changing addition can also be instructive. Again when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP) opened at Islands of Journey in 2010, the fan dynamic was considerably related–however not practically as pronounced–to what it’s now.
I bear in mind dwelling by that period, from when the Harry Potter land was first introduced in 2007 till it opened in 2010. Walt Disney World followers on the time had been starved for brand new sights, because the interval between the 9/11 tourism slowdown and the Nice Recession had been fairly darkish. There have been excessive hopes for a “Potter Swatter,” and radio silence from Disney for nearly two years.
Lastly, we bought the New Fantasyland information. For a lot of followers, that wasn’t sufficient. It didn’t initially embody Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice–and as a substitute had a bunch of subsequent era meet & greets (like Enchanted Tales with Belle, however extra of them). It was additionally slated to open after the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Publicly, Walt Disney World’s place was that “a rising tide lifts all boats” — {that a} stronger Common was helpful to Disney as a result of it attracted extra folks to Central Florida. If truth be told, Common Orlando’s attendance soared by 1.7 million visitors the opening 12 months of WWoHP, with Islands of Journey seeing 30% development. Three of Walt Disney World’s parks dropped by 1-1.5%, whereas Animal Kingdom elevated by 1%.
The next 12 months (2011), 3 of the 4 parks at Walt Disney World had been up by 1% every, whereas EPCOT was flat. Islands of Journey as soon as once more surged–one other 29% enhance–however each Common Orlando parks had decrease general attendance than any Walt Disney World park. In 2012, Walt Disney World’s parks every elevated by ~2.2% (New Fantasyland started opening on December 6, 2012–seemingly too late to have a significant impression on that 12 months’s numbers, particularly since all 4 parks had been up pretty evenly.)
Because it turned out, Walt Disney World was appropriate: Common had considerably elevated its attendance by attracting a wholly new viewers to Central Florida, which in flip benefited each (however Common far, way more). Quick-forward over a decade, and each Common and Disney have skilled large development, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of visitors per 12 months every. The marketplace for theme parks in Central Florida has gotten bigger.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was “solely” one land again then, however it was a revolutionary one with an enormous built-in viewers. Epic Universe is a wholly new park, so the dimensions and scope is totally different–greater. Disney has most likely concluded that the one option to “win” is to not play the sport–to fall again on the “rising tide lifts all boats” mantra.
No new journey or land goes to meaningfully compete with a brand-new theme park. Sitting out this spherical of the theme park wars and conceding the highlight for a 12 months could be the perfect hand that Disney can play. No Disney fan needs to listen to this, however could be the smarter transfer than making an attempt to steal Epic Universe’s thunder. Nothing Disney can do will prime Epic Universe. (It additionally doesn’t assist that they must type out streaming, ESPN, linear, and so on., and scale back their debt load.)
It also needs to go with out saying, however there are a number of totally different varieties of visitors who attend Central Florida’s theme parks. In the event you’re studying this, you’re extra inclined to be a frequent customer. There’s a greater probability that blockbuster new additions are essentially the most compelling attracts, and a brand-new theme park goes to be of extra curiosity to you than ones which might be unchanged and also you’ve skilled a number of instances earlier than.
That brand-new park would trump absolutely anything for you, and that features a new land at Walt Disney World. In case your time is proscribed, you’re nonetheless allocating it in the direction of the brand new park over no matter Walt Disney World would add.
However you’re not the one kind of customer. For many visitors, the brand new additions from a single 12 months or two don’t exist in a vacuum and aren’t the one promoting factors of the theme parks. Most individuals visiting in 2025 aren’t going solely on the premise of what’s brand-new.
Even for followers who go to semi-frequently, there are quite a lot of different latest, new-to-them additions. Every little thing from Hagrid’s and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Tiana’s Bayou Journey will nonetheless be “new” to some followers in 2025. That’s a variety of choices spanning a number of years, however not everybody visits yearly. Most individuals–even those that would self-describe as fanatics or followers–don’t.
Then there’s the most important demo of all: first-timers. For this group, the whole lot at each theme park in Central Florida is essentially new. When selecting which parks to go to, they aren’t merely choosing the brand-new additions, though these most likely are granted extra weight because of advertising. They’re wanting on the full menu, and what seems to be most interesting.
It shouldn’t be contentious to say that Walt Disney World is the extra mature theme park advanced (that means that it’s been constructed out over the course of fifty+ years, not goal age teams) and has extra to supply as an entire. Even after Epic Universe, Walt Disney World nonetheless has yet another park, a dozen-plus extra resorts, and extra recreation.
And no matter how you are feeling about latest motion pictures, it additionally most likely isn’t controversial to contend that the Disney’s secure of characters created and bought within the final ~100 years is extra in style and enduring. (Common has made large strides with in style character mental property within the final couple of a long time, although.)
These demos are the place issues get extra attention-grabbing by way of competitors for 2025. Each Walt Disney World and Common Orlando have been aggressively including within the final a number of years. Lots of Common’s latest sights are unbelievable–Hagrid’s and VelociCoaster are two of the perfect curler coasters anyplace. Regardless of this, Walt Disney World has inarguably spent more cash on new sights and lands. (Extra debatable is whether or not that’s all been cash well-spent. We’d say it has not, however that’s type of inappropriate.)
Most attention-grabbing of all is whether or not Tremendous Nintendo World (in Epic Universe) could have the identical drawing energy as Wizarding World of Harry Potter over a decade in the past. Very similar to Harry Potter, Nintendo has an enormous fan following. In all probability, that will likely be the massive promoting level of Epic Universe–and what will get a wholly new viewers to Central Florida. (Price noting that it’s the third model of Tremendous Nintendo World, however Orlando is the theme park capital of the world, so we’d nonetheless anticipate that dynamic.)
It’s simple that the bump will disproportionately profit Common Orlando. It could be true {that a} rising tide lifts all boats, however it doesn’t achieve this equally. Share development for Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida will outpace all 4 Walt Disney World parks in 2025-2026. If historical past repeats itself, Disney’s parks might see slight decreases–however the losses is not going to be commensurate with the expansion at Common.
Acknowledged in a different way, Tremendous Nintendo World and Epic Universe as an entire will develop the viewers for Central Florida theme parks, even when theme park diehards (such as you!) visiting Common and skipping Disney result in a slight drawdown in attendance.
I wouldn’t even essentially guess on Walt Disney World seeing a drop in 2025. Tremendous Nintendo World has all-ages enchantment (most likely so much like Harry Potter in 2010), from elder millennials who grew up on the SNES to their youngsters who’re getting Switches for Christmas this 12 months–and a ton of individuals in between.
Whereas its viewers is undoubtedly numerous, I’d hazard a guess that the land skews in the direction of households. The argument could possibly be made that, as an entire, Walt Disney World does a greater job of catering to this crowd than does Common Orlando. In equity, Common has broadened its enchantment for households with young children in the previous couple of years–and there’s extra to return between now and the opening of Epic Universe (and inside that new park, outdoors of Tremendous Nintendo World).
However the repute nonetheless exists that Common is the place for youngsters and thrill seekers, and Walt Disney World is extra family-friendly. Accordingly, I’d hazard a guess that lots of the households planning 2025 journeys to see Common’s “new Nintendo park” may also embody visits to “Disney World” (Magic Kingdom) and “Star Wars and toy park” (Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Positively no more than they go to Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida–comfort is large, as are trip packages–however presumably sufficient that no less than these two parks (and perhaps even EPCOT) don’t lose attendance in any respect in 2025.
Past that, I hesitate to make concrete predictions. We don’t have full perception into demographics or the measures Common will take to maintain folks in its parks. (Even the bigger model of Tremendous Nintendo World will likely be small–it appears protected to imagine Common will supply large entry benefits to its on-site visitors and people who e-book longer multi-day tickets.)
On that observe, on-site visitors are the place I believe issues really are most attention-grabbing, even when that is the least “attractive” a part of the so-called theme park wars. Almost 15 years after the Wizarding World of Harry Potter first opened, the theme park panorama has additionally advanced in Orlando.
Common has constructed a half-dozen motels within the intervening years at a variety of value factors, and there’s additionally the distinction that 3 theme parks plus a water park makes. For a lot of guests, Common will likely be a vacation spot unto itself, and not “simply” a diversion from Disney. Common has been laying the groundwork for this second for years, overbuilding on motels, attracting conventions and youth occasions, and rounding out the slate inside its parks.
Whereas attendance definitely issues, the larger concern I’d have if I had been Walt Disney World administration is shedding in a single day resort visitors to Common. These are its most profitable guests and highest per visitor spenders, and if Common is ready to siphon some away–even simply 10%–that’s an enormous blow to Disney. With Common providing extra reasonably priced lodging and on-site perks for a model new park, that’ll be a given come 2025. And a very totally different dynamic from when the Wizarding World first debuted over a decade in the past.
Finally, we don’t consider Common is “beating” Walt Disney World or vice-versa–and don’t assume that’ll change in 2025 at the same time as the previous additional comes into its personal as a bona fide theme park vacation spot resort. There’s area within the Central Florida marketplace for each to exist and thrive, and that’s doubly true when growth is centered round mental properties–like Mario, Harry Potter, Star Wars or Marvel–that increase the viewers for theme parks, relatively than reallocate present visitors and do nothing to develop the market.
Truthfully, my dream situation for Epic Universe is it being unbelievable and envelope-pushing, whereas increasing the viewers for theme parks even additional and eroding a few of Walt Disney World’s market share for motels. For my part as a long-term Walt Disney World (and theme parks) fan, that’s the perfect of each worlds.
It places Disney again on their heels and feeling the should be extra aggressive, whereas additionally justified in doing so as a result of it demonstrates that there are methods to develop the pie–not simply struggle over the identical sized pie. Lastly, it places downward stress on resort costs at Walt Disney World and (presumably, hopefully) discourages additional building of these. Our view is that that is additionally the most definitely situation…minus that half about much less resort/DVC growth at Walt Disney World. It needs to be thrilling to observe over the subsequent decade, however one factor is for certain: it’s an thrilling time to be a fan of Orlando theme parks!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you assume Common is “beating” Walt Disney World or that the opening of Epic Universe in 2025 will result in the “demise” of Disney? Or do you typically agree with the angle {that a} rising tide lifts all boats? Assume rising the marketplace for Central Florida theme parks is an ‘everyone-wins’ finest case situation? Do you agree or disagree with our assessement? Another ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
