Information deciphered by Valliant Renegade and WDW Pro reveals that Universal Studios is very likely preparing to re-enter the European market. Epic Universe may be just the beginning of Disney’s headaches.
It has been a tremendous decade for Universal Studios. Despite a worldwide pandemic and many other issues that could easily decimate lesser theme park companies, Universal has plowed forward and cut directly into Disney’s global market. Once the undisputed king of theme parks, Disney has faced increasing competition from Universal — to the point that Harry Potter lands, Super Nintendo World, and more, are often lauded as better than Disney properties. Other than Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios has now made such great strides that they are beating Disney’s other Orlando parks!
Many had thought the big threat to Disney was Epic Universe, Universal’s gargantuan new theme park coming to Orlando. Now, even that may pale to the gauntlet being thrown down.
Universal Studios is likely preparing to build a huge theme park resort in Europe in the next years. That information was received when both WDW Pro and Valliant Renegade were looking through completely unrelated information from theme park contacts inside the industry. Tucked away in some of the discussions, freely provided to the two and not including any original company documents or NDA-breaking statements, was language that didn’t seem to connect directly with any existing theme parks. After serious digging, both VR and Pro came to the conclusion that what they were looking at was, in fact, confirmation of Universal Studios going in Europe. According to their analysis, it does not appear this is in regards to taking control of any older properties Universal was involved with in the past. Instead, this appears to be a very large investment on par with all of Universal Studios Orlando, and it would seem to be totally new.
That’s a heck of thing for Disney to have to deal with as they begin their earnings call day with Florida taking on their special status and Robert Iger trying to hold off Nelson Peltz from the Board of Directors. But, when it rains it pours.
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