Is Disney Delusional About the Opening of Epic Universe?

Many question how the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in 2025 will affect Walt Disney World. See why the Disney Company actually sees this as a benefit. Do you agree?

Epic Universe

Epic Universe will open on May 22, 2025 and will offer an entirely new level of experience that will change theme park entertainment. Guests will travel into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as amazing as the ultimate destination.

Epic Universe will be home to 5 lands: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park.

Many feel that Epic Universe will cause Universal Studios to become the premier vacation destination of Central Florida. Still, The Walt Disney Company actually sees this as a benefit for Walt Disney World.

Benefit for Disney World

Back in April 2024, Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, shared that “Disney has been aware of Universal’s plans for more than a decade.” He followed this by saying what Walt Disney World has added to the parks over the past decade with no real promise for the future of Walt Disney World.

Today during the Walt Disney Company Annual Meetings of Shareholders, Disney CFO, Hugh Johnston says that projected bookings for the summer of 2025 at Walt Disney World are positive even with the opening of Epic Universe.

Johnston continued that when fellow Orlando-based theme parks open new attractions, this is beneficial for Walt Disney World by bringing in additional tourists to the area. However, this is not just a new attraction, but an entirely new park.

Is Disney Doing Okay?

Disney anticipates a busy summer of 2025, but is Walt Disney World really doing ok? They have announced many concepts for the future, such as the new lands at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the new Villains Land.

Disney has positive bookings for Summer 2025 in spite of the opening of Epic Universe.

The problem is that these projects will just begin in 2025 and will be several years in the making. Also, many Disney fans are still a little saddened by the opening of CoummuniCore Hall at EPCOT which did not resemble the original concept art and vision. Time will truly tell how Epic Universe benefits Walt Disney World.

What do you think of Disney’s response? Do you think new attractions over time are enough to compete with Epic Universe? Share your thoughts on this and share this news with your Disney and Universal pals.