"There’s an 800-pound gorilla in the room, but there’s also a 600-pound gorilla in the room."
Fresh details from Universal Orlando about its upcoming Epic Universe theme park are the latest flex in the long-running competition for tourism dollars by entertainment titans, including standing champion Walt Disney World, which industry analysts predict could soon strike back.
Universal’s Epic announcements confirm big news such as the park’s lands being themed to Nintendo, “How to Train Your Dragon,” Harry Potter and Universal’s classic monsters. And they unveil finer details such as restaurant names and the speed of the racing roller coaster.
The batch of facts intensified the buzz about the park, set to open next year. And it has some watchers wondering if a Disney countermove is coming soon.
At least one expert thinks Universal’s expansion will prompt the long-awaited “fifth gate” – another Disney World theme park. Industry observers also say the gap between Orlando’s biggest park operators appears to be thinning.
Read more at the Orlando Sentinel