Are They Rivals?

[Impulsive Puppy]

Here is something my wife and I were talking about last night. Are Universal and Disney rivals? She feels they are two totally different animals and one won't take business away from the other. On the otherhand, the Mouse is much more the giant whereas Universal is more in the David category. But I really feel they actually benefit from each other, particularly Universal. Afterall, if it wasn't for my last trip to Disney I wouldn't be going to Universal at all this year. Does Disney see Universal as a threat to it's theme park business?

 

[Dznefreek]

Publicly; they have both said that competition is good for Tourism.

I think behind closed doors the story would be a little different.

If Mikey (Eisner) did not care about IOA then why did he and 20 other Disney employees tour the park last summer???????????

 

[MIB999999]

dznefreek probably has the correct line. Both of them help tourism as a whole but neither will miss an opportunity to throw a fast ball past the other.

 

[Tony M]

Just ask...
McDonalds and Burger King
Nike and Reebok
NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC
Ford and Chevrolet
Shell and Amoco
Coke and Pepsi
Microsoft and, and,,,,, Uhhh, Uhhh.... Oops

All have made Multi-Billion$$$ due to the existence of the other.
It is better to split the costs of luring a client to their product and to co-exist on "friendly" terms.

HAVE FUN

 

[nancycels]

Have to say, I do think one is good for the other! Also think that Dis provides a totally different experience than Universal does in many cases. Universal and Dis compliment each other in many ways. Now, what will happen when Six Flags builds is another question. I would think that would hurt IOA more than DIS parks do. But u never can tell!

 

[BarryHom]

It used to be that the main place everyone went to was Disney World and all the other Orlando parks got seconds. I think Universal is changing things a bit when they position themselves as a central resort place instead of just getting "sloppy seconds."

 

[fboy9287]

Really I think universal needs disney- people travel all the way to florida for mickey.

 

[IOATech]

Disney and Universal are most assuredly in competition. As previously mentioned, Eisner very publicly visited IOA last year. Interestingly enough, Disney opened an "adventure" park in California. Many will argue it was an attempt to copy IOA without even much attempt to change the name. Competition is fierce in this business, and no one takes prisoners. Just like every other industry in the free world.

 

[Dznefreek]

<b>"what will happen when Six Flags builds is another question"</b>

This rumor has been floating around Central Florida for years! (at least 17)

I personally do not think it will ever happen.

 

[BarryHom]

Six Flags has a habit of buying already-existing parks and adding their "Superman the ____" and "Batman the ____" coasters. I don't know of a park in Florida Six Flags would want to buy.