Orlando Theme Park Market Share

[jknezek]

I don't disagree but it's really unfortunate. SeaWorld does some amazing rescue work in the area.

This is the double edged sword. SeaWorld wasn't perfect, but it did a lot of things, sponsored a lot of research, did a lot of rescue, based on resources provided from the parks. In this case, the long-term "bad" inflicted by Blackfish may outweigh the good they did by forcing changes. Unfortunately as a species, we don't think about long-term consequences so much as short-term outcomes.

My wife and I went to SeaWorld a few years ago. We had fun. It's a good park with a different focus than the other Orlando offerings. I hope it survives as I know in a few years my kids would love to go see the offerings. A day at the aquarium is huge with my kids. An aquarium with rides and theming everywhere? Awesome.

 

[anthony2k7]

Will be interesting to see how the next year or two play out as well. With universal already added some, and if the rumours are true, will be adding a massive amount of new hotel capacity into the mix they're either expecting massive increase in demand, or planning on dropping prices significantly to drive up occupancy.

The trouble is, there's too much to do in a standard length vacation in orlando now. Perhaps rather than doing a Disney only or a combined Disney/Universal/Seaworld holiday, people will now begin to alternate - one year Disney, next year Universal?

 

[OSUPhantom]

This will not be the first time a company has been hit by a failure to innovation and reinvest in their company. Resting on one's laurels has never proven to be an effective corporate strategy...

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I think universal is going to gain even more share of the market once Nintendo land opens. As an obsessive fan of star wars...I kind of feel like Nintendo/Mario may have just as many fans. Myself counted among them.

If they do the Mario kart ride...oh boy.

 

[umichigan10]

SeaWorld isn't doing nothing though. They added a new coaster a year or two ago. They are adding another ride. Then they have Sesame Street land or whatever coming in like 2020. They also have Kraken VR coming this year.

True but my point being with the expanded offerings at universal, and Disney being Disney, they're firmly caught in third place which makes them an after thought to most

 

[rteetz]

I think universal is going to gain even more share of the market once Nintendo land opens. As an obsessive fan of star wars...I kind of feel like Nintendo/Mario may have just as many fans. Myself counted among them.

If they do the Mario kart ride...oh boy.

They will definitely be doing Mario kart.

 

[rteetz]

True but my point being with the expanded offerings at universal, and Disney being Disney, they're firmly caught in third place which makes them an after thought to most

Of course they'll always be in third place but it's not like they aren't doing anything to try and gain some of the lost attendance back.

 

[umichigan10]

Of course they'll always be in third place but it's not like they aren't doing anything to try and gain some of the lost attendance back.

Certainly and it's good they're expanding their offerings, it just is looking pretty bleak for them right now

 

[TwoMisfits]

Looking at the numbers, both Orlando Universal parks have the chance to hop the 3 little children in 2017...or possibly 2018...it will be interesting to see if/when this happens, b/c it's likely (at a minimum) DHS gets hopped in 2017...

 

[Lesverts]

There is one statistic missing from all of this. Market growth. Stealing market share in a stagnate market is a lot different than gaining more of the growth compared to your competitor. So is Universal helping to growth the entire market and adding more people at a faster rate to Disney. Or are the same number of people being divided up differently?

 

[nkosiek]

There is one statistic missing from all of this. Market growth. Stealing market share in a stagnate market is a lot different than gaining more of the growth compared to your competitor. So is Universal helping to growth the entire market and adding more people at a faster rate to Disney. Or are the same number of people being divided up differently?

This. I've been thinking this same thought but wasn't able to put it into the words you did.

 

[mom2rtk]

There is one statistic missing from all of this. Market growth. Stealing market share in a stagnate market is a lot different than gaining more of the growth compared to your competitor. So is Universal helping to growth the entire market and adding more people at a faster rate to Disney. Or are the same number of people being divided up differently?

Agree with all of that. It was my first thought when I saw the story. However, I can still guarantee that Disney cares that they have lost market share, even if it's not as much as they would care in a static market.

 

[onetoescape]

Really glad Universal is on the rise and wonder in the coming months how Volcano Bay will factor into this after they sort out the teething issues. If they open Nintendo Land as a new park it could be absolutely stellar. Princess Peach Castle at the forefront as the standout feature. Then you will have the mario kart land with the ride. Into the kiddies section you can have balloon flight as kiddie ride. Then depending if it is there agreement you could have a Pokemon village. You could have a FZero coaster. Then you can have a mario 3d ride which universal love. Thats even forgetting about Zelda, Yoshi et all. Nintendo Land will call to the gaming crowd which is very large. All in all Universal doing well is making Disney respond and I really do think 5th gate rumours will increase in the coming years for me there is a lot things that it may be approaching that time.

 

[dreiwhit]

This will not be the first time a company has been hit by a failure to innovation and reinvest in their company. Resting on one's laurels has never proven to be an effective corporate strategy...

Absolutely true. I once had a supervisor who would constantly tell me that its "innovate or die" in the business world.

I really think Disney is losing its creativity when it comes to the parks. Its getting to the "stick and IP in there and call it done" plan of action.

 

[mcjaco]

Certainly and it's good they're expanding their offerings, it just is looking pretty bleak for them right now

Sea World is, and always has been, a niche park. When I started visiting Orlando as a kid in the 70's, Sea World was our first stop, right after we got off the plane. Then it was two days at the Magic Kingdom. We literally did all of Sea World in less than a day back then. Not sure I could say the same about it now, but it's still a one day park, at best.

We went this past fall, and my kids loved Sea World. The kids area is wonderful, and the 3 story play structure kept them entertained for hours. I have not seen Blackfish, nor do I care too. I know of all the good the Sea World parks do, so it's of no real interest to me to see it. The same can be said for many well know Zoos too.

 

[wareagle57]

They will definitely be doing Mario kart.

Is this why Disney backed off the Sugar Rush idea in Stitch? I would assume both would be screen based, probably with a VR headset. I'm sure a Mario Kart game could be fun, but I worry it will basically be playing the same game you can play at home

 

[rteetz]

Is this why Disney backed off the Sugar Rush idea in Stitch? I would assume both would be screen based, probably with a VR headset. I'm sure a Mario Kart game could be fun, but I worry it will basically be playing the same game you can play at home

From what I understand the Mario kart attraction is going to be pretty cool unless it gets hit with cuts. I don't think it the sugar rush idea was stopped because of Mario kart.

 

[LSLS]

Really glad Universal is on the rise and wonder in the coming months how Volcano Bay will factor into this after they sort out the teething issues. If they open Nintendo Land as a new park it could be absolutely stellar. Princess Peach Castle at the forefront as the standout feature. Then you will have the mario kart land with the ride. Into the kiddies section you can have balloon flight as kiddie ride. Then depending if it is there agreement you could have a Pokemon village. You could have a FZero coaster. Then you can have a mario 3d ride which universal love. Thats even forgetting about Zelda, Yoshi et all. Nintendo Land will call to the gaming crowd which is very large. All in all Universal doing well is making Disney respond and I really do think 5th gate rumours will increase in the coming years for me there is a lot things that it may be approaching that time.

Nintendo world could steal us away. I would be a sucker for it immediately, but I think the one thing Disney has that Universal has not adapted to is the appeal for little girls. You ask most girls from probably age 7 and under what is the first thing they want to do, a large group of them would respond with "Meet Princesses!!" Nintendo could give them a way into that. As you mentioned, you put in the castle. But then think of the new meet and greets for girls. Princess Peach, Princess Zelda, Rosalina, Daisy, Samus, etc.

But honestly this isn't surprising. Most around here seem to agree Disney has gone down at least some. What will be really interesting is to see how this looks next year. You had Pandora open, and you had Volcano Bay. If Universal increases again, Disney better start worrying.

 

[rteetz]

Nintendo world could steal us away. I would be a sucker for it immediately, but I think the one thing Disney has that Universal has not adapted to is the appeal for little girls. You ask most girls from probably age 7 and under what is the first thing they want to do, a large group of them would respond with "Meet Princesses!!" Nintendo could give them a way into that. As you mentioned, you put in the castle. But then think of the new meet and greets for girls. Princess Peach, Princess Zelda, Rosalina, Daisy, Samus, etc.

But honestly this isn't surprising. Most around here seem to agree Disney has gone down at least some. What will be really interesting is to see how this looks next year. You had Pandora open, and you had Volcano Bay. If Universal increases again, Disney better start worrying.

The concept art has the princess peach castle in it.

 

[LSLS]

The concept art has the princess peach castle in it.

Yeah, figured it's probably a good bet, but who knows how those things could end up changing. Could be an interesting arms race coming here real soon.