Universal Orland to be sold

[Queen2PrincessG]

I didn't say Disney would change everything...they would take Marvel out if some other company bought the parks since the agreement between Marvel and Universal would probably be voided...that's all.

I don't know if that's true because Disney owns some parts of Marvel.

 

[Metro West]

I don't know if that's true because Disney owns some parts of Marvel.

OK...let's try this again. If the parks are sold to a third party (some company other than Disney) Disney would probably want the Marvel characters that are currently in IOA for themselves because the contract between Marvel and Universal would more than likely be done. I doubt seriously Disney would allow whoever buys the parks to hang onto the Marvel characters since they paid in the billions for Marvel. Does that clear it up at all?

 

[Rip]

OK...let's try this again. If the parks are sold to a third party (some company other than Disney) Disney would probably want the Marvel characters that are currently in IOA for themselves because the contract between Marvel and Universal would more than likely be done. I doubt seriously Disney would allow whoever buys the parks to hang onto the Marvel characters since they paid in the billions for Marvel. Does that clear it up at all?

The only thing I'd say to this is - no one knows what the full agreement is between Universal and Marvel. It could very well be that a change in ownership would have no effect on those agreements, especially since the park has changed hands at least twice since those agreements were in place. Yes, I realize that was before Disney bought Marvel, but the licensing may have nothing to do with who actually owns UO.

 

[Planogirl]

Also, hasn't there been rumors that Universal will likely phase out the Marvel characters anyway? I want them to steal DC from Six Flags but I keep hearing that Transformers is likely.

 

[Metro West]

Also, hasn't there been rumors that Universal will likely phase out the Marvel characters anyway? I want them to steal DC from Six Flags but I keep hearing that Transformers is likely.

Eventually I think they would have to mainly because they can't update or add to the attractions w/o Disney's permission. Sooner or later Spiderman is going to need an update and Universal may not be able to do anything.

Some of the DC Comics characters would be cool to have.

 

[Planogirl]

Eventually I think they would have to mainly because they can't update or add to the attractions w/o Disney's permission. Sooner or later Spiderman is going to need an update and Universal may not be able to do anything.

Some of the DC Comics characters would be cool to have.

Batman would be perfect. There's no reason for Six Flags to give them up though. Such a waste.

 

[keishashadow]

Does anyone know if Universal Orlando Resort/Parks are in the black? As long as its making money its not going to go away no matter who owns it or buys it. But the problem would be if it started to run in the red. I can't imagine it not making money over the past 2 years or so though.

define profitable, not only was it good year for Universal (both Orlando & Hollywood) but occupancy @ Orlando hotels is up, following excerpts taken from

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-universal-orlando-earnings-20110121,0,6392630.story

GE said its parks and film businesses, which together make up one of the main segments of the NBC Universal media-and-entertainment unit, posted revenue growth of 9 percent and operating profit growth of more than 80 percent.

Wizarding World's success has spilled beyond Universal Orlando's gates: A report released earlier this week showed that Orlando-area hotels recorded their best December in more than a decade last month, as occupancy rose 11.9 percent and average room rates climbed 10.2 percent from the same month a year ago.

Hotels near and along International Drive — those closest to Universal — performed best, with occupancy rising 15.4 percent and room rates leaping 21 percent. The December results continued a string of monthly gains for local hotels that began in June — the same month Wizarding World opened.

Universal Orlando ended 2010 with its best fourth quarter on record and its highest annual attendance since 2004, thanks to the success of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

GE said its parks and film businesses, which together make up one of the main segments of the NBC Universal media-and-entertainment unit, posted revenue growth of 9 percent and operating profit growth of more than 80 percent.

Attendance at the resort's two theme parks skyrocketed 46 percent during the final three months of the year, according to a report filed Friday with federal regulators. The combined fourth-quarter head count jumped from 2.3 million in 2009 to 3.3 million.

GE executives, in reporting year-end earnings for the Connecticut-based industrial conglomerate, said attendance and per-capita guest spending were both up double-digit percentages for Universal Parks & Resorts, which benefited from the opening of big-ticket capital projects last June at its two domestic resorts — Wizarding World in Orlando and a King Kong attraction in Universal Studios Hollywood.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Thanks, I was starting to wonder if anybody got that. I missed it the first few times I opened the thread.

It took me a moment to catch the reference. Well played, sir. Well played.

 

[DCTooTall]

The only thing I'd say to this is - no one knows what the full agreement is between Universal and Marvel. It could very well be that a change in ownership would have no effect on those agreements, especially since the park has changed hands at least twice since those agreements were in place. Yes, I realize that was before Disney bought Marvel, but the licensing may have nothing to do with who actually owns UO.

Ah.... But has park ownership really changed twice since those agreements went in place?

The Parks have been owned by Universal and Blackstone (since 2000). Now, the PARENT company has had it's ownership change, but the parks have always been a part of Universal.

 

[dtum]

Whatever the outcome, I just hope they honor my tickets that I bought last year for our trip this June. Actually arriving before June 12 so should be ok as soon as we get in the gates and activate our tickets. Never been to either of the parks before so not sure what to think about all this, but when Six Flags took over an area park up here is was really bad news and the park has since closed so I hope this deal comes off better than that. Our big park owner in Ohio is Cedar Fair and they seem to have taken over all the Paramount parks. Maybe they will through their hat in the ring.

 

[damo]

Whatever the outcome, I just hope they honor my tickets that I bought last year for our trip this June. Actually arriving before June 12 so should be ok as soon as we get in the gates and activate our tickets. Never been to either of the parks before so not sure what to think about all this, but when Six Flags took over an area park up here is was really bad news and the park has since closed so I hope this deal comes off better than that. Our big park owner in Ohio is Cedar Fair and they seem to have taken over all the Paramount parks. Maybe they will through their hat in the ring.

Your tickets will definitely be honoured.

 

[MamaJessie]

Well, they apparently already sold the second "o" in "Orlando".

My humor can be a little odd sometimes.