Universal's 3rd theme park (Universal and WB close to a deal)

[Dfan79]

I agree that D.C. is someone that Universal would rather be in bed with. But if they give Marvel to Disney they maybe helping their competitor make even more money. I think they'd rather just keep letting them have most of the merchandising dollars.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Marvel Island at Universal is cool but Spider-Man is the only ride that's unique. Even that could be changed to something else so when the likes of Hulk and Dr Doom are standard rides, Universal could easily change them to DC so I don't see why the desperate need to keep the IP in their parks

 

[mikepizzo]

Marvel Island at Universal is cool but Spider-Man is the only ride that's unique. Even that could be changed to something else so when the likes of Hulk and Dr Doom are standard rides, Universal could easily change them to DC so I don't see why the desperate need to keep the IP in their parks

I think it's keeping the money out of Disney's hands. Say there's a person who absolutely loves Marvel and would go bonkers over a Marvel theme'd land. As it stands right now, that person would have to go to Universal to do Marvel theme'd rides. That person is potentially staying at a Universal hotel, eating Universal's food, and buying Universal's merchandise.

Marvel is the draw, but that person is spending money in other places within Universal. Could they get rid of the Marvel IP? Sure...but Disney is already doing such a great job a promoting the brand, and Marvel is making money off of it. It's almost like free advertising.

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

I think it's keeping the money out of Disney's hands. Say there's a person who absolutely loves Marvel and would go bonkers over a Marvel theme'd land. As it stands right now, that person would have to go to Universal to do Marvel theme'd rides. That person is potentially staying at a Universal hotel, eating Universal's food, and buying Universal's merchandise.

Marvel is the draw, but that person is spending money in other places within Universal. Could they get rid of the Marvel IP? Sure...but Disney is already doing such a great job a promoting the brand, and Marvel is making money off of it. It's almost like free advertising.

I am not sure the pool of people going to Universal for Marvel is that large, thus why I pointed to low attendance figures before harry Potter. You don't see a big attendance bump after a Marvel attraction. Although Disney is building a Marvel Attraction, but many would argue it isn't just to draw people in, but to get people to buy the things associated with that attraction (GotG merchandise). I just don't see numbers being driven for Marvel in Universal -- realize that their is still some people that know that Disney owns Marvel but don't realize it is not in their florida park. Again, that population is also small, but exists nonetheless.

 

[Lee Matthews]

I assume Universal can add more Marvel rides if they wanted?

 

[Josh Hendy]

Your right, I am assuming they aren't making a lot of money on Marvel. But that is based on the amount they own in the brand. You just assume that since they have the name they must be making money. But Disney gets a portion of every dollar they make in their parks off of Marvel in a way, and Universal gets 0 off what Disney makes off Marvel.

Steven Spielberg also receives 5% of the gross revenues of both USF and IOA parks. The deal was done in 2009 in order to get Uni out from having to paying Spielberg a couple hundred mil in a lump sum. So instead he'll get possibly up to a billion or more over 30 years or so.

http://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/universal-studios-retains-spielberg-1118010166/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-cfb-tourism-column-02152016-20160212-story.html

A billion here, a billion there ... I would guess that even having to pay Disney and Spielberg a king's ransom for theme park rights, Universal may still be ahead of the game when compared to Disney's spending $14B to acquire all those studios/franchises. At least from the point of view of getting attractions built and getting bums into roller coaster seats.

 

[mshanson3121]

I think that Looney Tunes could be revived if handled right. Age has nothing to do with it, just look at Mickey and the gang and the Pooh group. Looney Tunes just needs someone to bring them back in the right way.

We are a family that would love to see Looney Tunes revived. We watch them almost every night as a family. And I grew up watching them with my father

 

[Dfan79]

I assume Universal can add more Marvel rides if they wanted?

Yeah, it may happen sooner rather later. I read somewhere they want to rid of all their fox rides and restaurants (storm force, dr doom's fearfall and cafe 4) to make room for a new avengers ride.

In return they would let Disney put Guardians in Epcot without trying to sue them.

 

[maverik85]

Have heard about that too and very mixed on it. Love the idea of a big E-ticket Avengers ride but hate to see 2 rides get removed for it. Universal has some great rides but think they really need to diversify with some more c- and d- ticket attractions to up their ride count and variety. So while i'd look forward to a new e-ticket attraction, but hate to see it at the loss of two other rides.

As for the third park I could see themed lands to DreamWorks (either general or specific to certain franchises like Shrek and KungFu Panda like some of their overseas parks), a Nintendo land, and one theme to the magical America in the new Fantastic Beats movies. Think these would all make big draws for crowds as Harry Potter stuff has proven successful for them and Nintendo and DreamWorks are both well loved IPs

 

[PuppyJonathan]

DreamWorks are both well loved IPs

Well... That's actually kind of debatable

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

Yeah, it may happen sooner rather later. I read somewhere they want to rid of all their fox rides and restaurants (storm force, dr doom's fearfall and cafe 4) to make room for a new avengers ride.

In return they would let Disney put Guardians in Epcot without trying to sue them.

What is your source? I do not believe this is true - almost 100%. First - GotG is allowed in Disney World (already has and is).

 

[rteetz]

What is your source? I do not believe this is true - almost 100%. First - GotG is allowed in Disney World (already has and is).

I've heard universal is planning an avengers ride for a while now. Spirit and Martin have talked about it a little bit.

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

I've heard universal is planning an avengers ride for a while now. Spirit and Martin have talked about it a little bit.

I was talking about the part of Universal letting Disney use Epcot in exchange. GotG are already allowed to do this.

I have heard rumors that Universal wanted an avengers ride, but nothing solid yet. I also felt like those rumors have died some lately.

 

[rteetz]

I was talking about the part of Universal letting Disney use Epcot in exchange. GotG are already allowed to do this.

I have heard rumors that Universal wanted an avengers ride, but nothing solid yet. I also felt like those rumors have died some lately.

Ok yes Disney doesn't need any exchanges with universal to use GOTG.

I think universal is focused on other things right now which is why the avengers ride rumors have died down.

 

[Dfan79]

What is your source? I do not believe this is true - almost 100%. First - GotG is allowed in Disney World (already has and is).

Take it easy board hitler. Like rteetz said it's been floating around for a while. I hope it does happen, because all the Fox stuff just seem like bad versions of disney rides.

 

[Travis B]

I have no particular insight beyond my opinion but it's hard for me to see Uni doing Marvel stuff in the long-term. Their problem is the development of Marvel IP in CA. Even without any direct competition, Uni's Marvel area is pretty lame IMO. Super out-dated and basic theming, feels very much like a Six Flags or something. Spider Man is neat, but as has been said Hulk and the other attractions there could be anything - they're not directly related to Marvel at all. Do they really want to go head-to-head with Disney doing attractions with the same IP? Anything Disney does in CA will make Uni's Marvel area look even more booger-y than it already does, even if they add something new. It seems to me best for Uni to take the path of least resistance, focus on Nintendo and the other things they have exclusive rights to, and sell Disney the rights. I don't think they should do it now, and I'm sure it's so satisfying for them to have Disney over a barrel with this IP. However, there will be a point when we're seeing amazing Marvel stuff in CA that will diminish the value of Marvel to Uni. They need to be smart enough to sell before that happens, raze that whole are and do something new there.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Looney Tunes could make a come back easily. I thought I heard a while ago that they were doing a Space Jam 2 with Lebron James. That would catapult them back into the forefront of pop culture.

 

[rteetz]

Looney Tunes could make a come back easily. I thought I heard a while ago that they were doing a Space Jam 2 with Lebron James. That would catapult them back into the forefront of pop culture.

Yes they are

 

[DanBoris]

What is interesting about this rumor (and that makes it seem unlikely) is that I am sure that Marvel would NOT want to have their product in the same park as DC. I would almost bet there would be some sort of rider in their contract that stated something to that effect. And certainly DC would never agree to be in the same theme park as Marvel. And I couldn't imagine Universal wanting BOTH marvel and DC in it's same theme park (yes - I know we are talking about a different gate, but still I mean the same theme park population.)

So to me the ONLY way this is true is if Universal was going to get out of the Marvel business, which I don't really believe for a second. So I don't see this one as a go.

I haven't seen anything in the contract that would prevent Universal from putting DC in the same park. Not saying it's going to happen, just that the contract doesn't prevent it.

A curious question..but how much is Universal really making on Marvel. Obviously the movies make a great deal of money - but Universal doesn't get that. Merchandise is almost all profit to Disney (so having it in their parks benefits Disney as well). The rides are good, but as some have said, many if not all would be great with a different theme as well. And IF they did have exclusive rights to DC with the rides, and merchandise (in Florida) for DC, then they COULD benefit more from DC in their parks then Marvel. And the idea of "keeping it out of the hands of Disney" isn't completely true. Right now as it is they are both benefiting from the relationship, and some would argue that Universal having it Marvel in their parks is benefiting Disney more.

I am not saying that I believe Universal is going after DC, but I also don't think it is as simple as you think it is. Marvel is making more money for Disney then it is Universal, there is no question about that. And Universal having Marvel in the parks is benefiting Universal's "competitor" as much as it is helping itself. So the question is, would they ever try to really compete with Disney by going with a competitor product (DC) rather than supporting the Marvel (Disney) brand. I don't think so, certainly not in the near future, but maybe one day.

I don't think we have any hard numbers to prove this, but it's hard to deny that have a very popular IP in your park is going to benefit you and Marvel is currently one of the hottest IP's going. The key here is that Universal made the contract with Marvel back when Marvel was in really bad shape, and the licensing costs can only go up with the rate of inflation, so Universal is probably paying a bargain price for this license. Even if they were to bring in another very popular outside IP, they probably end up paying more for it then they are for Marvel this making it less profitable for the park.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

This post might not belong in here, but how awesome would it be if Universal got the rights for Spaceball's, the ride and put it in the new park to compete with Disney's SW Land? I would absolutely love that. Then maybe we could finally got Spaceballs, the toilet paper and all that other great merchandise.