Walt Disney World followers have been anxiously awaiting an “reply” to the grand opening of Epic Universe on Could 22, 2025 or over the Memorial Day weekend summer season kickoff. We now have no less than a partial response, as WDW President Jeff Vahle has congratulated Common Orlando on the “massive win” of opening the brand new park.
Vahle posted a picture on Instagram that includes a stylized graphic of Florida with a sunshine backdrop and shared the next sentiment: “It takes nice ardour and dedication to carry new initiatives to life. Better of luck to the Common Orlando group with the opening of Epic Universe! One other massive win for tourism in Florida.”
As we’ll talk about beneath, the message continues a wealthy custom of stylish congratulatory messages among the many rivals. This comes as Common Orlando launches of its third theme park in Central Florida, which formally opened to the general public on Thursday, Could 22, 2025 after a gala occasion for VIPs and choose media final evening. It additionally happens on the precipice of “Cool Child Summer season” at Walt Disney World beginning on Could 27, which I doubt anybody who isn’t deep within the Disney blogosphere has even heard of.
Vahle isn’t the one one who congratulated Common Orlando on the herculean achievement and celebrated the profitable opening and its impression on the Sunshine State. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in attendance in the course of the grand gala occasion to launch Epic Universe the evening earlier than its public opening.
DeSantis shared an on-the-ground video from Epic Universe on social media praising the “long-awaited new theme park in Central Florida.” He referred to as the park “fairly superb” saying that children would actually get pleasure from Epic Universe and that he’d “suggest you positively test it out.” DeSantis praised the lands of Epic Universe, and the artistic groups for executing their nice imaginative and prescient very nicely.
The governor additionally touted the constructive financial impression of Epic Universe, explaining that the challenge was introduced again in 2019, and that “billions and billions” that have been spent on building to carry the park to life. That it might be a “large impression economically for Florida, however extra importantly than that, it’s going to present lots of recollections to children.” DeSantis closed out this message by saying congratulations to Common Orlando on the grand opening of Epic Universe.
As you’re little doubt conscious, DeSantis and Disney had a really public battle involving litigation and heated rhetoric over the course of a number of years. This was lastly resolved final yr, with the events settling the lawsuits, shuffling up management on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and agreeing to new multi-billion greenback investments in Florida.
Earlier than anybody claims that the governor’s presence at Epic Universe was about “sticking it to Disney” yet one more time–it wasn’t. The perimeters have made up and DeSantis has boasted in regards to the billions of {dollars} in deliberate investments at Walt Disney World. I’d totally count on him to be in attendance for a serious opening at Walt Disney World on par with Epic Universe…so in all probability not the kickoff to “Cool Child Summer season,” as that’s a bit beneath his pay grade.
As famous within the opening, Jeff Vahle’s congratulatory message partially solutions the query of what Walt Disney World will do as a right away response to Epic Universe. With that stated, what else will Disney do? Is there one other massive announcement within the pipeline?
After we first coated this subject in How Will Walt Disney World “Reply” Epic Universe’s Opening?, we mentioned a wide range of rumored prospects and dismissed all of them out of hand. We concluded that the most probably outcomes have been debuting summer season choices (now often called “Cool Child Summer season”) shortly earlier than or after Epic Universe formally opened. As for substantive information, our view is that they’d make no try to steal the highlight.
One of many issues we’ve been stressing for years is that Walt Disney World wouldn’t announce a fifth gate as a solution to Epic Universe. Not on Could 22 or any time this decade. It’s so far-fetched that we didn’t even entertain the thought, and have rapidly shot in down in all posts like this. (Right here’s Why a fifth Theme Park Will NOT Be Constructed at Walt Disney World within the Subsequent Decade.)
Paradoxically sufficient, the Walt Disney Firm arguably did put together its reply to Epic Universe within the type of a brand new theme park. Simply not at Walt Disney World and even in america. It’s not going to be perceived as such for anybody studying this and clearly will not be competitors within the standard sense of the time period, however Disneyland Abu Dhabi provided a really oblique “reply” to Epic Universe for Wall Avenue earlier this month.
To be clear, that information is principally simply an (oblique!) reply for buyers and analysts salivating on the prospects of extra theme parks, as they’ve lastly come to appreciate they’re a steady and worthwhile enterprise. Actually no followers are debating between a go to to Epic Universe this yr or subsequent, or to Disneyland Abu Dhabi when it opens within the mid-2030s.
So what else is Walt Disney World’s extra direct reply to Epic Universe within the month of Could 2025?
My intestine is that there’s radio silence from Walt Disney World by means of Memorial Day, with completely nothing executed to aim to steal the highlight from Epic Universe. Before everything, as a result of it received’t be efficient. One factor we’ve pressured for years–lengthy earlier than Disney spoke publicly about Epic Universe–is that the one factor that may really “reply” a brand new theme park is…one other new theme park. And since we knew Walt Disney World has no intentions to construct a fifth gate, we will surmise that their finest technique may be staying quiet over the weekend.
Any information introduced within the subsequent few days shall be buried beneath protection of Common Orlando’s third theme park. It could additionally simply make Disney look petty. About the one exception to this that I can consider is that if Walt Disney World has unfavorable information and it needs to “take out the trash” Could 22-23, 2025. So maybe that is the vacation weekend that we lastly get a deadline for the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island? Now that wouldn’t shock me within the least, and the timing is about proper.
Trying ahead, I’d goal Could 27, 2025 for extra moderately-sized information from Walt Disney World.
We already know that each Villains Unfairly Ever After and Little Mermaid A Musical Journey, two stage exhibits at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, debut on that date. Moreover, “Cool Child Summer season” kicks off then, which suggests new meet & greets and so forth. Nothing earth-shattering.
Nonetheless, we nonetheless wouldn’t have a debut date for Disney Starlight Night time Parade, which was presupposed to be the anchor of the summer season season at Walt Disney World. It’s our understanding that there have been a number of inner delays to this challenge, and Disney is throwing all potential assets at this parade to have it prepared ASAP. Relaxation assured, Disney isn’t sitting on its fingers with this–relatively, it’s an all fingers on deck state of affairs.
Accordingly, if it’s potential to have a gap date for Starlight by Could 27, I’d count on an announcement on that date. This may solely occur if the leisure group is assured it might probably hit that date. Starlight sounds prefer it’s going to be a race towards the clock, so we could not get a date till absolutely the final minute. But when ever there have been a strategic time to announce Starlight’s opening date, it might be Could 27, 2025. On steadiness, I’d say it’s in all probability 60/40 that we get a date on Tuesday (or possibly Wednesday morning).
Two different opening date wildcards are Check Observe 3.0 at EPCOT and the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern at Magic Kingdom. It’s potential we get dates for all three, with Walt Disney World making an attempt to create a brand new advertising and marketing marketing campaign to weave the trio collectively.
Truthfully, I’m skeptical of that taking place. No less than, for Check Observe. My intestine says that challenge goes to take longer. I’ve zero inside information–I’m simply going off what Disney has publicly launched–however I’m skeptical that reimagined journey will open throughout this summer season vacationer season. I feel it’ll be after Labor Day, and nonetheless consider October 1, 2025 is the odds-on favourite.
Turning again to the titular subject, I wish to conclude by sharing the wealthy historical past of this collegiality among the many “rival” theme parks. That is most notable with Knott’s Berry Farm (above) and Disneyland buying and selling congratulatory newspaper adverts within the Los Angeles Occasions and Orange County Register for many years.
The newest digital occasion of this that I may observe down got here from a few years again when former Disneyland President and present Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared this on Instagram: “Congratulations to my pal Jon Storbeck and your entire group at Knott’s Berry Farm for his or her one centesimal Anniversary! I used to be very touched to be invited to the preview occasion in your celebration final evening! It was nice to see you!”
There’s likewise precedent for a similar with Common. There are many cases of executives and Imagineers attending grand openings–from the latest Tremendous Nintendo World in Hollywood to Eisner at Islands of Journey. Since many individuals throughout the two “rivals” have labored for each, and have Annual Passes for the parks the place they don’t at the moment work.
Talking of which, we now have heard from a number of Imagineers who attended Epic Universe previews and got here away very impressed with Common Orlando’s new park. Clearly, you shouldn’t count on any public feedback about this from administration or creatives, however Epic Universe is already serving as inspiration for Disney’s groups engaged on new initiatives.
Right here’s hoping that interprets to budgetary “inspiration” along with artistic inspiration. I’m unsure whether or not Bob Iger or Josh D’Amaro have visited Epic Universe–I believe not given the tense relationship between Iger and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. However I do know of a number of Imagineers and TDO leaders who’ve attended, and it’s secure to say that dozens have visited Epic Universe over the past couple months. However I digress.
In the end, it’s good to see Walt Disney World exhibiting graciousness by congratulating Common on Epic Universe, underscoring the idea that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Disney had no playing cards they may play that may steal Common’s thunder, however this no less than make them a part of the dialog in a constructive method.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
How do you assume Walt Disney World will “reply” the opening of Epic Universe over Memorial Day weekend? Or is “they received’t” the most probably risk in your thoughts? Is it additionally the finest transfer? Anticipate Starlight and different late summer season choices to have their opening dates introduced on Could 27, 2025? Assume Disney has trigger for concern, or do you typically agree {that a} rising tide lifts all boats? Some other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!