What Will Happen to Disney World After the Epic Universe Opening Date? [smaller crowds, lower profits, lower prices for guests?!]

The Epic Universe opening date is on every theme park fan’s radar—and for good reason.

Set to debut in May 2025, Universal’s newest park appears to have innovative attractions and immersive lands.

But what does that mean for Disney World? Will it lead to smaller crowds, better prices, or even shake up the Orlando theme park hierarchy?

Here’s the good news: history suggests Disney World might still thrive. After all, when Universal debuted the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, both parks saw attendance grow (though Disney’s growth was much less than Universal’s).

Yet, with Epic Universe being Universal’s biggest expansion yet, it’s clear the competition is heating up.

So, with the opening of Epic Universe swiftly approaching, let’s try to look into the future, and see what the future may hold for Disney World – after the opening of Universal’s highly anticipated new park!

Keep reading to find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding Epic Universe and the effect on Disney World.

This post is all about what will happen to Walt Disney World after the Epic Universe opening date.

Epic Universe Opening Date

Why is Universal Studios’ Orlando’s Epic Universe Such a Big Deal?

What will be included in the Epic Universe theme park?

Universal Studios Orlando’s Epic Universe is shaping up to be a huge deal, and I’m not exaggerating.

It’s their biggest expansion yet, covering an incredible 750 acres, including 3 brand new Epic Universe hotels:

Universal Helios Grand Hotel (part of the Signature Collection – opening on May 22nd, 2025)
Universal Stella Nova Resort (a Prime Value Hotel, which opened on January 21st, 2o25)
Universal Terra Luna Resort (another Prime Value Hotel – opening on March 25th, 2025)

The buzz is real because this isn’t just another set of rides; it’s a whole new park.

And there hasn’t been a new theme park at Universal since Islands of Adventure on May 28th, 1999.

That’s a nearly 26-year gap, so yeah, expectations are sky-high for this one.

Disney hasn’t opened a new theme park in Orlando since before that – Animal Kingdom on April 22nd, 1998.

We’re talking 5 brand-new themed lands, including:

Celestial Park
Dark Universe
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Super Mario World
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

On opening day, there will be a total of 11 Epic Universe rides:

Battle of the Ministry of Magic – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic (dark ride, using SCOOP system – supposedly similar to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man)
Constellation Carousel – Celestial Park (carousel with a figure-eight park)
Curse of the Werewolf – Dark Universe (roller coaster)
Dragon Racer’s Rally – How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk (flat ride where guests can control how thrilling their experience is)
Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness Super Nintendo World (family-friendly roller coaster)
Fyre Drill – How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk (boat ride with interactive elements)
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk (roller coaster)
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – Super Nintendo World (dark ride, interactive)
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – Dark Universe (dark ride with KUKA-arm system – thought to be similar to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Hogsmede in Islands of Adventure).
Stardust Racers – Celestial Park (roller coaster)
Yoshi’s Adventure – Super Nintendo World (Omnimover ride)

11 rides may not seem that extraordinary.

However, on opening day, Epic Universe will have the same number or more rides than Epcot (11), Hollywood Studios (9) and Animal Kingdom (8 – until Dinosaur closes in 2026).

It’s important to note that all these Disney Parks opened decades earlier, in 1982, 1989 and 1998.

So, yeah 11 rides at Epic Universe on its first day. Impressive. Very impressive indeed.

Along with these Epic Universe opening day attractions, there will be 2 shows: 1) Le Cirque Arcanus at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and 2) a nighttime show at Celestial Park.

Potential Financial Impact on Disney World due to the Opening of Epic Universe

Let’s be real—Epic Universe is not just any theme park addition; it’s designed to disrupt.
Universal is a business. Do you think they really want to be second best to Disney?

Would they be investing so much in existing parks, as well as Epic Universe if they wanted to “lose the theme park battle”?

Exactly. They don’t. They want to be more successful than ever. And to do that, they need to be more successful than Disney.

So, with the opening of Epic Universe, we can predict that it will have at least some financial impact on Disney

Despite Disney’s loyal fanbase (who won’t ditch Disney for Universal), lowered attendance is a viable possibility.

Many first-time visitors may choose Universal over Disney simply due to the newness and innovation of Epic Universe.

And for budget-conscious visitors, Universal’s pricing is generally lower, and therefore more attractive, than Disney’s.

This split in customer attention may leave Disney assessing how to maintain its stronghold.

For guests returning to Orlando theme parks, do you think they’ll choose Disney, who haven’t offered a new park since the end of the 20th century? Or Universal providing the kind of theme park that has never existed before in Florida?

So, if Disney experiences a decrease in attendance, what might we see in the coming months and years?

Less price increases – It feels like a new Disney price increase is announced every week. Whether it’s room rates, ticket prices or Mickey pretzels, Disney isn’t shy about charging more than they used to for the things we love spending our hard earned money on. They can usually do this with minimal backlash, because many people will continue visiting and spending at the parks and resorts. But when Universal can offer a potentially better alternative (at a slightly less ridiculous price), can Disney keep increasing prices and expecting people to just pay it? Because of this, we may see Disney being more considered in their approach. After all, they need to convince consumers to visit Disney instead of Universal. Constant price increases aren’t the most effective way of doing that.
Increased discounts – A Disney theme park experience is a premium experience. Us as consumers knows that (that’s why it’s so absurdly expensive). But with Epic Universe providing arguably an EVEN better experience, Disney may need to offer discounts to make what they’re offering more attractive. Whilst Disney isn’t going to start handing out 50% discounts on park tickets to everyone, we can expect to see higher hotel discounts. Disney having over 25 hotels is beneficial to keep more people in the “Disney bubble”. However, if guests don’t want to be stuck in the Disney bubble, what does that mean for Disney? Empty hotel rooms. You better believe that Disney sit back and just allow that to happen. So what can they do? Provide discounts. We’re already seeing discounts of up to 40% for Annual Passholders this summer (compared to the up to 35% discounts we often see this time of year).
More Annual Passholder perks – If Disney struggles to capture new guests, and infrequent guests who are more likely to be “wooed” by Epic Universe, Disney needs to maintain their Annual Passholders. After all, these are the people who are visiting Disney on a regular basis. These are the people Disney should want on their side, if attendance falls low. Although guests who aren’t Annual Passholders often spend more during their vacations, Disney don’t have to incur the costs of acquiring APs.
Disney pushing Disney Vacation Club even more – Disney benefits from DVC members a lot. First of all (if you’re buying a direct contract), Disney gets an attractive “lumpsome” payment. And for up to 50 years, Disney gets annual dues from a member. And that member will probably be visiting most years, staying on Disney property and spending a lot of money during their stays (especially over the course of decades). If you’re a DVC member, it incentivises you to spend most (or all) your Orlando vacation at Disney. In order to be the leader in the industry, Disney will need this kind of loyalty. So, how will Disney push DVC more? Perhaps more incentives to become a member. Whilst it’s never been more expensive to become a DVC member, discounts and incentives are possible.

Potential Changes in Guest Experience in Disney World Because of Epic Universe

Fewer Crowds (but is that really a good thing?)

Imagine walking into Disney World and seeing shorter lines at your favorite rides—sounds great, right?

The expected shift in crowds towards Epic Universe may lead to fewer visitors at Disney, at least during its initial opening phase.

On one hand, reduced congestion brings clear benefits:

Easier Navigation: No constant dodging of strollers or sprawling groups throughout Main Street, U.S.A.
Shorter Wait Times: More rides, fewer hassles. It may even prevent you from feeling like you need Lightning Lanes to ride lots of attractions, which can save you some serious money over the course of your vacation!
Better Photos: Who wouldn’t love castle pics without a sea of people accidentally photobombing in the background?

But let’s not forget the possible downsides:

Cuts to Entertainment and Offerings: Less foot traffic could result in cutbacks on stage shows, parades, and even dining options to balance costs.
Less Investment in the Parks & Resorts: Less guests = less profits for Disney. Disney may be more hesitant to invest as much in their parks and resorts. (On the flip side, Disney may invest more into the parks and resorts to “win people back” if Epic Universe actually takes people away from Disney.

Future Developments at Disney World to Respond to the Potential Success of Epic Universe

Here’s a glimpse of potential future developments after the Epic Universe opening date:

Exciting New Lands & Rides: At the 2024 D23 Expo, Disney announced a bunch of new plans for Disney World. They seemed adamant that these new lands and attractions WOULD be happening (I’ll believe it when I see it 😂).
Ride Revamps and Updates: Classic Disney rides might see exciting updates. Big Thunder Mountain is currently closed until 2026 for a refurbishment.
New Disney Resorts: Disney plans to open Disney Lakeshore Lodge (a new DVC resort) in 2027. If Disney is confident that they can increase their attendance in the coming years – despite Epic Universe – we may even see more resorts in the long-ish term future.

Frequently Asked Questions about Epic Universe Opening Date & The Impact on Disney World

When in 2025 will Epic Universe open?

Epic Universe opens at Universal Studios Orlando on May 22nd, 2025.

What’s happening at Universal on May 22, 2o25?

Universal Helios Grand Hotel will open along with the Epic Universe theme park.

How far will Epic Universe be from the other parks?

Epic Universe will be between 10 and 15 minutes from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Universal will provide free transportation between the parks.

Universal hotel guests will also have free transportation to Epic Universe.

Will Disney World lose visitors once Epic Universe opens?

Disney World might lose some guests to Universal, but the overall Orlando tourism industry could benefit, including Disney. Historically, new parks can boost regional visitor numbers, so Disney might see indirect gains.

However, Universal will be more attractive now than ever (with 3 theme parks and 1 water park), so it is possible for people to replace an entire Disney World vacation with a Universal trip.

At the end of the day, only time will tell. The next few years will be very interesting!

What unique advantages does Epic Universe have over Disney parks?

Epic Universe brings fresh IP like Super Nintendo World and expanded Harry Potter attractions (which have been proven to be popular since 2010 at other Universal parks). This could appeal strongly to families with teens or gaming fans.

Epic Universe is also opening with 5 roller coasters, making it more appealing to thrill-seekers.

Could Epic Universe change how long people stay in Orlando?

Yes, some tourists may extend their trips to visit both parks. That said, Disney visitors might cut some Disney days to make room for Epic Universe, especially given its hype.

How will Disney address visitor preferences shifting to Universal hotels?

Disney may upgrade on-property experiences, offer exclusive perks, or focus on efficient transportation services.

Who knows, if things get really bad, they may even bring back Magical Express to retain loyalty to Disney (though this may not be a first-resort option for Disney – no pun intended!).

Could Animal Kingdom be the most impacted Disney park?

When guests visit Disney World and want to skip a park, it’s often Animal Kingdom.

Despite being the largest Disney World park, it is only has 8 rides. So it’s likely that many guests will choose Epic Universe over Animal Kingdom.

Especially as Dinosaur is closing in 2026, and Animal Kingdom will have a lot of construction in the next few years, as DinoLand U.S.A. is re-themed to Tropical Americas.

Ta Ta For Now

The opening of Epic Universe in 2025 marks a major milestone that will undoubtedly shake up Orlando’s theme park scene.

How do you think Disney will be affected by the opening of Epic Universe? Share your thoughts in the comments 🙂

This post was all about what will happen to Walt Disney World after the Epic Universe opening date.