The battle for theme park supremacy has never been more intense. As the world’s two biggest theme park giants—Disney and Universal—square off, the competition between them has entered what some industry experts are calling the most significant rivalry the theme park world has ever seen.
According to Dennis Speigel, the founder of International Theme Park Services, “Disney and Universal are in the greatest boxing match they’ve ever been in at this point in time, and it’s a slug fest.” For Speigel, a veteran with over 50 years of experience in the theme park industry, the future of this rivalry may see Disney making a significant move to maintain its dominance—a fifth theme park at Walt Disney World.
“A Slug Fest”
Disney, which has ruled the theme park industry for decades, currently operates four major parks at its iconic Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. These include Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, despite its long-standing success and unmatched brand recognition, Disney’s last major new park opened more than 25 years ago, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998. Since then, Disney has focused its efforts on expanding and enhancing its existing parks, but with the competition from Universal heating up, the company may soon need to look beyond just additions to its current parks.
According to Speigel, the introduction of a fifth gate at Walt Disney World may not just be a possibility—it could be an inevitability. “I believe that within 12 to 16 months, Disney will announce its fifth gate theme park, because it’s necessary,” Speigel says. With the market becoming more crowded and visitor expectations continuing to rise, Disney may need to take this step to stay ahead of Universal and preserve its position as the leader in the theme park world.
BREAKING: CNN predicts Disney announces fifth gate at WDW within 12-16 months.
“Because it’s necessary”
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/SSp38btjPU
— Wallin Ballin (@wallin_ballin) April 7, 2025
Universal’s Rapid Rise
Universal Orlando Resort has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, largely driven by the success of its immersive Harry Potter attractions. The opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2010 was a game-changer for the theme park industry. According to Speigel, the year following the debut of the Harry Potter area saw an astounding 36% increase in park attendance—the largest one-year growth in theme park history. This success has propelled Universal into a new era of innovation, with the company continuing to build on the Harry Potter brand while also introducing new, highly anticipated attractions.
Epic Universe, which is set to open in the near future, is expected to be a massive game-changer. With additional lands based on Universal’s intellectual properties, the park will give visitors even more reasons to choose Universal over Disney. While Speigel acknowledges that Universal’s rise won’t put Disney out of business, he also believes it will make an impact. “Is [Epic Universe] going to put Disney out of business? Absolutely not. Is it going to put a chink in their armor? Yes, it will,” he says. Universal’s growing appeal and expansion may force Disney to rethink its strategy in order to keep its lead in the theme park industry.
As Disney and Universal continue to compete for the title of the world’s best theme park destination, the next few years will be pivotal in shaping the future of the industry. While Universal has made impressive strides with its Harry Potter franchise and upcoming parks, Disney remains a giant with unmatched resources and a massive fanbase.
However, if Universal’s success continues, Disney will need to adapt to maintain its edge. Whether through the announcement of a fifth park or other major developments, the rivalry between Disney and Universal is far from over. For fans, this fierce competition promises even more groundbreaking experiences in the future—making the world of theme parks more exciting than ever before.
