Credit: Inside The MagicThis is the year that the rivalry for the Central Florida tourism dollar really starts to heat up. Universal Studios Orland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort are bringing out the big guns to outdo each other and become America’s number one theme park resort.
We’re now just over five months away from Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe’s opening. The five new lands and three new hotels are sure to drive customers to Universal and away from Disney World. The hotels and tickets for the new park are entirely sold out through the first month of operation.
To counter the opening of Epic Universe and possibly drive some business its way, Disney World is offering guests massive hotel discounts and free dining plans at the start of the summer. Or, as it is becoming known, the Epic Summer.
Not to be outdone by its cross-town neighbor, Walt Disney World has dozens of new projects coming to its theme parks. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has already closed down at the Magic Kingdom to make way for the new Cars and Villains Land.
The big news this weekend from Disney World was the shutdown of DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom. This will make way for the new Encanto-theme Central/South American Land.
On Sunday, Chester & Hester’s Dino-O-Roma, DINOSAUR Treasure, and TriceraTop Spin had their final journey at Animal Kingdom before extinction. On Monday morning, construction walls went up around the area to begin the demolition.
But it wouldn’t be a great rivalry if Universal’s X (formerly Twitter) account didn’t take a shot at Disney World for taking down its Dinosaur-themed land. Just after Animal Kingdom opened, the official Universal Studios Orlando X account tweeted out:
If only there was a theme park with a dinosaur themed area, rides and dinos you can meet — oh wait
If only there was a theme park with a dinosaur themed area, rides and dinos you can meet — oh wait 😏
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) January 13, 2025
It was a subtle shot, like its cross-town rival, but a shot nonetheless. Many commentators thought it was “too soon,” but most thought it was a funny shot at Disney.
This isn’t the first time Universal has taken shots at Disney on social media and through its promotions teams. Shortly after Disney announced their new projects at the D23 Expo, Universal began releasing almost weekly hype videos showing off the new lands at Epic Universe.
While it appears that most of the shots Universal takes at Disney World are in good fun, it’s great for the guests to see this rivalry continue. It just means more great rides and experiences as the two theme park giants try to one-up each other.