Disney Rival Has Big Expansion Plans With New IP Coming to Theme Parks

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Disney Rival Has Big Expansion Plans With New IP Coming to Theme Parks

in Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Theme Parks

Posted on August 7, 2025August 7, 2025 by Rick Lye

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A colorful sign for SeaWorld Orlando is set against a backdrop of lush greenery, featuring a stylized depiction of a sea creature. In the distance, an American flag is visible atop a tall structure, highlighting the park despite recent SeaWorld roller coaster issues.

Credit: SeaWorld

It’s earnings call season. This week, the major American theme park companies met investors to show them what they’ve been up to for the last three months.

A collage of three theme park landmarks central to Florida tourism: the colorful SeaWorld Orlando sign, Universal's rotating globe fountain, and Disney's Cinderella Castle under a blue sky. — Credit: Inside the Magic

Disney and Universal saw significant gains from their theme park segments, both of which seemed to be boosted by the opening of Epic Universe in Central Florida. On the other hand, Six Flags Entertainment saw a nine percent decline in attendance and an eight percent decline in season pass purchases. Things were so bad that Six Flags CEO Richard Zimmerman resigned over the numbers.

Then came United Parks, the company that owns Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. United Parks saw mixed results, but the company also had exciting news for investors.

A group of people, seated in rows, ride a blue roller coaster at SeaWorld as it twists on a track with teal supports. The riders appear excited and animated despite the overcast sky watching over them at an Orlando theme park. — Credit: SeaWorld

United Parks announced a one percent increase in attendance over last year, but that increase led to a two percent decline in revenue. Like Six Flags, United Parks blamed the inclement weather in Texas and Florida for the revenue decline.

United CEO Marc Swanson told investors that the company is currently negotiating with “internationally recognized IPs” to bring to its parks. United Parks already has a deal with the Sesame Workshop to have Sesame Street characters in its parks. Swanson made a similar claim at the company’s earnings call in February but did not elaborate on which characters would be coming to the parks or how soon they would be coming.

Killer whales during Orca Encounter at SeaWorld Orlando, near Universal. — Credit: SeaWorld

Swanson also told investors that United Parks is close to signing a memorandum of understanding to bring the long-awaited hotels to its properties, including SeaWorld in Orlando. In May, Swanson told investors that the company’s parks had over 400 acres to expand, including new on-property hotels.

Swanson also announced a new attraction coming to SeaWorld in Orlando in February. He did not make any announcement during the most recent call, but a new attraction is still in the works. SeaWorld Orlando opened a new flying theater in May.

Front entrance sign to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida — Credit: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

With more guests coming to the parks, United Parks has some big plans to keep up with its Central Florida neighbors. If the company wants to keep up with them, it has no choice but to keep getting bigger.

What do you think of United Parks’ plan to bring an untapped IP into its parks? Let us know in the comments.

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