Disney Needs More Competition
I don’t know how much you’re paying attention, but the theme park industry is hurting.
In 2022, Six Flags randomly decided to cater to high-paying guests to maximize profit.
Six Flags
After attendance fell 33 percent, the company panicked and merged with Cedar Fair.
As we’re about to discuss, that move…isn’t going well. And that’s not all.
Six Flags
Universal Studios has somehow taken a winning hand and badly misplayed it.
So, we’ve reached the point in the Theme Park Wars where I say the unexpected. Disney needs more competition. Yes, I’m serious. Please allow me to explain.
Fair Weather Fans
Six Flags
For the longest time, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company possessed a glowing reputation.
Insiders considered it the best-run non-Disney theme park business in North America.
cedar point
I’ve often mentioned how fond I am of Cedar Point, which calls itself America’s Roller Coast.
The home of Millennium Force is often described as the Roller Coaster Capital of the U.S.
cedar point
Cedar Fair also owns several other iconic theme parks like Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
For its part, Six Flags generally operates what I’ll politely describe as lower-rent theme parks.
Creator: MARK EADES, Credit: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Copyright: The Orange County Register
When I was a kid, my family would visit Six Flags Over Georgia when we didn’t go to Disney.
Let’s just say that even as a child, I noticed a slight difference in the quality of those parks.
Knotts Berry Farm
It’s like watching U2 vs. a U2 cover band. They couldn’t even use a name-brand cola. No, really.
Those childhood memories have always influenced my perception of Six Flags as a brand. Recently, everything I’ve always felt about Six Flags has been validated. It’s been a disaster.
Six Flags’ management watched what Disney was doing and thought, “Why not us?”
The answer is that Six Flags most assuredly is NOT Disney and shouldn’t even pretend.
When Six Flags tried to cater to a wealthier demographic, their executives quickly realized that people with larger vacation budgets go to Disney theme parks, not Six Flags.
Disney
Attendance absolutely collapsed, dropping 33 percent, which I swear to you was the plan.
Their C-suite execs believed that smaller crowds would entice bigger spenders.
Photo: skillastics.com
This seems like the perfect time to mention that revenue plunged 21 percent that quarter.
In fiscal 2023, net income plunged from $101 million to $39 million, which led to the merger.
How Is the Merger Going?
Six Flags
Six Flags and Cedar Point announced their agreement in November 2023 and finalized it in July 2024.
So, we really only have 18 months of results to evaluate, which isn’t enough, at least in theory.
Six Flags
However, we already know the devastating impact this move is causing in the industry.
Early in 2026, the new entity, also called Six Flags, even though it’s both companies, filed some paperwork.
cedar point
Let’s just say this move raised some eyebrows, as it confirmed widespread speculation.
Six Flags appears likely to close several underperforming theme parks. Again.
cedar point
The company closed multiple parks in 2025, almost haphazardly. Frankly, the moves look like panic fire.
At its core, Six Flags sold the promise of a lesser theme park experience in your backyard.
Disney
Countless states host Six Flags parks, hoping to convince people to stay local rather than head to Disney.
This strategy never worked as intended, and now the new Six Flags joint is struggling mightily.
Universal Is Struggling, Too
Comcast
I wrote these two articles last year about the so-called Theme Park Wars.
In 2019, Comcast committed to the construction of a third theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Epic Universe took much longer than expected to open, delayed by the pandemic.
When it finally arrived in 2025, the reviews of the parks were absolutely glowing.
Alas, the honeymoon phase hasn’t lasted long due to multiple issues.
Park strategists miscalculated a bit by prioritizing a number of outdoor theme park attractions.
Universal
Given the rise in temperatures in Florida in the 2020s, that’s not the greatest call.
In addition, the park hasn’t opened with enough attractions, which is causing problems.
Photo: Universal
I track the wait times at Epic on our sister site, UniversalParksBlog, and it’s…grim.
Here’s the summary from the most recent article: “Guests at Epic Universe stood in line for an average of 66 minutes per attraction.”
xfinity
Now, that’s for December, but November’s average was 64 minutes.
People really are standing in line for an average of one hour per attraction at Epic.
xfinity
So, you may believe that’s a sign of a hugely crowded park…but it doesn’t seem to be.
Universal officials have provided some attendance data in extremely vague terms.
Universal Orlando
None of what they’ve said is what park operators tend to do when attendance is soaring.
Comcast will report its earnings on Friday and may provide some content on Epic Universe.
Comcast
Thus far, the lack of finite declarative statements is a strong indicator that it’s not a strong contender yet.
Even worse, Universal Orlando Resort’s attendance has remained stagnant lately.
Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks crowds
As of 2024, Walt Disney World hosted 49.1 million guests, while UOR managed just under 19 million.
More alarmingly, attendance increased at every Disney park in Orlando, while both of Universal’s dropped. That’s not a competitive trend.
The Importance of Competition
Photo: Disney
In case you somehow hadn’t heard, The Walt Disney Company is currently undergoing dramatic expansion.
Before everything is all said and done, Disney will have spent $60 billion to better its parks.
Photo: Disney
You shouldn’t miss the timing of this move, either. There was a purpose to it.
Disney CEO Bob Iger knew what the competition was doing and moved to counter it.
Comcast
As mentioned, Comcast announced Epic Universe in 2019, which Iger noticed.
Since the executive had retirement on his mind, he didn’t act immediately, nor should he have done so.
xfinity
Instead, the proper move was the one Iger made. He waited a few years.
Then, when Epic Universe was several months away from its opening, Iger struck.
xfinity
He revealed the massive investment in Disney parks around the world. It was a purpose pitch.
Iger waited until he knew everything Epic Universe would offer guests. Then, he countered.
Photo: Universal
The CEO witnessed all the online hype about the Theme Park Wars and wanted to prove a point.
Disney has fully committed to improving all aspects of its theme parks, cruises, and so forth.
Photo: Pexel.com
Would that have happened if not for Epic Universe? Probably not.
That’s how competition works. It forces people to react and often push themselves in a way they wouldn’t otherwise.
Think about your own life and how many times a perceived threat pushed you to do more.
As a company, Disney is no different, which makes the current state of the theme park industry unsettling.
The Walt Disney Company
According to the Themed Entertainment Association, Disney hosts 143.4 million annual guests.
Universal Studios, the closest American competitor, claims 59.4 million, which is less than half.
Filmmaker magazine
With Six Flags flailing and Universal not stepping up, Disney needs more competition.
Otherwise, we may never see innovations again like the ones we’re witnessing right now.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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