Disney vs. Universal: The 2026 Theme Park Battle
The competition between The Walt Disney Company and Comcast is just heating up in Orlando, and new numbers are giving a clearer picture of how things are playing out.
If you are lucky enough to be visiting the Orlando area, you have a few theme parks to choose from.
Disney vs Epic Universe
The majority of tourists gravitate towards Disney World and Universal Orlando. New data has just been released that examines how these theme parks are affecting the Central Florida area and tourism.
Theme Park Attendance
Epic Universe opened in 2025, and Universal Orlando Resort saw a big jump in attendance.
In March, park visits were up 12% compared to last year. However, when you remove Epic Universe from the equation, attendance at Universal’s other parks actually dropped 12%.
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Meanwhile, Disney World saw a steady 3% increase in attendance. That might sound smaller, but it shows more consistent growth across its parks.
One analyst shared: “Underlying trends excluding Epic appear very weak.”
It appears that Universal’s growth right now is heavily tied to a single brand-new park, while Disney continues to draw crowds across its entire resort.
Photo: Universal
There are other factors at play, too. Rising gas prices could impact travel plans for both companies.
The war in Iran is creating uncertainty for both companies. MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman cut his theme-park revenue estimates for Disney and Comcast on Tuesday, noting that the disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has increased gas prices.
Disney
If it costs more to drive, fewer people may visit theme parks in general.
Another key difference is how much each company relies on parks. Disney’s parks make up a much larger part of its overall business, while Comcast is still trying to grow its theme park division.
(Photo by Mariah Wild/Disney Parks via Getty Images)
In addition, Disney stock is now down 9.8% in 2026, while Comcast shares have climbed 0.5%. Comcast will post its earnings on April 23, and Disney is reporting on May 6.
So what do the numbers tell us? Universal made a big debut with Epic Universe, but Disney is still holding strong with steady, reliable growth. There are multiple factors at play that will impact attendance, revenue, and theme park growth
Stay Tuned
Photo: Disney
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Article Source/ Barrons-Feature Photos: Disney/Universal
