The two Florida theme park rivals have some strange business relationships that could soon start to unwind.
Walt Disney and Comcast compete brutally in central Florida, where Disney World and Universal Studios stand out as two of the world’s biggest tourist attractions.
The two theme park companies largely want to serve the same customers, and each has invested billions to try to outdo the other.
The problem, and it is unique, is that while Disney World and Universal Studios are rivals, Walt Disney (DIS) – Get a free report and Comcast (CMCSA) – Get a free reportthey are unlikely (and unintended) trading partners.
The two have a relationship because Universal Studios Florida holds the rights to several major franchises that Disney bought after Comcast made licensing agreements to use those properties in its theme parks.
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Universal Studios has an entire piece of land in its Islands of Adventure theme park based on Disney’s Marvel superheroes. At the time Marvel made that deal, which doesn’t seem to have an expiration date, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers were simply comic book characters, not the stars of massive movies.
Disney likely won’t be able to get its Marvel superheroes back anytime soon (or maybe ever), but another franchise it owns has its own turf at Universal Studios Florida.
That deal appears to have an end date, and Universal has given a major signal that it may not wait that long to make a change.
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Universal Studios could lose ‘The Simpsons’
Universal Studios licensed “The Simpsons” before Disney bought the rights to the long-running show from Fox in 2019. The popular animated television family has land at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Neither company has commented on when the “Simpsons” rights deal expires, but the deal is expected to end in 2028. Now, Universal Studios has shared what may be an ominous sign for fans of a park presence. cartoon family theme. , screamscape informed.
“It has been noted that the park’s website and map no longer reference the Springfield/Simpsons area of the park as a land. The individual attractions and restaurants are still there, but any reference to the group as a whole is gone. “. the shared theme park website.
In this case, the referenced map refers to Universal Studios Hollywood, but it seems highly unlikely that the theme park company would remove “The Simpsons” in one park and not the other. Screamscape also notes that changes to the map have been a strong predictor of other changes to the park.
“It’s worth mentioning that the map has already removed buildings and locations that we knew would be left behind to make way for the ‘Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift’ roller coaster project,” the website shared.
Universal has shared some posters of ‘Simpsons’
Some of the ride displays at the Florida facility of “The Simpsons Ride,” the iconic ride in the land of “Springfield,” have been in need of renovation for years. The lack of renewal has long suggested that Comcast may not see a long future for the ride.
So far, all signs that Disney and Universal may allow their “Simpsons” deal to expire (or perhaps even end it early) are anecdotal. Neither company has publicly commented on the relationship.
However, it makes sense that Disney would want to regain ownership of the enduring characters, given that the “Simpsons” library is a central part of the Disney+ streaming service. The Mouse House could immediately launch character meet and greets with “The Simpsons” if it regains the rights to the characters.
A “Simpsons” land would make a lot of sense at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which has some dated attractions that could be turned into something new.
Disney hasn’t suggested this happen, but it seems that “The Simpsons” leaving Universal has become a matter of when, not if.
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