Mickey vs. Mario: Inside the billion-dollar Orlando theme-park wars

Can the all-star team of Super Mario Bros., Frankenstein and Harry Potter be enough to conquer the Magic Kingdom? That’s what Universal Orlando Resort is banking on with the arrival of its new park — the $7 billion Epic Universe — which debuted in Central Florida this past week. Epic is Universal’s third Orlando park and the first major theme park to open in the United States in more than 25 years. And leisure sector insiders are already suggesting Epic could be an industry game-changer.  “Epic Universe is Universal’s biggest swing since Islands of Adventure opened and a much bolder statement,” says Brian Glenn, editor-in-chief of the website Inside Universal, which covers Universal theme parks and attractions.Not only is Epic Universe seven times the size of its sister parks, Glenn explains, but by leveraging immersive technologies, lucrative intellectual properties and innovative design, Universal is aiming to redefine what a theme park can be.The new park marks Universal’s largest gamble in its 35-year battle with Disney — which has long reigned over Central Florida’s $92.5 billion tourism industry.

Epic Universe introduces more than 50 new attractions designed around pop culture icons like Harry Potter, legendary movie monsters and gaming giant Nintendo.The park’s 11 rides include new technologies, such as omnidirectional ride vehicles trackless ride systems, and augmented reality.“The park is just state of the art, maybe even beyond state of the art,” says Dennis Speigel, owner and founder of International Theme Park Services, a theme park industry consultant.

“It is really going to set the benchmark for all future parks ..

.in America or internationally.”Sprawling over 750 acres, Epic Universe is the single largest investment Comcast, Universal’s parent company, has made in its theme parks.

“Our most ambitious parks experience ever created” is how Comcast described Epic Universe during its Q1 earnings release.First ...