MSHI Expansion?

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Spider-Man is argurably the best ride at the resort, why are we talking getting rid of it?

 

[Mike S]

Spider-Man is argurably the best ride at the resort, why are we talking getting rid of it?

IoA without Spider-Man would feel like how USF does without Jaws to me. No matter what it would be replaced with something huge is missing.

 

[AustinT]

I got a survey yesterday and I'm not sure how much of the specific options to all the questions were based on my initial open ended answers, but it didn't give me a good feeling about this recent MSHI replacement/development rumor. I'm still 90% sure there's nothing to that silly rumor and they'd never touch it, but this survey bumped that number down from 99%

 

[DarkMetroid567]

IoA without Spider-Man would feel like how USF does without Jaws to me. No matter what it would be replaced with something huge is missing.

I still firmly believe Spider-Man is the best attraction Universal has ever done and I actually will get emotional when we lose it, lol.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I got a survey yesterday and I'm not sure how much of the specific options to all the questions were based on my initial open ended answers, but it didn't give me a good feeling about this recent MSHI replacement/development rumor. I'm still 90% sure there's nothing to that silly rumor and they'd never touch it, but this survey bumped that number down from 99%

1) The same survey that said it was confidential?
2) There are other places around the resort that need replacing.

 

[Mad Dog]

Probably what started the rumor. Exaggerations and extrapolation from a survey question.

 

[GAcoaster]

Without a doubt Universal Creative probably has plans for any land or attraction that may need to be replaced in the future, especially when it comes to an IP they don’t own outright. Business decisions can happen at any time, and they always need to have some kind of plan in place if things change for any reason. That probably goes double for Marvel since it is owned by their biggest competitor, and despite an iron clad contract, it would be foolish to assume that Disney wouldn’t like to terminate it at some point.

Always remember that Disney got Oswald back from Universal in exchange for a sportscaster’s contract. The two companies do all kinds of business together, and someday the price will be right to give the contract up for something Comcast values more.

 

[Brian G.]

I think my biggest issue with the rumor is the use of “actively” - which implies soon or currently planning. I totally get a “rainy day” plan but not “actively”.

 

[OLSinFLA]

Without a doubt Universal Creative probably has plans for any land or attraction that may need to be replaced in the future, especially when it comes to an IP they don’t own outright. Business decisions can happen at any time, and they always need to have some kind of plan in place if things change for any reason. That probably goes double for Marvel since it is owned by their biggest competitor, and despite an iron clad contract, it would be foolish to assume that Disney wouldn’t like to terminate it at some point.

Always remember that Disney got Oswald back from Universal in exchange for a sportscaster’s contract. The two companies do all kinds of business together, and someday the price will be right to give the contract up for something Comcast values more.

Oswald wasn't in direct competition of anything Universal. Marvel, however is. It'd be like handing a gun to your opponent

 

[Clive]

Without a doubt Universal Creative probably has plans for any land or attraction that may need to be replaced in the future, especially when it comes to an IP they don’t own outright. Business decisions can happen at any time, and they always need to have some kind of plan in place if things change for any reason. That probably goes double for Marvel since it is owned by their biggest competitor, and despite an iron clad contract, it would be foolish to assume that Disney wouldn’t like to terminate it at some point.

Always remember that Disney got Oswald back from Universal in exchange for a sportscaster’s contract. The two companies do all kinds of business together, and someday the price will be right to give the contract up for something Comcast values more.

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you're saying, but for Universal to give up the Marvel attractions, they would likely require Disney to buy them out -- that means $$$ for demolition and removal of the Marvel elements as well as $$$ for development and installation of the replacement experiences. They may even want a premium for the inconvenience and/or something to make up for the loss of the valuable Marvel IP. It would be a massive, massive price tag that I'm not convinced Disney is willing to swallow anytime soon, especially when the company is short on cash and already planning to invest a significant amount in other areas. Universal has shown a willingness (and legal ability) to update its Marvel attractions in the past few years with the rebuild and rebrand of Hulk.

As for Oswald, that was a dormant IP. Universal was likely more than happy to trade it for something they did want and could actively use.

 

[Mike S]

Oswald wasn't in direct competition of anything Universal. Marvel, however is. It'd be like handing a gun to your opponent

Not really with how terribly implemented most of Disney’s Marvel rides are lol

 

[GAcoaster]

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you're saying, but for Universal to give up the Marvel attractions, they would likely require Disney to buy them out -- that means $$$ for demolition and removal of the Marvel elements as well as $$$ for development and installation of the replacement experiences. They may even want a premium for the inconvenience and/or something to make up for the loss of the valuable Marvel IP. It would be a massive, massive price tag that I'm not convinced Disney is willing to swallow anytime soon, especially when the company is short on cash and already planning to invest a significant amount in other areas. Universal has shown a willingness (and legal ability) to update its Marvel attractions in the past few years with the rebuild and rebrand of Hulk.

As for Oswald, that was a dormant IP. Universal was likely more than happy to trade it for something they did want and could actively use.

I agree, we'd be looking at hundreds of millions that the Marvel deal is worth, but we're also talking about two companies who fairly regularly do multi-billion dollar deals. Both companies have things the other wants and you never know when suddenly a contract for broadcasting sports or something along those lines becomes something they want to make a deal for. I have no idea which contracts ESPN or ABC have for which leagues, but a contract like that is easily worth far more than the Marvel rights and having to retheme an area in a theme park.

Oswald wasn't in direct competition of anything Universal. Marvel, however is. It'd be like handing a gun to your opponent

Yes and no-- suddenly Disney COULD build Marvel at WDW if they traded or bought out the contract, but even if they did you would be looking at 5-10 years before they could actually add any attractions. In the mean time, the whole MSI could have easily been re-themed to something as good or better and actually turn into a plus for Universal.

Of course this is all not currently happening, but once again, I'm sure they're prepared for any contingency.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Am I crazy to think that Universal would want at least $1B for the rights/demolition/etc? lol

 

[GAcoaster]

Am I crazy to think that Universal would want at least $1B for the rights/demolition/etc? lol

I would guess that would be a ballpark figure. Partly depends on how much they make from it currently.

 

[HandsomePete]

There’s no chance they’re going to retheme, let alone demolish, four rides plus a restaurant plus merch shops that do a good business.

If there are ever any changes to the contract (which I doubt there will be), it would likely be carveouts to the character exclusions to let Disney build a few rides and not a complete revocation of Universal’s right to Marvel. Disney already has the best Marvel-themed coaster in Orlando, so would a Black Panther attraction really hurt Universal? Probably not. But does Universal need the money? No. And Disney has plenty of other things it can build.

 

[GAcoaster]

There’s no chance they’re going to retheme, let alone demolish, four rides plus a restaurant plus merch shops that do a good business.

If there are ever any changes to the contract (which I doubt there will be), it would likely be carveouts to the character exclusions to let Disney build a few rides and not a complete revocation of Universal’s right to Marvel. Disney already has the best Marvel-themed coaster in Orlando, so would a Black Panther attraction really hurt Universal? Probably not. But does Universal need the money? No. And Disney has plenty of other things it can build.

I don't see them "sharing" Marvel beyond Guardians. If they want rights to Marvel back, they'd have to buy out ALL of it.

Universal also has plenty of things they can build to replace it when and if necessary.

Currently both Disney and Comcast are making money with the relationship so there's no imminent change happening, but nothing lasts forever. My thoughts on the matter are that if rumors are true that Disney is chomping at the bit for Simpsons to come back to them for use in the parks, I'd have to imagine they have a long range goal of getting Marvel as well.

 

[tielo]

Am I crazy to think that Universal would want at least $1B for the rights/demolition/etc? lol

I think it would be more. Marvel is still making a lot of money for them even now the brand is a bit on the low side. Changing advertising, apps, websites, maps etc. Removing the old rides, having a gap in their park for about 5 years, cost of new construction, theming, ip (I would calculate and external ip as this is also an external ip), loss of future revenue etc. The list goes on and on and they will bill Disney for everything. The replacement would cost a billion (as Disney said they spent that on SW so why would the new land cost less for Universal) and you will look at 3 to 5 billion or assets of the same value. But Disney still have to give many billions for Hulu in cash to Universal so I think this is not going to happen.

 

[belloq87]

Universal also has plenty of things they can build to replace it when and if necessary.

Universal has nothing* worth sacrificing Spider-Man for.

*Nothing that they would plausibly use in that location, anyway.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you're saying, but for Universal to give up the Marvel attractions, they would likely require Disney to buy them out -- that means $$$ for demolition and removal of the Marvel elements as well as $$$ for development and installation of the replacement experiences. They may even want a premium for the inconvenience and/or something to make up for the loss of the valuable Marvel IP. It would be a massive, massive price tag that I'm not convinced Disney is willing to swallow anytime soon, especially when the company is short on cash and already planning to invest a significant amount in other areas. Universal has shown a willingness (and legal ability) to update its Marvel attractions in the past few years with the rebuild and rebrand of Hulk.

As for Oswald, that was a dormant IP. Universal was likely more than happy to trade it for something they did want and could actively use.

That’s the crux of it, no? Iger said no, UOR says no, the only people still wanting it are disillusioned Disney fans.

 

[tielo]

In the end there is nothing lost. At all Disney parks fans can enjoy Disney's take on Marvel attractions and at Universal Orlando they can see the best Marvel rides.