Universal Q2 2026 Results

[Mad Dog]

It makes sense, intuitively anyway, that Six Flags would do better when people are staying closer to home and keeping a closer eye on their wallets. I'd be curious to know how the Herschend Parks are faring this year... Dollywood seemed plenty crowded in March, but that feels like a lifetime ago.

The CEO also said they were being proactive, and that led to an increase in AP's. It seems like, under these economic/travel conditions, that the companies that are successful are the ones that recognize the problems and are being pro active in guest costs, etc. It looks like Universal's crowds are a tad better since they gave the locals that cheap $200 ticket recently, so perhaps that's part of the solution. Prior, they seemed to have the attitude that they have this big new shiny park and people will show up regardless of the economy. Well, that didn't work it seems. Universal probably has a solution right in front of them ie. a three park AP that isn't unreasonable in costs, but they're hesitant to pull the plug, either because they're overvaluing Epic's demand or fear of the capacity/downtime issues. But they could work around that with certain blackout days/dates, evening hours only on certain days, etc.

Yes, I'm eager to see what happens with Herschend, especially since they acquired all those Palace parks. The weather, weekend rains all spring and summer,and temperatures like Orlando most of the summer, probably have been challenges to our local park Kennywood. I've never used the AC as much as I have this summer.

 

[Jake S]

It looks like Universal's crowds are a tad better since they gave the locals that cheap $200 ticket recently, so perhaps that's part of the solution. Prior, they seemed to have the attitude that they have this big new shiny park and people will show up regardless of the economy. Well, that didn't work it seems.

This is largely unknowable, but my potted theory is that even if Universal was as aggressive with discounting (and marketing those discounts!) it would still have performed worse than Disney. The theory being that Disney's immense brand cache means that, even with the opening of Epic Universe, the mouse is still the first choice in Orlando ... and I don't think it's that close for most families.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Disney also has more options for selling tickets. Lets say daytime attendance is down - they still sell after hours tickets that get folks in the gates while Uni parks close down. With this fall's test at Epic I could see them offering Universal Nights at IOA too (USF has HHN to pad attendance).

 

[Jerroddragon]

Disney also has more options for selling tickets. Lets say daytime attendance is down - they still sell after hours tickets that get folks in the gates while Uni parks close down. With this fall's test at Epic I could see them offering Universal Nights at IOA too (USF has HHN to pad attendance).

This is partly why I think the Universal parks need more events like Summer or out here at USH we need an event early in the year, Sea World, Disney and Knotts have like 2 events before spring to draw guests.

So having more events could also allow them to sell more nighttime tickets and more food as well

 

[Parkscope Joe]

This is partly why I think the Universal parks need more events like Summer or out here at USH we need an event early in the year, Sea World, Disney and Knotts have like 2 events before spring to draw guests.

So having more events could also allow them to sell more nighttime tickets and more food as well

I've heard Orlando is VERY interested in Fan Fest.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I've heard Orlando is VERY interested in Fan Fest.

It would make sense, allow the budget to grow as well as both parks would be paying for the development of some of the attractions

 

[Mad Dog]

This is largely unknowable, but my potted theory is that even if Universal was as aggressive with discounting (and marketing those discounts!) it would still have performed worse than Disney. The theory being that Disney's immense brand cache means that, even with the opening of Epic Universe, the mouse is still the first choice in Orlando ... and I don't think it's that close for most families.

No doubt, especially 'families'. I enjoy the Universal resort experience more than Disney, but more so for the proximity, the Loews hotels, and CityWalk being so close together. I'd say Universal parks have better high thrill rides than WDW....but overall, personally, I enjoy the WDW parks more.... the IP's, the attraction diversification, shows etc. And, I'm about as pro staying at Universal as you can get. So, yeah, Disney is more popular. But I also think Disney management is better. I love Universal, but so many of their decisions at Orlando baffle me. And once they latch on to an attraction trend, thy seem to milk it too long, and their park balance suffers. Damn it Universal, diversify, and build quality indoor stuff, not so affected by Orlando's erratic weather. And get off the need APPs for everything and anything kick. Society is already getting less enamored with that. Even WDW is ;earning their lessen on too much of that turning guests off.

But I do think Universal has to get off the thought process that Epic has, and will, cure all their ills. Nice beautiful park, but not the game changer they anticipated, especially with all the terrific WDW attractions coming in the next four years. . More like when AK opened. Just another park, and a way to extend some tourist vacations. Even someone like me, that'll have had 4 long Universal vacations on the last 12 months, will probably switch a lot of my vacation time to WDW, and cut lots of the Universal time. Universal is just not building stuff I care much for.

 

[Touchdown]

Have Fan Fest take place at IOA. Throw all sorts of characters out at Marvel, have a One Piece show in TL, get multiple characters out at JP, have a special projection show for Hogwarts, bring out the creatures, use the soundstages for some special things, etc.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Have Fan Fest take place at IOA. Throw all sorts of characters out at Marvel, have a One Piece show in TL, get multiple characters out at JP, have a special projection show for Hogwarts, bring out the creatures, use the soundstages for some special things, etc.

The Carnage haunted house can live on

 

[Jake S]

No doubt, especially 'families'. I enjoy the Universal resort experience more than Disney, but more so for the proximity, the Loews hotels, and CityWalk being so close together. I'd say Universal parks have better high thrill rides than WDW....but overall, personally, I enjoy the WDW parks more....

Yeah, I definitely prefer the parks experience at Disney over Universal. We're planning a big, 10-day trip to Orlando for next May and Universal won't be part of it. I love going to Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and Horror Nights is phenomenal, but I'm okay to wait on going back to Universal until expansions come online at Epic Universe.

If those Epic Universe expansions are big hits, this conversation will get a lot more interesting.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Yeah, I definitely prefer the parks experience at Disney over Universal.

Can't speak for Orlando, which I had a more enjoyable time at than Disney as a newcomer, but the same is doubly true for USH.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah, I definitely prefer the parks experience at Disney over Universal. We're planning a big, 10-day trip to Orlando for next May and Universal won't be part of it. I love going to Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and Horror Nights is phenomenal, but I'm okay to wait on going back to Universal until expansions come online at Epic Universe.

If those Epic Universe expansions are big hits, this conversation will get a lot more interesting.

If they're two thirds as good as Monsters Unchained, Epic will be a much better park. It cries for 2 or 3 real good indoor D/E ticket attractions.

We'll be there (Universal) in May also, but at Portofino and Sapphire. Loews is so good to me and always tempting.... though we really like French Quarter Orleans at WDW. Their deluxes are way too overpriced, so we stay away from them. I used to like Caribbean Beach but its ambiance is not what it was before all the changes there.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Yeah, I definitely prefer the parks experience at Disney over Universal. We're planning a big, 10-day trip to Orlando for next May and Universal won't be part of it. I love going to Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and Horror Nights is phenomenal, but I'm okay to wait on going back to Universal until expansions come online at Epic Universe.

If those Epic Universe expansions are big hits, this conversation will get a lot more interesting.

This is the drum I’ve been banging now for years (even during the post-COVID attendance boom). I love the rides at UOR (even USF). Velocicoaster may be the best roller coaster I’ve ever been on, period. But the resort runs so much clunkier than Disney does. Over in the Supercharged thread the overall sentiment seems to be that the issue is the attractions being added but I think that until Universal Ops tighten up/the entire philosophy around the guest experience changes, the gap between them and Disney is not gonna get much smaller (regardless of what rides Universal adds or doesn’t add over the next few years).

 

[Jerroddragon]

lol

Being on a Universal Forums and people be like a I prefer the Disneyland theme parks is wild, I'm not attacking the posters but just insane to be on like the biggest Universal Fan site and people be like "I prefer the competitions product mostly"

 

[Tbad556]

lol

Being on a Universal Forums and people be like a I prefer the Disneyland theme parks is wild, I'm not attacking the posters but just insane to be on like the biggest Universal Fan site and people be like "I prefer the competitions product mostly"

Nothing wrong with that. Stan culture is a cancer. Gotta be able to have unbiased and real conversations about things. I’m a huge fan of both resorts and dual wield those APs for the life of me. I typically believe I’m more of a fan of Universal, yet, I haven’t used my Uni AP in ages and visit Disney at least monthly usually. Hell, I’ve been around the Uni board since the IOACentral days. It’s not like I’m actively choosing to prefer one or the other, but I absolutely fluctuate between the two.

Plus, it’s just always been a better vibe here. Just because I may prefer Disney one year doesn’t mean I want to engage in some of those other boards hah.

 

[Mad Dog]

Nothing wrong with that. Stan culture is a cancer. Gotta be able to have unbiased and real conversations about things. I’m a huge fan of both resorts and dual wield those APs for the life of me. I typically believe I’m more of a fan of Universal, yet, I haven’t used my Uni AP in ages and visit Disney at least monthly usually. Hell, I’ve been around the Uni board since the IOACentral days. It’s not like I’m actively choosing to prefer one or the other, but I absolutely fluctuate between the two.

Plus, it’s just always been a better vibe here. Just because I may prefer Disney one year doesn’t mean I want to engage in some of those other boards hah.

Yeah, IU is the best forum vibe. Almost always friendly and courteous, except for a few. Mostly good people and good talk....whether it be Universal or Disney. I think you get a more honest opinion here than most theme park forums. We kind of tell it like it is, and a little less sugar coating.

 

[MAC]

I would also say, people here are theme park enthusiasts, not just Disney fans. If you go to some Disney forums, they're not even wondering about UO or Six Flags or Merlin or any other companies. Here is a bit different, though the primary focus is Universal.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I would also say, people here are theme park enthusiasts, not just Disney fans. If you go to some Disney forums, they're not even wondering about UO or Six Flags or Merlin or any other companies. Here is a bit different, though the primary focus is Universal.

Half the site used to be Orlando United and that legacy continues.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Nothing wrong with that. Stan culture is a cancer. Gotta be able to have unbiased and real conversations about things. I’m a huge fan of both resorts and dual wield those APs for the life of me. I typically believe I’m more of a fan of Universal, yet, I haven’t used my Uni AP in ages and visit Disney at least monthly usually. Hell, I’ve been around the Uni board since the IOACentral days. It’s not like I’m actively choosing to prefer one or the other, but I absolutely fluctuate between the two.

Plus, it’s just always been a better vibe here. Just because I may prefer Disney one year doesn’t mean I want to engage in some of those other boards hah.

Once again not calling people out

Just saying on like the Biggest Universal site people are like I prefer Disney, I think Universal needs to be reading these boards and listening to people be surveyed more

 

[Jake S]

Nothing wrong with that. Stan culture is a cancer. Gotta be able to have unbiased and real conversations about things. I’m a huge fan of both resorts and dual wield those APs for the life of me. I typically believe I’m more of a fan of Universal, yet, I haven’t used my Uni AP in ages and visit Disney at least monthly usually. Hell, I’ve been around the Uni board since the IOACentral days. It’s not like I’m actively choosing to prefer one or the other, but I absolutely fluctuate between the two.

Plus, it’s just always been a better vibe here. Just because I may prefer Disney one year doesn’t mean I want to engage in some of those other boards hah.

Yeah, I may prefer the Disney theme parks ... but uh, there's a reason I'm kicking it with you guys and not on one of their fan sites haha. I think we're really lucky to have a space like this where we all share the same passion for these parks but where there remains space for people to have different opinions.