Universal Orlando Hints at Fourth Theme Park

As Disney prepares for what will likely be a huge 2019, with the opening of its new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land, Universal Studios Orlando is hinting at big news of its own.

On the Comcast earnings call last week, executives confirmed they are “looking at” at opening a new park.

Rumors began circulating earlier this summer after a patent application was filed for the name “Fantastic Worlds,” which was described as being for “entertainment services in the nature of amusement park and theme park services.”

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On the earnings call, during a Q&A session, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst asked about the patent.

“Is that any indication you’re planning another gate in Orlando?”

Comcast CEO Stephen Burke confirmed they filed the application and responded, “We are looking at it. We love the theme park business. It’s one of our best, most consistent businesses.”

Additionally, he said, “Another gate in Florida would have the advantage of turning Florida from a two- or three-day destination to potentially a week-long destination. We think that would be attractive.”

Since Universal has already announced it would be bringing Nintendo rides and attractions to its parks (back in 2015,) it isn’t unlikely the new land would be a Nintendo-themed park said theme park expert Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

In another cue that Universal is planning to go head to head with Disney for longer-staying guests, the theme park is opening its newest hotel, the Aventura Hotel, next week, bringing Universal’s room count to just over 6,000, a number that has increased 250 percent over the past five years. (Disney has more than 30,000 rooms across 25 hotels and resorts in the Orlando area.)

For Comcast, theme parks have been a giant revenue driver. For the first half of 2018, theme park revenue has increased by about 9 percent over the same period last year.