Cutting Costs at Universal

The Cost Cutting of Universal

Disney is currently getting all of the negative news stories in the theme parks in Orlando. Seaworld doesn’t really count, because that park is in such a state of disrepair that it doesn’t even earn a mention. A place that is getting positive press has been Universal. They have been riding the wave of positive news story after positive news story about Epic Universe. I feel like the price tag of a brand-new theme park is hitting Universal pretty hard.

Velocicoaster opened in June of 2021.  They had a good streak, adding Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and Velocicoaster within two years. Really made Islands of Adventure one of the best parks in the world with two terrific E-ticket attractions. What has come after? Villain-Con Minion Blast in 2023 along with a land attached in Minion Land. A kid play area in 2024, and a couple of refurbishments and that’s it. Villain-con Minion Blast is CHEAP. It was a cheap easy way to promote a popular property in their catalog, but the final product is lousy. It has really gone downhill from two grand slams to several mediocre cheap offerings. I know there has to be a multitude of ride variety. It can’t all just be E-ticket attractions but a game that reminds me of a Wii game should not be put in a theme park. Theme parks are an amazing form of escapism and having a chaotic shooting game on screen is not the best idea. There is a reason why this line is always a walk on.

Let’s talk about events. Where Universal could really separate themselves and provide entertainment in events that no one else can come close to replicating. Halloween Horror Nights 2019 had Us, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Ghostbusters, House of 1000 Corpses and Stranger Things as intellectual property houses. Not all huge draws but a great variety. After 2020 the quality of houses did go downhill. Not coming back up until 2023 where they got Stranger Things, Chucky, The Last of Us, and The Exorcist: Believer. 2024 had Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Insidious: The Further, and A Quiet Place. Two good years back-to-back so I am hoping they can continue the momentum and COVID made 2021 and 2022 down years.

The concert lineups at Mardi Gras don’t have the same excuse. In 2022, they brought in some really good talent. Marshmello, Jon Pardi, Lee Brice, Becky G, Khalid, and even Jason Derulo. Some quality names and really delivered on value with these concerts being free to enjoy. 2025 had a few bigger names with T-Pain, Joe Jonas, TLC, Scotty McCreery but they also had DJ Pauly D just stand up there and play songs. In 2023 they had Sean Paul go up there and sing incoherently as he stumbled across the stage. The difference in talent brought in was evident. Universal attraction lineup is very weak at the moment so to really bring in attendance to that park, they need to overdeliver on these events. I have enjoyed all of the tribute stores they have made throughout the years. I wish Disney could replicate that instead of the Apple store that sells Disney merchandise.

Food has been a constant struggle at Universal for years. Other than event food, there are no restaurants where I would want to spend my money. The HellFire Club at HHN 2023 was truly a culinary masterpiece. I could eat one of those everyday and be content with life.

This isn’t directly Universal but their Loews Hotels on property are now charging $36 for parking per night at the highest level of hotel like Portofino. Just increase the cost of hotel per night. The food at these hotels is also hit and miss with most of them being misses as of late.

Staffing at the theme parks has also been a struggle. Lands and rides open at different times, closing at different times and the fluctuation of the parks closing is insane as well. A Friday night in April when the parks close at 6 PM. Disney has amazing employment streams so they can pretty regularly close at similar times. Early for Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios close at about 9 PM and the Magic Kingdom closes at 11 most nights. The cuts have been apparent. Also, City Walk gets free parking after 6 PM and that is when the locals start coming so there is a big slam of people coming into the park during those times. Why they aren’t fully staffed at the security checkpoint blows my mind. This has happened multiple times where I would have to wait 15 minutes or more to get through security. One time we, as locals, just turned around and ate at a Mexican restaurant five minutes away. We have the luxury to do that. It has gotten really apparent that they are hurting with staffing.

I am excited about Epic Universe, it should be… well… Epic. But the other parks have started to suffer while they build that park. With the bad moves that Disney has made with the guest experience, this could be a perfect time to just up everything at Universal. Create amazing experiences like Velocicoaster, create awesome shows in the dormant theaters, STAFF your parks. A trip to Universal looks more like visiting Seaworld now than ever before with random closures. I hope once Epic gets up and running, they will begin to be able to provide a workplace where people will WANT to come and work to staff the parks fully but right now it is in a weird state. They have one and a half theme parks and they are staffing enough for one theme park. This is the time to take full advantage of Disney’s poor public opinion and really bring the heat.