5-1 Student Blog: Disney Parks VS Universal Studios

As cosnumers we want to be able to get deals on certain things in life like vacations. The target consumer for Disney Parks are parents with children under the age of 18. The same could be said about Universal Studios, however if we compare and contrast the Universal Studios parks in Orlando, Hollywood Studios and Japan, most rides are more fit for people of a certain height. One way that Universal Studios is trying to step it up is by offering a park for kids and parents.

Consumer Loyalty: Disney Parks

• Emotional Storytelling: The movies and tv shows that The Walt Disney Company releases tells a story about heroes and villains, with the heroes surviving the adversities that the villains toss their ways. When multiple films are released from their favorite movie collections like Toy Story, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Frozen and Avatar garner attention to the consumers who enjoy them.

• Multiple Disney ecosystems: Disney Parks, Disney merchandise, and Disney Cruises garner more revenue since consumers spend money on several of their ecosystems.
• Annual passes: Consumers enrolled in annual passes are offered discounts on merchandise and admission saving consumers money yealry.
• Co-branded credit cards: Disney Premier Visa Card allows perks within the parks to their consumers that carry their cards.

Consumer Loyalty: Universal Studios( the competition)

• IP driven immersion: Harry Potter and Jurassic Park/World is available within Orlando and Hollywood Studios, with Japan being the first to offer Super Nintendo World and its success has transpired across the pond to the United States. the success of Super Nintendo World within the Universal Studios parks allows consumers to play Nintendo games with power bands and collect coins.
• Rewards programs & passes: annual passholders get discounts on park tickets, food and drink and merchandise same as what Disney consumers can enjoy.

Competitor Praise worth it

While both parks offer rides, merories, and multiple parks around the world. If a consumer reviewed Universal Studio rides on Youtube versus Disney Park rides, Universal is more thrills because of the many roller coasters they have within the parks. The thrills of roller coasters might be too much for a child of a consumer assuming they meet the age requirements. which then brings the question are Universal Parks family friendly versus Disney Parks?

Competitor Praise NOT worth it

Praise is both negative and positive too much praise might attract consumers to our competitors as opposed to us a simple congratulations can be taken out of context by the media and consumers alike. The praise needs to be carefully measured by the Disney Parks and Universal Studios marketing teams. If Disney where to say ‘Universal Studios has the most exciting roller coasters in Orlando,’ consumers would be more attracted to go on the thrill rides that Universal has to offer. Manipulative words within social media posts can be taken out of context by consumers, for example, ‘Unlike Disney, we offer better value.’

Reference:

(2025). Universal Kids [Photograph]. Google Images. https://www.google.com/search/about-this-image?img=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-MS5eg-dWFKz_LTy74zCqx59nbVjxcTW5IBlhpjgBcAAAA%3D&q=https:%2F%2Fblog.discoveruniversal.com%2Fnews%2Ftaking-a-deep-dive-into-the-new-universal-kids-resort%2F&ctx=iv&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=0CA8Qg4ILahcKEwiQrbGttIKVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQag

(2026). Visa Inspire [Photograph]. Google Images. https://www.google.com/search/about-this-image?img=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-MS4Zi94-DvKZvermQW-NDQfvfOl9PXpABFpXiEFgAAAA%3D%3D&q=https:%2F%2Fwww.wdwmagic.com%2Fother%2Fwalt-disney-company%2Fnews%2F03feb2026-new-chase-disney-inspire-card-features-420-in-annual-benefits-for-disney-park-fans.htm&ctx=iv&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=0CA8Qg4ILahgKEwiwhYDMu4KVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQvwE

(2022). Visa Premier [Photograph]. Google Images. https://www.google.com/search/about-this-image?img=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-MS4Vjyum3Kl445zekC31413Js0e-1mfQCUsKf_FgAAAA%3D%3D&q=https:%2F%2Fcreditcards.chase.com%2Frewards-credit-cards%2Fdisney%2Fpremier&ctx=iv&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=0CA8Qg4ILahgKEwiwhYDMu4KVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ3AE