Mega-theme park operators Disney and Universal are making moves to improve and change their experiences, but they’re taking two separate approaches: Universal is going ahead with a new park and smaller, regional parks, while Disney is making targeted improvements within its existing park structure.

In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, explore why Universal and Disney chose these routes and how external forces -- construction delays, DeSantis, space constraints -- play a role. What might we expect from the theme-park experience in the near future? And what might Disney do with the Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars hotel?

This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published June 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com

Related links:

Theme Park Insider https://themeparkinsider.com/

A thrilling time for theme parks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks

Why Disney’s Star Wars hotel didn’t take off https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed

Disney pulls the plug on Lake Nona project https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project

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