Theme park news isn’t always about new rides, and this week’s update comes straight from the business side.
In Comcast’s third-quarter earnings report, Universal acknowledged that competitors were faster to respond when demand softened, and it laid out what it’s doing next.
Universal’s theme parks division brought in $2.6 billion in revenue for the quarter, down 4.4% from last year, and adjusted EBITDA fell 17.1% to $780 million from $940 million. Comcast attributed the drop to lower park admissions revenue, including promotional activity, and higher costs at the U.S. parks.
On the call, Co-CEO Mike Cavanagh said rivals “were quicker to anticipate and recognize softness in demand.” Universal has since increased its promotions, which Comcast linked to lower admissions revenue. Coverage of the call says Disney was among those rivals, though Comcast didn’t name names in every account. CFO Jason Armstrong said demand softened over the summer, and Comcast views the pressure on Orlando and some international markets as temporary instead of structural.
Epic Universe also came up. Cavanagh acknowledged ride capacity and throughput challenges at the park, which opened in May 2025, and said Universal is working through them, with staff training and technology being refined. He described the park as “designed to push the boundaries of theme park technology.”
Here’s what Universal says it’s doing. The steps include a new marketing leadership team, expanded promotional offers, three-park ticket packages, and training staff to load and unload rides more efficiently. Comcast expects Orlando’s softer performance to continue into 2027, with a return to growth expected in the second half of 2027, and says it remains confident in the long-term outlook. It also says Orlando’s attendance and guest spending remain “materially above where they were two years ago.”
Business results can feel far from your vacation planning, but this one connects directly to it. When a major park says it’s adding promotions and multi-park ticket deals, that can be good news for families comparing Orlando trips, whether you’re headed to Universal, Disney, or both. It’s also a good reminder that every park is working to get guests through the gates a little faster and happier, and the work on loading rides more efficiently is a nice thing for anyone who’s stood in a long Epic Universe line. As always, I’d compare current offers before you book, since promotions come and go.
We’ll keep sharing news from across the Orlando theme park scene. Keep checking back with us here at Theme Park Scope, and tell us in the comments what you’d like to see from both resorts next.
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